Life Sciences BC News, April 25, 2024

Fostering connections, promoting our life sciences sector as a unified voice, and building our ecosystem are some of our objectives here at LSBC. Watch our overview video including sector leaders to learn more about what LSBC is all about.

Earth day was on Monday April 22, and we look to highlight some of the environmental stewardship of our member organizations. As part of the theme of this year’s Access to Innovation, we explored how the life sciences sector contributes to addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges including climate change. The keynote presented by Dr. Bryan Tennant touched upon some of the changes that GSK is making towards sustainability.

This year UBC professor Dr. Suzanne Simard is touted as TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024. Dr. Simard’s findings on how trees communicate and over 200 peer-reviewed articles have informed environmentalists and efforts around forest preservation. Read more.

We recognize UVic for becoming one of only 14 post-secondary institutions in the world to reach a STARS Platinum sustainability rating. Read more.

Some other LSBC members that have made progress in environmental impact include AstraZeneca Canada, with a 67.6% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2015, and Hologic, who have also consistently reduced YOY emissions from 2013-2020. Merck has committed to set a net-zero target for GHG emissions across global operations, Novartis also aims to achieve net-zero by 2040 and carbon, plastic and water neutrality by 2030, and Roche has reduced energy consumption by 48% per employee since 2004.

LSBC echoes others in the business community in being pleased the BC government has put Bill 12, The Public Health Accountability and Cost Recovery Act, on hold. The province is forming a BC Online Safety Action Table, which will work with parents and experts to discuss new ways of ensuring online safety for youth. While this bill was intended to prevent online harm, it could potentially apply to a broad range of industries and cases. Read more. 

Last week we reported the federal government released the 2024/25 budget on April 16. We've had extensive discussions with members and affiliate organizations concerning the proposed increase in capital gains inclusion. Many are concerned about the potential to disincentivize investment and stifle innovation thereby making Canada less competitive. LSBC has signed an open letter urging the federal government to reconsider. This letter, published by the Canadian Council of Innovators has over 1,800 signatures from organizational leaders, including LSBC. See the letter here.

Member Highlights 

Tom Frohlich of Chinook Therapeutics, a Novartis Company, was announced as a finalist for the 2024 Bloom Burton Awards. This year the Bloom Burton Award Gala will be held on September 26, 2024. Learn more.

Moderna Canada announces its ongoing collaboration with OpenAI, leveraging generative AI to innovate across its portfolio and help ensure every employee at Moderna has a purpose-built AI assistant to augment their work with personalized support. Learn more.

Pfizer Canada will invest $500,000 to support McMaster University’s commitment to inclusive excellence in research by training emerging scholars from equity-deserving groups in the field of vaccinology. The announcement was made during National Immunization Awareness Week. Learn more.

New LSBC Members

With a career in leading and growing industry including Life Sciences in Alberta, [Individual] Carla Campbell relocated to Vancouver Island in 2021. Carla is currently focused on Life Sciences executive talent consulting and workforce development with TalentSphere in BC. She hopes to contribute to developing a rich resource of talent within the sector and growing a sustainable, vibrant Life Sciences sector in BC.

[Individual] Dr. Jon Thomas is a BC Regional Innovation Chair and the Director of the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE) at the University of the Fraser Valley. He is an Associate Professor at UFV’s School of Business and studies science commercialization and venture emergence, particularly from university settings.

ATS Healthcare is a leader in transportation and logistics focused on Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Medical equipment, Dental, Nutraceutical and Natural health industries.

The nCellular Ai team are medical researchers and data scientists with long-lasting and meaningful academic and industry relationships. Their experience spans chemical synthesis through to drug disbursement.

Kudos

Congratulations to Microbion, who won the Innovation Showcase at the Advanced Wound Care Summit 2024. Microbion was recognized for pioneering a new class of drugs with their lead therapeutic candidate pravibismane for the treatment of complex infections. Read more.

Kudos to Response Biomedical for being named a finalist for the CanadianSME Small Business Awards 2023: Customer Service Excellence Award! The CanadianSME Business Awards honour entrepreneurs making significant contributions to the Canadian economy. Read more.

Congratulations to Wendy Stewart, President of Clinical Operations at IQVIA, and Susan Barnes, Senior Director of IQVIA Biotech Strategic Operations, who were honoured with Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association awards! Wendy received the Luminary Award and Susan received the Rising Star Award. Read more.

Several members of the UBC Faculty of Medicine received Killam teaching awards for outstanding teaching, research, and service to the community. Read more.

People on the Move

Congratulations to Mohamad Ahmad of Biologics Manufacturing Centre on his promotion to Vice President of Quality and Conformity. Read more.

Applications Open

Register by April 28 for our BioBasics 101 course: The Biology of Biotech for the Non-Scientist, taking place on May 29 & 30. This intensive two-day ‘master course’ is designed to help non-scientists gain a foundational understanding of biopharma so you can communicate effectively with peers, clients, and scientists. Learn more.

