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This week saw budgets released at both the provincial and federal levels. Each recognized the importance of investing in life sciences.
Some key federal budget highlights include:
- $1 billion over seven years, starting in 2021-22, to support promising domestic life sciences and bio-manufacturing firms via the Strategic Innovation Fund
- $50 million over five years, starting in 2021-22, to create a life sciences stream in the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative, as part of a larger venture capital investment
- $92 million over four years, starting in 2021-22, for our own B.C.-based adMare Innovations to support company creation, scale up and training activities in the life sciences sector
- $45 million over three years, starting in 2022-23, to the Stem Cell Network to support stem cell and regenerative medicine research.
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Key B.C. budget elements that support our sector include:
- $900 million one-time funding for pandemic-related needs like vaccines, personal protective equipment and screening devices
- $4 billion set aside for pandemic contingency
- This builds on last week’s Throne Speech that recognized a number of our members.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
This week also saw some exciting news for those 40+: B.C. has now released doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine to this cohort. Those wanting to secure the vaccine must make arrangements directly with the specific pharmacy you want to use—click here for a map and list of pharmacies that have been given supply. Some sites are making appointments available online and others are available by phone. Check back daily as appointments free up.
Member News
As we all know, genomics has been central to the fight against COVID-19. This is sure to be a key element of Genome BC’s upcoming Annual Genomics Forum, held May 4 – 6. Speakers of note include two of the most high-profile public health experts working on the pandemic: Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer for the Province of B.C. Click here to register.
Congratulations to AbCellera’s CEO Dr. Carl Hansen, recently named one of the Top 50 Healthcare Technology CEOs of 2021 by The Healthcare Technology Report, a New York-based market research firm that focuses on developments in the health care technology industry.
In another demonstration of the role B.C.’s life sciences community is playing in the fight against COVID-19, we note that bioLytical Laboratories is recruiting local participants for a study in support of their new one-minute antibody test for COVID-19. They need a number of both COVID-positive and COVID-negative subjects. Click here for more information on the study and to find out if you want to be involved. This is your chance to play a role helping out a local company working on a made-in Canada assay to help in the fight against COVID-19!
Vancouver Startup Week is back for its 8 th year from May 21–28, 2021. While this event involves many tech companies, it's for companies from all industries that are at the startup level. Early bird ticket sales and experience package ticket sales close on April 30 th and can be purchased here.
To those who have had their vaccination—congratulations. To those waiting, it won’t be long now. Please encourage your networks to make getting vaccinated a priority.
Wendy Hurlburt
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Northview Congratulates Portfolio Company Perimeter Medical Imaging AI Inc. on FDA Breakthrough Device Designation |
Northview Lifesciences would like to congratulate Perimeter on their FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Imaging System with ImgAssist AI. The OCT Imaging System offers real time intra-operative evaluation of breast cancer tumor margins during lumpectomies and will give surgeons tomographical confirmation of cancer removal. READ MORE
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Bold Therapeutics’ BOLD-100 Effective In Vitro Against COVID-19 Variants |
VANCOUVER, BC, April 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Bold Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing BOLD-100, a first-in-class oncology and antiviral therapeutic, is announcing robust preclinical efficacy data against a wide range of COVID-19 variants. READ MORE
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Meeting the COVID-19 Challenge |
This year, Genome BC’s Annual Genomics Forum will be held May 4 – 6, a three day program bringing together engaging speakers with unique experiences and backgrounds to discuss these challenges and the lessons learned. Speakers include Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Dr. Penny Ballem and Dr. Stacey Gabriel. READ MORE
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biolytical Laboratories Recruiting Participants in Support of Their New 1-Minute Antibody Test For COVID-19 |
April 21, 2021 – bioLytical Laboratories is recruiting local participants for a study in support of their new 1 minute antibody test for COVID-19. Participants need to have been tested for COVID-19 but the actual results don’t matter as long as results were conclusive. READ MORE
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U.S. study identifies the genes that fight coronavirus infections |
TORONTO -- A new study has come out identifying the genes in humans that help fight coronavirus infections, which could be the first step in finding new treatment options for patients with severe COVID-19. Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys in California have published a study last Tuesday in Molecular Cell pinpointing 65 genes that control replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes COVID-19. READ MORE
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Digital Technology Supercluster's Digital Demo Day |
As the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, how are we keeping up with the influx of new information and rapid pace of changing treatments, procedures, and new drugs? Digital demo day will showcase two Supercluster-backed projects that are tackling the tremendous healthcare challenges brought on by COVID-19. There will also be a community Q+A session where attendees can learn how to get involved with the Digital Technology Supercluster. READ MORE
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Metamor Health leverages decades of experience working at the interface of public and private healthcare, business leaders, clinicians, scientists and academics to help over 50 companies each year, from bootstrapped or Series A startups seeking to scale, to well-established hospitals, health systems and multinationals.
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Precision NanoSystems Inc. (PNI) is a revenue stage biotechnology company based in Vancouver, Canada. PNI’s proprietary equipment (NanoAssemblr™) and companion Reagent Kits (SUB9KITS™) enable the simple manufacture of novel nanoparticles that are used in medicine (nanomedicine). Nanomedicines are the “FedEx” of the health-care industry and are used for cell-specific delivery of research tools, diagnostic imaging agents and drugs to study, diagnose and treat disease.
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PERSPECTIVES ON GLOBAL HEALTHCARE INNOVATION |
What’s driving innovation in life science and healthcare? SVB is committed to serving the ecosystem by providing industry-leading reports featuring proprietary analysis and targeted outlooks to help companies and investors achieve their goals. Twice a year we publish deep-dive analyses describing fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies. Our deep relationships with top life science and healthcare entrepreneurs and investors inform our insights and give us a vantage point unlike any other bank. To find out more about Silicon Valley Bank click here
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Posting A JOB on the LSBC Website |
LSBC Membership Discounts on Job Postings
As an LSBC member, your first five job postings EARNS a free repost on BioTalent Canada's The Petri Dish After your first five reposts, you will also receive 25% off all job postings on The Petri Dish. Want more info? CONTACT: Peter McLoughlin - talent@lifesciencesbc.ca
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