September 17, 2026 - Hello BioLinks Readers | | |
This week:
- Canada's inaugural Investment Summit
- Prime Minister Carney presents case for deeper EU alliance
- PacifiCan's regional tariff response
- Health Canada released interim clinical trials policy
| | Photo: Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press | | |
Canada’s Inaugural Investment Summit
Prime Minister Mark Carney gathered the biggest investors from around the world to showcase the country’s major deals and projects at the Canada Investment Summit. The pitch to the hundreds of CEOs, investors and wealth managers in attendance: Canada, with its vast natural resources, has plentiful opportunities for foreign capital to be put to good use. Read more (Globe & Mail subscription required).
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Here are a few announcements from the Summit:
- Nationwide Internet Network: providing national sovereign internet connectivity
- Private investment in four of Canada’s largest airports (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal)
- Productivity mega deduction reduces marginal effective tax rate on new business investment
| | Graphic: Invest Vancouver | | |
PacifiCan’s Federal Tariff Response in BC
In August, the Government of Canada announced new measures totaling $7.5 billion to quickly support Canadian businesses. This investment is in addition to the nearly $25 billion already deployed since U.S. tariffs came into effect. Funding is available to assist businesses with liquidity, and also to fund pivot projects for businesses and non-profits. The total non-repayable funding a business can receive is up to $3 million. Across all funding streams, a business can receive up to $20 million. Read more and learn how to apply here.
Sign-up for the next info session for SMEs on September 21, 2026 here.
| | Photo: Pascal Bastien/The Associated Press | | |
Carney Presented Case for Deeper Alliance with the European Union
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for Canada to become the European Union’s first “associate member.” Carney responded that “Canada welcomes this ambition.” The details of what this future relationship will entail are still a matter of debate and may take years to fully come into place, with objections from political opposition in Canada, as well as from the United States. During a press conference, Carney promised to hold a series of debates and a vote in Parliament on the future relationship with the EU. But he added that the process has just started. Read more (Globe & Mail subscription required).
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Health Canada Released Interim Clinical Trials Policy
The interim policy advances targeted elements of the Clinical Trials Modernization initiative. Consultations closed this year on April 19, 2026. The changes support more flexible and efficient conduct of clinical trials in Canada while aligning requirements with international standards. New Clinical Trials Regulations are anticipated to come into force in spring 2028. Read more.
| | STEMCELL Technologies and Molecular Devices, a Danaher company announced a collaboration to accelerate adoption of human-relevant organoid models through automation. The workflow provides researchers with a ready-to-implement approach to automating organoid culture. Read more. | | |
Sanofi inaugurated new flu vaccine facility, Canada’s largest biomanufacturing investment. The $925 million expansion is adding end-to-end vaccine manufacturing capacity and is built in partnership with the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the City of Toronto. The facility will manufacture Fluzone® High-Dose, Sanofi’s flu vaccine. Read more.
Genome BC is supporting two projects led by researchers at UBC, including one in partnership with SnapCyte Solutions, that are using AI to address time-consuming lab diagnostic bottlenecks. Read more.
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British Columbia startups will gain access to a new source of early-stage capital through a co-investment partnership between InBC Investment Corp. and the eFund angel network. The two organizations are each committing $2 million to the initiative, creating an initial $4 million pool to invest in scalable technology companies based in BC. Read more (Techcouver).
The Government of BC’s efforts to ensure more people have access to primary care have resulted in over approximately 80% of BC’s population now having a family doctor or nurse practitioner, more than 700,000 connections were made in the past three years. Read more.
First-in-North America, Vancouver General Hospital launched an on-demand 3D-printing process to produce custom medical splints more efficiently. Read more.
| | The University of British Columbia welcomed nine world-leading researchers through the Eddie Goldenberg Research Chairs of Canada program to strengthen Canada’s research capacity, train future talent and drive innovation in areas critical to global competitiveness. Read more. | | |
Congratulations to the 30 researchers who received the 2026 Research Trainee Awards, advancing a diverse range of health research across BC while building lasting careers that will shape the province’s research future. Read more.
Dr. Peter Cripton has been named a 2026 recipient of the UBC Applied Science Dean’s Medal of Distinction, recognizing his contributions to the field of engineering and his impact on the broader UBC community. Read more.
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Langara College welcomed Dr. Kacem Habiballah as Provost and Vice-President, Academic. Read more.
Santis Health announced Dr. Suzanne Strasberg, a family physician and respected healthcare leader, as its newest Senior Advisor. Read more.
The School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia welcomed Dr. Todd Fernandez to its teaching faculty. Read more.
BCIT announced Dr. Dawn Whitworth to BCIT as Dean at the BCIT Centre for Applied Research and Innovation. Read more.
| | Join the University of Victoria’s Core Skills for Biomanufacturing (CSB) micro-credential, offering practical, industry-aligned training in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, quality control, GMP, and regulatory compliance. Learn more. | | |
Venture Founder is Innovation UBC’s 16-week entrepreneurship program designed to help UBC researchers, students, and innovators turn promising ideas and discoveries into viable ventures. Apply by October 11, 2026. Learn more.
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and World Trade Center Los Angeles are inviting qualified life sciences companies to apply for an exclusive market entry program designed to accelerate expansion into Los Angeles County on October 19–22, 2026. Learn more.
