October 1, 2026 - Hello BioLinks Readers

This week:

• Team BC at the Bloom Burton Award Gala
• Invest in BC: Start your meeting requests
• Bio Essentials is back - Intro to the science of biotech
• LSBC mission to Berlin; Nov 12-13, 2026

Team BC / Photo: Justine Apple Photography

Team BC at the Bloom Burton Award Gala

Last week, we celebrated Xenon’s Ian Mortimer at the Bloom Burton Award Gala. The Bloom Burton Award honours an individual who made the greatest contribution to Canada’s innovative healthcare industry in the past year. It’s been quite the year for Xenon, winning the BIOTECanada Gold Leaf Award for Biotech Company of the Year, the LSBC Award for Financing of the Year, and the Bloom Burton Award. Congrats to Ian and the entire team!

Start Your Meeting Requests for Life Sciences Investment Week

For those of you who have already registered for Invest in BC, you will have received notification that the BIO Partnering app is now open for meeting requests. Take advantage of the opportunity to meet with the right business or investment opportunity November 3-4, 2026. If you have ever travelled to fundraise you will appreciate that LSBC is bringing over 100 investors from around the world to Vancouver. We have also curated a slate of side events designed to foster high-value connections.

There is still time, if you haven’t done so, get your Partnering Pass here.

May 2026: Bio Essentials Cohort

Bio Essentials is back November 26-27 – Intro to the Science of Biotech

Looking to learn more about the Biotech industry? Register for Bio Essentials, a two-day introductory course from November 26 to 27 presented by British Columbia Institute of Technology where biotechnology becomes clear, relevant, and exciting for professionals without a science background.



Learn more and register before the Early-bird deadline October 31.

Member Highlights 

Rakovina Therapeutics announced a partnership with Boston-based Celvion Therapeutics to leverage AI and real-world clinical data for drug development. Unlike conventional approaches, the collaboration uses AI to identify the most promising drug combinations and patient populations before advancing into further development. Read more.

Jade Biosciences announced preclinical data for a potential best-in-class, monoclonal antibody in development for dermatomyositis, a rare, chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by painful inflammatory skin disease and progressive muscle weakness. Read more.

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals reported data from ongoing Phase 1b/2a trial for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. The results highlight the long duration of response, high remission rates and tolerability of EP-104GI. Read more.

Ecosystem Highlights

The Government of Canada announced appointment of Crystal Lennie to the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Governing Council. Read more.

Kudos

Twenty-two leaders from across Canada’s life sciences sector joined adMare’s flagship leadership development program to strengthen the leadership pipeline driving company creation and growth. Read more.

Dr. S. Larry Goldenberg, co-founder of the Vancouver Prostate Centre, received the 2026 UBC Medicine Bill and Marilyn Webber Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more.

Congratulations to the seven UBC Faculty of Medicine doctoral students named to the 2026/2027 cohort of the UBC Public Scholars Initiative for their potential in advancing collaborative research in areas including stroke rehabilitation, supporting adolescents with cerebral palsy and more. Read more. 

People on the Move

(L:R) Tim Murphy, Devon Ryan, Mike Fantozzi, Michael Rivers, Stefanos Tsamousis

Genome BC welcomed Tim Murphy as VP, Corporate Development. Read more.

Santis Health announced Devon Ryan as Director, Ontario Government Affairs. Read more.

Mintz announced that Mike Fantozzi will become the firm’s next Managing Member, succeeding Bob Bodian following an extraordinary 18-year tenure. Read more.

ViewsML appointed former Roche VP and Digital Pathology Association (DPA) president Michael Rivers to its Board of Directors. Read more.

Roche Canada announced the appointment of Stefanos Tsamousis as President and CEO of Roche Canada Pharma. Read more.

Applications Open

CQDM and CPDC have launched the 2026 Call for Ideas: New Canadian Approaches in Radiopharmaceuticals. Selected applicants will pitch their technology at Virtual Pitch Day and receive feedback from scientific experts and CPDC’s investment team. Applications close October 15, 2026. Read more.

The University of Victoria and the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) have partnered up to bring the Core Skills for Biomanufacturing (CSB) micro-credential. Register by October 15, 2026. Read more.

