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It is with great sadness that we learned of the unexpected passing of Harrison Helliwell, son of James Helliwell. Our deepest sympathies go out to the Helliwell family. While the family is asking for privacy, during this difficult time, with their permission, we are sharing a memorial fundraising campaign that the Helliwells have set up with Foundry in Harry’s honour. These last 15 months have taken a toll on all of us and even more so on our youth. Foundry is a BC-wide organization that offers young people ages 12-24 health, mental health and wellness support. It has for many years been a critical service for youth for years and in particular through the pandemic. You can learn more about Foundry here. Should you be interested in contributing, you can donate here.
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As a community, we’re all aware of how much our BC life sciences community has contributed to global healthcare over the last 15 months and more. Accelerating rates of vaccination among teens and adults, and rapid deployment of second vaccinations rolled out from this week are bringing herd immunity closer, vital preparation against virus variants.
BC is now using whole genome sequencing to track SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and WHO has announced a new naming system for variants to keep on track.
We’ve moved into a different stage of the pandemic and still, our sector continues to contribute well above its weight. Today, Bold Therapeutics announced funding for developing their product, BOLD-100 as a novel antiviral.
The world needs to learn more about BC life sciences; on Wednesday, we held our BC Showcase for the upcoming BIO Digital Conference. Following opening remarks delivered by the Honorable Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery And innovation; seven of our LSBC members presented their work. Their pitches went out to an audience of 200, half of whom came from outside Canada. We wish our BC delegation all success at the conference and hope it brings valuable connections, investment and partnerships so they thrive and grow.
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We’re celebrating closer to home too. Congratulations to Victoria-based Axolotl Biosciences, named a winner in Douglas Magazine’s 10 to Watch awards. You can read about it here.
Homegrown success needs homegrown talent. Earlier this week, LSBC President and CEO, Wendy Hurlburt took part in the Trends in Biomedical Engineering: Industry Priorities & Career Paths panel alongside industry experts and LSBC members, Stefan Avall (Kardium), Jennifer J. Hamilton, PhD (J&J Innovation), and Agnieszka Kielczewska (Amgen BC). Deepak Kaura (1Qbit) and Michael Hansen (Microsoft) rounded out an excellent panel on career paths in STEM at the UBC SBME annual symposium.
News of Interest
Accelerate your career, build your company with the 2021-2022 adMare Executive Institute (deadline: July 5)
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Are you an executive-level life science professional looking to advance your leadership skills? The adMare Executive Institute will help you accelerate your career and deliver results for your organization. Thanks to the generous support of Pfizer Canada, adMare is able to offer this program with no fee to participants (estimated market cost of $20,000 CDN).
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Learn more about the adMare Executive Institute program and apply today:
The LSBC Team
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Douglas magazine is proud to announce Axoltol as one of this year’s 10 to Watch winners, who represent the very best of Vancouver Island’s new businesses. The 10 to Watch winners were selected by an independent panel of judges that included local business leaders and representatives of the University of Victoria Peter B. Gustavson School of Business and Royal Roads University School of Business. READ MORE
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EMPOWER Research is gathering information to help guide research towards novel rehabilitation treatments for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for first responders and military personnel in Canada and the United States. Link to survey here
1 $500 cash winner and a variety of sponsored apparel prizes after completing the survey!
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Chinook Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of precision medicines for kidney diseases, today announced the presentation of data from the ongoing phase 1/2 study of BION-1301 in patients with IgAN. The findings were presented in an oral presentation at the 58TH European Renal Association – European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Virtual Congress. READ MORE
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Bold Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, is pleased to announce that it is receiving advisory services and additional research and development funding of up to CAD$965,000 from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to support the development of BOLD-100 as a novel antiviral, bringing the total project funding to CAD$1.46M.
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Qu Biologics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a novel platform of immunotherapies designed to restore innate immune function, is pleased to announce that the data from QBECO-CD-02, Qu’s Phase 2 study of QBECO SSI treatment for Crohn’s disease, was selected for an oral presentation at the 16th Congress of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO), a leading GI conference. READ MORE.
