March 5, 2026 - Hello BioLinks readers!

This week:

• New Phase 1 clinical trials research unit at UBC Hospital
• Trade & Invest Blog: BC punches above our weight as a global antibody hub
• National Research Council's industry roundtable

VCHRI Launches Phase 1 Clinical Trials Research Unit at UBC Hospital

This purpose-built facility will embed early-phase clinical trials directly into patient care. Focused on neurological diseases, mobility disorders, oncology, hematology, and immunotherapy, it will give BC patients access to first-in-human trials without travelling out of province. Connected to Canada's Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub and partnering with VCH and UBC, the unit is expected to open in summer 2026. Read more.

BC’s Globally Recognized Antibody Therapeutics Ecosystem

With leading companies like AbCellera, Zymeworks, and Amgen BC demonstrating global patient impact and a growing wave of emerging innovators pushing the frontier, BC has cultivated exceptional talent and expertise in the antibody arena. It is not a single-story success, but an ecosystem achievement — where world-class discovery platforms, drug-enabling technologies, and translational research hubs combine to ensure antibody ideas are not only invented, but iterated, tested, and ultimately reach patients. Read the Trade and Invest life sciences blog series here.

The National Research Council of Canada Hosted an Industry Roundtable

Last week, following Access to Innovation, members of the National Research Council (NRC) and Health Emergency Readiness Canada (HERC) convened leaders from BC’s life sciences sector for a collaborative dialogue aimed at better understanding the needs, opportunities, and priorities required to grow and advance the industry. The conversation brought together key perspectives on how federal partners can best support BC and Canada’s life sciences ecosystem, from research and development through to commercialization and scale-up.

Member Highlights 

GSK acquires Canadian biotech 35Pharma for $950 million The acquisition includes HS235, a potential best-in-class investigational medicine that has completed phase I clinical trials with studies to start for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Read more.

Relentless Venture Fund and Providence Health Care Ventures have partnered to accelerate healthy aging innovation and complex chronic care in BC. Read more.

“This partnership starts where most take years to arrive. We are aligning capital, clinical infrastructure, patient feedback and trusted data at a moment when BC is already inside a demographic transformation. The goal is straightforward: build and validate solutions that work in the realities of modern aging.”

-       Brenda Irwin, President, Relentless Pursuit Management Inc.

Genome BC supported research has found that asthma risk may begin in the first months of life, long before symptoms appear. Dr. Stuart Turvey and his UBC team analyzed infant gut bacteria and discovered that early microbial differences were linked to higher asthma risk years later. The findings highlight how breastfeeding and antibiotic use in infancy can shape long-term health outcomes, pointing health systems toward a critical shift: preventing asthma before it starts, rather than simply treating it after it appears. Read more.

Ecosystem Highlights 

The Government of British Columbia is launched BC PharmaCare National Pharmacare Plan, which will provide full coverage at no cost for many diabetes medication and menopausal hormone therapies for residents. Read more

Kudos

 Researchers at University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine have received nearly $10 million to support five projects focused on cancer prevention and early detection. The research aims to better understand cancer risks and improve screening to help catch cancers earlier and save lives. Read more

Congratulations to University of Victoria researcher Dr. Karolina Valente for being recognized for bioprinting for cancer research. Read more

Congratulations to Acuitas Therapeutics for being included in the Top 100 Global Innovator by LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions. The recognition highlights the company’s strong patent portfolio and leadership in advancing lipid nanoparticle technology for nucleic acid medicines. Read more

People on the Move

The University of British Columbia has welcomed Dr. Yuki Meng as a pharmacist at the new UBC Gateway Clinic, where she will contribute to patient care and help train future pharmacists. Read more

Applications Open

Join BC ecosystem leaders Jill Tipping, CEO of BC Tech, Loc Dao of Digi BC, Peter Cowan of Innovate BC and Wendy Hurlburt of Life Sciences BC for a strategic session on how to maximize your Web Summit Experience. The discussion will focus on setting clear priorities, building meaningful connections and positioning BC innovation on the global stage. Learn more

The New Ventures BC, presented by Innovate BC, supports early-stage startups in building and scaling their businesses. Participants receive mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, while offering $250,000 in cash and prizes. Learn more.

The StemCell Network’s 25 for 25 Silver Anniversary Awards recognizes individuals and groups who have helped advance regenerative medicine in Canada. Nominations close March 31. Learn more.

Canadian Life Sciences Trade Mission to New York and New Jersey are taking place May 11–14, 2026. The program will connect Canadian life sciences companies with U.S. healthcare and biotech leaders through networking events, ecosystem tours, and participation in the BioNJ BioPartnering Conference and the U.S. Pharma & Biotech Summit. Learn more

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

Membership Spotlight

Variational AI has developed an AI-based platform to rapidly generate novel multi-target kinase inhibitors focused on solid tumor indications. The platform is able to optimize selectivity in addition to binding affinity, PK, toxicity, and synthesizability simultaneously using multiproperty optimization and generate novel compounds from new areas of chemical space in a matter of weeks. Learn more

Until next week!

