OBIO’s Fifth Annual Investment Summit Attracts Record Number of Global Investors

TORONTO, ON – February 14, 2022 – More than 120 global investors with an impressive book of US$58 billion to spend converged virtually from February 9-11 at the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization’s (OBIO®) Investment Summit and Early Technology Showcase to hear from 50 of Canada’s most promising health science companies and 10 of Canada’s leading research institutions.

“Over the three days of the summit we showcased Canadian science and innovations to the world,” said Dr. Maura Campbell, OBIO® CEO. “Thank you to all participants, keynotes and panellists for your expertise, thought leadership and support for investment in the Canadian health science ecosystem. We look forward to building on this year’s success and seeing everybody back next year.”

“Ontario is home to a thriving health science sector and plays a vital role in the global industry,” said the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). “Supporting this key sector is a priority for the Government of Canada, as it grows the competitive domestic life sciences sector in Canada, leading to innovative healthcare discoveries and creating good jobs and resilient economic growth in southern Ontario.”

“Ontario is home to the largest life sciences sector in Canada, and one of the leading life sciences sectors in North America,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Supporting the growth of this sector will help our economic recovery, strengthen our pandemic resilience, and, most importantly, build a stronger and healthier Ontario.”

“Nurturing the ecosystem that supports Canada’s best health science innovators is key to success,” said Dr. Sir Michael Houghton, Nobel Prize Winner & Director of the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute, University of Alberta, who spoke on the first day of the three-day Summit. “Events like this go a long way towards supporting the growth of a strong and competitive domestic life science sector securing Canada’s ability to deliver healthcare solutions to Canadians and the world. The OBIO Investment Summit will greatly help the emergence of a world-class private biotech industry in Canada.”

Investment in Canada’s biotech, medtech, life sciences and healthtech industry is supported by an ecosystem of partners many of whom have participated in the annual OBIO Investment Summit and Early Technology Showcase since 2018. Included amongst these partners are Canada’s research institutions, universities, technology incubators, start-ups, scientists, and multinationals all of whom are collaborating on the development of world-class healthcare technologies. OBIO® looks forward to bringing our partners together at future summits as we welcome the world to invest in Canadian healthcare innovations.

About OBIO®

The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

For more information, please visit www.obio.ca and follow OBIO® on Twitter @OBIOscience.

About FedDev Ontario

For more than 12 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation and growth in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving their productivity, growing their revenues, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects.

Global Investors to Bring as Much As US$52B In Capital to Fund Canadian Healthcare Innovations

This week, the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO), a membership-based not-for-profit organization, is set to bring investors from around the world to its annual OBIO Investment Summit (OIS) and Early Technology Showcase (ETS), which showcases Canada’s leading innovations in health sciences, including biotech and medtech. According to OBIO’s analysis, the registered investors have approximately US$52 billion combined in unallocated and available funds to invest during the summit.

“We look forward each year to connecting with entrepreneurs at the Summit, learning of the opportunity for their business and being able to share some of our experience and insight from 20+ years of building great life sciences companies.

As part of its annual OBIO Investment Summit which takes place virtually starting February 9 to Friday, February 11, 2022, over 50 emerging Canadian companies will be in attendance, looking to bring their breakthrough innovations to market as part of Canada’s thriving health sciences technology industry.

“OBIO is welcoming over 100 global investors to their 2022 annual Investment Summit who will have the unique opportunity to access the best Canadian innovations in this sector,” says Dr. Maura Campbell, CEO of OBIO. “The summit has built on its strengths each year since 2018, and to date 101 companies have gone on to successfully raise over $1 billion in investment to boost Canada’s economy and its health sciences industry.”

The summit showcases investable companies, including the Early Technology Showcase, which this year, highlights 10 of Canada’s leading health research institutions presenting their latest breakthrough technologies, from mental health and cancer detection to AI and stem cell therapies. Together, the OIS and ETS bring together global investors, high potential Canadian companies, and top Canadian research institutions with the goal of bringing venture capital investment to Canada.

