October 22, 2026 - Hello BioLinks Readers

This week:

• LSBC announces 2026-27 Board Directors and Observers
• Venture Capital gets a Boost from the Federal Government
• Last Chance to Sign Up for Bio Essentials before the Early-bird Deadline

2026 LSBC Board Announcement

Last week at the Board meeting following our AGM on October 15, 2026, Anne Stevens passed the baton to Lana Janes, our incoming Board Chair. We announced the 2026-27 LSBC Board of Directors and Observers today.

LSBC Board Directors – Executive Committee

• Board Chair: Lana Janes, Chief Scientific Officer, CPDC (Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization)
• Past Chair: Anne Stevens, Life Sciences Executive (former VP, Business Development, AbCellera)
• Treasurer: Rajveer Hundal, Partner, PwC Canada

LSBC Board Directors

• Sherry Aulin, Life Sciences Executive Leader (former CFO, Xenon)
• Kevin Chaplin, CEO, Kardium
• Tom Frohlich, CEO, Jade Biosciences
• Wendy Hurlburt, President & CEO, Life Sciences BC
• Michael Martin, Global Biopharmaceutical Executive (former COO, Aurinia)
• Scott Phillips, President, Starfish Medical
• David Poon, Co-Founder, Head of Corporate Development, DCx Biotherapeutics
• Sandra Wong, Senior Manager, Access and Government Affairs, Pfizer Canada
• Christina Zacharuk, CEO, Research Universities’ Council of British Columbia
• Peter Zandstra, VP, Research and Innovation, University of British Columbia

LSBC Board Observers

• Joseph Garcia, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
• Roger Kuypers, Partner, Fasken, Martineau, Dumoulin LLP

We would also like to thank our outgoing Board members and observer for their many years of service and dedication to the life sciences sector.

Outgoing Board Members and Observer

• Ali Ardakani, Founder & Managing Director, Novateur Ventures, Co-Founder & CEO of Optigo Biotherapeutics, LSBC Board Director for nine years, including two as Board Chair
• Suzanne Gill, Life Sciences Executive, LSBC Board Director for four years
• David Helliwell, Co-Founder & Executive Board Chair, Thrive Health, LSBC Board Director for six years
• Hector MacKay-Dunn, KC, Senior Partner, Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP, LSBC Board Observer for many years

Photo: Alizain Hirani | Pexels

Venture Capital in Canada Gets a Boost from the Federal Government

Total funds equal $1.75 billion and include a previously announced “early growth-stage” fund and the longstanding funds-of-funds program. The programs will be managed by the Business Development Bank of Canada, and encompass the Government of Canada’s Venture and Growth Capital Plan. With this funding, the federal government aims to address financing gaps for early growth and scaling domestic technology companies. Read more (BetaKit).

Last Chance to Sign-up for Bio Essentials Before the Early-bird Deadline

Register before October 31, 2026 for Bio Essentials to get the early-bird rate for this two-day introductory course for professionals in life sciences without a scientific background. This course provides an overview of the basic science that underpins the biotechnology industry. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a BCIT micro-credential. Register before the October 31 Early-bird deadline here.

Member Highlights 

Bold Therapeutics reached enrollment midpoint in randomized Phase 2 trial in second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Bold is currently enrolling patients across more than 25 clinical sites in Canada, South Korea, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Read more.

Kardium announced first patient enrollment in the Globe registry. The registry marks an important milestone in the continued commercial adoption of the Globe System following positive physician experience, strong procedural outcomes, and a growing body of evidence supporting the system’s unique integrated mapping and ablation approach. Read more.

Variational AI and Enki™ platform selected by SK Biopharmaceuticals to generate novel lead compounds for an undisclosed program. Read more.

Ecosystem Highlights

Health Canada has announced that from July 1 to September 30, 2026 the department has authorized 16 new prescription drugs, 33 generic and biosimilar drugs, and approved 540 new medical devices, improving access to the drugs and medical devices that Canadians need. Read more.

