October 9, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers! | | |
This week:
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UBC Science Spotlight: First-Ever Type A-to-Universal Type O Kidney Transplant
- Jade Biosciences Announces New Asset Following $135M Private Placement
- Thanks for Celebrating with Us! LSBC Awards
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Earn a Micro-credential from BCIT with LSBC’s new Bio Essentials course
- Share your AI Adoption Story with the Province
| | BC is home to world-class research as demonstrated by our strong track record of medical breakthroughs. In another world-first, UBC has developed special enzymes enabling the first successful test of a human kidney transplant converted from blood type A to universal type O, helping to prevent a mismatch and rejection of the organ. The achievement, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, marks a major step toward helping thousands of patients get kidney transplants sooner. | | Regulatory approval for clinical trials is the next milestone, and UBC spin-off company Avivo Biomedical will lead development of these enzymes for transplant application and to enable the creation of universal donor blood on demand for transfusion medicine. Read more. | | Jade Biosciences Announces New Asset Following $135M Private Placement | | Exciting development for Jade Biosciences with JADE201, a potentially best-in-class monoclonal antibody for autoimmune diseases. First-in-human clinical trials for the drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis are expected to begin in the first half of 2026. This follows the announcement of its $135 million private financing (private investment in public equity) on October 7. Read more. | | |
Thanks for Celebrating with Us! LSBC Awards
We hope everyone enjoyed our 27th Annual Awards Gala last week. Over 600 members of our community gathered to celebrate excellence in life sciences. Congratulations to all our winners, and a big thanks to our sponsors for supporting the event and helping to build our one-of-a-kind life sciences ecosystem. Every year, our awards showcase the many qualities that make our community truly special. View more photos here.
| | Earn a Micro-credential from BCIT with LSBC’s new Bio Essentials course | | |
LSBC, in partnership with BCIT, is relaunching our science for non-scientists courses – first up…Bio Essentials: Foundational Science. A new micro-credential that will teach you the fundamental science that underpins the biotech industry.
You asked, and we delivered, now with new Canadian context and relevant BC-specific ecosystem examples. This two-day introductory course makes biotechnology clear, relevant, and exciting for professionals without a science background. By the end of the course, you’ll confidently understand biotech language and see how BC’s life sciences community connects science, health, and business to drive the future of innovation. Early-bird pricing available until November 1. Register today!
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Share your AI Adoption Story with the Province
Calling BC businesses! Share your real-world experiences with AI. These insights will be used to direct the development of future AI initiatives that reflect the needs and realities of BC businesses. Be part of the Province’s AI future, take the 10-15 min survey by October 31, 2025.
| | UBC Faculty of Medicine researchers are leading a $4.3 million national project to improve access to abortion care in Canada, focusing on reducing barriers and supporting marginalized communities. The project brings together academic and community partners across the country to address abortion information, access, and appropriate care needs of key underserved groups. Read more. | | |
At ALL IN 2025, INOVAIT revealed 17 Pilot Fund recipients, awarding over $2.5M to advance AI-powered medical technology projects. The funded initiatives focus on surgical and diagnostic innovations, promoting collaboration and growth in Canada’s medtech industry. Read more.
The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) is launching two new pathways to accelerate public drug access: the Early Negotiation Process for cancer treatments and the Targeted Negotiation Process for straightforward medications. Further details and feedback are anticipated by October 20, 2025. Read more
Twelve new supportive recovery beds have opened on the Sunshine Coast to aid men in need, offering medical support, counselling, wellness initiatives and culturally appropriate services. Read more.
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Vancouver Coastal Health congratulates Dr. Judy Illes on receiving the 2025 Award of Excellence in Research, recognizing her outstanding contributions to neuroscience and health innovation. Read more.
Lithuania is being celebrated on the global stage, as three of its scientists, Rimantas Budriūnas, Gediminas Račiukaitis, and Sabina Kuprėnaitė have been named to the Phonics100 2026 list, recognizing the world’s top 100 influencers in photonics. Read more.
Canada has recognized 70 outstanding educators with the 2025 Prime Minister Awards, including those honoured for STEM, These STEM-focused awards celebrate teachers who inspire curiosity, deepen scientific understanding, and foster Canada’s culture of innovation. Read more.