LSBC Team

May 11-14 - The Web Summit is one of the worlds largest and most influential technology gatherings. In collaboration with our partners, Life Sciences BC is supporting and initiating a range of activities around Web Summit Vancouver to facilitate connection, visibility, and engagement across the life sciences sector.



GSK Enters Agreement to Acquire 35Pharma Inc.

GSK has agreed to acquire Canada-based 35Pharma for approximately $950 million. The deal adds HS235, an investigational treatment for pulmonary hypertension, to GSK’s pipeline. The acquisition supports GSK’s focus on strengthening its respiratory and inflammation portfolio and is subject to regulatory approvals... Read more

Early Study Results from Johnson & Johnson Show Promising Antitumor Activity with Combination of Pasritamig and Docetaxel in Advanced Prostate Cancer

Johnson & Johnson shared early study results showing that its drug pasritamig, combined with docetaxel, demonstrated promising tumor response in advanced prostate cancer. The findings support further development of this combination as a potential new treatment option... Read more

BD Pioneers New Standard in Surgical Safety with FDA-Cleared Surgiphor™ 1000mL for Wound Irrigation

BD has received FDA clearance for its Surgiphor 1000 mL wound irrigation system, designed to improve surgical cleaning and enhance safety in the operating room... Read more

OdysseaBio Expands Strategic Scientific Communication Support for Biotech and Life Sciences Teams

OdysseaBio is expanding its scientific communication services to help biotech and life sciences teams clearly share complex research and strengthen stakeholder engagement from discovery to commercialization... Read more

Terry Fox Research Institute invests $10M in National Cancer Prevention Initiative

The Terry Fox Research Institute is investing nearly $10 million in a national cancer prevention initiative to fund research teams across Canada. These teams will study how cancers develop and focus on early detection and risk reduction, shifting efforts from treatment toward preventing cancer before it starts...Read more

VCHRI Phase 1 Clinical Trials Research Unit at UBC Hospital

VCHRI has opened a new Phase 1 Clinical Trials Research Unit at UBC Hospital, expanding access to early stage clinical trials and supporting the safe testing of new therapies in BC... Read more

Johnson & Johnson Therapy Nipocalimab Granted U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Johnson & Johnson’s therapy nipocalimab has received U.S. FDA Fast Track designation for treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), helping speed up its development as a potential new treatment...Read more

19th Annual Scotiabank Feast of Fortune Gala Raises Over $2.5 Million for St. Paul’s Foundation and Providence Health Care

The 19th Annual Scotiabank Feast of Fortune Gala raised over $2.5 million to support patient care, medical research, and the future St. Paul’s Hospital and Jim Pattison Medical Campus... Read more

Health Research BC Invests $6.3 Million to Strengthen Seniors’ Home and Community Care Across British Columbia

Health Research BC is investing $6.3 million to support research that improves home and community care for seniors across British Columbia. The funding will help research teams strengthen care and support seniors living at home... Read more

Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma Announce $2.25 Billion Global Settlement With Moderna

Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma have reached a global settlement with Moderna worth up to $2.25 billion over lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology used in Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine. The agreement resolves ongoing patent disputes and grants Moderna a license to use the technology... Read more

The Science Behind a Healthier Brain

The research on brain health is helping scientists better understand how lifestyle, physical activity, and overall wellness support healthy brain function and may reduce the risk of neurological decline... Read more

MedTech Dive: Labcorp Scales Digital Pathology Through Expanded PathAI Collaboration

Labcorp has expanded its collaboration with PathAI to deploy the FDA-cleared AISight® Dx digital pathology platform across its network of laboratories and hospital partners. The technology enables pathologists to review slides digitally and use AI tools to improve efficiency, collaboration, and diagnostic accuracy...Read more

Business Development and Sales Associate

This role requires supporting client outreach, build partnerships, and help grow business opportunities within the life sciences sector... Learn more

Animal Care Contractor

The role includes monitoring animal health, maintaining facilities, and assisting with research activities... Learn more

Marketing & Communications Specialist Co-op

This role involves supporting marketing and communications activities, including social media, website updates, newsletters, and event promotion. Works with the team to create content, organize campaigns, and track performance. Ideal for students with strong writing skills, attention to detail, and an interest in life sciences and digital marketing... Learn more.

Memberships and Sponsorships Specialist Co-op

This role offers a dynamic blend of tasks and projects, providing a fantastic opportunity for the selected candidate to immerse themselves in the operations of a professional sciences industry association. A Memberships and Sponsorships Specialist (Co-op) supports member engagement, sponsorship coordination, and event initiatives... Learn more

Logistics Specialist (Part-Time)

SignalChem Biotech Inc. is seeking a part-time Logistics Specialist to support inventory coordination, shipments, and order fulfillment. The role requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and experience in logistics or supply chain operations... Learn more

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