“The OBIO Investment Summit is a great venue for a preselected group of Canadian life sciences companies to showcase their technologies and connect to a diverse group of global investors and potential partners,” says Jacki Jenuth, Partner at Lumira Ventures. “We look forward each year to connecting with entrepreneurs at the Summit, learning of the opportunity for their business and being able to share some of our experience and insight from 20+ years of building great life sciences companies.”

For more information on the lineup of companies presenting at the 2022 OBIO Investment Summit or to register for attendance, visit www.obioinvestmentsummit.com.

Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization welcomes Dr. Maura Campbell as incoming CEO

Outgoing CEO Gail Garland to consult with OBIO® for successful transition
of not-for-profit

TORONTO, ON – February 1, 2022 – Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is pleased to announce and welcome Dr. Maura Campbell as its new chief executive officer. Founder and outgoing CEO, Gail Garland, will continue to work with OBIO® in a consultant capacity to ensure a successful transition.

Dr. Campbell was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors for OBIO® in March 2021 and brings with her over 30 years of experience in managing successful biotech companies. Most recently, Maura was the Vice President of Intellectual Property and Contracts for Turnstone Biologics and had a significant role in the company’s seed, and Series A, B, C and D financings, in addition to executing two large pharma-licensing deals, raising over US$370 million in the six years since the company was incorporated in Ontario in 2015.

“From my vantage point on the OBIO® Board of Directors, I was inspired by Gail’s vision and the contributions OBIO® has made advocating for a health science ecosystem that encourages companies to stay and grow here in Canada,” says Campbell. “As the incoming CEO, I look forward to continuing to work with industry and the entire OBIO® team as we push forward in our goals to successfully support the many Ontario-based innovations looking to grow the health science industry in the province.” 

Founded in 2009 under Garland’s leadership, OBIO® has grown into a premier health sciences institution that advances solutions to achieve health and economic benefits for Canadians by building domestic and global networks, attracting investors to Canada, and implementing activities and programs to address industry needs in the areas of capital attraction, workforce development, technology commercialization and market access.

In 2010, OBIO® led the pan-Ontario development and implementation of the Ontario Bioscience Economic Strategy Team (OBEST®), a collective mandate which outlines the health science industry’s strategic vision for sustainability, growth and long-term prosperity. With industry collaboration and participation in numerous consultations and summits over the ensuing years, OBIO® has helped to advance strategic imperatives to establish anchor companies, address the issues of scaling companies and facilitate the procurement of innovative technologies. 

Today, the OBIO® team of experienced industry professionals delivers a suite of seven best-in-class programs, including the OBIO Investment Summit, which brings international attention to the Canadian health science industry; the Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN), which partners health technology companies with health organizations to evaluate their technology and gain access to domestic markets; and the Business Development Skills Program (BDSP), which provides senior management teams with the necessary skills to scale and grow their companies in Ontario. 

“I am grateful to OBIO’s Board, our many members and adherents who provided our strategic direction and kept us focused on industry priorities while advocating alongside us,” says Garland. “I am proud of all that we have accomplished and know that Maura’s extensive leadership experience will propel OBIO® forward in its goals. I look forward to working in conjunction with Maura as she transitions to her new role as CEO.”

About OBIO
The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of Canadian human health technologies positioning Ontario as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

For more information, please visit www.obio.ca and follow OBIO on Twitter @OBIOscience.

For more information, contact:

Elizabeth Glassen, Account Manager

BlueSky Communications

eglassen@blueskycommunications.com | 647-309-0141

OBIO’s Early Adopter Health Network advances technologies to address pressing challenges in the healthcare system

BRUYÈRE HOSPITAL PARTNERS WITH ABLE INNOVATIONS TO ADVANCE
AN INNOVATIVE PATIENT BED TRANSFER PLATFORM WITH SUPPORT
FROM OBIO

October 25, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – As Canada’s healthcare system continues to be impacted by the added burden of COVID-19, the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is prioritizing the evaluation of new technologies through their Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) to provide solutions. Through the EAHN, OBIO facilitated a partnership between Bruyère, an EAHN member located in Ottawa, and Able Innovations Inc., a Canadian medical technology company, to evaluate Able’s automated patient transfer system – the ALTA Platform™.