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The Taiwan Service Industry Business Matchmaking Meetings connect international buyers with top Taiwanese companies for one-on-one sessions across medical services, creative industries, digital solutions, franchises, and logistics. Travel and accommodation support may be available. Contact Kevin at ka@ttcv.org to register.
CEWIL/ECAIT Canada is accepting proposals for its 2026 National Conference, Pathways to Partnerships. The event will explore how work-integrated learning (WIL) builds skills, fosters connections, and drives meaningful careers. Submissions open Sept 18, 2025 and close Nov 15, 2025. Learn more.
The Canadian Trade Commissioner Service is partnering with the leading life sciences and healthcare incubator in Chicago, to deliver the Canada-Chicago Mentoring Program. The program will provide strategic guidance through team-based mentoring to five Canadian start-ups in the cohort. Accepted applicants will benefit from mentoring and guidance to sharpen their go-to-market strategy. Apply by October 24, 2025. Learn more.
| | See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | | |
| Garde Bioscience Inc. is an advanced cancer diagnostics biotechnology startup. Founded in Vancouver, GARDE Bioscience is a pioneering startup co-founded by Rob Tenniswood (CEO) and Dr. Martin Tenniswood (CSO) to bring precision tools to cancer diagnostics. The company focuses on advancing non-invasive diagnostic, prognostic and monitoring tests for prostate cancer and other solid tumors and is developing novel tools for conditions that currently lack reliable non-invasive tests. Learn more | | |
Creative Destruction Lab is a global startup program for seed-stage, science-based companies. The program employs an objectives-based mentoring process by a selected group of accomplished entrepreneurs, angel investors, economists, and scientists. Learn more
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Until next week!
LSBC Team
| | December 3-4 - This two-day introductory course makes biotechnology clear, relevant, and exciting for professionals without a science background. You’ll gain a practical overview of how biotech drives healthcare, sustainability, and business innovation across British Columbia and beyond. |
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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.
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Natrelle® Awarded Supplier Agreement from Vizient
Natrelle®, a top breast implant brand from Allergan Aesthetics, has partnered with Vizient to provide U.S. healthcare providers with easier access to its full range of implants and improved procurement support... Read more
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Getinge and Philips Introduce Integrated Anesthesia Workstation
Getinge and Philips have partnered to provide hospitals with an integrated anesthesia workstation, combining precise anesthesia delivery with advanced patient monitoring to enhance operating room efficiency and care... Read more
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Hologic Receives FDA Clearance and CE Mark for Automated Molecular Tests to Detect Common Causes of Infectious Gastroenteritis
Hologic’s Panther Fusion® Gastrointestinal Bacterial and Expanded Bacterial Assays are now FDA 510(k) cleared and CE marked, providing fast, precise detection of common bacterial causes of infectious gastroenteritis to support improved patient care... Read more
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$8M Partnership Connects Researchers and Industry to Advance BC’s Life Sciences Sector
Mitacs, Health Research BC, and local life sciences companies are investing $8 million to provide internships that place emerging researchers in over 30 BC companies, fostering innovation and building the province’s life sciences talent pipeline... Read more
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UBC-developed Enzymes Power First Human Test of Universal Donor Organs
Researchers at UBC have used specialized enzymes to convert a kidney to universal blood type O, successfully completing the first human transplant and advancing the potential for wider organ compatibility... Read more
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AbbVie Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 2 ELATE Trial Evaluating OnabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®) for the Treatment of Upper Limb Essential Tremor
AbbVie’s Phase 2 ELATE trial found that BOTOX® helps reduce upper limb essential tremors, meets all study goals, and is generally safe... Read more
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Lonza Expands its TheraPEAK® Product Portfolio with the Addition of AmpliCell® Cytokine Range and TheraPEAK® 293-GT® Medium
Lonza adds AmpliCell® Cytokines and 293-GT® Medium to its TheraPEAK® portfolio, enhancing reliable and scalable cell and gene therapy manufacturing... Read more
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UBC Expands Two Health Profession Programs to Vancouver Island
UBC is bringing two health programs to Vancouver Island to make training easier to access and help meet local healthcare needs... Read more
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Advanced Surgical Tissue Flap Monitoring for Early Intervention
Researchers at Vancouver Coastal Health created a sensor that checks tissue health after surgery, spotting problems early to help patients recover better... Read more
