August 27, 2026 - Countdown to Awards – 2 weeks! | | |
This week:
- $100M for BC's life sciences sector from the federal government
- Over $541M for first intake of Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs
- Companies selected to pitch at Invest in BC announced
- $8.7 million for CASTL to strengthen Canada's workforce
- Last chance to consult the government on immigration priorities: submit by Sep 1
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$100M for BC’s Life Sciences Sector from the Federal Government
A big win for BC’s life sciences with nearly $100 million from the feds invested in BC-based companies Kardium and Evonik Canada. The announcement was made at UBC this morning. It includes up to $31.25 million for Kardium's manufacturing facility in Burnaby and up to $68 million for Evonik to expand its presence in BC, which includes a Nucleic Acid Competence Centre. Read more.
Over $541M to Attract World-Leading Researchers to Canada
The Canada Impact+ Research Chairs program, launched in December 2025, is now known as the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs program and is one of Canada's most aggressive campaigns to attract foreign research talent. Over $541 million of research funding was announced for intake 1 of the program. Minister Joly in her speech included examples of world-leading researchers from MIT and Harvard that have already been re-patriated to Canada at U of T and UBC. Read more.
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We’re So Excited for Life Sciences Investment Week
Life Sciences Investment Week is coming to Vancouver on November 2-5, 2026. This is the continued evolution of Invest in BC, which has become a cornerstone series of events for growing companies looking to fundraise or partner. Congratulations to the 25 companies selected to pitch across Biotech, MedTech, and Health Tech/Digital Health. Find the list of companies and read more.
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$8.7 Million for CASTL to Strengthen Canada’s Workforce
Congratulations to this year’s LSBC Strategic Partner of the Year, the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) on receiving $8.7 million in federal funding. The funds will help to grow Canada’s biomanufacturing workforce, which includes around 220,000 people and is expected grow by 65,000 more by 2029. Read more (CBC News).
Consultations on Economic Priorities for Category-based Selection in Express Entry
Should the government focus on bringing more physicians with Canadian experience, or more researchers into the country? Provide your feedback on the economic priorities the Government of Canada should consider to help address Canada’s economic and labour force needs through category-based selection. You are invited to complete the online survey by September 1, 2026. Learn more.
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Response Biomedical announced that its RAMP® technology is the foundation for ACTIS (Acute Care Testing in Space), a new portable device selected by the Canadian Space Agency to help assess astronauts' blood clot risk onboard the International Space Station. Read more.
Zymeworks announced a second FDA approval for zanidatamab in less than two years through its partner, Jazz Pharmaceuticals. Ziihera plus tislelizumab and chemotherapy was approved for first-line treatment of all HER2+ GEA patients, which triggers a $250 million milestone payment from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, with Zymeworks remaining eligible for up to $1.3 billion in additional milestones plus tiered royalties of up to 20.0% on net sales. Congratulations to Zymeworks and Jazz Pharmaceuticals! Read more.
Kardium receives funding from the Government of Canada to expand manufacturing of the Globe® Pulsed Field System in BC. Funding up to $31.25 million was announced through the Strategic Response Fund toward Kardium’s investment in a $125 million project to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Vancouver. Read more.
| | The Guidelines for BC’s Post Secondary’s Overdose Prevention and Response sector has been updated, which aims to improve campus safety and enhance protections for post-secondary communities amidst the ongoing toxic-drug crisis. Read more. | | UBC welcomes three world-renowned scientists Dr. Brian Kuhlman, Dr. Kathryn Whitehead & Dr. Curtis Huttenhower , who have been appointed for the Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada, where they will bring scientific expertise to advance biomedical discovery, health innovation and development of new treatments and health solutions in Canada. Read more. | |
Congratulations to UBC Medicine researchers, Mark Cembrowski, Rachel Eddy, Wendy Norman, Stuart Turvey, & Stephen Wright for being awarded the CFI funding, which help projects address critical areas of health research including children’s precision medicine, brain health, lung health and more. Read more.
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Congratulations to three UBC Medicine researchers Mariana Brussoni, David Granville & Aly Karsan for being elected as the 2026 Fellows of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, which is considered one of the highest honours for individuals in the Canadian health sciences community. Read more.
Congratulations to Bausch Health's Ortho Dermatologics 2026 Aspire Higher Scholarship Winners, six outstanding students living with dermatologic conditions have been awarded up to $10,000 each supporting their continued education and the goals they’re working toward. Read more.
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GSK has announced the appointment of Tina Graves to lead its Canadian operations as President and General Manager. Read more.
