August 7, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers!

This week:

• RFK Jr. Pulls $500 Million in mRNA Vaccine Funding
• A Joint Call to Action for Canada’s Life Sciences
• LSBC Awards, an Unparalleled Networking Opportunity
• Join us for Invest in BC to Scale your Success

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pulls $500 million in mRNA Vaccine Funding

Canadian experts in vaccines and infectious diseases say the decision by the U.S. government to terminate nearly US$500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development is not just illogical but threatens pandemic preparedness. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has pulled funding and cancelled contracts for vaccine development projects involving mRNA technology. These include developments for respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza. 

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Washington on July 31. Mr. Kennedy has announced plans to terminate nearly US$500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development. Image Source: Globe & Mail (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Dr. Pieter Cullis, a biochemist at the University of British Columbia whose discoveries with lipid membranes ultimately provided the delivery system for COVID-19 vaccines, said the decision is “bewildering.”

“This is the most promising technology we have for diseases – rare diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, cardiovascular, you name it,” said Dr. Cullis. “It’s one of the most successful innovations in medicine in the last 10 years or longer and they’re completely ignoring it.”

The Health Secretary said on Tuesday that funding will be shifted toward “broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.” One of the earlier cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, was Moderna’s contract to develop a human vaccine for bird flu. Read Globe & Mail article (subscription required) here.

A Joint Call to Action for Canada’s Life Sciences

LSBC and members of The National Biotech Accord, a consortium of ecosystem partners including BIOTECanada, Ag-West Bio, BioAlberta, BIOQuebec, Bioscience Association Manitoba, Life Sciences Nova Scotia, Life Sciences Ontario, OBIO, and Prince Edward Island BioAlliance have issued a joint call to action, urging leaders across government, industry, academia, and beyond to unite in building a stronger, more competitive biotech ecosystem.

The specific calls to action in the letter include unlocking capital domestically, protecting Canadian IP and talent, modernizing tax incentives, securing innovation through to production and public access of vaccines and therapies, and improving regulation, including clinical trial processes.

Read the full document: Seizing the Moment: A Joint Call to Action For Canada’s Life Sciences Future.

LSBC Annual Awards Gala, An Unparalleled Networking Opportunity

Join us for our Annual Awards Gala on October 2, 2025. This isn't just an awards ceremony. It's where BC's fastest-growing life sciences sector comes together to celebrate wins, share insights, and forge the partnerships that will define the next decade of healthcare innovation.

Hear the stories of the deals that funded your favourite biotech, the researchers behind breakthrough treatments, and the entrepreneurs turning lab discoveries into life-changing therapies.

Previous years have undoubtedly seen attendees:

• Spark funding conversations at our reception
• Discover clinical trial partners during dinner
• Recruit key talent from networks
• Launch collaborations from introductions

Get your tickets here.

Join us for Invest in BC to Scale your Success

Invest in BC, presented by Lumira Ventures, offers direct access to global investors, strategic partners, and key opportunities to help scale your success.

Over 100 investors and strategic partners are expected to attend, eager to engage with innovative BC-based companies. In addition to pitch presentations and curated programming, our one-on-one partnering platform facilitated more than 440 meetings in 2024 - driving real connections and results. Get your tickets here.

Member Highlights 

Genome BC funds research into the respiratory health impacts of wildfires. Health Canada estimates up to 240 deaths and $1.8 billion in annual costs due to short-term health effects alone. In response to this challenge, Genome BC is funding three research projects that will delve into the genetic-level impacts of wildfire smoke exposure. Read more.

Cytiva and Culture Biosciences expand strategic collaboration. Building on an existing collaboration, the expanded relationship will now include global commercialization by Cytiva of Culture’s Stratyx 250 hardware and joint development of additional bioreactor formats. Read more.

Vertex announces results from Phase 2 Study of VX-993 for the treatment of acute pain. Treatment with VX-993 did not result in a statistically significant improvement on the primary endpoint of the time-weighted Sum of the Pain Intensity Difference compared to placebo. Based on these results, Vertex will not progress VX-993 into pivotal development as monotherapy in acute pain. Read more.

Variational AI joins Agora Open Science Trust to advance PRMT6 inhibitors for Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), a rare neuromuscular disorder. Read more.

VoxCell BioInnovation announces two exciting collaborations with Altasciences and Inaphaea BioLabs to develop 3-D vascularized human-like tissues for drug screening. Read more here and here.

Industry Highlights

Government of BC is broadening access to the free, publicly funded human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and simplifying the immunization schedule to better protect more people from HPV-related cancers. Read more.

Government of Canada helps improve access to health care in Saskatchewan’s remote, rural and northern communities through the partnership of the Virtual Health Hub in the Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network. Read more.

Kudos

UBC Faculty of Medicine community members, Drs. Ruth Grunau, Robin Love, and John Yee, and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute investigator Dr. John Yee have been honoured with the 2025 Order of British Columbia. Congratulations!