“OBIO recognizes the urgency of addressing challenges that the healthcare system is currently facing, and the need for advancing technology evaluations to provide meaningful solutions,” says Gail Garland, President and CEO of OBIO. “The EAHN was developed to evaluate and scale cutting-edge technologies that improve patient care while providing solutions to issues in the healthcare system that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, such as busy hospitals, staff burnout and shortages.”

The ALTA Platform solves what is a highly labor-intensive and repetitive task for hospital staff by enabling a single operator to perform patient lateral bed transfers, which will eliminate the source of numerous injuries, while creating a more dignified care experience for patients and care providers.

“The pandemic has really impacted hospitals and the entire healthcare system, and we see that technological advancements such as the ALTA Platform can help to address some of the increasing challenges we’re facing,” says Paula Doering, Senior Vice-President, Clinical Programs, Chief Nursing Executive and Allied Health Professionals. “We are happy to partner with Able Innovations to evaluate the ALTA Platform. We believe that with this type of technology we can improve the patient experience, reduce injury for our teams, and create more time in the day for our staff to focus on other aspects of patient care.”

The successful evaluation at Bruyère Hospital of the ALTA Platform will help accelerate technology uptake in healthcare settings – that’s why OBIO is expediting an EAHN Committee to review the evaluation findings and determine the value of innovative patient bed transfer technologies for all stakeholders, as well as to advance system-wide adoption and dissemination.

“It is our mission to make care-giving sustainable through technology. In Bruyère and OBIO we have found partners that share our values,” says Jayiesh Singh, CEO of Able Innovations. “We are excited for our partnership with Bruyère hospital and OBIO to serve as a launchpad for making our technology available to providers and patients across Canada and globally at a time it is needed the most.”

For more information about OBIO’s EAHN, or if you are interested in being part of the EAHN network, please contact Dr. Jeff Aramini at jeffaramini@obio.ca.

About OBIO
OBIO®, founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

About Able Innovations Inc.
Able Innovations Inc. is solving the painful and labor-intensive process of patient transfers by developing technology that enables effortless, hands-free, safe and dignified transfers. Their ALTA Platform™, is capable of automated transfers of supine individuals who need to be moved laterally (ex. Bed to stretcher, imaging table) in healthcare facilities.

About Bruyère Hospital
Through the people it serves, the specialized care it provides and the research it conducts, Bruyère plays a critical role in the Ottawa region’s health care system. It offers a wide range of services in the community, from hospital programs to long term and primary care, and supportive and independent living for seniors and vulnerable populations. In addition, Bruyère is transforming care through strengths in research, education, collaboration, and innovation.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Bojana Duric, BlueSky Communications
bduric@blueskycommunications.com
289.981.7710

Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization and Ontario Tech Talent Partner to Strengthen Biomanufacturing Capacity in Canada

October 21, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, and Ontario Tech Talent (TALENT™), a workforce development organization affiliated with Ontario Tech University, are proud to announce their partnership to strengthen the talent pipeline of the Canadian biomanufacturing sector.

Biomanufacturing is a key area of Canada’s health sciences sector and the ongoing pandemic has accentuated the urgent need for increased manufacturing capacity for vaccines and innovative therapies to eradicate Covid-19. The demand for a biomanufacturing-ready workforce with the expertise and skills required to meet the needs of the sector continues to increase.

Within this partnership framework, OBIO and TALENT will partner to address this growing demand by identifying key biomanufacturing roles and providing skills training and verification through a program of alternative credentials, such as micro-credentials that are intended to fill the talent pipeline with personnel equipped with the high-demand and emerging skills required for Canadian companies to compete globally.

“The strategy developed between OBIO and TALENT enables an adaptable response to the evolving workforce needs of the biomanufacturing sector in Canada. The partnership builds on OBIO’s deep industry understanding and track record of preparing professionals for the health science business” said Gail Garland, President & CEO, OBIO “and TALENT’s expertise in verifying skills and developing accredited programming, making them the ideal partner for us.”

