September 14th, 2023

Life Sciences BC seeks to raise the profile of our members and supporters, highlight their achievements, and promote BC's dynamic life sciences ecosystem. If you have news or a story to share, let us know. You can find previous editions of BioLinks newsletters and other resources on our website at News/Publications.

We appreciate your commitment to our sector and look forward to collaborating with you in the coming year!

We also want to express our deep gratitude to our departing board members—Dr. Pieter Cullis, Dr. James Taylor, Ian Heine, CA, and Pascal Spothelfer—for their invaluable contributions of time, knowledge, and guidance. You have all helped shape our organization's success. Thank you! See our press release here.

Tonight is the night! We are so excited to see many of you at tonight's 25^th annual LSBC Awards presented by Farris! Follow us on social to see live posts from the celebration. Next week, we will start sharing videos highlighting this year's fantastic award winners and honourees, which you can also learn more about on our awards page.

Tonight's attendees will also get a hot-off-the-presses copy of this year's Life Sciences magazine, created in partnership with Business in Vancouver and featuring many of our incredible members and sector leaders! The magazine will be on stands and shared digitally in the coming days.

Member Highlights 

Michael Smith Health Research BC has announced the recipients of its 2023 Scholar Awards, which support early-career health researchers building innovative health research programs that aim to make meaningful contributions to their fields. Learn more and see the full list of selected researchers here.

entrepreneurship@ubc has announced the 30 teams joining their fall Venture Founder program, which supports teams that are ready to launch their innovations into the marketplace. Learn more about the next generation of UBC entrepreneurs here.

Clairvoyant Therapeutics' phase 2b trial is featured in one of Finland's largest media outlets, Iltalehti, on using psilocybin to treat alcoholism. See a Google translation version of the article here.

BIOTECanada President & CEO Andrew Casey has published an op-ed in The Hill Times, discussing the urgent need for the Canadian biotech sector to take action to enhance our competitive position in the global market. Read it here.

adMare Bioinnovations President & CEO Gordon McCauley also published an op-ed in The Hill Times discussing how the Canadian sector can work together to leverage our excellent research and encourage the creation of biotechnology companies. Read it here. Mr. McCauley was also recently featured on the NGBIdeas podcast, where he discussed his career journey from politics to life sciences sector leader and adMare BioInnovations' mission to catalyze the sector. Listen here.

St. Paul's Foundation has announced that the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation has made a $9 million donation in support of Road to Recovery – a groundbreaking addiction treatment and recovery program at St. Paul's Hospital. Learn more.

Microbiome Insights has released its new Microbiome Study Guide, which provides the latest insights, methodologies, and case studies of microbiome science. Read it here. 

Dr. Ging-Yuek Robin Hsiung of UBC is leading a pioneering Asian Cohort for Alzheimer's Disease project in Vancouver, the first major genomics study of Alzheimer's disease in Asian Canadians and Asian Americans. This initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of people of Asian ancestry in Alzheimer's research despite their making up over 16% of Canada's population. Learn more.

Michael Wondrasch, CIO at Avantor, was recently featured on The Restless Ones podcast to discuss the evolution of SmartScience; Avantor's approach to enabling scientific collaboration, increasing efficiency, and optimizing lab productivity. Listen here. 

New Members

We are pleased to welcome the following new LSBC Members: 

Langara College Applied Research Centre is dedicated to assisting partnering firms in meeting their immediate R&D challenges quickly and cost-effectively and to developing partner-owned intellectual property that will help BC life sciences companies secure their long-term success.

Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency Canada has also joined this week. They seek foreign companies who are committed to finding and developing sustainable, innovative and digital solutions to global challenges.

Welcome to the LSBC community!

Industry Highlights

BC is breaking ground on a new second hospital and a new cancer centre in Surrey. The hospital will provide annual capacity for more than 28,000 surgical procedures, 280,000 additional medical-imaging exams and 120,000 emergency departments. The cancer centre is expected to provide approximately 105,000 ambulatory oncology care visits, 50,000 radiation therapy visits and 22,000 chemotherapy visits annually. Learn more. 

