June 26, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers!

This week:

• Join Invest in BC and Scale Your Success – Deadline to Pitch July 7
• BC Now Has the Fastest PET/CT Scanner in Canada
• LSBC’s Wraps Our Event Year with Our Annual Summer Social
• Share Your Views: How Easy is Doing Business in BC?

Join Invest in BC and Scale Your Success – Deadline to Pitch July 7

The right investor or partner could be in the room - don’t miss the opportunity to present your company on an international stage and build connections one-on-one. Invest in BC, presented by Lumira Ventures, connects you with global investors, strategic partners, and other opportunities to scale your success. In addition to a dynamic program and pitch presentations, the event features a one-on-one partnering platform where we facilitated over 440 meetings in 2024!

Last year, we brought together attendees from across North America and beyond. As a membership benefit, LSBC members are eligible to pitch for free! The deadline to apply is Monday, July 7, 2025. Get your tickets and/or apply to pitch here.

BC Now Has the Fastest PET/CT Scanner in Canada

BC continues to lead in medical innovation with the UBC Faculty of Medicine and its partner rolling out Canada's most advanced PET/CT scanner– a next-generation machine that provides fast imaging and is the first capable of whole-body imaging in a single frame. This will provide patients with improved diagnostics and further the development of novel imaging agents and targeted cancer treatments. Read more.

“This new PET/CT scanner will be transformative,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “People with cancer today will benefit from high-quality images and a more accurate diagnosis. In the future, people who receive a cancer diagnosis could have access to innovative, precision treatments developed through research enabled by this technology.”

LSBC’s Wraps Our Event Year with Our Annual Summer Social



Stay tuned next week for photos of our sold-out Summer Social. It’s always great to see friends, old and new! Bringing our event calendar to a pause until the fall, our Summer Social is always a highlight of the year.

Share Your Views: How Easy is Doing Business in BC? 

On June 5, the Province launched its Ease of Doing Business Review, inviting businesses to share their ideas, challenges, and suggestions through an online portal open until fall. This is your chance to weigh in on how Provincial regulatory and permitting systems can be improved to help you do business! To learn about the ease-of-doing-business review and submit feedback, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/easeofdoingbusiness

Member Highlights 

InMed’s INM-901 significantly reduces neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease based on ex vivo models further supporting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for the disease. Read more.

Optigo Biotherapeutics announces the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board. This important milestone moves the company forward on its mission to deliver safer and more convenient treatments for neovascular and degenerative retinal diseases that do not compromise on efficacy. The Scientific Advisory Board will be led by Robert Avery, MD, David Boyer, MD and Arshad M. Khanani, MD. Read more. 

WELL Health has added over 45,000 new primary care patient openings across its national clinic network, providing immediate relief in high-demand regions including Ontario, Alberta, and Manitoba. Read more.

Industry Highlights

Central Saanich has opened a new 26-bed supportive living home to improve the care and rehabilitation-focused support for those living with health challenges from acquired brain injuries. Read more.

Kudos

Congratulations to the winners of Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute’s 2025 Innovation and Translational Research Awards, Dr. Thalia Field, Dr. David Granville, Dr. Gillian Hanley, Dr. Joanne Matsubara, Dr. Jessica Moe, Dr. Stephanie Sellers, Dr. Marie-Pier St-Laurent, and Dr. Cheryl Wellington. Read more.

People on the Move

Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, a leading U.S. clinician-scientist, will be the new Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health of the University of British Columbia. Read more.

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. appoints Darren Cline as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Xenon senior executive team. Read more.

Alison Cutts is now Senior Vice President, Project Management and Scientific Affairs at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Read more.

Genome Canada announces the appointment of Bonnie Schmidt as Chair of its Board of Directors. Read more.

Applications Open

Are you a Canadian company with AI-based solutions in (Bio)Pharma? Apply to join the AI-in-(Bio)Pharma Germany CTA, an accelerator program of customized virtual masterclass sessions. Explore business opportunities with Germany's leading (Bio)Pharma industry. The deadline is on July 15, 2025. Learn more.

Apply to GlycoNet’s Call for Proposals for their funding programs, Translational Grants, Strategic Initiatives, and Kickstart Program. Receive funding of up to $150,000 for projects involving translational research and development, clinical engagement, technology development, and knowledge mobilization. Learn more.