“TALENT is thrilled to tap into the deep industry expertise of the OBIO team as we develop a portfolio of micro-credentials in biomanufacturing that ensure scaling companies can access the talent that they need. Our goal is to enable individuals to be able to rapidly and effectively develop sufficient competency in high demand skills so that they can be redeployed to address the growing number of vacancies in this sector” said Rachel Sumner, Executive Director of Ontario Tech Talent.

“We are excited that OBIO and TALENT are working together to increase the pool of highly-skilled talent in biomanufacturing. We need more qualified personnel in the Canadian health science industry and hiring the right talent continues to be a challenge for us as we expand our biomanufacturing capabilities. This new partnership will help us train the next generation of workers and grow our team faster to address our global scale-up”, commented Brent Stead, CEO at Specific Biologics.

About OBIO

OBIO®, founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

About Ontario Tech Talent (TALENT™)

TALENT is bold, connected, and empowered to meet global digital transformation head on. As an ecosystem of learners and employers, we are building resiliency into key economic sectors, enabling organizations to evolve and individuals to thrive. We are transforming together and for the future, in step with emerging needs and for a lifetime of meaningful employment for all. Find out more at www.ontariotechtalent.ca.

For more information and/or if you are a biosciences organization that would like to get involved, contact:

Rachel Sumner
Executive Director
TALENT™
rachel@ontariotechtalent.ca

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing and Events
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
dorianerey@obio.ca

OBIO Announces Expansion of Early Adopter Health Network Partnerships

OCTOBER MARKS THIRD EAHN™ COHORT SELECTION TO COMMERCIALIZE INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

September 29, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization, is proud to announce the growth and expansion of its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™) partnerships, together with the upcoming selection round of its new cohort.

With more than 18 healthcare members and 11 innovation organization partners from across Canada, the EAHN™ has grown into Canada’s premier health science market acceleration program since its launch in early 2020. Now, OBIO® will be hosting its third cohort network day in October, where innovative companies will meet with healthcare organizations prior to launching new EAHN™ projects later this year.

“We are delighted to expand the EAHN™ with the engagement of so many leading healthcare organizations and with the support of our innovation organization partners,” said Gail Garland, President & CEO of OBIO®. “Growing and maintaining a robust and globally competitive domestic health science industry ecosystem here in Canada requires partnerships and collaborations to get the job done.”

Through the EAHN™, which is supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario, OBIO® provides project management and financial support to evaluate technologies in the real-world setting and facilitate their broad adoption into the health system. They connect leading-edge, scaling health science companies with healthcare organizations, providing an opportunity for innovators to access local markets before expanding globally, as well as a strong reason to anchor themselves in Canada.

Driven by OBIO’s unique capacity to pair commercial-ready technologies with clinical end-users who want to deliver improved care at any health institution, the goal for the EAHN™ is to become early adopters of homegrown medical technology and help streamline the procurement process. Through a collaborative and comprehensive approach, EAHN™ addresses both the “push” and “pull” factors of what industry has developed and what burdened hospitals are trying to address. This allows the EAHN™ to catalyze change by delivering improved patient care more efficiently while opening the door to a new health-care economy that benefits Canadians and Canadian companies alike.

OBIO® would like to thank and recognize the following organizations for their involvement and support in the EAHN™:

EAHN™ Healthcare Members:

• Baycrest

• Bruyère

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)

• Hamilton Health Sciences

• Health Sciences North

• Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare

• Joseph Brant Hospital

• Kingston Health Sciences Centre

• Michael Garron Hospital

• North York General Hospital

• Southlake Regional Health Centre

• St. Mary’s General Hospital

• The Ottawa Hospital

• Unity Health Toronto

• University Health Network (UHN)

• West Park Healthcare Centre

• Winchester District Memorial Hospital

• Women’s College Hospital

EAHN™ Innovation Organization Partners:

• Carleton University

• Clinical Trials Ontario

• Invest Ottawa

• Life Sciences British Columbia

• Montréal InVivo

• Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine

• Ryerson Biomedical Zone

• SOSCIP Consortium

• StarFish Medical

• Stem Cell Network

• Synapse Life Science Consortium

For more information about OBIO’s EAHN™, or if you are interested in being part of the network, please contact Dr. Jeff Aramini at jeffaramini@obio.ca.

