December 11, 2025 - 1 week, and 1 day left in the LSBC year!

This week:

• Canada’s Billion-dollar plan to Recruit Top International Researchers
• BC’s Leadership in Medical Isotopes and Radiotherapeutics
• Get A Professional Headshot at Career Connect Day!

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly at a press conference in Montreal on Dec. 9, 2025. (Matt Tornabene, CityNews)

Canada’s Billion-dollar Plan to Recruit Top International Researchers

Canada launched a $1.7 billion program to recruit leading global researchers, part of the effort to attract intellectual talent looking to leave the United States. However, the plan is not strictly catered to U.S.-based researchers. A statement from the ministries of industry and health says the goal is “to attract and support more than 1,000 leading international and expatriate researchers”. Joly said a priority would be to encourage leading Canadian researchers working abroad to return home. Read more [National Post].

BC’s Leadership in Medical Isotopes and Radiotherapeutics

BC has become a leader in Canada’s rapidly growing radiopharmaceutical and medical isotope sector, fueled by world-class facilities like TRIUMF and the Institute for Advanced Medical Isotopes (IAMI). Positioned at the intersection of physics, chemistry, and medicine, TRIUMF drives discovery, commercialization, and national health innovation—producing key isotopes through partnerships with BC Cancer, UBC, and global industry leaders.

BC researchers have advanced the development of actinium-225 (Ac-225), a rare isotope driving next-generation targeted alpha therapies for cancer. Referred to as “the world’s rarest drug,” Ac-225 is a radiotherapeutic that delivers highly localized radiation to cancer cells, offering new hope for patients with otherwise untreatable diseases.

Last week we saw LSBC member Alpha-9 Oncology reach an important milestone by treating the first patient in its Phase 1 study of A9-3408, an Ac-225-based radiotherapeutic for melanoma. Other growing radiopharmaceutical companies in BC representing our potential to be a global hub include Abdera, and IKOMED. Read more [Trade and Invest BC].

Get A Professional Headshot at Career Connect Day!

Member Highlights 

ARC Medical announces IPCOAT™ successfully deployed in first gynecologic surgery. The ease, speed and safety of the liquid adhesion barrier device was demonstrated during gynecologic endometriosis surgery and is a significant clinical milestone for ARC Medical. Read more.

WELL subsidiary WELLSTAR Technologies closes $62M financing to support its pre-spinout growth strategy. WELLSTAR, a high growth SaaS healthcare technology company serving over 40% of providers across Canada is targeting a public listing in 2026. Read more.

Ecosytem Highlights

Rather than relying on patents or siloed, proprietary research, Conscience’s Developing Medicine Through Open Science Program enables collaborative, early-stage research. The program uses an open science model to share data, tools, and results across institutions. Proving to be effective, a lead development candidate for pediatric brain cancer was nominated following an extensive, multi-year collaboration with several academic and industry partners worldwide. Read more.

Surrey Memorial Hospital expands specialty care in cardiac and cancer care. The new cardiac catheterization suites are the first of their kind south of the Fraser River. Patients who previously had to travel to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster or hospitals in Vancouver will now be able to receive care in their own community. Read more.

People on the Move

Congratulations to Paras Sharma on joining InBC as the new Investment Principal. He brings exceptional and scientific expertise, with experience supporting life sciences innovators at Genesy’s Capital, adMare BioInnovations, and other leading organizations. Read more

Applications Open

Web Summit’s Vancouver Startup program is helping BC startups prepare through training, mentorship, and pitch support, and connecting local founders to global investors and opportunities. Applications are open to join the program in May 2026. Read more

IP Pathways is a certificate program designed to help innovators build the skills they need to protect, manage and leverage their innovations through expert-led sessions, practical case studies, and certification upon completion. Read more

The ISSCR and STEMCELL Technologies have released a free, on-demand course, “Applying the ISSCR Standards for Research.” The training offers practical guidance on implementing best practices for human stem cell research, including characterization, pluripotency and genomic integrity. Read more

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

Member Spotlight

Acera Insurance - is a full-service Canadian brokerage built on the foundation of award-winning, independent insurance brokerages that have been serving communities across the country for over 60 years. By combining our strengths and stability, we’re bringing greater value, expertise and resources to individuals, families and businesses nationwide across a variety of industries. Learn more

Harry Wong - is a Research Scientist with over a decade of experience in molecular biology and cancer research. His work spans mechanism discovery, biomarker development, and the evaluation of emerging therapeutic strategies. Recently, he strengthened his industry readiness through Canadian biomanufacturing programs focused on bioprocess fundamentals and advanced therapies. He applies this expertise to bioprocess workflows, translational research, and emerging biotechnologies, combining rigorous scientific training with a proactive mindset to advance drug development and biomanufacturing in Canada. Learn more

Until next week!