Health Research BC’s C2 Program has added additional research funding to include 4 priority areas that address BC’s most immediate challenges. This year, the maximum funding available for each award has increased to $20,000. Apply by May 13, 2024. Learn more.

Health Research BC also opened applications for Clinical Trials Training Awards, in partnership with 4 CIHR-funded clinical trials training platforms. Graduate and postdoctoral trainees are invited to apply by May 31 to hone their skills in clinical trial research. Learn more.

The CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health opened applications for a $4M funding opportunity for early- and mid-career researchers in implementation science who are promoting health equity. Applications are due in October 2024. Learn more.

UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering and Amgen BC launched the Amgen Pitch Competition. Graduate students, research associates, and postdoctoral fellows are invited to submit their transformative research ideas in the fields of biotech, life sciences, and biomedical engineering. Apply by May 13, 2024. Learn more.

Nominations are open for Innovative Medicine Canada’s Health Research Foundation (HRF) Medal of Honour. This award recognizes an individual who has worked to advance health research in Canada. Apply by July 15, 2024. Nominations are also open for HRF’s Prix-Galien Canada – Product Innovation Award. Learn more.

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

Member Spotlight

Farabloc Development Corp (est 1984) is a BC medical device manufacturer. Farabloc is a leader in research and development of fabric for persons direct shielding from high EMF/RF/5G. Early research identified less inflammatory markers in clinical trials including human and equine blood test. Farabloc's proprietary fabric is included in wearable medical devices including limb covers for amputees and in lamination of prosthetic sockets....Learn more.

Until next week!

LSBC Team

May 23 - Join the excitement of BIO 2024 before the conference and learn about some of the innovative BC companies that will be attending.

Life Sciences BC is hosting a BC Delegation Spotlight: BIO San Diego webinar on May 23, 2024 from 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM PT, offering attendees an opportunity to gain insight into the innovative research and advancements in BC.

May 29 & 30 - LSBC, in partnership with Biotech Primer, is pleased to present BioBasics 101: The Biology of Biotech for the Non-Scientist.

This intensive two-day ‘master course’ is designed to help non-scientists gain a foundational understanding of the science that forms the backbone of biopharma.

Nominations Are Now Open for the 2024 Health Research Foundation’s Medal of Honour

The Health Research Foundation of Innovative Medicines Canada is excited to announce that nominations for this year’s prestigious HRF Medal of Honour are open. This award recognizes remarkable individuals whose contributions have advanced health knowledge in Canada and abroad...Read more.

VELSIPITY™ Receives Health Canada Approval for Adults with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

Pfizer Canada announced that Health Canada has granted a Notice of Compliance for VELSIPITY™. A once-daily oral treatment, VELSIPITY is for adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis who were intolerant to either conventional therapy or an advanced treatment...Read more.

Pfizer Canada and McMaster University to Foster Health Equity in Vaccine Science

During National Immunization Awareness Week, Pfizer Canada and McMaster University are proud to announce a significant project aimed at addressing critical gaps in health equity in the development and delivery of vaccines...Read more.

United Therapeutics Announces World’s First Successful Xenothymokidney Transplant

United Therapeutics Corporation announced the world’s first successful transplant of a UThymoKidney™, which the company produced, into a living person on April 12, 2024. This transplant represents several historic firsts for transplantation...Read more.

Collaboration with OpenAI: Transforming the Way We Work and Innovate Through AI

Moderna announced an ongoing collaboration with OpenAI to co-innovate with a shared vision of AI’s immense potential in the future of business and healthcare. This collaboration will help ensure every employee at Moderna has a purpose-built AI assistant to augment their work with personalized support...Read more.

Microbiome Insights Launches 16S rRNA gene and Metagenomics Long-Read Sequencing Services

Microbiome Insights is pleased to announce the launch of its new long-read sequencing services for both amplicon and shotgun metagenomics. The service is ideal for academic, clinical, and industry researchers looking for the next breakthrough in microbial research...Read more.

Labcorp Finalizes Acquisition of Providence’s Outreach Laboratory Business in Northern California and Orange County

Labcorp announced the completion of its acquisition of select assets of Providence’s laboratory business operated by its California medical groups, including ambulatory lab draw stations and an ambulatory laboratory facility and other equipment...Read more.

IQVIA Celebrates Wendy Stewart and Susan Barnes, Winners of Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association Luminary and Rising Star Awards

IQVIA announced that Wendy Stewart, president of Clinical Operations at IQVIA, and Susan Barnes, senior director of IQVIA Biotech Strategic Operations, have been honored with the Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association Luminary and Rising Star Awards, respectively...Read more.