About OBIO®

OBIO®, founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO® advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Bojana Duric, BlueSky Communications
bduric@blueskycommunications.com
289.981.7710

Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization Supports Advancement of Women in the Business of Health Science With Six-Day Bootcamp

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS FROM EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED WOMEN LOOKING TO ENTER OR ADVANCE IN THE HEALTH SCIENCE INDUSTRY
DUE FRIDAY, AUGUST 13

August 5, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – As health science companies gear up for post-pandemic growth, the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO) is working towards positioning women to meet the demand for top talent with its second six-day bootcamp, Women in the Business of Health Science. The training, conducted from August 23 –30, addresses the knowledge and skills required to secure business-oriented roles in the health science industry. The bootcamp, which covers topics such as marketing, sales, strategy, business development, project management and operations, is open to employed and unemployed women looking to enter or advance their careers in the health science industry who meet the eligibility criteria and submit their application on/before Friday, August 13. The program is free of charge for qualified participants.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the barriers women face across all industries and by April 2021, more than 16,000 women had dropped out of the labour force completely. To address some of the challenges encountered by women and to support their reentry into the workforce, the bootcamp provides participants with professional development mentorship in career advancement strategies or in job search preparation, such as resume and interview coaching.

“As Canada shifts into higher gear post-COVID-19, we want women to be prepared to meet and capitalize on the increased demand for talent,” said Gail Garland, President and CEO, OBIO. “We know that women benefit from the knowledge and skills acquired during our bootcamp because 75% of participants secured positions within three months of completion. OBIO is ideally positioned to help both women and health science companies grow during our post-pandemic recovery.”

About OBIO

OBIO®, founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

Contact

Doriane Rey
Manager, Marketing & Events
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
dorianerey@obio.ca

OBIO Shares Results of Pilot Launch of New Technologies That Help Manage Covid-19

Innovative Canadian medtech projects enabled through Early Adopter Health Network

June 1, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – While the race to eradicate Covid-19 continues, the Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing health technology innovation and commercialization in Ontario, is sharing results of the pilot launch of its Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN) introduced last year. Four projects with novel technologies were adapted to address challenges with Covid-19, ranging from healthcare operations to disease/patient management to improvements in diagnosis or treatment.

“The goal for the EAHN is to become early adopters of homegrown medical technology and help streamline the procurement process to help busy hospitals and health care providers deliver improved patient care,” says Gail Garland, President and CEO of OBIO. “The companies in our program were able to pivot their technologies in real-time to help address some of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and more efficiently pair them with clinical end users.”

The four projects enabled through the EAHN include:

KA Imaging

KA Imaging’s Reveal 35C is the world’s first x-ray detector that provides three different images (a standard digital radiograph, as well as bone and soft tissue images) and can be used bedside to better visualize the lungs, particularly among COVID-19 patients. The improved diagnostic imaging can be a game changer in the ICU to assess whether patients with pneumonia need a ventilator, or how the disease evolves, and can be easily deployed to a community hospital or in-clinic.

“With the support of the EAHN, we were able to test Reveal in a clinical setting, enabling the radiologist to diagnose pneumonia with more confidence,” says Amol Karnick, President and CEO of KA Imaging. “The same facility has already received two extra systems to increase imaging capacity, proving that early adopters are critical to how quickly new technologies are implemented.” 

Synaptive Medical

Patients with COVID-19 may have neurological and cardiopulmonary issues requiring repeated MRI and CT scans. Given the virus’ half-life of 72 hours on plastic or metal, the surfaces of these machines can become contaminated, exposing health care workers and other patients to infection. Synaptive, with its partners, have designed a single-use drape that can be safely disposed of after each scan, an innovation that can prevent potential COVID-19 contamination and protect against other air-borne viruses.

