April 2, 2026 - Happy Spring from LS

This week:

• VIATEC awards celebrate in western neon fashion
• LSBC Award Nominations now open
• Aspect Biosystems announces $280M project and federal funding
• Canada invests $48 million in the Clinical Support & Research Centre

Congratulations to VIATEC Award Recipients

About 500 members of the tech community came together in cowboy fashion to celebrate the most notable individuals and companies within Greater Victoria. The theme, described as “Western neon,” blended the rugged spirit of the Pacific Northwest with the electric energy of innovation. Congratulations to LSBC members Dr. Karolina Valente (VoxCell) and Azor Biotek on their well-deserved recognition. Read more (Times Colonist).

LSBC Awards - Nominate Those Who Drive our Sector Forward

Life sciences is not easy; it is a challenging, highly technical, high-stakes team sport that requires relentless drive. Each year, we gather to celebrate those who put forth incredible effort to bring both economic and patient benefit to our province. Nominations for our 2026 LSBC Awards are open from today until May 8. Nominate a deserving individual or organization today! Learn more.

Aspect Biosystems’ $280M Multi-Year Project and Federal Funding Announced

Congratulations to the Aspect Biosystems team on securing $79 million from the from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Response Fund. This funding will enable Aspect to continue to build in BC, and contribute to a $280-million project that enhances the company’s clinical capabilities. Read more.

“This government deal allows us to have the capabilities to go the distance, which is very different than 100 years ago when insulin left Canada and created Novo Nordisk,” Aspect CEO and cofounder Tamer Mohamed quoted in Endpoints News.

Canada Invests in the Clinical Support & Research Centre (CSRC)

The $48-million investment will support the creation of an advanced innovation hub designed to accelerate discovery and bring research closer to care. Construction is underway, with the CSRC expected to open in early 2029. It will be connected by skybridge to the new St. Paul’s Hospital, opening in 2027, creating a fully integrated environment for research, education, and clinical care. Read more.

Member Highlights 

Claris Healthcare announced in a recent review its companion has been named the "best choice for managing complex care", highlighting its ability to support medication adherence, remote monitoring, and safe, simple communication for seniors. Read more (dailycaring.com).

SFU partners with Queens University to combine national expertise to provide world-leading high-performance computing and services for academia, government, and industry. Read more

"By partnering with Queen’s, we’re bringing together the expertise, talent, and the national-scale facilities needed for a sovereign platform that Canadians can trust," says Dugan O’Neil, vice-president, research & innovation. "This collaboration strengthens our research community, supports industry innovation, and helps ensure Canada remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global landscape."

Ecosystem Highlights 

People in BC have access to expanded coverage of diabetes-related supplies and devices with help from federal National Pharmacare funding. Read more.

The Government of Canada is strengthening support for individuals with rare but serious vaccine-related injuries through updates to the Vaccine Injury Support Program. The changes aim to improve access to financial assistance, simplify the application process, and enhance transparency for those affected and their families. Read more.

Lilly has signed a global licensing and research collaboration with Insilico Medicine worth up to $2.75 billion, gaining access to a portfolio of novel preclinical oral therapies including an oral GLP-1 drug for diabetes. Hong Kong-listed Insilico has developed at least 28 drugs using generative AI, with nearly half already in clinical trials. This deal also sends a strong signal to the market, further legitimizing genAI-discovered drugs. Read more.

Kudos

People on the Move

Congratulations to Rhonda Barnet on being appointed as the new Board Chair of DIGITAL, bringing extensive leadership and governance experience to help guide the organization's strategic direction and advance innovation, technology adoption, and economic growth across Canada. Read more.

Congratulations to Matthew J. Carlyle as he takes up his role as President, CEO, and Director at adMare BioInnovations. Gordon McCauley will transition to Vice-Chair, where he will remain actively engaged with a focus on key stakeholder engagement and public policy at both the federal and provincial levels. Read more.

Congratulations to Steve Eck from Avantor, as he steps in as interim Chief Financial Officer, following Brent Jones' departure. Read more.

Kristin Stafford has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer for Zymeworks, bringing extensive experience in life sciences and finance and capital markets to support the company’s financial strategy and continued growth. Read more.

Applications Open

Bausch Health has launched the 2026 ASPIRE HIGHER Scholarship Program, offering financial support to students living with dermatologic conditions. The program will award up to $10,000 to selected recipients to help them pursue higher education. Learn more.

The CASTL BioInnovation Scientist (BIS) Program is a fast, virtual entry into biotech and biomanufacturing, offering practical skills, industry insight, and networking in just 4-8 weeks. Applications for the Spring cohort close April 6, with the program beginning April 20. Learn more.

The CELS Canada in the Valley Showcase on May 13 &14, connects investor-ready Canadian life science startups with key decision-makers in the U.S. market. Designed for companies ready to scale, the program supports founders in refining their U.S. strategy, building investor relationships, and accelerating growth. Learn more.

The Health Research Foundation (HRF) of Innovative Medicines Canada has opened the nominations for the 2026 HRF Medal of Honour, recognizing individuals who significantly improved the lives of Canadians and advanced health knowledge nationally and around the world. Learn more.

The Government of Canada announces its Biomedical Countermeasures Initiative, to accelerate the development and evaluation of biologics-based medical countermeasures, such as diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics. Contact nrc.BioMCM-CMMBio.cnrc@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca to learn more about partnership opportunities. Learn more.

