June 18, 2026 - Hello BioLinks readers

This week:

• Congratulations to the 2026 LSBC Awards Winners!
• CASTL and NIBRT expand global partnership
• Tomorrow: Invest in Vancouver panel at BC Business House
• Weigh in on BC’s patent box consultation by June 24
• Survey: VILS client needs survey on facilities
• CASTL is looking for industry partners

Congratulations to the 2026 LSBC Awards Winners

Congratulations to all the well-deserving winners this year. This year's winners represent those in BC's life sciences sector, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, business success, and impact. We look forward to celebrating with you on September 9, 2026! Get your ticket(s) or reserve a table here.

CASTL and NIBRT Expand Global Partnership to Advance Biomanufacturing Workforce Development

The Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) and Ireland’s National Institute for Bioprocessing Research & Training (NIBRT) have signed an agreement to expand their partnership on biomanufacturing workforce development. This was recognized in a recent Canada–Ireland joint statement issued by Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and Micheál Martin, the Taoiseach of Ireland, on June 13, 2026, during a bilateral visit to Ireland. Read more.

Join Wendy Hurlburt and Life Sciences Leaders at BC Business House

Tomorrow, Friday, June 19 at 3:30-5:30 PM, join a panel hosted by Invest Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Centre BC Business House for "From Breakthrough to Global Scale: Where Life Sciences Wins Next". Learn more and register here.

Weigh in on BC’s Patent Box Consultation

LSBC members are encouraged to contribute your thoughts to the Province’s patent box consultation. The BC government is exploring whether adopting a patent box could support the growth of BC’s life sciences sector and help encourage the commercialization of intellectual property within the province. The consultation is open until June 24, 2026. Learn more.

Vancouver Island Life Sciences (VILS) is seeking input from the life sciences community to help plan future lab and innovation spaces on Vancouver Island. Feedback will help identify the facilities, equipment, and support services needed to foster innovation and growth. Share your thoughts through the VILS Client Needs Survey. Learn more.

CASTL Is Looking for Industry Partners

LSBC is partnering with CASTL (Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences) to support workforce development through the Elevate Reskilling program, which is training BC youth in: Laboratory Techniques & Aseptic Practices; Bioprocessing & Manufacturing Operations; Quality, Safety & Compliance; Analytical & Technical Skills.

CASTL Is Looking for Industry Partners to support employer integration through the following opportunities:


• lunch and learns, (virtual or in person at their Richmond location)
• networking,
• facility tours, and
• guest judging of their capstone projects (virtual or in person at their Richmond location)

If your organization can participate, please contact the CASTL Elevate Reskilling program through Mauricio Romero at mauricio@castlcanada.ca.

Member Highlights 

AbCellera and Jazz Pharmaceuticals collaborate to discover next-generation T-cell engaging multispecific antibodies. The collaboration includes $56 million in upfront payments to AbCellera and up to $792 million in potential option fees and milestone payments for any program Jazz develops. Jazz has the exclusive option to develop and commercialize therapeutic antibodies resulting from the collaboration. Read more.

Jade Biosciences announced that it has closed its previously announced public offering. The shares of common stock were sold to the public at a price of $15.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Jade from the offering were $172.5 million. Read more.

EY releases Biotech Beyond Borders Report 2026. The report includes trends and valuable industry insights. Read more.

Ecosystem Highlights

Fourteen research teams across Canada have received funding through the STEPS initiative to generate evidence and develop solutions that strengthen public health systems, advance health equity, and improve preparedness for future health challenges. Read more.

Kudos

Fiona Dalton is Honoured with Annual Award for UBC Students to attend Oxford

UBC celebrates the launch of the Fiona Dalton Oxford Scholars Award, made possible by the generosity of the Blenheim Foundation. Established in honour of Fiona Dalton, President and CEO at Providence Health Care and Oxford alum, the award will annually fund an outstanding domestic UBC undergraduate student for a full academic year at the University of Oxford. Read more.

Congratulations to BC’s Ian Mortimer, President and CEO of Xenon Pharmaceuticals, on being recognized as a finalist for both the 2026 Ernst & Young Global Consulting Services Entrepreneur of the Year® 2026 Pacific Program and for the 2026 Bloom Burton Award. These honours recognize his exceptional leadership, innovation, and contributions to advancing Canada's life sciences sector, while helping shape the future of healthcare through scientific and entrepreneurial excellence. Purchase tickets for the gala here.

Congratulations to Evonik for receiving two Pharma Excipients Awards at CPHI China 2026 in Shanghai, for their global leadership in advanced drug delivery technologies and commitment to supporting the transformation of China’s pharmaceutical industry toward higher quality standards and innovation-driven growth. Read more.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Innovation and Translational Research Awards,

Dr. Lori Brotto, Dr. Mark Elliott, Dr. Brian Kwon, Dr. James Lan, Dr. Zhenwei Ma, Dr. Mypinder Sekhon, Dr. Karen Sherwood, Dr. Joe Tay, and Dr. Fidel Vila-Rodriguez, from Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI). These awards recognize researchers who are advancing innovative discoveries into real-world health-care solutions, helping improve patient outcomes and strengthen health systems through impactful research. Read more.

People on the Move

Peter Moreland-Giraldeau is appointed as the new Vice-Chairperson and Conor McCourt as a member of the Board to the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB). Read more.