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The SF GAC CTA Health program has launched the application process and will be closing on July 7. The program will run from September to December 2021. The program is looking for high-potential, growth-stage companies in:
- Biotechnology
- Diagnostics
- Digital health
- Genomics
- Drug discovery
- Medical devices
- Precision medicine
- Therapeutics
Companies must have a minimum proof of concept and a clear strategy for accessing this market, be seeking venture capital (post-seed to series A) or alternative financing, partnerships and customers within the next 12 months, and have a CEO or founder who is committed and able to participate in virtual advisory meetings and preparatory work, as well as in all virtual kickoff and closing programming.
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Now Accepting Applications to 2021 Maryland Bio Innovation Conference Venture Mentoring Services |
The Trade Commissioner Service in Washington, DC has partnered with the Maryland Tech Council (MTC) to offer an opportunity to participate in a virtual mentoring and partnering program. Selected Canadian companies are expected to begin the program in July 2021. The experience will culminate in the 2021 Maryland Bio Innovation Conference, to be held as a hybrid virtual/in-person event October 4-5, 2021.
The MTC’s Venture Mentoring Services program is a comprehensive, well-defined team mentor approach designed to help a company grow faster. Mentors are trained using the well-established MIT Venture Mentoring Services Program curriculum.
Through its relationships in the region, the MTC and its mentors will help Canadian companies connect with the ecosystem of federal labs, academic and research institutions, biopharma companies, and investors in the BioHealth Capital Region (Washington D.C, Maryland, Virginia).
The application period ends on June 25, 2021, at 3 pm Eastern Daylight Time.
Program highlights:
- A virtual kickoff event followed by up to 6 virtual meetings and up to 6 conference calls for each participating Canadian company to meet and strategize with their team of mentors
- Warm introductions to partners in the BioHealth Capital Region, including: federal labs like NIH, NIAID, BARDA; academic and research institutions like Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, Georgetown, GWU; companies like GSK, AstraZeneca, J&J, Lonza; several large hospital systems; and strategic investors
- Support for your participation in the 2021 Maryland Bio Innovation Conference, which convenes more than 500 top researchers, business leaders, academics, venture capitalists, startups and life sciences industry professionals based in the region
- Access to networking opportunities and business development through the BIO One-on-One Partnering System
Selection Criteria
Applicants should be life sciences* companies with a demonstrated proof of concept led by an individual or individuals working full time on the business.
A priority will be given to those companies preparing for their first venture or institutional financing round or with specific partnering interests for the region.
*Preferred Focus Areas
- Cell and gene therapy
- Immunotherapy
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Vaccines
- Biomanufacturing
Application Information
Please email your interest to Karen Miller no later than June 25, 2021, at 3 pm EDT. Your email should include the following information:
- Company Name, Address, Phone, Website
- Your Name and Title
- Number of years in business
- Brief description of your company (maximum of two paragraphs)
- Your company’s Product/Segment of healthcare/Stage of Development
- Goals for this program (2-3 bullets)
Companies will be notified by mid-July if they have been selected.
If you have any questions, please contact Karen at the email or mobile below.
Karen M. Miller, MS, MBA (she/elle)
Trade Commissioner (Life Sciences)
m: (202) 549-2631
Embassy of Canada | Ambassade du Canada
501 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
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The province of BC is adding millions in additional funding to keep the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant operating until the expected start of Step 3 of BC’s Restart plan on July 1, 2021.
The program has been providing relief to thousands of B.C. businesses impacted by the pandemic. READ MORE
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Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Aduhelm (aducanumab) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, a debilitating disease affecting 6.2 million Americans. Aduhelm was approved using the accelerated approval pathway, which can be used for a drug for a serious or life-threatening illness that provides a meaningful therapeutic advantage over existing treatments. READ MORE
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Arazy Group Consultants are the inventors of global Medtech registration technology, providing market access services to over 140 countries. With the launch of LICENSALE® – Global Medtech Registration System in 2013, Arazy Group took the lead on the provision of advanced registration and license management technology solutions, designed specifically for the medical and IVD device industry.
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Virogin Biotech Specializes in innovative immune-oncolytic Therapeutics. Led by their experienced leadership with over 25 years of experience in fundamental research, translational and clinical development of immunotherapy & oncolytic virotherapy, they are determined to bring novel oncolytic solutions to market for the benefit of the patient
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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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