Life Sciences BC News, September 5, 2024

LSBC’s annual Awards Gala is next week on September 10. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Farris, our awards sponsors, our technology sponsor, and our event supporters. We look forward to celebrating excellence in life sciences with everyone next Tuesday! 

Good news as SOFIAC Canada has invested $3.275 million to enable the decarbonization of adMare BioInnovations’ buildings. This project, implemented by SIEMENS Canada, SOFIAC Canada’s technical partner, will involve the deployment of several energy efficiency and building decarbonization measures, as well as the reduction of electricity demand to meet Hydro-Québec’s power management objective. Read more.

Tell us about your lab space needs: LSBC pulse survey

LSBC continues our pulse survey by phone to gather important information on our sector’s lab space needs. Data will be anonymized and aggregated and available to the sector, including government, for planning purposes.

Help support this important data collection through participating in our very short phone survey if contacted. Or please reach out to us at Labspace@lifesciencesbc.ca

Member Highlights 

Abdera Therapeutics announces FDA orphan drug designation for ABD-147 for the treatment of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma. Read more.

UVic announces new funding to develop a promising syphilis diagnostic platform that can differentiate between active and pay infections. An optimal test will be highly specific for detection of infectious and congenital syphilis and can be used anywhere, including resource-limited settings around the globe. Read more.

StarFish Medical announces the return of Medical Device Playbook to Vancouver, BC on October 21, 2024. This event, co-hosted by CD-Vancouver is one of North America’s largest MedTech events for entrepreneurial companies and medical device professionals. Read more.

The Terry Fox Foundation, which supports essential research at the Terry Fox Research Institute released an impact report for the 2023-24 year. Some highlights include $44 Million Invested in research, supporting 176 Projects and 595 Researchers;9233 Schools across Canada participated in Terry Fox School Runs, raising $14 Million; and 33 Countries held Runs internationally, raising over $1 Million. Read more.

Industry Highlights

The Government of Canada announced over $3.2 million through the Intersectoral Action Fund (ISAF) for 16 additional projects based in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. These projects aim to improve health conditions and the systems and structures that shape them, helping everyone in Canada reach their full health potential. Read more.

New LSBC Members

Omni Biotech Innovations is a Canadian biotechnology company focused on developing advanced treatments aimed at validated targets in autoimmune diseases. Learn more.

PharmaServ Inc. is a Software-as-a-service platform that aggregates existing and real-time data from field medical and sales team activities, providing marketing and sales managers with actionable insights for business growth. Learn more.

Kudos

The 2024 Tour de Cure, presented by Wheaton Precious Metals, raised over $7.3 million to power life-saving research and treatment at the BC Cancer Foundation. The event was attended by 1,674 cyclists who rode through the scenic Fraser Valley and shared their personal stories, along with more than 230 volunteers who made it possible. Read more.

Congratulations to the newly elected Fellows and Members of the Royal Society of Canada College, many of whom are LSBC members, including faculty at UBC, SFU, and UVic and researchers from the National Research Council Canada. Read more.

People on the Move

Merck announced the appointment of David D. Jones as President and Managing Director, effective September 1, 2024. Mr. Jones is succeeding Marwan A. Akar, who held the position since June 2021. Read more.

Lexaria shared that Chris Bunka, CEO, has stepped aside for the appointment of Richard Christopher as the new CEO, effective August 31, 2024. Read more.

Sunil Kapur has been named McCarthy Tétrault’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025. Read more.

Zymeworks introduced Leone Patterson as the EVP, Chief Business and Financial Officer. Read more.

Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s former Minister of Health, joined Santis Health as a Senior Advisor. Read more. Santis Health also welcomed Michelle McLean as Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Jim Williamson to the Life Sciences team as an Associate. Read more.

Applications Open

Calling all tech startups in BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories & Nunavut! Unleash your competitive edge with AccelerateIP, a program led by New Ventures BC in partnership with Innovate BC that offers education to protect, manage, and leverage your intellectual property. Applications are open now. Learn more.

UBC Science Co-op is now welcoming Winter 2025 (January-April 2025) job postings. It also has a small group of Co-op students still available for 4 or 8 months, starting in the Fall 2024 work term. Send your job description to info@sciencecoop.bc.ca or fill out the online form at sciencecoop.ubc.ca/employers/hire. Learn more.

