Leadership & Team

Andrew MacIsaac

CEO

Throughout the past two decades Andrew has successfully led partnerships between industry, academia, government, and donors, and developed catalysts for economic investment totalling more than $600 million. With a background in economics and public sector management, Andrew has worked with UBC, and the University of Alberta, most recently as Assistant Dean for the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Andrew sits on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Life Sciences Council, the Edmonton Health City Steering Committee, the Alberta Research Commercialization Working Group, the Calgary Life Science Innovation Hub Steering Committee, and a number of private company boards.

Sir Michael Houghton

Nobel Laureate & Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Michael Houghton was the Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Virology from 2010-2018 and is the Li Ka Shing Professor of Virology at the University of Alberta where he is also the Director of the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute. He was jointly named the 2020 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine along with Harvey J. Alter and Charles M. Rice in recognition of the discovery of the hepatitis C (HCV) virus. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020 for services to medicine. His research in the field of viral hepatitis has led to protection of the world’s blood supplies, and hepatitis C treatment to the point where the viral infection can now be cured in virtually all patients.

Launa Aspeslet

Board Chair

Dr. Launa J. Aspeslet is COO of Hepion Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company with offices in Edmonton, AB, and New Jersey, USA working on a treatment for liver and other fibrotic diseases. Dr. Aspeslet has over 25 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry overseeing large operating budgets and dozens of multiple-phase clinical trials. Prior to Hepion, Dr. Aspeslet was the CEO of TRIO, a global clinical research organization headquartered in Edmonton that runs oncology trials around the globe, a biotechnology consultant working with early stage companies through their product development strategy, and COO for Isotechnika Pharma Inc., a former Edmonton biotechnology company. Launa is also currently on the Board of Directors for Edmonton Unlimited.

Greg Klak

Director

Greg Klak is the Vice President of Operations and General Manager for the Gilead Alberta manufacturing facility. Prior to the acquisition by Gilead in 2006, he spent 16 years with Raylo Chemicals providing custom manufacturing services to the pharmaceutical industry, including Gilead Sciences. Mr. Klak received both his B. Comm. and MBA degrees from the University of Alberta, and currently serves as a Board Member for BioAlberta.

Jason Pincock

Director

Jason is currently the Chief Executive Officer of DynaLIFE Medical Labs, one of Alberta’s largest private healthcare organizations. At over 1100 employees DynaLIFE is Canada’s most regarded multidisciplinary clinical laboratory organization and is recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. Jason is a Certified Management Accountant, a graduate of the Queens Executive Program and a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors. Jason works with an ownership board, including OMERS and Laboratory Corporation of America (publicly traded) as well as a board of senior policy advisors.

Mauro Chies

AHS Representative

Mauro is the President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Executive Leadership Team for Alberta Health Services (AHS). Mauro has previously served as the Vice President of Cancer Control Alberta & Clinical Support Services, CEI and Board Chair of Alberta Precision Laboratories, and Senior Operating Officer, Diagnostic Imaging Services. He started his career with the former Capital Health region in 1988 as a medical laboratory technologist.

Hari Sambasivam

Director

Hari is the Chair of the Board of Directors at Spark Centre (not-for-profit Regional Innovation Centre). He works closely with the board, management, and board committees to provide governance and oversight of key issues including financial performance, risk, strategy, CEO compensation, and board rejuvenation. Hari spent 27 years in the North American capital markets, including 17 years as a biotechnology analyst with leading global and Canadian investment banks, and later as BMO’s Associate Director of Canadian equity research. Hari’s background includes a Ph.D. in biochemistry (Toronto), an MBA (UWO), and corporate governance fundamentals (Kellogg School of Management, ICD).

Allan Aginski

Senior VP, Special Projects & Manufacturing

Allan is a life sciences supply chain and manufacturing specialist with nearly 40 years of experience. He has established and run commercial life sciences company production facilities around the world, including for companies such as Abbott, Merck, and Genpharm. He has been responsible for the establishment of dozens of products in over 24 countries. 