BC biotech companies interested in a complimentary delegate pass to attend Bio Spain 2023 from September 26-28 in Barcelona - recently named Europe's No. 2 hub for biotech investment - can contact International Trade and Investment Specialist Laetitia MacDougall here.

The Canadian IP office has recently released the latest guide in its Doing Business Abroad series, "Protecting your IP in the United Kingdom," to help facilitate international expansion. Read it here.

Avery Fairbank has released its 2023 MedTech Insights: Market Analysis Report, covering the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities within the world of MedTech. Find it here. 

Kudos

Kudos to Molecular You, for being selected to pitch live at HLTH's Making Aging Easier pitch event in Las Vegas on October 9. Best of luck to the team! Learn more.

Congrats to Acuitas Therapeutics, who recently synthesized their 1000th lipid nanoparticle - what a milestone!

Congratulations to the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering's Dr. Anna Blakney for being recognized as one of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Review's 2023 35 Innovators under 35! Learn more.

BIOTECanada has awarded Bloom Burton & Co. its Gold Leaf Award for the top Ecosystem Builder, recognizing an organization or company that has distinguished itself through its contributions to Canadian biotech, beyond sector business and economic impact, offering significant contributions to a global audience. Learn more about the Gold Leaf awards here. 

Kudos to UBC MD/PhD candidate Dr. Rohit Singla on receiving the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Award for leadership and innovation. Learn more.

Congratulations to SFU scholars Caroline Colijn, Isabelle Côté, and Bohdan Nosyk, who have been elected into the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) for their exceptional research contributions to public health and marine conservation. Learn more.

Kudos to LSBC's Investor Readiness Program (IRP) graduate VoxCell BioInnovation, 2023 Falling Walls Venture Winner and one of their top 25 science start-ups! VoxCell BioInnovation is the only Canadian company to make this list in 2023. Winners will pitch their work during the Falling Walls Science Summit 2023 in Berlin on November 7. Learn more.

Congratulations also to VoxCell BioInnovation for publishing its paper, "Preclinical Testing Techniques: Paving the Way for New Oncology Screening Approaches," In MDPI, which promises to reshape the landscape of preclinical testing in the field of oncology. Read it here.

People on the Move

The European-Canadian Centre for Innovation and Research (ECCIR) has appointed Dr. Manfred Zeuch, Ph.D., as its new Director of International Partnerships. Dr. Zeuch brings over 25 years of experience as a professor and university administrator. Learn more.

Four researchers from the UBC Faculty of Medicine are among the recently announced new and renewed Canada Research Chairs. Learn more.

Santis Health welcomes Saäd Rafi as its new Executive Advisor. Mr. Rafi brings three decades of public and private sector leadership experience to support the company’s next growth stage. Learn more.

Applications Open

CIHR is seeking members for its new Advisory Committee on Ethics with ethics-related expertise and experience in the following areas: applied ethics, Indigenous health, social and cultural determinants of health, health equity and social justice, global health, infectious diseases, open science, pandemics, public health, genetics/genomics, pediatrics, mental health, artificial intelligence, and health services and policy. Applications are due September 20. Learn more.

Canada's Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI), which seeks to build a portfolio of funds that strengthen and broaden the Canadian VC ecosystem while advancing DEI, has extended the deadline to November 22, 2023, 5:00 PM PT, to submit to its second intake. The life sciences stream fund managers include our members, Amplitude Ventures and Pender Ventures. Learn more. 

CIHR's IHDCYH Talks Video Competition provides a unique opportunity to submit a short video (5 minutes or less) that presents a clear, evidence-based message to a lay audience designed to impact the health of children, youth and families. Submissions are open until September 27. Learn more.

The National Research Council Canada invites Canadian innovators looking to collaborate on R&D projects with international partners to consider opportunities through Canada's membership in the global Eureka Network innovation network. To determine if your project idea is eligible for funding, register by September 16 and apply by November 30. Learn more.

Nominations for UBC's 2024 Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Alumni Agent of Change Award are open. This accolade recognizes inspirational Pharm Sci alums who have made outstanding achievements that have made a local, national or global impact. Applications are due September 22. Learn more.

We invite you to explore our expanded list of current life sciences application opportunities by clicking on the following link: Applications Open.

