Life Sciences BC News, March 27, 2025

Last chance for tickets to join us next Wednesday April 2 in Victoria for our Showcase Series: Vancouver Island. Just in! We’ve confirmed two additional speakers, Sam Mercer, President of Vancouver Island Life Sciences (VILS), and Peter Cowan, CEO of Innovation BC. The event offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest developments in the region and discover cutting-edge research and innovation happening on the Island. The event will feature sector-leading guest speakers from the life sciences ecosystem. Get your tickets here.

Showcase Your Innovation at SBME’s Open House – April 7, 2025. Join us as we celebrate the opening of Canada’s first purpose-built biomedical engineering facility! The SBME Open House is a chance for industry, researchers, and the broader life sciences community to connect, explore cutting-edge research, and engage with the future of biomedical technology.

• Exhibitor & Demo Opportunities – Showcase your company’s innovations and engage with researchers, trainees, and potential partners.
• Guided Lab Tours – Get an inside look at SBME’s state-of-the-art research spaces with faculty-led tours.
• Connect with BC’s Life Sciences Community – Network with industry leaders, emerging talent, and key stakeholders.

Limited booth spaces available! Secure your spot and highlight your company’s role in advancing life sciences innovation in BC. For details or to book your exhibitor space, contact Danielle Walker at danielle.walker@ubc.ca.

Did you know students can help boost your company's productivity? We see it time and time again. BioTalent Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) is 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. The program makes it easy to bring on an eager-to-learn student for a special project, and by the end of the placement, you’ll have a skilled candidate already oriented to your company who could meet your future recruitment needs. Too good to be true? It’s not. To learn more about the program, visit biotalent.ca/Co-opFunds.

Member Highlights 

Genome BC has helped secure more than $49 million for research to be conducted in British Columbia by five projects using genomics to advance personalized healthcare. These initiatives aim to enhance healthcare by enabling the early detection and treatment of hereditary cancers, ensuring safer medications for children, and facilitating earlier diagnoses of heart conditions. Read more.

Novo Nordisk Canada, Ophea, 8 80 Cities, and Brock University announced a new partnership to support children’s health and well-being. Growing Healthy Places: Mississauga aims to improve physical activity, access to nourishing food, and overall quality of life in underserved urban communities. Read more.

Cytiva is expanding the Xcellerex X-platform portfolio to meet their growing needs with the addition of 500L and 2000L bioreactors. The X-platform is a reliable and flexible single-use system designed to increase operational efficiencies and production capacity, while helping to lower costs, reduce risks, and bring life-changing therapeutics to the next clinical milestone faster. Read more.

The Terry Fox Research Institute launched a $25-million Digital Health Innovation Fund to fuel private- and public-sector breakthroughs focused, initially, on precision medicine for cancer and neuroscience, and other diseases through big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI)-based approaches and solutions. Read more. 

Industry Highlights

Government of Canada sign a bilateral agreement with Nova Scotia and Quebec to enhance access and affordability to drugs for rare diseases. Read more about Nova Scotia and Quebec.

Government of Canada will work with OmniaBio to expand its facility to manufacture cell and gene therapies and to provide global production services, increasing patient access to life-saving treatments for chronic diseases. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to Dr. Marco Marra for being awarded the 2025 Killam Research Prize in health sciences. Read more.

Dr. Govind Kaigala received the UBC Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship through UBC’s 2024 Faculty Research Awards. Congratulations! Read more.

Kudos to Abdera Therapeutics’ President and CEO Lori Lyons-Williams for being recognized as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business 2025 by the San Francisco Business Times. Read more.

People on the Move

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) appointed Navida Suleman as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President, Administration. Read more.

Dr. Patricia Conrod has been appointed by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) as the Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. Read more.

Reverb Therapeutics welcomes Diana Hausman as its Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Read more.

Applications Open

Are you a biotech or life science startup seeking pre-seed, seed, or series A funding? Applications open for Johnson & Johnson’s 2025 JLABS Investor & Partnering Day. Engage in exclusive one-on-one meetings with leading investors to explore strategic partnership opportunities. The deadline is April 4, 2025. Learn more.

Submit innovative strategies to enhance gut barrier function and promote healing to Johnson & Johnson’s Pitching Gastroenterology Advancements QuickFire Challenge. Selected innovators will present their ideas to Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Immunology leaders at the 2025 Digestive Disease Week. The deadline is April 11, 2025. Learn more.

Apply to Biogen’s PhD fellowship in Worldwide Medical (WWM), a two-year program that provides doctoral graduates with hands-on learning in Medical Affairs and the pharmaceutical industry within biotech. Learn more.