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

Membership Spotlight

WELL Health Technologies Corp. is Canada’s largest outpatient healthcare company and a leading provider of technology-enabled healthcare solutions. WELL is building the infrastructure for a healthier Canada, where every patient gets better care, every provider is empowered by AI, and every piece of health data is protected. WELL owns and operates the largest outpatient clinic network in Canada, supporting millions of patient visits annually. Through its subsidiary WELLSTAR, WELL provides electronic medical records, AI-powered clinical tools, patient engagement platforms and IT management services. Learn more.

Cagley Johnson Consulting Inc. supports clients with fractional CEO/COO services; full service drug development program management; CRO selection and oversight; comprehensive project review of project portfolio; project rescue services for critical projects that have "gone off the rails;" website design and management; and due diligence support for M&A activities. Learn more.

New Members Welcome

Viridant IP is an IP boutique firm providing IP portfolio development and fractional IP counsel services designed to assist small companies and non‑profit research organizations to scale their IP globally. Learn more.

Kawalpreet Kaur is a Biology student at Kwantlen Polytechnic University with a growing interest in genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology. Through her academic and research experiences, have had the opportunity to work with both plant and animal systems and develop hands-on laboratory skills. 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.

Direct billing for ODs | EyecareX + TELUS Health eClaims

EyecareX announced it integrates with TELUS Health eClaims, bringing one-click direct billing and automatic AI-powered reconciliation... Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Announces TREMFYA® (guselkumab) is the First and Only IL-23 Inhibitor to Show Significant Improvement in Spinal Pain and Stiffness in Landmark Axial Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Study

Johnson & Johnson announced that TREMFYA® (guselkumab) demonstrated improvements in axial symptoms and reductions in inflammation... Read more.

CAPVAXIVE® Included in Ontario’s Publicly Funded Adult Pneumococcal Immunization Program

Merck welcomed Ontario’s decision to include CAPVAXIVE® in its adult immunization program, helping expand access to pneumococcal immunization for eligible older adults in Ontario... Read more.

New UBC Clinic to Provide Team-based Care for up to 4,450 B.C. Patients

UBC formally celebrated and showcased BC's first team-based teaching clinic, which is now accepting patients and will provide primary care for individuals without a regular provider ... Read more.

Johnson & Johnson Presents New Data Reinforcing Sustained Disease Control and Improved Daily Function Achieved with IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu) in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG)

Johnson & Johnson announced new findings on IMAAVY® (nipocalimab-aahu) for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG)... Read more. 

Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Reports 52-Week Data from the Highest Dose Cohort of EP-104GI in its Ongoing Phase 1b/2a RESOLVE Trial for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Eupraxia announced updated clinical data from study highlighting the long duration of response, high remission rates, and tolerability of treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis... Read more.

Rakovina Therapeutics Partners with Boston-based Celvion Therapeutics to Leverage AI and Real-World Clinical Data for Precision Cancer Drug Development

Rakovina Therapeutics announced a research collaboration with Celvion Therapeutics to identify novel precision medicine strategies... Read more.

Jade Biosciences Announces Preclinical Data Characterizing JADE301, a Potentially Best-in-Class, Half-Life-Extended Anti-IFN-B Monoclonal Antibody in Development for Dermatomyositis, at EADV 2026

Jade Biosciences shared preclinical data characterizing its monoclonal antibody in development for dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease... Read 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.

Research and Innovation Manager, Fisheries and Aquaculture

The role contributes to implementing the organization’s strategic goals, engages external partners, and pursues collaborative opportunities as part of the Research and Innovation team... Learn more.

Scientist I, Protein Biophysics and Biochemistry

The role supports Protein Biophysics and Biochemistry teams developing and implementing assays, screening compounds, and executing gene-to-protein workflows... Learn more.

Coordinator, Research Program & Operations

The role supports the planning, coordination, and delivery of Canada's Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub (CIEBH) programs, partnerships, and strategic initiatives... Learn more.

Manufacturing Engineering Technologist

The role will be responsible for providing technical support for the manufacturing, assembly, testing, calibration, and troubleshooting of electronic instrument systems... Learn more.

Coordinator, Education Programs & Communications

The role is responsible for the planning, organizing, and delivery of communications and leads in the development of initiatives that advance training and talent development programs in alignment with research, partnerships, and talent development priorities... Learn more.

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