October 16, 2025 - Hello BioLinks Readers! | | |
This week:
- Trade & Invest BC Spotlight: BC as a Global Launchpad for LNP and mRNA Therapies
- Clinical Trials British Columbia Leads a Unified, Province-Wide Approach
- Welcome to the 2026 LSBC Investor Readiness Cohort!
- Calling all Bioscience Employers: Develop BC’s Next Generation of Biotech Talent
- For Industry Interested in Medical Device Regulation
| | Trade & Invest BC’s Life Sciences Series highlights some of the exciting advancements in our sector, promoting our work to attract global investment, partnerships, and talent. In the first article, it demonstrates how BC is fast becoming a global hub for mRNA and lipid nanoparticle (LNP) innovation, technologies that are transforming the future of medicine. | | |
From Dr. Pieter Cullis’ pioneering LNP research at UBC, which powered the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine—helping save millions of lives worldwide—to the creation of BC-based companies like Acuitas Therapeutics, NanoVation Therapeutics™, and Integrated Nanotherapeutics Inc., BC continues to drive breakthroughs in RNA-based therapies.
Read the Trade & Invest British Columbia Life Sciences Series here.
| | With a New Name, Clinical Trials British Columbia Leads a Unified, Province-Wide Approach | | | | Clinical Trials British Columbia, supported by Michael Smith Health Research BC, will take the lead on advancing a unified, province-wide approach to clinical trials. | | This evolution builds on insights from a recent situational analysis of BC’s clinical trials environment that identified the need for a single convening organization to coordinate provincial efforts. As part of this new role, Clinical Trials BC is changing its name to Clinical Trials British Columbia and launching a new website. While the name is changing, the team remains part of Health Research BC, which continues to support and enable this important work to strengthen BC’s clinical trials ecosystem. Read more. | | |
Welcome to the 2026 LSBC Investor Readiness Cohort!
This morning, we officially kicked off the 2026 Investor Readiness Program with an introductory session connecting participating SMEs and Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs). Over the next six months, our cohort will focus on building compelling investor narratives and sharpening their pitches to stand out in a competitive landscape. Read the announcement here.
| | Calling all Bioscience Employers: Develop BC’s Next Generation of Biotech Talent | | |
LSBC is partnering with CASTL BC to support workforce development through the new CASTL Elevate BC Bioscience Reskilling Program — a program designed to prepare BC youth for entry-level roles in the province’s growing biotech sector.
Trainees complete a six-week academic program focused on:
• Laboratory Techniques & Aseptic Practices
• Bioprocessing & Manufacturing Operations
• Quality, Safety & Compliance
• Analytical & Technical Skills
Employers can then host trainees for a four-week, on-the-job training placement at no cost. This hands-on experience builds essential industry skills and provides employers the opportunity to assess and mentor potential future hires.
Trainee interviews will be held Wednesday, October 22nd at the BCIT Aerospace Campus.
To learn more or to register, please contact Mauricio Romero, CASTL BC Training Administrator, at mauricio@castlcanada.ca.
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For Industry Interested in Medical Device Regulations
The International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) is a voluntary group of medical device regulators from around the world with aims to accelerate international medical device regulatory harmonization and convergence.
A 60-day consultation is now open which is closing on December 8th, 2025. To view the Consultation on the IMDRF website, click here.
The IMDRF is seeking international industry feedback on this important framework. To support this, a working group will be formed to review the document and prepare a coordinated industry response. If you would like to join this working group, please click here to indicate your interest by October 17, 2025. Your expertise and participation will be invaluable in shaping a unified, thoughtful response to this consultation.
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GlycoNet and Alberta Innovates will jointly invest $2 million in a new partnership to support applied research in Alberta with the intent to commercialize technologies that support patient care. GlycoNet is a national organization based at the University of Alberta. Read more.
Me Therapeutics has entered into a technology license agreement with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to license the NRC’s proprietary nanobody-based CD22 binder, giving ME Therapeutics exclusive commercial rights. Read more.
Simon Fraser University’s School of Medicine is now accepting students, marking a major milestone for healthcare and education in British Columbia as Western Canada’s first new medical school in nearly 60 years. Read more.
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Congratulations to UBC’s Faculty of Medicine researchers for securing over $1.3 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation to support their ongoing research and innovation. Read more
Lithuanian scientist Professor Urtė Neniškytė received €2 million EU grant to study how the brain's sugar-rich layer, the glycocalyx, influences neural development and brain maturation.