The Medtech Canada Team announced several staffing changes: Raj Malik as Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Olivier Bourbeau as Vice President, Federal Affairs, Guman Virk as Director of Policy, Ruhi Kiflen as Director, Sector Strategy and Atlantic Partnerships. Read more.

Kudos

Clinical Trials British Columbia announced the recipients of its 2026 Clinical Trials British Columbia Awards, honouring two individuals who have made outstanding contributions to clinical research in BC. Dr. Barbara McGillivray was awarded the Leadership & Advocacy Award and Cindy Trytten was honoured with the Service & Support Award. Read more.

Acuitas Therapeutics’ Pre-Formed Vesicle (PFV) has been recognized by The Scientist as a 2026 Top Innovation. Read more.

People on the Move

Genome British Columbia welcomes Dr. Roshini Moodley Naidoo as President and CEO. Roshini brings a forward-thinking approach, visionary strategic leadership, and a global track record of guiding organizations through periods of growth and change to the company.

Roshini will join Genome BC on November 2, 2026.

David Frost joined the Board of Directors at St. Paul’s Foundation, bringing perspective shaped from his experiences in life sciences and corporate governance. Read more.

Zymeworks welcomed Suzanne Monahan as Senior Vice President, Commercial and General Manager, Theravance Biopharma. Read more.

DIGITAL adds Gregory Smolynec to its Board of Directors. Read more.

WELL Health Technologies appointed Samara Starkman as Chief Privacy Officer and Vice President, Legal & Regulatory. Read more.

Congratulations to LSBC’s Chair, Dr. Lana Janes, on her appointment as CPDC’s Chief Scientific Officer. Read more.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced that Daniel Brennan has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Read more.

Applications Open

Ngen has launched GenoMAKE - Genomics Advanced Manufacturing Challenge designed to help Canadian companies move genomics-enabled products, tools, platforms, inputs, production systems, and process innovations from proof of concept toward reliable production, adoption, and scale in Canada. Learn more.

Applications for the 2026-2027 I.D.E.A.L. Bioscience Employer Recognition Program are now open, showcase your leadership and gain national recognition. Learn more.

PacifiCan is opening an intake under the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) to support projects that accelerate the adoption, commercialization, and scale-up of Canadian artificial intelligence technologies and solutions. Apply by November 23, 2026. Learn more.

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

Membership Spotlight

Revau is Canada’s largest privately owned Managing General Agent (MGA), specializing in complex risk solutions for the life sciences and healthcare sectors. With deep, long-standing relationships across both the domestic and London insurance markets, we bring global expertise to local innovation. We are the only MGA in Canada with delegated underwriting authority of up to $50 million per claim and in the aggregate, enabling fast, flexible, and tailored insurance solutions. Learn more.

Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create medicines for people with serious diseases. The company has multiple cystic fibrosis (CF) medicines in the market, and several ongoing clinical and research programs in CF. Beyond CF, Vertex has a robust pipeline of investigational small molecule medicines in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including pain, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and APOL1-mediated kidney disease. Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

November 3-4 - Life Sciences BC is pleased to announce the 11th 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.

November 26-27 - Life Sciences BC, in partnership with BCIT, is relaunching our science for non-scientists courses, Bio Essentials: Foundational Science, a micro-credential that will teach the fundamental science that underpins the biotech industry with Canadian context and relevant BC-specific ecosystem examples.

Johnson & Johnson Announces New Data Showing TREMFYA® (guselkumab) is the Only IL-23 to Deliver Durable Fistula Remission through 48 Weeks in Crohn’s Disease with Perianal Fistula

Johnson & Johnson announced one-year results from the Phase 3 FUZION study showing TREMFYA® (guselkumab) maintained or improved fistula remission... Read more.