People on the Move

Timothy Key, formerly of Notch Therapeutics, joins Aspect Biosystems as the Head of Business Development. Read more.

Raghwa Gopal announces his new role as Chair, Board of Directors for the Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems Learning + Innovation. Read more.

Aon plc appointed Jo Ann Jenkins to its Board of Directors. Read more.

DHR Global announces Heather Smith as Managing Partner, North America Board & CEO Practice. Read more.

Applications Open

Applications now open for the Stem Cell Network’s Incubation Investment Award Program. Designed to accelerate Canada’s top pre-seed and seed-stage regenerative medicine companies, SCN will invest $250K–$1M per company over 2–3 years. Application submissions open on September 8, 2025. Learn more.

Apply to BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP), a paid internship/Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) initiative to provide students with on-the-job training to increase their job-readiness after graduation. Applications are accepted from August 5, 2025, to December 6, 2025, for Fall 2025 placements. Learn more.

STEPS Team Grants are open, a funding opportunity for BC researchers and public health leaders to advance system-level improvements in health and equity. Supported by CIHR-IPPH and Health Research BC, the program funds collaborative research to strengthen public health systems and emergency preparedness. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

Alpha-9 Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2019 by renowned scientists based at BC Cancer and the University of British Columbia.

The Company is using its world-class know-how in molecular design and targeting of radiotherapeutics to advance a portfolio of breakthrough technologies focused on the precision targeting of metastatic cancer. These technologies promise to potentially revolutionize the way in which metastatic cancer is both diagnosed and treated. Learn more.

Canadian Turner Construction Company - Founded in 1902, Turner Construction Company has grown into the largest general builder in North America, providing comprehensive construction management and general contracting services. With over a century of experience, Turner continues to set industry standards for innovation, quality, and collaboration. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

October 2 - Join us for our 27th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards

This distinguished occasion 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.

October 28 - 29 - Join us for our 10th Annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures

Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 10th 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.

BC Researchers Use Genomics to Tackle Drug Resistance, Brain Disorders and More

The following five projects have received funding through Genome BC’s Genomics Innovation Fund (GIF) — a program designed to accelerate innovation and bring genomics ideas closer to real-world impact...Read more.

Genome BC Funds Research into the Respiratory Fallout of Wildfires

British Columbians know the stark realities of climate change, as wildfires surge across the province. Over a million hectares burned across BC in 2024, blanketing communities in thick smoke...Read more.

Cytiva and Culture Biosciences Expand Strategic Collaboration

Culture Biosciences and Cytiva have expanded their strategic collaboration to include both hardware commercialization and technology development...Read more.

MS May Begin Far Earlier Than Previously Thought

New UBC research shows that people with MS see higher healthcare use up to 15 years before symptoms appear, highlighting opportunities for earlier identification and intervention...Read more.

Aon Appoints Jo Ann Jenkins to Board of Directors

Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm, today announced that Jo Ann Jenkins has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective August 15, 2025...Read more.

Vertex Announces Results from Phase 2 Study of VX-993 for the Treatment of Acute Pain

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced topline results from its recently completed Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dose-ranging study...Read more.

Variational AI Joins Agora Open Science Trust to Advance PRMT6 Inhibitors for SBMA

Variational AI is proud to announce its participation in a new open science drug discovery initiative led by Agora Open Science Trust...Read more.

Altasciences and VoxCell BioInnovation Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Preclinical Drug Development

Altasciences and VoxCell BioInnovation are pleased to announce a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing preclinical research and accelerating the path from discovery to clinical trials...Read more.

ValiRx PLC – Collaboration Agreement with Voxcell BioInnovation

​Inaphaea is pleased to announce the execution of a collaboration agreement with Canada based VoxCell BioInnovation Inc. to provide Inaphaea’s Patient Derived Cells for evaluation and use in VoxCell’s 3D tissue culture models...Read more.

Scientist/Senior Scientist, Translational Biology & Pharmacology

You will leverage their kidney disease biology expertise to support the advancement of specific programs and/or exploratory projects, proactively representing the Translational Biology & Pharmacology team on cross-functional project teams...Learn more.

Research Associate II, Bioconjugation Chemistry

The key responsibilities for this position will be synthesizing and analyzing protein-oligonucleotide conjugates including antibodies, antibody fragments, and other target-binding scaffolds...Learn more.

VP, Pre-Clinical Research and Development

This role is responsible for the company’s pre-clinical research and development function for all Eupraxia products. They will be a key member of the R&D leadership team, responsible for defining and executing the preclinical strategy that advances the company’s therapeutic pipeline...Learn more.

Procurement Specialist (Part-Time Contract)

This role is essential in managing procurement processes for capital expenditures, accessories, and consumables while establishing supplier relationships and ensuring smooth operations...Learn more.

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