Applications open for Eureka’s Austria and Canada Call on AI and High-tech for funding opportunity on collaborative international research and development projects. Submit your project application in the fields of AI by May 30, 2025. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences - The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UBC was founded in 1946, and is renowned for its leadership in pharmacy education, research, and practice. Educating nearly 900 undergraduates and 50 graduate students annually, the faculty boasts nearly 7,000 alumni who excel as pharmacists, scientists, and leaders worldwide. Programs offered include the Entry-to-Practice PharmD, BPSc, MSc & PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Graduate Diploma in Pharmacy Leadership. Ranked #38 globally and #2 in Canada for Pharmacy & Pharmacology in 2025, UBC aims to advance pharmacy practice and research, optimizing drug therapy to improve patient outcomes. Learn more.

BestHuman by Locelle Digital - BestHuman™ (formerly Locelle), is a professional development platform company providing leadership learning programs for distributed teams. Founded in 2018, by Humaira Ahmed, the award-winning business has provided professional development opportunities to over 4,000 participants worldwide. BestHuman leverages the power of executive coaching, a unique learning platform supported by cutting-edge technology, and human-centred learning methodologies to deliver leadership development programs that cultivate inspiring leaders. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

April 2 - Attend the Life Sciences BC Showcase Series: Vancouver Island event 

The Life Sciences BC Showcase Series: Vancouver Island event offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest developments in the region and discover cutting-edge research and innovation happening on the Island. The event will feature sector-leading guest speakers from the life sciences ecosystem.

May 27-30 - Join us for Web Summit Vancouver

Web Summit Vancouver is one of the most anticipated global technology conferences, bringing together industry leaders, startups, investors, innovators. Attending this event offers companies unparalleled networking opportunities, access to cutting-edge insights, and exposure to potential business growth avenues. 

BC Researchers Awarded Over $49 Million for Advancements in Hereditary Cancer Care, Child Drug Safety and Heart Health

Genome BC has helped secure more than $49 million for research to be conducted in British Columbia by five projects using genomics to advance personalized healthcare...Read more.

Cytiva Broadens Xcellerex X-platform to Include 500L and 2 000L Bioreactors

As researchers and scientists work to discover the next generation of advanced therapeutics, Cytiva is expanding the Xcellerex X-platform portfolio to meet their growing needs with the addition of 500L and 2 000L bioreactors...Read more.

Terry Fox Research Institute Launches $25-million Digital Health Innovation Fund to Fuel Private- and Public-sector Approaches for AI, Machine Learning and Big Data Initially Focused on Precision Medicine for Cancer and Neuroscience

The Terry Fox Research Institute launched a $25-million Digital Health Innovation Fund to fuel private- and public-sector breakthroughs focused on precision medicine for cancer and neuroscience, and other diseases...Read more.

Growing Healthy Places: Mississauga to Support Children’s Health and Well-being Across the City

Ophea, 8 80 Cities, Brock University and Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. announced a new partnership to support children’s health and well-being...Read more.

Dr. Govind Kaigala Awarded the UBC Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship

Congratulations to Dr. Govind Kaigala for being awarded UBC Killam Accelerator Research Fellowship through UBC’s 2024 Faculty Research Awards...Read more.

PHC and Cyfuse Develop Innovative Production Technology for the Commercialization of 3D Cell Products

PHC Corporation and Cyfuse Biomedical K.K. announce the development of a new production technology for the commercialization of the field of regenerative and cell therapy...Read more.

Laboratory Technician

The Laboratory Technician will conduct accurate diagnostic specimen testing and reporting, reinforcing our position as a pioneer in autoimmune diagnostics. This role demands meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to quality and efficiency to uphold our high standards...Learn more.

Program & Partnerships Coordinator

This role will assist with preparations and execution of International Conferences and Invest in BC. They will lead on member reach out and recruitment for these conferences. Another key role will be tracking on global investors and companies in the Catalyst Growth Program...Learn more.

Engineer I

The Engineer I is responsible for supporting engineering, production, and shop activities within the Process Equipment Design group. This includes the assembly, testing, packaging, and inventory management of LIPEX® products and equipment...Learn more.

Director of Formulation & Process Development

The Director will drive Vancouver Laboratories (VAN) activities in support of contract lipid-based drug product development. Will lead multifunctional teams ensuring the successful delivery of complex customer projects...Learn more.

Senior Scientist – Structural Biology

The Structural Biology laboratory provides comprehensive molecular insights and structure-based design for drug-target assessment, mechanism of action, protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions, as well as protein engineering to facilitate drug discovery across various therapeutic areas...Learn more.

Scientist – Immunology

The candidate will be responsible for leading a small team in the development of novel mRNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune disease...Learn more.

Chief Executive Officer

As CEO, you will provide strategic vision, leadership, and influence to drive Health Research BC’s mission forward. Reporting to the Board of Directors, you will engage with a diverse range of partners to enhance the province’s health research ecosystem...Learn more.

Partnerships Specialist

You will be responsible for identifying and negotiating partnerships with external organizations. In this role, you will establish and nurture relationships with funding partners, proactively seek new opportunities, and ensure compliance with partnership agreements...Learn 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.

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