CQDM and CPDC are launching the 2026 Call for Ideas: New Canadian Approaches in Radiopharmaceuticals, a national initiative designed to identify and support innovative Canadian technologies, discoveries, and companies that can contribute to the next generation of radiopharmaceuticals. Submissions close October 15, 2026. Learn more.
Quantum Leap is helping SMEs and universities carry out biopharmaceutical translational research projects aimed at developing technologies relevant to the R&D activities of CQDM’s pharmaceutical members. Apply by November 12, 2026. Learn more.
Second round of Requests for Applications to the Digital Health Innovation Fund will launch in October 2026. Learn more.
| | See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | | |
| IQVIA Biotech is a leading biotech-specialized CRO delivering flexible clinical solutions for biotech and emerging biopharma companies. Our clinical development team brings expertise from 25 years of designing and executing clinical trials exclusively for biotech companies. Drawing on IQVIA's unparalleled data and resources, IQVIA Biotech creates intelligent connections to deliver powerful insights that help customers accelerate clinical development of innovative medical treatments and help get treatments to patients. Learn more. | | | | Labcorp is a leading global life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers and patients make clear and confident decisions. Through our unparalleled diagnostics and drug development capabilities, we provide insights and accelerate innovations to improve health and improve lives. Learn more. | | |
| Fraserna Life Sciences is the "Contract Research Organization" arm of a medium-sized biotech company located in Richmond BC, Canada. Fraserna can help you with your research projects: Gene cloning, immunology analysis, invitro and in vivo testing, IND filing, and clinical trial research. Learn more. | | |
Until next week!
LSBC Team
| | September 22 - Blakes Breakfast Speaking Series: New Capital in Play: How Canadian Funds Are Reshaping Life Sciences Investment is an interactive discussion on how new Canadian funding initiatives are reshaping the life sciences investment landscape, creating opportunities for innovation, growth and commercialization. | | 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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A Pair of Projects Using AI to Remove Bottlenecks in Lab Analysis
Genome BC is supporting two projects led by researchers at UBC to use AI to help speed diagnoses, improve research and bring us closer to more personalized healthcare... Read more.
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Evonik Breaks Ground on Biotechnology Expansion in Slovakia
Evonik has announced a new biotechnology expansion project at its Fermas site in Slovakia, marking a major milestone in expanding its biotechnology capabilities and strengthening its contract manufacturing services... Read more.
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Johnson & Johnson’s RYBREVANT® (amivantamab-vmjw) plus Chemotherapy Delivers Longest Reported Median Overall Survival in EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutation-positive Lung Cancer
Johnson & Johnson reported final overall survival results from the Phase 3 study, first-line RYBREVANT plus chemotherapy improved median overall survival to 34.3 months, versus 27.9 months with chemotherapy alone... Read more.
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UBC Scientists Uncover Why Some Huntington Disease Patients Decline Years Earlier
UBC researchers identified a genetic mechanism that may explain why some Huntington disease patients develop symptoms earlier and experience a more aggressive form of the disease... Read more.
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Accelerating Diagnostic Innovation: Bridging the Gap from Biomarker Discovery to Commercial IVD Assays
The global in vitro diagnostics (IVD) landscape is evolving rapidly and Creative Biolabs is applying an integrated approach for custom IVD programs... Read more.
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Vertex Partners With World Champion Skier Lindsey Vonn to Raise Awareness of JOURNAVX®, a Non-Opioid Medicine Approved for the Treatment of Moderate-to-Severe Acute Pain
Vertex announced that the company has partnered with world champion skier Lindsey Vonn to raise awareness of JOURNAVX® (suzetrigine), a prescription non-opioid medicine for the treatment of acute pain... Read more.
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Sanofi Inaugurates New Flu Vaccine Facility, Canada's Largest Biomanufacturing Investment
Sanofi inaugurated the Charles Best Building, a flu vaccine manufacturing facility built in partnership with the Government of Canada, backed by a $925 million investment... Read more.
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Molecular Devices and STEMCELL Technologies Collaborate to Accelerate Adoption of Human-Relevant Organoid Models Through Automation
Molecular Devices and STEMCELL Technologies announced a validated automated workflow that combines organoid biology expertise and laboratory automation to help researchers... Read more.
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Terry Fox Research Institute announces pan-Canadian Project Teams Approved for $25M Digital Health Innovation Fund
The Terry Fox Research Institute announced that 14 pan-Canadian research teams have been approved to receive funding through its first Digital Health Innovation Fund... Read more.
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Research and Innovation Manager, Fisheries and Aquaculture
The role contributes to implementing the organization’s strategic goals, engages external partners, and pursues collaborative opportunities as part of the Research and Innovation team... Learn more.
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Scientist I, Protein Biophysics and Biochemistry
The role supports Protein Biophysics and Biochemistry teams developing and implementing assays, screening compounds, and executing gene-to-protein workflows... Learn more.
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Coordinator, Research Program & Operations
The role supports the planning, coordination, and delivery of Canada's Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH) programs, partnerships, and strategic initiatives... Learn more.
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Manufacturing Engineering Technologist
The role will be responsible for providing technical support for the manufacturing, assembly, testing, calibration, and troubleshooting of electronic instrument systems... Learn more.
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Coordinator, Education Programs & Communications
The role is responsible for the planning, organizing, and delivery of communications and leads in the development of initiatives that advance training and talent development programs in alignment with research, partnerships, and talent development priorities... Learn more.
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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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