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

Membership Spotlight

Incisive Genetics (IG) is focused on developing a innovative lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform for genetic therapies. They believe thier proprietary platform provides a solution to the most critical challenge to effective CRISPR-based gene therapy - the effective and safe delivery of active gene editing machinery into in vivo target tissues. Learn more

NK Bioscience is an early-stage company developing novel NK cell-based therapies for the treatment of solid tumors. The NK cells developed by us continue to grow and kill metastatic tumor cells in the presence of high levels of immunosuppressive factors. Learn more

Until next week!

LSBC Team

April 9 - Blakes Breakfast Speaking Series: Building Canada’s Biosecurity Through Biotechnology is an interactive discussion of the growing role of the biotech sector in supporting Canada’s biosecurity plan. Virtual attendees can join the conversation through a live chat during the program.

April 15 - The Life Sciences BC Showcase Series: Prince George highlights the latest innovations in the growing regional life sciences sector. We’ll be sharing updates on the lineup of speakers, including experts from research, industry, and academia, who will be sharing their experiences and insights.

Response Biomedical Corp. Announces Strategic Collaboration with Sugentech, Inc. to Expand in High Growth Global MarketsResponse Biomedical has partnered with Sugentech to expand into high-growth global markets, combining expertise to accelerate access to rapid diagnostic testing solutions worldwide... Read more

Idorsia’s Daridorexant Delivers Outstanding Results in a Phase 2 Study in Children with Insomnia Disorder
Idorsia’s insomnia drug daridorexant showed promising results in a Phase 2 study in children, helping improve sleep with a good safety profile, highlighting its potential as a new treatment option for pediatric insomnia... Read more

BD Launches AI-Enabled Medication Dispensing System to the European Market

BD has launched its AI-enabled medication dispensing system in the European market, designed to streamline medication management, reduce errors, and support more efficient and safer patient care...Read more

ICOTYDE™ (icotrokinra) One-year Results confirm Lasting Skin Clearance and Favorable Safety Profile in Once‑daily Pill for Plaque Psoriasis

Icotyde (icotrokinra), a once-daily pill for plaque psoriasis, showed lasting skin clearance after one year with a favourable safety profile, supporting its use as a long-term treatment option... Read more

INLEXZO™ (gemcitabine intravesical system) Assigned Permanent Billing Code, Supporting Access for Patients with Certain Bladder Cancers

INLEXZO (gemcitabine intravesical system) has been assigned a permanent billing code, helping streamline reimbursement and improve patient access to this bladder cancer treatment. The update supports broader availability for eligible patients and simplifies use within healthcare systems... Read more

Lexaria to Begin New Human Clinical Study in GLP-1

Lexaria Bioscience is set to begin a new human clinical study on GLP-1 drugs, using its DehydraTECH technology to explore improved oral delivery and evaluate safety and effectiveness... Read more

NanoVation’s ligand-free lcLNP™ achieves complete B cell depletion in NHP at 0.1 mg/kg

NanoVation’s ligand-free lcLNP platform demonstrated complete B-cell depletion in non-human primates at a low dose, highlighting its potential for targeted immune cell therapies and more effective delivery of genetic medicines beyond the liver... Read more

uBriGene and Cellinfinity BIO Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance In Vivo CAR-T Therapies

uBriGene and Cellinfinity BIO have partnered to advance in vivo CAR-T therapies, combining their expertise to support development and scale next-generation cancer treatments... Read more

Vertex Announces US FDA Approval for Label Extensions of ALYFTREK® and TRIKAFTA®, Expanding Availability of These Medicines to ~95% of All People With CF in the United States

Vertex has received FDA approval for label expansions of ALYFTREK and TRIKAFTA, broadening eligibility and enabling up to 95% of people with cystic fibrosis in the U.S. to access these treatments... Read more

Zymeworks Receives U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation for ZW191, an FRα-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate

Zymeworks has received FDA Fast Track designation for ZW191, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting FRα, supporting its development for advanced ovarian cancer and helping accelerate its path to patients... Read more

Aspect Biosystems Announces $280 Million Partnership with Government of Canada to Advance Development of Bioengineered Cellular Medicines

Aspect Biosystems has partnered with the Government of Canada on a $280 million initiative to advance bioengineered cellular medicines. The funding will support clinical development and scale manufacturing, helping bring innovative, potentially curative therapies to patients while strengthening Canada’s leadership in biotech... Read more

Federal Government invests $48 million in Providence Health Care’s Clinical Support & Research Centre

The Government of Canada is investing $48 million to support Providence Health Care’s new Clinical Support and Research Centre in Vancouver. This facility will help advance clinical trials and research, speeding up how new discoveries are turned into better care for patients while strengthening Canada’s life sciences sector... Read more

Research Scientist, Biology

The ideal candidate will possess in-depth knowledge of cell signaling and extensive hands-on experience, design and execute laboratory experiments to support target identification and validation, compound screening, and lead identification and characterization in both in vitro and in vivo settings... Learn more

Executive Assistant

The role supports executive scheduling, communications, meeting coordination, document preparation, research, follow-up tracking, and related administrative activities that help leadership manage priorities efficiently and professionally... Learn more

Grant/Medical Writer

The position focuses on translating complex research into clear, compelling proposals, coordinating with researchers or clients, and supporting funding submissions in a life sciences setting... Learn more

Business Development and Sales Associate

This role requires supporting client outreach, build partnerships, and help grow business opportunities within the life sciences sector... Learn more

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