Congratulations to Samanta Cimitan for being appointed as Lonza’s Chief Commercial Officer, where she will further strengthen customer engagement, commercial delivery and a harmonized go-to-market approach. Read more.
Congratulations to Dr. Peter Caravan on joining UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences as the Eddie Goldenberg Distinguished Research Chair of Canada in Translational Molecular Imaging and Therapy. Read more.
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The 2026 Discovery Foundation Business Development Series is developed to help early-stage health sciences and deep tech companies strengthen commercialization strategies, improve deal readiness, and build strategic partnerships. The program includes three free virtual webinars from September–October, an in-person intensive workshop in October, and 1:1 structured mentorship and advisory sessions from October–November. The series kicks off virtually on September 11. Spaces for the workshop and mentorship sessions are limited. Register for Session 1 or join the bootcamp waitlist for priority access and program updates.
The Trade Commissioner Service is partnering with MATTER, for the C2MP Canada-Chicago Mentoring Program, supporting Canadian life sciences and healthcare companies looking to expand into the U.S. market. Five selected startups will take part in a six-month program featuring dedicated mentorship, workshops, market insights, and an opportunity to pitch in Chicago. Apply by August 31, 2026. Learn more.
| | See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | | |
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Jade Biosciences is developing a pipeline of potentially best-in-class therapy aimed at transforming the standard of care for patients living with autoimmune diseases. Their programs build on discovery-stage assets licensed from Paragon Therapeutics, an antibody discovery engine founded by Fairmount. Learn more. | | |
| David Steinley is a fractional CFO who helps founders from pre-seed through Series A raise capital and put it to work. He works with life sciences, cleantech, and software companies, having guided 35+ startups through more than $30M in fundraising. He specializes in helping founders succeed in due diligence, closing deals faster and on better terms. To that end, he created Corpus, data room software with built-in intelligence that helps founders get it done right. 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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Johnson & Johnson Announces New Global Classification System for Surgical Outcomes
Johnson and Johnson has announced the publication of DISH Classification, which is a global concensus framework developed to standardize how surgical site outcomes are measured… Read more.
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Labcorp to Offer First FDA-Cleared Blood Test to Detect Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology in Both Primary and Specialty Care Settings
Labcorp will offer the first FDA-cleared blood test that can help detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The test could make it easier for doctors to assess patients with memory or thinking concerns and support earlier evaluation… Read more.
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DehydraTECH™-enhanced Amycretin and Retatrutide Yield Significant Absorption Improvements in Lexaria’s 2026 Animal Study #2
Lexaria Bioscience reported promising animal study results showing its DehydraTECH technology improved the absorption of amycretin and retatrutide, supporting their potential development as oral treatments… Read more.
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mRNA cancer vaccines are coming. What are they and how could they transform cancer treatment?
UBC researchers are advancing personalized mRNA cancer vaccines designed to help the immune system target cancer cells, offering a promising new approach to cancer treatment and preventing recurrence… Read more.
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BeOne Medicines Announces U.S. FDA Approval for TEVIMBRA-Based Regimen for First-Line HER2+ GEA
BeOne Medicines received FDA approval for a TEVIMBRA-based treatment for advanced HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, offering a new first-line treatment option for patients… Read more.
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U.S. FDA Approves Ziihera® (zanidatamab-hrii) with and without Tislelizumab plus Chemotherapy in First-Line HER2+ Advanced Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
Zymeworks’ Ziihera received FDA approval as a first-line treatment for advanced HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer, offering patients a new treatment option… Read more.
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BD Extends Leadership in Advanced Tissue Regeneration Through Continued Clinical Innovation
BD has advanced its STANCE clinical trial, evaluating the GalaFLEX LITE™ Scaffold in breast revision surgery to help reduce capsular contracture… Read more.
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Trinemo® Reaches The OR: First-in-human Implantation performed at Cleveland Clinic
Trinemo has reached a significant milestone with the first human implantation of its technology at Cleveland Clinic, advancing its development toward broader clinical use… Read more.
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Kardium receives funding from the Government of Canada to Expand Manufacturing of the Globe® Pulsed Field System in British Columbia
Kardium has received federal funding to expand production of its Globe® Pulsed Field System in B.C… Read more.
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ACTIS: Assessing astronauts’ blood clot risks
Response Biomeedical has announced ACTIS (Acute Care Testing in Space), which is a portable device designed to enable assessment of blood clot risks in astronauts onboard the International Space Station…Read more.
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