Stem Cell Network has launched a national research funding competition in regenerative medicine. The competition will offer awards across six regenerative medicine programs focusing on innovation, clinical translation, policy impact, and commercialization. Submit your letter of intent by September 24. Learn more.

Expressions of interest are now open for the second round of UBC Blusson QMI’s Nanofabrication Accelerator Program. The program will provide eligible small and medium-sized enterprises with specialized nanofabrication services. Learn more.

Applications close soon for the Fall Cohort of the Lumira Ventures Venture Innovation Program, an immersive 6-12-month program for Ph.D., MBA, and MD students across Canada who want to gain exposure to the life sciences venture and start-up ecosystem. Apply by September 8! Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

BeiGene is a global, science-driven biotechnology company focused on developing innovative and affordable medicines to improve treatment outcomes and access for patients worldwide.

With a broad portfolio of more than 40 clinical candidates, they are expediting development of our diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through their own capabilities and collaborations. They are committed to radically improving access to medicines for two billion more people by 2030. BeiGene has a growing global team of approximately 7,000 colleagues across five continents. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

September 10 - We look forward to celebrating excellence in life sciences at the 26th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards, presented by Farris, on September 10, 2024.

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. Please note that ticket sales are now closed.

October 29 & 30 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 9th annual Invest in BC presented by Lumira Ventures conference.

This highly anticipated event serves as a premier gathering for healthcare innovators in British Columbia, connecting them with global investors. This year we’ve reimagined the conference, offering attendees a dynamic two-day program featuring 30+ company pitches from pre-seed to public.

Merck Canada and the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA)

Merck announced that it has successfully completed negotiations with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA) for WELIREG® (belzutifan) on August 30th...Read more.

WINREVAIR® (sotatercept) is Now Authorized for Use in Canada for Adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Merck announced that WINREVAIR® is now authorized for use in Canada in combination with standard PAH therapy, for the treatment of adults with WHO Group 1 PAH and Functional Class (FC) II or III...Read more.

David D. Jones is Appointed as President and Managing Director of Merck Canada

Merck Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of David D. Jones as President and Managing Director, effective September 1st, 2024. Mr. Jones is succeeding Marwan A. Akar, who has held the position since June 2021…Read more.

Aurinia Announces First Participant Dosed in AUR200 Single Ascending Dose Trial

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that the first participant has been dosed in a Phase 1a single ascending dose (SAD) study of AUR200...Read more.

Abdera Therapeutics Announces FDA Orphan Drug Designation for ABD-147 for the Treatment of Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

Abdera Therapeutics Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation to ABD-147 for the treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoma...Read more.

AbbVie’s VRAYLAR® (cariprazine) Receives Positive Reimbursement Recommendation by Canada’s Drug Agency for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

AbbVie announced that Canada’s Drug Agency has recommended that VRAYLAR be reimbursed with conditions, for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults...Read more.

Drug Discovery Could Prevent Spread of Childhood Bone Cancer

Scientists at the University of British Columbia have identified a potential drug that could halt osteosarcoma’s spread...Read more.

Health Care Government Relations Experts Michelle McLean and Jim Williamson Join Santis Health

Santis is pleased to welcome Michelle McLean and Jim Williamson to the team. Michelle has been appointed Senior Vice President, Government Relations, and Jim joins the Life Sciences team as an Associate...Read more.

Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s Former Minister of Health, joins Santis Health

Santis is pleased to welcome Tyler Shandro to the team as a Senior Advisor. As the former Minister of Health for the Government of Alberta, Tyler led the province’s COVID-19 response...Read more.

A Novel Diagnostic Test for Syphilis

New funding of US$352,124 from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will help Caroline Cameron’s lab and the partner institutions to develop their syphilis diagnostic platform...Read more.

Lexaria Welcomes Industry Veteran as New CEO

exaria Bioscience Corp. announces that Chris Bunka, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company, is stepping aside for the appointment of Richard Christopher as the new CEO, effective August 31, 2024...Read more.

Lexaria Enters a Material Transfer Agreement for DehydraTECH Research

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announces that it has entered into a Material Transfer Agreement with a pharmaceutical company to evaluate Lexaria’s DehydraTECHTM technology in a pre-clinical setting...Read more.

Lexaria’s Second GLP-1 Human Pilot Study Shows Zero Adverse Events in DehydraTECH-processed Rybelsus(R) Oral Capsules

Lexaria Bioscience Corp. announces that tolerability and additional pharmacokinetic results from human pilot study #2, GLP-1-H24-2 have been received…Read more.