“OBIO’s program provides us with an opportunity to design, test and validate our MRI drape solution in a real-world clinical scenario, with the collaboration of our partners at UHN,” says Cameron Piron, President of Synaptive Medical. “The ability to work with Ontario’s leading health organizations through the EAHN provides companies like Synaptive Medical with a base of Canadian customers and experiences that strengthen our global value proposition.”

Flosonics Medical

FloPatch, the world's first wireless, wearable Doppler blood flow device, helps medical personnel assess and monitor blood flow for critically ill patients by sending data remotely to mobile devices using low energy Bluetooth, which is critical in a pandemic context. The low-cost, ultrasound sensor adheres to a patient’s neck, providing hands-free blood flow assessments and important clinical insight for patients in the emergency department, operating room, general medical floor and intensive care units.

“Through the Early Adopter Health Network, with support from Health Science North Research Institute, we were able to test FloPatch and advance the technology to market by facilitating engagement with hospitals here in Ontario.” said Andrew Eibl, COO of Flosonics Medical.

Ironstone Product Development

Ironstone’s Revoxa™ system increases the efficiency of oxygen delivery to COVID patients nearly tenfold, meaning an oxygen tank that would typically last less than a day could last more than a week. If deployed, the technology could make an incredible difference in places such as India, where access to oxygen is currently rationed on a triage basis.

“The support from OBIO’s program was invaluable in advancing this technology to clinical use,” says Joel Ironstone, President of Ironstone Product Development. “The funding helped us conduct a trial to demonstrate the technology’s ability to drastically reduce oxygen consumption while delivering the same or potentially improved support to hypoxic patients, allowing us to contribute positively to the pandemic effort.”

OBIO has undertaken years of consultation with industry and the health system to develop EAHN. Health science companies and health care organizations who want to be a part of EAHN should send proposals or requests for more information to OBIO at info@obio.ca.

About OBIO

OBIO®, founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based innovation organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of human health technologies positioning Canada as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.

For more information, contact:

Elizabeth Glassen, Account Executive
BlueSky Communications
eglassen@blueskycommunications.com | 647-309-0141

Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization Secures Funding for Business Development Skills Program to Support Canadian Health Science Companies

May 25, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – The COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted the need for innovative training solutions to meet the increased demand for highly-skilled business development professionals in the health science industry. Today, Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO) is pleased to announce the launch of its Business Development Skills Program, with a $5.25 million investment from the Ministry of Labour and the Skills Development Fund, to address these workforce challenges and help access funding that accelerates the growth of health sciences companies in the province.

“Successful fundraising is critical for health science companies to grow their business and create – and keep – new jobs in Ontario,” says Gail Garland, CEO, OBIO. “As these companies raise investment capital, they move further along the intellectual property commercialization pathway, with the ability to expand operations and add skilled employees that can help them reach their next growth target.”

According to a survey conducted last year by OBIO of more than 250 employers in Ontario’s health science industry, 83 per cent of industry leaders say access to financing should be a priority focus to speed up opportunities for health science companies to succeed. Yet finding highly-qualified business development professionals that have the necessary specialized skills to drive successful funding is a major challenge, with half (54 per cent) of industry leaders and supervisors saying they frequently face difficulties when hiring people into these roles. This skills gap will continue to jeopardize the pace of growth of health science companies during – and after – the pandemic.

“The challenges of the last year have shown us how important it is to keep our homegrown health science talent here,” says Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “OBIO’s program will move us one step closer to that goal, so that innovative companies with fresh ideas will know it’s possible to grow and thrive in our province. This sector is full of potential, and with this specialized training and mentorship, I believe we have what it takes to be a leader.”

In fact, a recent Nanos poll conducted on behalf of OBIO revealed that the majority (87 per cent) of Canadians support government spending for medical innovation and manufacturing in Canada, while 74 per cent feel it is important that healthcare providers in Canada use medical innovations developed here in Canada.

"Companies that take advantage of OBIO’s Business Development Skills program will have the opportunity to commercialize their technology right here, in Ontario,” says Maura Campbell, VP Intellectual Property & Contracts, Turnstone Biologics. "The program will ensure they have access to the talent, skills and support they need to fulfill this objective."