University of Toronto Scientists Appointed as GSK Chairs will Advance Drug Delivery Research and Vaccine Education Tools for Healthcare Professionals

The University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy has announced the appointments of two leading scientists as endowed GSK research chairs. These appointments represent the collaborative efforts between the two organizations to advance the field of pharmacy...Read more.

UVic Reaches STARS Platinum Sustainability Rating

UVic has become 1 of only 14 post-secondary institutions in the world to reach a STARS Platinum sustainability rating. The ranking celebrates UVic’s holistic approach to sustainability and its integratation in everything they do...Read more.

Labcorp and Baystate Health Finalize Strategic Relationship For Diagnostics Services

Labcorp announced the completion of the acquisition of Baystate Health's outreach laboratory business and select operating assets, including laboratory service centers previously operated by Baystate Health throughout Massachusetts...Read more.

Health Canada Approves New Indication for Merck’s PREVYMIS® (letermovir) for Prevention of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Disease in High-Risk Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients

Merck announced that Health Canada has approved a new indication for PREVYMIS® for the prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus disease in adult kidney transplant recipients at high risk...Read more.

Health Canada Approves KEYTRUDA® as a First-line Treatment for Adult Patients with Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic HER2-negative Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Adenocarcinoma in Combination with Fluoropyrimidine- and Platinum-containing Chemotherapy

This approval is based on the results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-859 trial, which demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, progression-free survival and objective response rate compared to placebo in combination with chemotherapy...Read more.

PharmAla Closes Private Placement and Concurrent Debt Settlement

PharmAla Biotech Holdings is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated April 10, 2024, the Company has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering effective April 19 through the issuance of 4,166,665 Units for gross proceed of $750,000...Read more.

Senior Manager, Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub

Working under broad directions from the Executive Director, CIEBH, the Senior Manager will manage operational and partnership activities of CIEBH, engage with researchers and industry partners to develop knowledge mobilization plans, while supporting implementation of initiatives for CIEBH...Learn more.

Scientific Project Associate

The Scientific Project Associate will work flexibly across several discovery-stage small molecule programs, providing critical compound logistics and contract management support...Learn more.

Clinical Trials Coordinator

The Clinical Trial Coordinator handles all aspects of enrolment and follow-up of clinical research study patients including initial recruitment of study subjects, continued follow up with enrolled subjects, and collection and maintenance of clinical research related data...Learn more.

Associate Director/Director, Quality, Regulatory & Supply Chain Systems

This role will be the IT business partner for the Quality, Regulatory and Supply Chain functions and will be the primary point of contact on all topics related to IT. The Associate Director/Director, Quality, Regulatory & Supply Chain System will partner with these groups to develop and execute against a functional technology roadmap...Learn more.

Assistant Professor in Cardiac Arrhythmias

The ideal candidate will lead a research program using stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) to investigate inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies at the Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre...Learn more.

Clinical Trial Associate 1

The Clinical Trial Associate 1 will be an individual responsible for supporting Clinical Operations team members with project-specific support related to the conduct of clinical trials activities...Learn more.

Vice President, Process Development & Manufacturing

Reporting to the Chief Technical Operating Officer, this role requires a deep understanding of biopharmaceutical process development, cGMP manufacturing, and regulatory requirements associated with cell-based therapies and combination products...Learn more.

Associate, Biomaterials

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Biomaterials, the Associate, Biomaterials will contribute to polymer development, formulation, and characterization of biomaterials used to manufacture bioprinted tissues for preclinical studies and clinical applications...Learn more.

International Sales Account Manager

We are looking for an outgoing, self-motivated person to join our team as an International Sales Account Manager to assist the accelerating growth of our company. In this position, you will be responsible for the generating new business, help deliver awareness of our services to potential customers, and help position our company as a leader in the Microbiome Services Industry...Learn more.

R&D Technologist

The ideal candidate will effectively be conducting experiments for research projects and developing new product lines and working collaboratively with other lab talents on a daily basis, and work on the Admin/Office tasks as assigned. You will report directly to the CTO...Learn more

Senior Radiologist

As a Senior Radiologist, you will be responsible for providing expert medical guidance and support for the validation of our AI solution for Brain CT analysis...Learn more.

Welcome to LSBC!

ATS Healthcare is a leader in transportation and logistics focused on Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Medical equipment, Dental, Nutraceutical and Natural health industries.

ATS Healthcare provides a comprehensive range of logistics services including temperature controlled solutions through our national delivery network of courier and LTL shipments. Our cutting edge information technology provides our customers full visibility on their shipments for live tracking and temperature monitoring from pick up to delivery points and we have GMP compliant terminals coast to coast.

ATS Healthcare is a Canadian based company and we have designed a unique logistics network to serve our healthcare industry to improve our citizens’ well-being...Learn more.

If you haven't already, sign-up for this and our weekly events newsletter

Follow LSBC on Social Media