The Last Word

*Attention life sciences marketers and communicators*

LSBC is piloting a new informal community group exclusively for LSBC-member MarCom professionals - or those who wear this hat in their organization!

LSBC MarCom Connect is a space to share knowledge, advance best practices, and get to know your sector counterparts. The goal is to help identify synergies that benefit our organizations and contribute to advancing BC's life sciences sector.

Please contact our Manager of Marketing & Communications, Johanna Mills, for how to get involved!

Until next week,

Wendy and the LSBC team

Fueling Discovery: Health Research BC Funds 23 Researchers to Improve Health Outcomes

Research is foundational for new treatments, cures, practices and solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. Michael Smith Health Research BC’s funding for 23 researchers through the 2023 Scholar competition will help develop, attract and retain BC’s best and brightest health researchers and support the advancement of world-class health research in the province.... READ MORE

Sernova to Host Investor Calls to Introduce Newly Appointed CEO and Provide Business Update

The first of these two events will introduce the newly appointed CEO, Cynthia Pussinen, as well as the recently appointed Chief Business Officer, Dr. Modestus Obochi, Ph.D., MBA, and will discuss the overall vision of both executives to deliver novel medical therapies to patients. The second in this series of calls is intended to provide an overall business update and discuss the strategy and operating plans going forward... READ MORE

Bausch Health’s Bausch + Lomb Announces Launch of Proposed Financing for Acquisition of XIIDRA®

LAVAL, QC – Bausch + Lomb Corporation, a subsidiary of Bausch Health Companies Inc. announced that, in connection with the financing of its pending acquisition of XIIDRA® and certain other ophthalmology assets, Bausch + Lomb Escrow Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bausch + Lomb, launched an offering of $1.4 billion aggregate principal amount of new senior secured notes due 2028... READ MORE

NervGen Pharma To Present At 2023 International Spinal Research Trust Network Meeting

NervGen Pharma Corp. (TSX-V: NGEN; OTCQX: NGENF) (“NervGen” or the “Company”), a clinical stage biotech company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for the treatment of nervous system damage, announced today that its Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Daniel Mikol, will present at the 2023 International Spinal Research Trust Network Meeting being held September 14-16 in London, UK... READ MORE

LifeLabs Celebrates Future Generations: 11 Students Honoured as Recipients of the Prestigious Employee Family Scholarship Program

The scholarship recipients were chosen based on their exceptional academic performance, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, and passion for fostering inclusion. Embracing the values of the Stronger Together program, candidates were required to provide an essay highlighting their efforts in promoting inclusivity in their daily lives and their plans to continue this vital work... READ MORE

Lonza Launches Nebula® Absorbance Reader for Streamlined Endotoxin and Pyrogen Testing

Lonza has launched the Nebula® Absorbance Reader, a new absorbance microplate reader which joins the company’s portfolio of optimized instruments for streamlined endotoxin and pyrogen testing. The instrument is fully integrated with Lonza’s latest WinKQCL® Software to enable data integrity compliance, streamline training, and reduce validation burden... READ MORE

WELL Health and Orion Health Announce Strategic Global Partnership to Bring Trusted Health Integration Tools to the Frontline of Public Health Sector

WELL Health Technologies Corp., a digital healthcare company focused on positively impacting health outcomes by leveraging technology to empower healthcare practitioners and their patients globally, is pleased to announce a strategic global partnership with Orion Health. This alliance, founded on mutual expertise and vision, seeks to set enhanced standards in health integration tools to benefit the broader public health sector... READ MORE

Community Care for Complex Health Needs

Opportunities to connect with the broader community are not always available to the over 7,000 British Columbians living with HIV and other complex care needs, such as mental illness and substance use. Faced with stigma and marginalisation, these individuals often find themselves pushed to the edges of society... READ MORE

Season 3 of the Nice Genes! Podcast Asks: What Happens When You Assume?

