April 17, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers!

Calling all life sciences leaders, researchers and community members! Nominations for the 2025 Life Sciences BC Awards open today. These awards honour individuals and organizations for their innovation and drive in the life sciences sector. This is your chance to recognize a member of BC’s life sciences ecosystem and enjoy the night at our incredible Awards Gala. Learn more and nominate a deserving company or individual here.

In partnership with Innovate BC and as part of Road to Web Summit Vancouver (R2WSV), we are offering the second of our complimentary three-part series to help prepare companies and individuals for the event. Join us on April 30 for our session Preparing the Perfect Pitch that will equip you with the tools to craft a clear, compelling, and confident pitch. Learn how to polish your pitch and leave with the clarity and confidence to present your company’s value proposition. Learn more and get your free tickets today.

Become an LSBC member today and get exclusive discounts with preferred vendors!

As an LSBC member, you have access to exclusive benefits, including up to 75% off at VWR International on the common high-volume items used for life science lab supplies. Learn more about our Member Discounts Program here.

Member Highlights 

Augurex, last year’s LSBC 2024 Emerging Company of the Year, announces Health Canada approval for its first-in-class diagnostic blood test for axial spondyloarthritis, an important milestone in addressing a significant global unmet need in the disease. Read more.

SFU researchers develop wearable AI technology for stroke and spinal injury rehabilitation. The study looked at more than 50 chronic stroke survivors and monitored them during mobility tasks. Using AI, researchers can now interpret the huge volume of data from wearable sensors and identify potentially risky movements. Read more. 

The Terry Fox Foundation and Lumira Ventures partner to launch the cancer breakthrough fund. A first-of-its-kind collaboration in Canada between a philanthropic organization and a venture capital firm with a mission to invest in best-in-class cancer-focused companies. Read more.

Novartis announces first oral monotherapy for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a chronic, rare and potentially life-threatening blood disorder is now available in Canada. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Government of BC in partnership with Genome BC and Genome Alberta, is advancing patient care and testing for cancer, heart disease, transplants, and infections through eight new genomics research projects. Read more.

Government of BC makes changes to the Employment Standards Act that sick notes are no longer required for short-term absences from work. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to GlycoNet Investigator Dr. P. Lynne Howell on receiving the 2025 Jeanne Manery-Fisher Memorial Award. Read more.

Paul Negulescu, Senior Vice President at Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, has been awarded the 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award. Congrats! Read more.

Kudos to UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Jason Min and Colleen Inglis for being the recipients of a 2024-25 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund. Read more.

Congratulations to Labcorp for receiving the Modern Healthcare 2025 Innovators Award for Labcorp Diagnostic Assistant™. Read more.

People on the Move

Santis Health welcomes Clare Michaels as Vice President, Ontario Government Affairs. Read more.

Applications Open

Applications open for BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a work-integrated learning initiative designed to increase the job-readiness of students registered in STEM, healthcare, business, and other programs at Canadian post-secondary institutions. Learn more.

Ready to take your biotech innovation to the global stage? Apply to BIOTECanada’s Coast-to-Coast Competition and pitch your company to investors and pharma leaders at the BIO International Convention. The deadline is May 1, 2025. Learn more.

Applications are open for CAMCCO-L’s 1-year learning cohort for students (MSc, PhD, postdoc) and early career researchers conducting therapeutic research in perinatal health, teratology, and maternal-fetal or obstetric medicine. The deadline is May 9, 2025. Learn more.

The Terry Fox New Investigator Awards provide research operating grants to support future leaders as they develop their independent careers in cancer research. The award provides a grant of up to $525,000 for three years to investigators within the first five years of a first faculty-level appointment. Submit registration of intent by May 22, 2025. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

SignalChem Lifesciences Corp. - Headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, SignalChem Lifesciences Corporation (SLC) is the parent company to three dynamic subsidiaries: SignalChem Pharmaceuticals Corp., SignalChem Diagnostics Inc., and SignalChem Plantech Corp.. Together, these entities drive innovation across the drug discovery, diagnostics, and plant biosynthesis under one cohesive organization.

SignalChem Pharmaceuticals Corp. is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focused on developing a robust pipeline of small molecule anti-cancer drugs that target novel disease pathways. Its primary objective is to combat cancer cells from multiple angles, inhibiting proliferation, reducing survival rates, and preventing metastasis, and transforming cancer into a manageable chronic disease. Its drug discovery and development programs have evolved to target crucial aspects of cancer cell transformation and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

April 22 - Join us for Investor Prep Webinar: Make the Most of Web Summit Vancouver

Are you an investor planning to attend Web Summit Vancouver this May? Don’t miss this exclusive webinar designed to help you maximize your experience at this highly anticipated annual global technology conference. This session is for active investors – whether you’re experienced in technology investing or exploring ways to begin investing in the sector.