LSBC Team

January 23 - The Life Sciences BC’s 7th Annual Career Connect Day brings together life-sciences employers, students, and job-seekers for a full day of career talks, company training program previews, and networking. It includes presentations about jobs and leadership in the sector plus a job fair and exhibitor hall.

February 25 - The 11th Annual Access to Innovation conference brings together leaders from industry, research, government and health care to discuss how BC’s life-sciences innovations move from discovery to real-world impact. This year focuses on trends shaping the sector, including the growing role of AI, and offers talks, panels and networking opportunities.

mlHealth 360 Receives FDA Clearance for Scaida BrainCT-ICH: Canada’s First AI Solution for Intracranial Hemorrhage Triage

Scaida BrainCT-ICH, an AI tool from mlHealth 360, received FDA clearance as the first Canadian-developed software to help detect and prioritize brain bleeds from CT scans, speeding up urgent patient care... Read more

Phase 1 study Advances A9-3408, an Actinium-225-based Radiotherapeutic, Building on the Progress of the Company’s Imaging agent, A9-3202, which Entered the Clinic last Year

Alpha-9 Oncology has launched a Phase 1 study of A9-3408, an Actinium-225 radiotherapeutic designed to target MC1R-positive melanoma tumours, building on earlier progress with its companion imaging agent, A9-3202... Read more

ARC Medical Treats First Patient in JOCOAT™ Orthopedic Surgery, GLAD-04 Pivotal Clinical Trial

ARC Medical has treated the first patient in a pivotal trial testing JOCOAT, a surgical coating designed to reduce scar tissue and improve recovery after knee ligament surgery... Read more

Biogen Receives Health Canada Authorization for ZURZUVAE™ (zuranolone), the First and Only Treatment Indicated for Adults with Postpartum Depression in Canada

ZURZUVAE has been approved by Health Canada as the first pill treatment in Canada for postpartum depression, offering a short 14-day course designed to provide faster symptom relief for new parents... Read more

Memphis Healthcare Builders Team Announced for Regional One Health’s New Hospital Project

Regional One Health selected the Memphis Healthcare Builders team to design and build a new modern hospital campus, expanding emergency, trauma, women’s, cancer, and other critical care services in Memphis... Read more

Earlier Use of CARVYKTI® Demonstrated Lasting Treatment-Free Remissions at 2.5 years in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

The cancer therapy CARVYKTI showed strong results when used earlier for multiple myeloma, with many patients remaining cancer-free and treatment-free for 2.5 years after a single infusion... Read more

Cytiva and Fida Biosystems Collaborate to Improve Molecular Insight for Faster Drug Discovery

Cytiva and Fida Biosystems partnered to combine their technologies to better study molecular interactions, helping speed up drug discovery... Read more

Idorsia’s Treatment for Insomnia Disorder wins the Inaugural Prix Galien Bridges Award in the ‘Best Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Product’ Category

Idorsia’s insomnia treatment won the inaugural Prix Galien Bridges Award, recognizing it as a breakthrough sleep therapy... Read more

Saskatchewan Adds CAPVAXIVE® to Publicly Funded Adult Immunization Program

CAPVAXIVE, a new pneumococcal vaccine, to its publicly funded adult immunization program to help protect against serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis... Read more

Unprecedented Results from the Phase 3 MajesTEC-3 study Support TECVAYLI® plus DARZALEX FASPRO® as a Potential Standard of Care as Early as Second line for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

TECVAYLI plus DARZALEX FASPRO delivered strong Phase 3 results in relapsed multiple myeloma, showing major improvements that support its use as a new standard treatment... Read more

ARC Medical Announces IPCOAT™ Successfully Deployed in First Gynecologic Surgery Patient

ARC Medical successfully used its IPCOAT device in the first gynecologic surgery patient, marking a milestone in preventing scar tissue after surgery... Read more

Scemblix®Receives Priority Access in Ontario Under New FAST Program

Scemblix has received priority access in Ontario, allowing eligible chronic myeloid leukemia patients to get this new treatment sooner through public funding... Read more

Johnson & Johnson’s INLEXZO™ (gemcitabine intravesical system) Delivers 74 Percent Disease-free Survival at One Year in BCG-Unresponsive, High-Risk, Papillary-only NMIB

Johnson & Johnson’s INLEXZO showed strong results for high-risk bladder cancer patients who didn’t respond to standard treatment, with 74% remaining disease-free at one year, offering a promising alternative to surgery... Read more

Research Associate I, Protein Science

The Research Associate I, Protein Science supports drug discovery by running and analyzing lab experiments using cell-based and protein assays, maintaining cell lines, documenting results, and collaborating with the research team to generate data that advances therapeutic development... Learn more

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