VANCOUVER, BC — Nice Genes!, an award winning podcast from Genome British Columbia, is back with a thought-provoking Season 3, exploring the many ways genomics impacts the world. Hosted by Dr. Kaylee Byers (she/her), the new season will pick apart everyday assumptions to see if they hold water…or if they’re full of hot air... READ MORE

Renaissance BioScience is revolutionizing global industries with cutting-edge bioengineering. Based in Vancouver, Renaissance specializes in yeast, unlocking its potential through innovative platform technologies using gene-targeted and whole-organism engineering. Renaissance solutions are transforming diverse sectors including health, ag-tech, food, beverage and biofuel markets.

Renaissance has commercialized a range of products from their first pioneering platform technology. These food and beverage solutions are clean label, reflecting Renaissance’s dedication to quality, sustainability, and consumer preference.

Renaissance’s innovation doesn't stop there. They’re propelling into the future with their latest platform technology: yeast-based orally delivered bioeffectors (RNAi or peptides), poised to revolutionize crop, animal and human health applications. Through strategic partnerships with multinational leaders, Renaissance is extending its global reach, setting new standards for excellence in bioengineering.

LEARN MORE

Second Hospital, New Cancer Centre Breaks Ground in Surrey

People in Surrey are a significant step closer to better access to health care as the Province is breaking ground on a new second hospital in Surrey and new cancer centre. The second hospital in Surrey will bring 168 more hospital beds, including medical/surgical beds, high acuity beds and medical oncology beds, and a second emergency department for the community with 55 treatment spaces and access to specialists through virtual technologies... READ MORE

Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub - Industry Partnership Manager

Working under broad directions of the Executive Director of CIEBH, the Industry Partnership Manager will develop and mobilize academic and hospital discoveries originating from the University and its Affiliated Hospitals, through fostering sponsored research, supporting entrepreneurship, developing and implementing knowledge mobilization plans, engaging with researchers and industry, and conducting evaluations...LEARN MORE

Scientist, Preclinical Research

Bold Therapeutics is seeking to hire a Scientist to join and expand their preclinical research team. A successful candidate will support Bold Therapeutics’ preclinical oncology research efforts, with a focus on cellular biology and understanding the mechanism of action of BOLD-100 and our other metallotherapeutics. The role involves collaborating with Bold Therapeutics’ research team, as well as our network of academic and industry partners, to advance the understanding of our key assets...LEARN MORE

Postdoctoral Position at Eyam Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics - Bioinformatician

This is a unique opportunity to experience collaborative research with leading industry and academic experts. The successful candidate will work both in-person, on site at our Vancouver/Greater Vancouver Area offices, and remotely on a project to create and use novel algorithms for the development of self-amplifying nucleic acid vaccines...LEARN MORE

Administrative Assistant, Research and Innovation

The position is responsible for providing administrative support to the two Research and Innovation Directors (Director, Research and Innovation Operations and Director, Data Science) and three Senior Managers (Senior R&I Manager, Health; Senior R&I Manager, ANR; Senior Programs Manager). As well as supporting the R&I Senior Management Team by coordinating, organizing, and executing general administrative duties, coordinating meeting logistics, providing general meeting support, executing travel and event management, and performing expense/invoice processing...LEARN MORE

Animal Technician

Alpha-9 is seeking a team-oriented Animal Research Technician to join the Translational Biology group within the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience in providing technical in vivo support for research programs, preferably with radioactive substances. This person will be responsible for laboratory animal care and well-being, in addition to conducting in vivo research experiments with experimental radiopharmaceuticals...LEARN MORE

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Positions (2) Nanomedicine or Chemical Biology

UBC is seeking two full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in their Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology Research Theme, where the research programs focus on many aspects of drug discovery, development and delivery. The major focus of this position will be the development of a cutting-edge, externally-funded, world-class research program. Other responsibilities will include teaching nanomedicine/drug delivery or chemical biology and other related topics to students in the BPSc, PharmD, and MSc/PhD programs, as well as new programs under development...LEARN MORE

Located in central Vancouver, Langara College is British Columbia’s second largest college. The Applied Research Centre at Langara is dedicated to assisting partnering firms in meeting their immediate R&D challenges quickly and cost-effectively, and to developing partner-owned intellectual property that will help BC life sciences companies secure their long-term success. Langara College’s Applied Research Centre is actively seeking innovative companies in the life sciences to develop partnerships that address their practical challenges. LEARN MORE

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