OBIO’s Business Development Skills Program is currently accepting applications and the program will run from June 2021 to March 2022. To apply, visit www.obio.ca/bdsp.

OBIO Introduces New Job Board and Talent Network to Support Growing Health Science Companies

April 1, 2021 – TORONTO, ON – OBIO® (Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization) is proud to announce the launch of the OBIO Job Board and Talent Network. Created in response to the growing needs of health science companies, the OBIO Job Board and Talent Network will ensure that OBIO member companies will be poised for a strong recovery after the pandemic and on the path to a brighter future.

“Since 2017, OBIO has been delivering programming to develop the health science industry workforce. By working closely with employers, we are able to support their evolving needs for talent. To help our member companies find the skilled employees they require, OBIO created the OBIO Job Board. The new job board is designed to meet the unique needs of the health science industry as they grow and scale their companies,” said Gail Garland, President and CEO of OBIO.

The Job Board provides access to an automated career page and talent network designed to allow companies to easily post jobs, connect with, review, and manage talent all in one place. OBIO members also have access to a talent database filled with a growing list of qualified career job seekers looking to work in the health science industry which will help companies find the right candidate to speed up the hiring process.

To launch the Job Board and Talent Network, OBIO hosted Sean Silcoff, an award-winning business writer and reporter with The Globe and Mail, for a discussion on the future of talent development in the Canadian economy and how Canada can be competitive globally.

Sean Silcoff shared his observations on how Canada’s leading emerging health science companies could position themselves to grow by developing and investing in experienced corporate leaders. Sean also discussed the talent gaps that early-stage companies need to address and drew from his past reporting to discuss how Canada is faring at building a globally competitive health science ecosystem in Canada.

To see the OBIO Job Board, visit careers.obio.ca.

OBIO Announces new Chair of the Board of Directors, Dr. Maura Campbell

OBIO is pleased to announce that Dr. Maura Campbell, Vice President, Intellectual Property and Contracts, Turnstone Biologics, was appointed as Chair of the OBIO Board of Directors.

“I am very pleased to have a leader of Maura’s calibre and experience as the Chair of the OBIO Board of Directors,” said Gail Garland, President and CEO, OBIO. “Maura is the first female Board Chair at OBIO and her depth of knowledge, her track record in the health science industry, and her energy all make her uniquely positioned to help guide OBIO as we continue to build the health science industry. Over the past 12 months, OBIO has launched the Early Adopter Health Network (EAHN™), published two industry-leading reports on the state of the health science industry including Leading the Pack: Accelerating the Success of the Canadian Health Science Industry, and held the 2021 OBIO Investment Summit which featured over 80 global investors and over 50 companies from across Canada.”

“I am honoured to join OBIO as the Chair of the Board of Directors,” said Dr. Maura Campbell. “I am excited to bring my experience in technology transfer and the management and commercialization of intellectual property to help further OBIO’s success,” said Dr. Campbell. “As a thought leading organization, OBIO’s work is truly building the health science industry and it is my privilege to be a part of OBIO’s efforts to support technology commercialization, workforce development and market acceleration in the health science industry.”

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as the Chair of the OBIO Board of Directors,” said Dr. Jeremy Bridge-Cook, Chief Scientific Officer and VP R&D, Spartan Bioscience, and outgoing OBIO Board Chair. “OBIO has done incredible work to support the growth of the health science industry in Canada. With the leadership and enthusiasm that Maura brings, I am confident that OBIO’s work will continue to drive even more success for health science companies. I look forward to what comes next.”

Dr. Maura Campbell – biography

Dr. Maura Campbell is Vice President, Intellectual Property and Contracts at Turnstone Biologics. Maura has spent more than 30 years in technology transfer and the management and commercialization of intellectual property (IP). She has business management experience in all key sectors of biotech, including private and public companies, universities and research institutes, and government-funded public sector research organizations (National Centre of Excellence [NCE]).