Applications open for BioTalent Canada’s Science Horizons Youth Internship Program, an employer support program that supports post-secondary internships in an environment-related STEM field. Eligible employers can receive up to 80% wage coverage, to a maximum of $25,000 per intern. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

Canadian Strategy Group (CSG) was formed in 2008 as a government relations firm headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. Since then, CSG has grown tremendously, inviting talented Western Canadians to join the firm to expand its reach beyond Alberta and into British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Importantly, with our Western Canadian reach, CSG has prioritized the development of its service offerings to expand beyond government relations to a fully integrated public affairs firm. Learn more.

LAPORTE Consultants Inc. - Established in North America and Europe, LAPORTE’s mission is to offer high-value engineering services to pharmaceutical, agrifood, industrial biotech and industrial plants. We are here to help you. Do not hesitate to contact us for all your project needs.

Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

May 27-30 - 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.

InMed’s INM-901 Significantly Reduces Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s Disease Ex Vivo Study

InMed Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced new preclinical data demonstrating that INM-901 significantly reduces inflammation in ex vivo models of neuroinflammation...Read more.

Xenon Announces Appointment of Darren Cline as Chief Commercial Officer

Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the appointment of Darren Cline as Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Xenon senior executive team...Read more.

WELL Health Announces Availability for 45,000 New Primary Care Patients Across 3 Provinces Enabled by Investments in Physician Recruitment and Digital Transformation

WELL Health Technologies Corp. is pleased to announce a major expansion in primary care capacity across its national clinic network...Read more.

BC Cancer and UBC Roll Out the Fastest PET/CT Scanner in Canada

BC Cancer, in partnership with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, has rolled out the most advanced PET/CT scanner in the country – a next generation machine that provides fast imaging...Read more.

A Safer Treatment for Visceral Leishmaniasis, Developed at the University of British Columbia

Dr. Kishor Wasan and a team at the Neglected Global Diseases Initiative (NGDI) at UBC have developed an oral formulation of amphotericin B; a safer, easier-to-administer, and more affordable alternative...Read more.

Renowned U.S. Clinician-scientist to Lead Faculty of Medicine and UBC Health

Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, a leading U.S. clinician-scientist, will be joining the University of British Columbia as the new Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Vice-President, Health...Read more.

Vertex and Ono Pharmaceutical Announce Strategic Agreement to Develop and Commercialize Povetacicept in Japan and South Korea

​Vertex and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced a collaboration and license agreement for the development and commercialization of Vertex’s povetacicept in Japan and South Korea...Read more.

Corporate Relations Manager – Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR)

This role is one of the main cross-functional points of contact for: the agricultural and natural resources industries and corresponding provincial government representatives, as well as Genome BC Research & Innovation Director(s)...Learn more.

Scientist II, Discovery Biology

The successful candidate will play a key role in leading biological strategies and lab activities supporting platform development and preclinical drug discovery programs...Learn more.

Manager/Senior Manager, Quality Assurance, GMP

The selected candidate will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and ensure adherence to GMP regulations and regulatory requirements in support of Xenon’s clinical development programs and NDA preparation...Learn more.

Director, IR and Corporate Communications

Responsible for the co-ordination & execution of all internal and external communication for the company. Key stakeholders include financial regulators, potential investors, shareholders, Board Members and employees...Learn more.

Manager, Strategic Initiatives

The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of strategic research, infrastructure, and training projects and cross-sector initiatives that enhance lab space, technology platforms, early-stage biomanufacturing, and clinical trials capacity....Learn more.

Clinical Supplies Manager

This role is responsible for coordinating the labeling, packaging, and global distribution of clinical trial materials to sites and depots across multiple countries, including both investigational medicinal products and ancillary supplies...Learn more.

Head of HR

This position is responsible for shaping HR strategy, ensuring compliance with Canadian (including provincial) and US labour laws, supporting talent acquisition and development, driving employee engagement, and fostering a compliant and inclusive workplace culture...Learn more.

Marketing & Communications Specialist (Co-op Student)

The Marketing & Communications Co-op Student is a short-term role that supports the Manager, Marketing & Communications in analyzing, organizing, and executing marcomms department initiatives that serve the greater good of the entire organization and its membership...Learn more.

Senior Biopharmaceutical Statistician

We are seeking a sharp, flexible, and innovative Senior Biostatistician to lead the statistical strategy for our clinical development programs and oversee data management. This is a hands-on, high-impact role...Learn more.

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