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Cytiva receives ARPA-H Award with Ambition to Help Transform CAR-T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumors
Cytiva has been awarded ARPA-H funding to develop in vivo CAR-T therapies for solid tumors, using non-viral CRISPR technology to create immune cells inside the body and significantly lower treatment costs... Read more
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ESSA Securityholders Approve Acquisition by XenoTherapeutics
ESSA Pharma shareholders have approved the company’s acquisition by XenoTherapeutics, a non-profit biotech, with the transaction expected to close around October 9, 2025, pending final approvals... Read more
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TREMFYA® (guselkumab) is First and Only IL-23 Inhibitor to Demonstrate Sustained Clinical and Endoscopic Outcomes with a Fully Subcutaneous Regimen Through 48 weeks in Ulcerative Colitis
TREMFYA® (guselkumab) is the first and only IL-23 inhibitor to show sustained clinical and endoscopic benefits through 48 weeks with a fully subcutaneous regimen in ulcerative colitis, achieving remission rates of 36.7% (clinical) and 25.9% (endoscopic)...Read more
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Jade Biosciences Announces JADE201, a Potentially Best-in-Class Half-Life Extended Afucosylated Anti-BAFF Receptor Monoclonal Antibody in Development for Autoimmune Diseases
Jade Biosciences introduced JADE201, a next-generation anti-BAFF-R antibody with extended half-life for autoimmune diseases, with initial clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis expected in early 2026... Read more
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U.S. FDA Approves SIMPONI® (golimumab) for the Treatment of Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis
The FDA has approved SIMPONI® (golimumab) for treating pediatric ulcerative colitis, expanding its use beyond adults. The decision follows Phase 3 trials showing strong efficacy and safety consistent with adult data... Read more
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Rapid Recap: Cancer Drugs in the FAST Lane in Ontario
Ontario’s new FAST program accelerates access to breakthrough cancer drugs, letting patients receive treatments up to a year sooner while balancing speed with cost and equity concerns... Read more
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IMC Applauds Ontario Government’s Launch of New FAST Program to Accelerate Patient Access to Innovative Medicines
Innovative Medicines Canada praised Ontario’s new FAST program for accelerating patient access to innovative medicines, especially breakthrough cancer treatments... Read more
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Jade Biosciences Announces $135 Million Private Placement
Jade Biosciences secured $135 million in private financing to support its autoimmune therapy pipeline and extend operations through 2028... Read more
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Aon Forecasts 9.8 Percent Average Increase in Global Medical Plan Costs for 2026
Aon forecasts a 9.8 % average rise in global medical plan costs for 2026, driven by inflation, advanced medical technologies, and higher utilization... Read more
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BD and Opentrons Collaborate to Accelerate Single-Cell Multiomics Discoveries with Robotic Automation
BD and Opentrons are collaborating to automate single-cell multiomics workflows using the Opentrons Flex® platform, boosting speed and scalability in disease research... Read more
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The BD In Celebration of Her™ Program Surpasses $1 Million in Support of the American Cancer Society
BD’s In Celebration of Her™ program has surpassed $1 million in contributions to the American Cancer Society since its launch in 2014. The milestone reinforces BD’s commitment to advancing breast cancer awareness, early detection, and patient care... Read more
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Scientist - Structural Biology
This position supports 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.
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Scientist – CADD Data & Tools
HTuO Biosciences is hiring a Computational Scientist to develop CADD tools and data pipelines. The role requires Python expertise, knowledge of quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, and CADD methods... Learn more
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Senior Software Engineer
This role requires developing high-performance scientific software, focusing on delivering high-quality, accurate code in a high-performance computing environment. Your work will be crucial in projects where the correctness of software output is paramount... Learn more
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Knowledge Mobilization Specialist
The role translates research into accessible formats, develops communication strategies, and connects researchers with communities and stakeholders. This role enhances the impact of scientific work through clear messaging, engaging materials, and inclusive collaboration... Read more
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| Post a Job on the LSBC Website | |
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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