Maura helped spin out Turnstone Biologics from IP developed at three Ontario academic institutes in 2015.  Maura has had an active role in the Company’s Series A, B and C financing, raising a total of over $90 million (U.S.). Previously, Maura was with VBI Vaccines where she served as Director, Intellectual Property. Prior to this she was with the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) as a Senior Research Program Manager, where she oversaw the oncolytic vaccine project commercialization.

Earlier in her career, Maura was the Director of Intellectual Property for PainCeptor Pharma Corporation, the Manager of Technology Transfer & Commercialization for the OHRI, and the Manager of Technology Transfer at the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Systems NCE. She has also served as an IP consultant to a number of Canadian start-ups including Neurochem, Conjuchem, Aonix, AMRIC and Sussex Research Labs.

Maura received a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Ottawa, and an M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in biochemistry from Queen’s University in Kingston. 

OBIO Investment Summit Showcases Canada’s Booming Health Science Industry on the World Stage

OBIO® (Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization) is proud to announce the success of the 2021 OBIO Investment Summit, February 9-10, 2021, which showcased the strength and opportunity in Canada’s health science industry.

The OBIO Investment Summit featured over 50 of Canada’s most promising innovative health science companies and more than 80 US and global venture capitalists and strategic investors who engaged through company presentations, 1:1 meetings, panel discussions and keynote presentations.

Since 2018, Canadian companies that have presented at the OBIO Investment Summit have raised more than $515M.

“The 2021 OBIO Investment Summit was a tremendous stage to demonstrate the depth of Canada’s health science industry,” said Gail Garland, President and CEO of OBIO. “The innovative Canadian health science companies that showcased their leading-edge technologies connected with global investors to do the deals that will create Canadian health science anchor companies and the integrated health science economy that Canada deserves.”

“As a healthcare start-up, opportunities to connect with global investors are essential. The 2021 OBIO Investment Summit organizers have done an outstanding job fostering these connections from their thoughtful pre-conference support to the ease of communication via the OBIO virtual platform,” said Wendy Naimark, PhD, CTO Ripple Therapeutics. “We look forward to continuing the conversations that began at the Summit.”

As part of the 2021 OBIO Investment Summit, the Early Technology Showcase featured the most promising science Canada’s leading research institutions and health organizations have to offer, including exciting early spin-out companies.

“For health care and research institutions like UHN, the Early Technology Showcase at the OBIO Investment Summit is an invaluable opportunity to get exposed to the kinds of strategic investors and VCs that will help these companies flourish as they commercialize their technologies,” said Mark Taylor, Director, UHN Technology Development and Commercialization, University Health Network. “Creating a healthier world relies to a great extent on getting successful products commercialized and we need to all be globally competitive to achieve this important patient mission.”

“The OBIO Investment Summit and the Early Technology Showcase provides a straightforward opportunity to get an early look at cutting edge science coming up in Canada,” said Vincent Ling, ‎Senior Director, Center for External Innovation (Business Development), Takeda Pharmaceuticals. “I have actively participated in the OBIO Investment Summit since it started, and always look forward to coming back every year.”

As the Canadian health science industry continues to experience a boom, local investors know the value that the OBIO Investment Summit brings in shining a spotlight on Canada.

“The OBIO Investment Summit is a great venue for a preselected group of Canadian life sciences companies to showcase their technologies and connect to a diverse group of global investors and potential partners,” said Jacki Jenuth, Partner, Lumira Ventures. “We look forward each year to connecting with entrepreneurs at the Summit, learning of the opportunity for their business and being able to share some of our experience and insight from 20+ years of building great life sciences companies.”

The 2021 OBIO Investment Summit is supported by our sponsors – Norton Rose Fulbright, Lumira Ventures, Innovative Medicines Canada, Prolucid, Merck and TMX – and Early Technology Showcase partners – AGE-WELL, BC Cancer, IRICoR, McMaster University Industry Liaison Office, Stem Cell Network, University Health Network (UHN), University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, and VIDO.

The Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO®) founded in 2009, is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization engaged in strategy, programming, policy development and advocacy to further the commercialization of Ontario’s human health technologies positioning Ontario as a leader in the international marketplace. OBIO advances this goal through collaborative partnerships with industry, the investment community, academia, the health system and government.