Applications Open

The MedTech Conference 2026 Start-Up Pitch Competition is offering emerging medical technology companies the opportunity to showcase their innovations before industry leaders, investors, and potential partners. The competition highlights promising solutions that are shaping the future of healthcare and advancing patient care. Learn more.

The adMare Executive Institute is now accepting applications for Cohort IX. Designed for experienced life sciences professionals and emerging executives, the program offers leadership development, executive coaching, peer learning, and valuable industry connections to help participants advance their careers and drive innovation across Canada's life sciences sector. Deadline: July 24, 2026. Learn more.

Canadian Life Sciences companies are invited to apply to join the Canadian delegation to BIX 2026 in Korea, one of the regions biopharmaceuticals and life sciences events. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their innovations, engage with potential partners and investors, and gain valuable market insights. Applications close June 30, 2026. Learn more.

The UBC School of Biomedical Engineering is inviting organizations to submit project proposals for its 2026-2027 Capstone Design Course. Throughout this eight-month program, senior biomedical engineering students collaborate with external partners to develop innovative solutions to real-world health challenges. Project proposals are due July 17,2026. Learn more.

See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website.

Membership Spotlight

StressMarq Biosciences is a bioreagents company producing antibodies, proteins, assay kits and small molecules for the life sciences research market. Our customers include scientists in academia, biotech/CROs/pharma and government institutions. In recent years, StressMarq has developed a range of fibrilized and oligomeric protein preparations for use in neurodegenerative disease research, including alpha synuclein, amyloid beta, tau, SOD1 and TTR. Learn more.

Since 2007, FDU Vancouver (Fairleigh Dickinson University Vancouver) has been transforming the lives of working professionals across British Columbia through personal, global, and transformational education. As a comprehensive, publicly minded, not-for-profit university, we offer industry-aligned undergraduate and graduate programs in business, health, hospitality, humanities, and information technology. Learn more.

Amin Janmohamed is a pharmacist, pharmaceutical researcher, and drug developer with experience spanning pharmaceutical compounding, manufacturing, formulation development, and CDMO operations. Amin supports initiatives ranging from specialized pharmaceutical services to early and late phase drug development, clinical trials, clinical innovation, and contract manufacturing. His work focuses on advancing innovative therapies and finding solutions to unmet needs in British Columbia's life sciences sector. Learn more.

CQDM is a non-profit biopharmaceutical research consortium whose mission is to support and facilitate multi-stakeholder collaborative R&D that accelerates translation of leading-edge discoveries into vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics addressing unmet medical needs while generating significant benefits for the Canadian economy. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

June 22-25 - The BIO International Convention will be held in San Diego, US for four exciting days of networking, programming, and partnering opportunities that will shape the future of our industry and celebrate the scientific discoveries transforming our world.

September 9 - The 28th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards is a distinguished occasion that brings together British Columbia’s vibrant life sciences community to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our peers and recognize the tireless efforts of those who have devoted their careers to advancing health innovations.

Novo Nordisk introduces updated Rybelsus® tablet formulation in Canada for adults living with type 2 diabetes

Novo Nordisk has announced an updated formulation of the Rybelsus® (semaglutide tablets), which is a prescription medicine used by adults who has type 2 diabetes… Read more.

New Study Reveals How Cell Competition Helps Human Embryos Thrive and Inspires a Card Game for Future Scientists

UBC researchers have found that cell competition helps embryos develop properly. Their findings also inspired a card game that makes learning biology more engaging for students… Read more.

How The Body remembers Inflammation

Researchers have discovered that blood stem cells can remember past inflammation, offering new insights into aging, disease, and long-term health... Read more.

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and AbCellera Announce Collaboration to Discover Next-Generation T-cell Engaging Multispecific Antibodies

Jazz Pharmaceuticals and AbCellera are partnering to develop new antibody-based cancer treatments that help the immune system better identify and target cancer cells, with the goal of improving outcomes for patients… Read more.

Exdensur (depemokimab injection) approved in Canada for the treatment of severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Exdensur (depemokimab) has been approved in Canada as a new treatment option for people with severe asthma and severe nasal polyps that are not well controlled by existing therapies… Read more.

Getinge launches Fluobeam LS, advancing Fluorescence Imaging for Small-Incision Procedures

Getinge has introduced Fluobeam LS, a new imaging system that helps surgeons see critical structures more clearly during small-incision procedures, supporting greater precision in the operating room… Read more.

Jade Biosciences Announces Closing of Public Offering of Common Stock, Including Full Exercise of Underwriters Option to Purchase Additional Shares

Jade Biosciences has completed its public stock offering, securing additional funding to support its research and development efforts… Read more.

Research and Innovation Coordinator

The role supports the development and implementation of efficient processes, including automated workflows, tools and documentation to strengthen R&I program administration and post-award management, playing a key role in supporting the integration and effective use of Proposal Central across R&I and with Genome BC funded project teams. Learn more.

Contracts and Budgets Specialist, VCH Research Institute

This role requires supporting the (VCHRI) Office of Clinical Trials Administration providing contractual interpretation, negotiations, advice and support to ensure VCH’s and VCHRI’s compliance with the complex legal and regulatory framework for research on human subjects. Learn more.

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