April 30 - Join us for Preparing the Perfect Pitch

Our second R2WSV program will focus on Preparing the Perfect Pitch and is designed for startups ready to take their venture to the next level. Whether you’re seeking funding, partnerships, or simply want to sharpen how you communicate your value proposition. This expert-led session will equip you with the tools to craft a clear, compelling, and confident pitch.

Labcorp Receives Modern Healthcare’s 2025 Innovators Award

Labcorp, a global leader of innovative and comprehensive diagnostic laboratory services, announced it has received a Modern Healthcare 2025 Innovators Award for Labcorp Diagnostic Assistant™...Read more.

Augurex Secures Health Canada Approval for SPINEstat™, a First-in-Class Diagnostic Blood Test for Axial Spondyloarthritis

Augurex Life Sciences Corp. announced that Health Canada has approved SPINEstat™, a first-in-class diagnostic blood test for axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), as a Class II medical device...Read more.

Genomics Research Will Advance Treatment for B.C. Patients

B.C. is accelerating the future of patient care and advancing testing for cancer, heart disease, transplants and infections with eight new genomics research projects, in partnership with Genome BC and Genome Alberta...Read more.

Fabhalta® (Iptacopan Capsules), First Oral Treatment for Adult Patients with PNH, Now Available in Canada

Novartis Canada is pleased to announce that Fabhalta® (iptacopan capsules) is now available across Canada for adult patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) who have hemolytic anemia...Read more.

GlycoNet Investigator Awarded Jeanne Manery-Fisher Memorial Award

Congratulations to Dr. P. Lynne Howell on receiving the 2025 Jeanne Manery-Fisher Memorial Award from the Canadian Society for Molecular Biosciences...Read more.

Santis Bolsters its Ontario Government Affairs Team with the Addition of Clare Michaels

Santis Health welcomes Clare Michaels as Vice President, Ontario Government Affairs...Read more.

Vertex Researcher, Paul Negulescu Ph.D., Receives the 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award for Pioneering Research and Discovery of Medicines for Cystic Fibrosis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that Paul Negulescu, Ph.D. Senior Vice President, Vertex has been awarded the 2025 Canada Gairdner International Award...Read more.

SFU Researchers Developing Wearable AI Technology for Stroke and Spinal Injury Rehabilitation

Simon Fraser University researchers are using cutting edge technology, in combination with artificial intelligence and machine learning, to support safer rehabilitation for patients...Read more.

The Terry Fox Foundation and Lumira Ventures Partner to Launch The Cancer Breakthrough Fund

The Terry Fox Foundation (“Terry Fox”) and Lumira Ventures (“Lumira”) have partnered to launch The Cancer Breakthrough Fund (the “Fund”)...Read more.

Molecular You Launches Nationwide Access to Predictive Health Testing

Molecular You is announcing the nationwide U.S. launch of its direct-to-consumer testing platform...Read more.

Analytical Chemistry Manager – up to 18-month Maternity Leave Replacement

This position reports to the Vice President of CMC and is responsible for the management of technical operations related to analytical services of existing operations for the supply of existing and new sustained release drug products...Learn more.

Associate / Sr Associate – Biologics Discovery (14-Month Contract)

You will perform flow cytometry testing and analysis, including sample preparation, instrument calibration, data acquisition, and data analysis. Your expertise will contribute to the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics for serious illnesses...Learn more.

Process Development Scientist

The Process Development Scientist will be responsible for leading the development of novel viscous liquid formulations, the practical process scale up and ultimately involved in the detailed technology transfer to contract 3rd party manufacturing facilities...Learn more.

Research Scientist

This role contributez to the R&D of pipeline products and the existing lead drug candidate for treating osteoarthritis and eosinophilic esophagitis. The successful candidate will be a highly motivated, independent and creative scientist, ideally with previous academic and/or industrial experience...Learn more.

Communications Specialist, Content and Events

The Communications Specialist is a member of the Communications and Societal Engagement team. Reporting to the Senior Communications Manager you are an impeccable storyteller who is comfortable creating content for all media...Learn more.

Research Associate 2, Biology

The incumbent will provide technical in vivo support for our preclinical drug discovery projects. The successful candidate will conduct in vivo pharmacology experiments to characterize the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of compounds...Learn more.

Research Associate 3/Senior Research Associate 1, Biology (In Vivo)

The incumbent will provide technical in vivo support for our preclinical drug discovery projects. The successful candidate will conduct in vivo pharmacology experiments to characterize the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of compounds...Learn more.

If you haven't already, sign-up for this and our weekly events newsletter

Follow LSBC on Social Media