SOFIAC Canada Enables Decarbonization of adMare BioInnovations’ Buildings with a $3.275M Investment

SOFIAC Canada and adMare BioInnovations are proud to announce their new collaboration to implement an energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction project...Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Seeks First Approval of Nipocalimab to Treat Broadest Population Living with Antibody Positive Generalized Myasthenia Gravis

Johnson & Johnson announced the submission of a Biologics License Application to the U.S. FDA seeking the first approval of nipocalimab for the treatment of people with generalized myasthenia gravis...Read more.

Medical Device Playbook Vancouver Returns on October 21, 2024

StarFish Medical is pleased to announce the return of Medical Device Playbook to Vancouver, BC on October 21, 2024, from 8:45am to 6pm local time. The event will be co-hosted by CDL-Vancouver…Read more.

McCarthy Tétrault Names Sunil Kapur as Next Chief Executive Officer

McCarthy Tétrault is pleased to announce that Sunil Kapur has been appointed as the firm’s next Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2025...Read more.

Research and Innovation Manager, Data Science

Reporting to the Director, Data Science you will work with the Research and Innovation leadership and the other members of the Data Science team to implement Genome British Columbia’s (Genome BC) Data Science Strategy...Learn more

Specialist, Quality Assurance

We are seeking a Quality Assurance Specialist to be responsible for implementing and maintaining Augurex’s electronic Quality Management System (eQMS) in accordance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, internal quality requirements and specifications...Learn more

Sr. Manager, Regulatory Affairs

We are seeking a Sr. Manager, Regulatory Affairs to be responsible for working directly with our Global Head of Product R&D and external regulatory consultants on the FDA 510(k) submission for SPINEstat®...Learn more

Center of Excellence Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunogenecity Mitigation and Immunopeptidomics

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow with previous training in immunology and biochemistry to help develop the next generation of screening tools to identify and quantify the presence of immunogenic sequences, motifs, and structures in candidate therapeutic molecules...Learn more

Associate Scientist – Experimental Immunology

Well-suited applicant will have broad laboratory training, deep scientific curiosity and a positive approach to working in a team-based research environment. This individual will also have a track record of creative problem-solving...Learn more

Associate – Experimental Immunology (12-Month Contract)

The position would involve the cell isolation from primary human tissues, primary cell culture, sample management and tracking and general assay development. Well-suited applicant will have broad laboratory training and a positive approach to working in a team-based research environment...Learn more

Senior Administrator, Human Resources

The Senior Administrator will be responsible for coordinating recruitment scheduling for executive level positions (VP and above), scheduling Senior Hire orientations and supporting training events for department heads...Learn more

Team Lead, Clinical Genotyping

Reporting to the Assistant Laboratory Director, the Team Lead, Clinical Genotyping coordinates and provides work direction to the Clinical Laboratory Drug Resistance Testing and Genotyping team...Learn more

Research and Innovation Manager, Health

The Research and Innovation Manager, Health is a collaborative member of the Research and Innovation team and works seamlessly across the organization...Learn more

HR Coordinator/Senior HR Coordinator

The Human Resources Coordinator/Sr. Human Resources Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the entering and coordination of data, documents and processes into the various HR systems in an accurate and timely manner to ensure flawless execution...Learn more

Manager, Capital Campaign

St. Paul’s Foundation is seeking a Manager, Capital Campaign to be an integral part of an established, respected non-profit on the cusp of opening an incredible new hospital, research complex, and health campus...Learn more

Senior Scientist, CMC, Drug Product

The candidate will be responsible for leading the development of suitable formulations for the in vivo assessment (including for GLP toxicology studies) of novel chemical compounds originating from our Discovery team...Learn more

Laboratory Assistant, Lab & Facilities

The Lab Operations Assistant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including consumables inventory management, restocking lab supplies, shipping/receiving and maintaining equipment in good working order...Learn more

Senior Animal Care Technician (18 month contract)

The Sr. Animal Care Technician reports to the Director, In Vivo Resources and is responsible for the various technical procedures that support the scientific research conducted during the execution of in vivo studies...Learn more

Principal Scientist – Discovery Protein Sciences

The Therapeutic Discovery organization is seeking to fill a position at the Principal Scientist level in our Discovery Protein Sciences group in Vancouver, Canada. This position, which is laboratory-based, will support the design and generation of complex biological molecules...Learn more

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