Read more
Health Research BC has announced 35 recipients of its 2025 Research Trainee Awards, supporting early-career researchers across British Columbia who are advancing studies in areas such as mental health, cancer, infectious disease, brain and heart health, and health equity. Read more
The Canadian Society of Transplantation Annual Scientific Meeting, honoured the achievements of VCHRI Investigator Dr. Poul Keown, recognizing his outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research and education in genome sciences and precision transplantation. Read more
Dr. Maria Cristina has been named the 2025 Till & McCulloch Award for her groundbreaking research showing how embryonic immune cells (macrophages) support pancreas and human development. Read more
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Registration and abstract submission are now open for ISSCR 2026, taking place July 8-11 in Montreal. STEMCELL Technologies is co-sponsoring the event, which will bring together global leaders in stem cell science and regenerative medicine. Read more
The British Columbia government has opened applications for a new medical school at Simon Fraser University, securing a permanent location to train more primary-care physicians in the province. Read more
Join the Horizon Europe as Seen from Canada webinar on October 23, 2025, to gain insights on enhancing Canadian researchers success in securing Horizon Europe funding. Hosted by Lakehead University in collaboration with ISED and the EU Delegation to Canada. Read more
| | See our expanded list of current life sciences opportunities on our website. | | |
| Finch Media is a public relations, strategic communications and health communications agency that supports clients in a wide variety of sectors, including automotive, education, entertainment, biotech, life sciences, and consumer packaged goods (CPG). We help our clients identify, develop, and deploy their most compelling stories to make real connections, drive results, and have a lasting impact. Our expert team is based in Vancouver, and our work has benefitted numerous clients throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe. Learn more | | |
Nabih Berri - MD/MBA and founder of Berri Partners Inc., a Vancouver-based advisory firm helping medtech, biotech, and digital health startups, VCs, and corporates across the U.S. and Canada. Experienced in clinical medicine, tissue engineering, and healthcare innovation, with expertise in financing, market access, reimbursement, due diligence, and growth strategy. Learn more
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Alldrey John (A.J.) Cailing - is a biology student at Simon Fraser University. He is interested in learning about developmental biology, stem cells research, genomics. He
loves bridging his passions for technology and life sciences to explore how research and innovation can improve human health. 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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New Study Finds eSense™ Digital Therapy Effective for Women with a History of Sexual Assault
A recent study found that eSense, a digital therapy based on CBT and mindfulness, effectively improves sexual interest and arousal in women with a history of sexual assault, while also helping reduce PTSD symptoms... Read more
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Johnson & Johnson to Highlight Breadth of its Major Depressive Disorder Portfolio at 2025 ECNP Congress
Johnson & Johnson will showcase 17 new clinical and real-world studies on major depressive disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and schizophrenia at the 2025 ECNP Congress... Read more
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ME Therapeutics Added To CSE25 Index
Vancouver-based ME Therapeutics, developing immuno-oncology therapies, has been added to the CSE25 Index of the Canadian Securities Exchange’s largest companies... Read more
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves Updated Indication Statement for RINVOQ® (upadacitinib) for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The U.S. FDA has approved an updated indication for Rinvoq (upadacitinib), expanding its use to adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease when TNF blockers are not clinically suitable... Read more
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BeOne Medicines’ Sonrotoclax Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by U.S. FDA
The U.S. FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to BeOne Medicines’ investigational drug sonrotoclax for adults with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, supporting its expedited development and review... Read more
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Getinge’s Advanta V12 receives CE Mark for Major Bridging Indications
Getinge’s Advanta V12 covered stent system has received CE Mark approval for use as a bridging stent in FEVAR, BEVAR, and IBD aneurysm repairs, broadening its applications in complex aortic treatments... Read more
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New Surrey Campus Brings Labs, Clinics and 65 Programs Together, Creating Surrey’s Future-ready Learning Destination
Surrey’s new campus brings labs, clinics and 65 academic programs under one roof, forming a hands-on, interdisciplinary hub for education, research and community engagement... Read more
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A New Chapter for BC’s Clinical Trials Community
Clinical Trials BC is leading a coordinated provincial effort to strengthen BC’s clinical trials and enhance its global research presence... Read more
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SFU School of Medicine Opens Applications, Announces Plans for New Surrey Location
SFU’s School of Medicine has opened applications and is planning a new permanent home in Surrey, with a focus on community-embedded, hands-on medical education... Read more
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New Technique Boosts Electron Microscope’s Clarity
Researchers have developed a new technique that dramatically improves the clarity of electron microscopes, enabling atomic-scale imaging under lower energy conditions... Read more
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Augurex Announces Expansion of Availability of the JOINTstat® Diagnostic Test for Rheumatoid Arthritis with MitogenDx
Augurex has joined forces with MitogenDx to broaden access to its JOINTstat® blood test for rheumatoid arthritis across Canada, helping support earlier and more accurate diagnosis... Read more
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Sogroya® (Somapacitan Injection) Now Available in Canada as the First and Only Once-Weekly Treatment for Both Children and Adults Living with Growth Hormone Deficiency
Novo Nordisk has introduced Sogroya® (somapacitan) in Canada, the first once-weekly growth hormone treatment approved for both adults and children with growth hormone deficiency, offering a more convenient alternative to daily injections... Read more
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Driving Health Research to Market for Alberta’s Future
GlycoNet and Alberta Innovates have launched a $2 million partnership to fund Alberta-led glycomics projects developing new vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies to boost health innovation and economic growth... Read more
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TECVAYLI® Plus DARZALEX FASPRO® Combination Regimen Significantly Improves Progression-free Survival and Overall Survival Versus Standard of Care
Johnson & Johnson’s MajesTEC-3 trial showed that combining TECVAYLI® and DARZALEX FASPRO® significantly improved survival in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, suggesting a potential new standard of care... Read more
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Me Therapeutics Granted Licence for CD22 Nanobody Asset to Expand Next-Gen in Vivo Car Cell Therapy Program
ME Therapeutics has secured exclusive licensing rights to a nanobody-based CD22 binder from Canada’s National Research Council. This agreement will support the company’s next-generation in vivo CAR-T and CAR-M therapy programs targeting relapsed or refractory B-cell cancers... Read more
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Bridging Innovation and Care: PHC Ventures Wins Big
Providence Health Care Ventures (PHC Ventures) was honoured as Strategic Partner of the Year at the 27th Annual Life Sciences BC Awards, recognizing its pivotal role in advancing health innovation through collaboration, commercialization support, and ecosystem leadership... 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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Research and Innovation Manager, Mining and Energy
This role requires leading genomics and biotechnology projects in the mining and energy sectors, managing partnerships, securing funding, and guiding research from concept to commercialization to drive sustainable innovation at Genome BC... Learn more
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Research Scientist 2, CMC, Analytical Chemistry
This position develops in-house analytical methods for small molecule drug candidates and supports preformulation studies. Based in Vancouver, BC, the Research Scientist 2, CMC, Analytical Chemistry reports to the Principal Scientist and contributes to multiple development programs... Learn 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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