Bold Therapeutics Reaches Enrollment Midpoint in Randomized Phase 2 Trial of BOLD-100 in Second-Line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Bold Therapeutics announced the enrollment of 60 patients in its Phase 2 trial evaluating BOLD-100 in combination with FOLFOX-based chemotherapy in patients with second-line metastatic colorectal cancer... Read more.

Health Canada Approves SKYRIZI® (risankizumab) for Children Living with Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis

AbbVie announced that Health Canada has approved SKYRIZI® (risankizumab), expanding treatment options for eligible children and adolescents living with plaque psoriasis... Read more.

Hologic and Inpeco Announce Co-Marketing Partnership to Advance Molecular Laboratory Automation

Hologic and Inpeco signed a co-marketing partnership for Inpeco’s automation solution FlexLab™ X and Hologic’s Panther® System in Europe... Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Launches Next-Generation Shockwave™ C2 Aero Fly Coronary IVL Catheter, Cutting IVL Treatment Time in Half

Johnson & Johnson announced the U.S. launch of its Coronary IVL Catheter designed to treat a broad range of calcified coronary artery lesions... Read more.

Hologic Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Reveal Genomics

Hologic has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Reveal Genomics, a precision oncology company based in Barcelona, Spain, that develops advanced genomic diagnostic tests to help personalized cancer treatment... Read more.

SK Life Science Labs Selects Variational AI’s Enki™ Platform for Generative AI-Driven Lead Discovery

Variational AI announced a collaboration with SK Life Science Labs to apply Variational AI’s Enki™ platform to generate novel lead compounds... Read more.

Kardium Announces First Patient Enrollment in the Globe Registry, Expanding Real-World Evidence for the Globe® Pulsed Field System Following Strong Early Commercial Experience

Kardium announced the first site activation and patient enrollment in the Globe Registry for treating patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation... Read more.

Lexaria’s Human Study GLP-1-H26-7 Reaches Full Enrollment and Continues Dosing on Schedule

Lexaria Bioscience reported that full enrollment has been reached and dosing continues on schedule with the Human Pilot Study evaluating two oral compositions against commercially available tablets... Read more.

Rakovina Therapeutics and Variational AI Advance Brain-Penetrant ATR Program Toward Development Candidate Selection

Rakovina announced significant preclinical progress from its kt-5000AI program in collaboration with Variational AI focused on the discovery and development of first-in-class CNS-penetrant ATR inhibitors... Read more.

Engineering Lead

This role will lead instrument and consumable development from design and prototyping through repeatable manufacturing and reliable operation in customers’ labs... Learn more.

Director/Senior Director, Contracts and Transactions

This role will provide legal and transactional support across the organization, with a particular focus on research and development-related contracts and technology licenses and collaborations... Learn more.

Director, Intellectual Property

This role is responsible for managing intellectual property matters, counselling senior business leaders, and developing and implementing patent portfolio strategies... Learn more.

Technician, Protein Expression & Purification

This role supports biologics discovery and preclinical research programs by leading the expression, purification, and characterization of biologic reagents.... Learn more.

Scientist/Assistant Professor - Proteomics

The role will develop an independent research program in the general areas of biological mass spectrometry and proteomics for biomarker and target identification, or protein function analysis in cancer... Learn more.

Molecular Biology & Cell Culture Technician

This role will split time between molecular biology assays (such as PCR, qPCR, and nucleic acid extractions) and maintaining mammalian cell cultures... Learn more.

Scientist/Assistant Professor - Cancer Biology

The role will develop research programs in cancer biology, foster collaborations in biomedical research, and teach molecular biology and science-related courses within the department... Learn more.

Regulatory Affairs Associate

This role supports EBC's clients with regulatory strategy, submissions, and lifecycle documentation for medical devices and related life sciences products.... Learn more.

Research Projects Coordinator

This role will assist in the coordination and administration of the Quality Management System for the Cancer Immunotherapy Program at the BC Cancer's Deeley Research Centre... Learn more.

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