July 9, 2026 - Hello BioLinks readers | | |
This week:
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Wendy Hurlburt and life sciences leaders recognized on the 2026 BIV BC500 list
- UBC-led collaborations driving BC's biotech ecosystem forward
- 2026 Pre-Budget Consultations: Share your feedback by September 8
- Recognizing excellence at the 28th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards
- Apply to Pitch at Invest in BC
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Wendy Hurlburt and 30+ Life Sciences Leaders Named to the 2026 BIV BC500 List
We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding leaders from BC’s life sciences community recognized in Business in Vancouver’s fifth annual BC500 list. This recognition reflects the strength of BC's life sciences sector and the people driving innovation, collaboration, and growth across the province. Among those recognized this year is LSBC President & CEO, Wendy Hurlburt, who joins more than 30 well-deserving leaders within our thriving ecosystem.
Congratulations to all who were recognized this year for the impact they are making across our province’s community, industries, and overall economy. Read more here.
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BIV Profiles UBC's Role in Strengthening BC's Biotech Ecosystem
Collaboration has long been at the heart of BC’s thriving biotech sector. At the University of British Columbia (UBC), decades of research, entrepreneurship and industry partnerships have helped transform groundbreaking discoveries into globally recognized companies and health innovations. From Dr. Pieter Cullis’ work pioneering lipid nanoparticle technology which enabled mRNA vaccines to launching spin-off companies (including AbCellera and Aspect Biosystems), UBC researchers have had a direct hand in driving innovation, creating high-value jobs, and building up Canada’s fastest growing biotech ecosystem.
UBC President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon also notes that "UBC is a critical engine of innovation for the province and we also see ourselves as a key connector […] ensuring research ideas and the benefits of research flow both ways between academia and industry, creating growth and prosperity in B.C. and beyond." Read more.
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Government Seeks Feedback on Budget 2026
Have your say on Budget 2026! The Government of Canada has launched its 2026 Pre-Budget consultations and is inviting Canadians, businesses, and organizations to share their ideas and priorities. Join the conversation and submit feedback by September 8, 2026 via an online questionnaire or formal submission. Read more.
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Celebrate Excellence at the 28th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards
The 28th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards will take place on September 9, 2026. Join more than 600 leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across British Columbia's life sciences sector for an evening of celebration, networking, and recognition. Early-bird tickets are available until July 31, 2026. To buy tickets, click here.
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Apply now to pitch at Invest in BC
Connect with more than 100 investors during Life Sciences Investment Week in Vancouver, taking place November 2–5, 2026. The application deadline has been extended to July 13. The week includes an exclusive investor social, two days of company pitches and partnering at Invest in BC (November 3–4), and satellite events designed to help you build meaningful industry connections.
Whether you're looking to secure investment, build strategic partnerships, or both, this is an opportunity not to miss.
Learn more and apply to pitch at Invest in BC here.
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A study led by UBC found that children born to mothers with congenital heart disease are more likely to experience developmental vulnerabilities, highlighting the importance of early monitoring and support for children and families. Read more.
Through a new partnership, STEMCELL Technologies and CCRM are expanding access to making high-quality stem cell lines that can help researchers develop new cell therapies more efficiently. Read more.
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The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has provided an update on the Vaccine Impact Assistance Program (VIAP), outlining steps to improve claim processing, strengthen transparency, and better support applicants through a new online portal, available as of July 1, 2026. Read more.
A new long-term landmark agreement between the BC Government and the Government of Canada will bring multi-billion-dollar investments to BC to fund transportation, clean energy, and strengthen workforce training and childcare, while supporting economic growth, job creation, and protecting the province’s north coast tanker ban. Built around BC’s unique position as Canada’s Pacific gateway, the Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement will build BC’s future for generations to come. Read more.
An important milestone for improving access to innovative mental health therapies has been announced by Bausch Health, Canada Inc. with the listing of PrOKEDI® in Québec, a
prolonged-release injectable risperidone treatment for adults with schizophrenia. Read more.
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Congratulations to UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences researchers Dr. Miffy Hok Yan Cheng and Dr. Ly Vu for securing Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Funding. Read more.
Kudos also to six faculty members of UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering who were awarded funding by the NSERC in support of their innovative research programs: Dr. Peter Zandstra, Dr. Yanpu He, Dr. Carolina Tropini, Dr. Fabio Rossi, Dr. Babak Shadgan and Dr. Christopher Moraes. Read more.
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A no-cost, six-month accelerator for Canadian pre-seed and seed-stage therapeutics companies, ASCENT 2026 provides expert mentorship, investor readiness training, one-on-one coaching, and a pathway to OBIO’s RIDGE and SUMMIT Accelerator programs. Registration closes August 3, 2026. Learn more.