Truong Ta

VP, Commercialization & Partnerships

Truong has worked in the life sciences sector for 20+ years, and has built partnerships between industry, government and stakeholders to secure transformative infrastructure and patient access investments. He’s worked for Sanofi Canada and Canadian biotech company Medicago.

Hana Marinkovic

VP, Corporate Affairs

Hana is a relationship builder and strategist with over 15 years of experience. Hana has worked extensively in roles supporting government, stakeholders, and economic development priorities. Over her career Hana has served as Chief of Staff for a Provincial Premier, a city councilor, and more. 

Vijay Somayaji

Sr. Director, Product Development & Quality

Vijay has over 30 years experience in biotech research and development and QA/QC. With a PhD in Chemistry and post-doctoral work under Nobel Laureate Dr. H. C. Brown, Vijay has served in director level roles at Biomira, AltaRex, Novolytic, and Virexx. As an experienced QA, Vijay has supported product development for dozens of clinical programs taking place at sites around the world.

Tessa Vriend

Director, Engagement & Brand

Tessa is a seasoned professional known for her strategic acumen and innate ability to connect with others. With over a decade of expertise spanning marketing, advertising, and audience engagement, Tessa excels in optimizing workflows, fostering meaningful relationships, and seamlessly integrating business development strategies with creative execution.

Throughout her career, Tessa has spearheaded the implementation of integrated advertising campaigns for esteemed brands such as Subway restaurants and the Royal Alberta Museum. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in crafting innovative event and marketing strategies for industry-leading organizations including Stantec and Explore Edmonton.

No matter her role, Tessa always finds time to indulge her inner wordsmith, fine-tuning sentences and polishing paragraphs with the finesse of a seasoned writer. Her playful spirit and unwavering dedication to excellence complement her commitment to crafting authentic engagement.

Truong Ta

VP, Commercialization & Partnerships

Truong has worked in the life sciences sector for 20+ years, and has built partnerships between industry, government and stakeholders to secure transformative infrastructure and patient access investments. He’s worked for Sanofi Canada and Canadian biotech company Medicago.

Micheal Guirguis

Director, Clinical Pharmacology & Data

Micheal has over 20 years of experience as a pharmacokineticist and pharmacovigalence expert. During his career Micheal has worked for Alberta Health Services, Covance, Abbott, and Alberta Blue Cross and is a sought-after consultant for Health Canada and industry alike. 

Tessa Vriend

Director, Engagement & Brand

Tessa is a seasoned professional known for her strategic acumen and innate ability to connect with others. With over a decade of expertise spanning marketing, advertising, and audience engagement, Tessa excels in optimizing workflows, fostering meaningful relationships, and seamlessly integrating business development strategies with creative execution.

Throughout her career, Tessa has spearheaded the implementation of integrated advertising campaigns for esteemed brands such as Subway restaurants and the Royal Alberta Museum. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in crafting innovative event and marketing strategies for industry-leading organizations including Stantec and Explore Edmonton.

No matter her role, Tessa always finds time to indulge her inner wordsmith, fine-tuning sentences and polishing paragraphs with the finesse of a seasoned writer. Her playful spirit and unwavering dedication to excellence complement her commitment to crafting authentic engagement.

Allan Aginski

Senior VP, Special Projects & Manufacturing

Allan is a life sciences supply chain and manufacturing specialist with nearly 40 years of experience. He has established and run commercial life sciences company production facilities around the world, including for companies such as Abbott, Merck, and Genpharm. He has been responsible for the establishment of dozens of products in over 24 countries. 

Brooke Matter

Controller

Brooke is a CPA with over 15 years experience working in the not-for profit sector. Prior to joining API, Brooke was the Director of Finance and Administration for Volunteer Alberta.

Vijay Somayaji

Sr. Director, Product Development & Quality

Vijay has over 30 years experience in biotech research and development and QA/QC. With a PhD in Chemistry and post-doctoral work under Nobel Laureate Dr. H. C. Brown, Vijay has served in director level roles at Biomira, AltaRex, Novolytic, and Virexx. As an experienced QA, Vijay has supported product development for dozens of clinical programs taking place at sites around the world.