Applications are now open for One Six 8 Ventures' virtual Global MedTech Showcase on September 29, 2026. This is an opportunity for companies to present their innovations to global investors, strategic partners, and key audiences in MedTech. Companies working on medical device focused innovations are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is August 20, 2026. Learn more.
The Stem Cell Network invites early-stage trainees working in stem cell and regenerative medicine research to join the Foundations Course. This cohort-based program brings together trainees across Canada to build essential research competencies and skills across six interactive modules designed to fit alongside graduate training. The virtual course begins October 13, 2026 and applications close on September 9, 2026 or when capacity is reached. Learn more.
| | See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | | | | Bowen’s FX Therapeutics is pioneering a transformative, systemically delivered protein replacement therapy for Fragile X syndrome, a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, to restore FMRP function throughout the body, including the brain. Its innovative lead construct comprises the functional engineered version of FMRP fused to a cell penetrating peptide for enhanced brain and cell penetration. Learn more. | | |
Until next week!
LSBC Team
| | 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. | | November 3-4 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 11th annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures. This highly anticipated event serves as a premier gathering for life sciences innovators in British Columbia, connecting them with investors and potential partners locally, nationally, and around the world. | | |
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Children of mothers with Congenital Heart Disease face higher risk of developmental vulnerability
New research from UBC suggests children born to mothers with congenital heart disease may be at higher risk of developmental vulnerability, highlighting the need for early monitoring and intervention… Read more.
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Québec is the first province to list PrOKEDI® (extended-release injectable suspension of risperidone) on the public drug reimbursement formulary for the treatment of Schizophrenia
PrOKEDI® is now publicly reimbursed in Quebec, improving access to long-acting schizophrenia care… Read more.
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Providence Health Care Ventures and NIST Forge Research Partnership to Advance Privacy-Enhancing Technologies in Health Care
Providence Health Care Ventures is partnering with NIST to advance privacy-enhancing technologies that enable secure collaboration and innovation in health care… Read more.
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Vertex to Acquire Crinetics Pharmaceuticals
Vertex's planned acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals will expand its rare disease portfolio with new endocrine therapies… Read more.
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CQDM and IVADO join forces to accelerate the development of TME Predict, a predictive AI for cancer treatment efficacy
CQDM and IVADO are collaborating on TME Predict, an AI-powered tool designed to improve cancer treatment prediction and speed up therapy development… Read more.
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Evonik invests U.S. $100 million to upgrade its U.S. Drug Substance contract manufacturing site
Evonik has announced a U.S. $100 million investment to upgrade its U.S. drug substance manufacturing facility, strengthening production capacity and supporting the development of increasingly complex medicines… Read more.
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Genome BC Supports BC Innovator BugSeq in the Fight Against Antimicrobial Resistance
Genome BC is supporting BugSeq in developing faster genomic tools to detect antimicrobial resistance, helping healthcare teams identify infections sooner and improve patient care… Read more.
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Johnson & Johnson Announces FDA Approval for the Dual Energy THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Platform
Johnson & Johnson has received FDA approval for its Dual Energy THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Platform, giving physicians more flexibility to treat abnormal heart rhythms using two energy options in a single device…
Read more.
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STEMCELL Technologies and CCRM Partner to Expand Access to Matched GMP and RUO iPSC Lines for Cell Therapy Development
STEMCELL Technologies and CCRM have partnered to make high-quality stem cell lines more accessible, helping speed the development of new cell therapies… Read more.
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Researchers discover new form of Hereditary Prostate Cancer
A new study from UBC has uncovered a previously unknown inherited form of prostate cancer. This discovery may help identify people at higher risk earlier and support more targeted screening and treatment… Read more.
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JOCOAT™ and IPCOAT™ liquid surgical adhesion barrier medical devices
ARC Medical is advancing JOCOAT™ and IPCOAT™, two liquid surgical adhesion barrier devices designed to help reduce internal scar tissue and improve recovery after surgery… Read more.
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Scientist / Senior Scientist, Bioconjugation
The role requires designing, executing, and optimizing site-specific and stochastic bioconjugation reactions (e.g., maleimide–thiol, NHS-ester amine coupling, strain-promoted azide–alkyne “click” chemistry, enzymatic conjugation) to generate antibody–payload conjugates... Read more.
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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.
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| Post a Job on the LSBC Website | |
LSBC Membership Discounts on Job Postings
As an LSBC member, your first five job postings can be reposted on BioTalent Canada's The Petri Dish. Want more info? Contact membership@lifesciencesbc.ca
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