API Stories
Reflecting on a Successful Year for Alberta’s Life Sciences
As we begin 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and thank you for being an essential part of our journey in enhancing the quality of life (sciences) for Canadians. Your continued support and collaboration inspire us to strive for excellence and carry the momentum we built for our life sciences sector, not just in Alberta but across Canada.

Here are some of our milestones:
- Broke ground for the Critical Medicines Production Centre (CMPC) at the Edmonton Research Park, which is part of the nearly $200M Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI), led in partnership with the University of Alberta.
- Tripled Life Sciences Week’s inaugural year impact, highlighted by official proclamations from the Cities of Edmonton and Calgary, as well as a special declaration from the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, who formally recognized Life Sciences Week in Alberta.
- Co-hosted two successful Life Sciences Investment Summits with Startup TNT, where more than 20 companies pitched for funding and connected with investors.
- Led a successful bid with Explore Edmonton, resulting in Edmonton being selected as one of the top three contenders to host the 2026 International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) World Conference.
And so much more! Read our year-end blog to learn more about the exciting highlights and developments that made 2024 a remarkable year for our life sciences sector.
We look forward to working with you in 2025 and beyond! Here’s to a year filled with new opportunities, achievements, and continued success 🌟
Official Dates for Life Sciences Week 2025 Are Out!
Yes–you read that right! We’re thrilled to announce that the annual Life Sciences Week in Alberta is back from September 22-26, 2025. Now in its third year, we’re excited to bring you another unforgettable and action-packed week of discovery, innovation, and collaboration!

Building on our success in 2024, Life Sciences Week 2025 promises to be bigger and better, with even more groundbreaking announcements, unforgettable experiences, and new opportunities to learn, connect, and grow!
Mark your calendars and be the first to know about exciting insights, event updates, and opportunities by signing up for our exclusive event newsletter 👇
I want to receive exclusive updates!Events
Life Sciences BC Career Connect Day
On January 24, Life Sciences BC’s 6th Annual Career Connect Day is bringing together industry professionals and top employers from across the sector to explore exciting career opportunities in the life sciences!

If you’re in B.C, this event is a great opportunity to network with leading organizations, gain valuable insights into the industry, and connect with potential employers who are shaping the future of life sciences.
I’m interested!CUBEC Annual Conference 2025
Calling all Canadian biomedical engineering and technology students! The Canadian Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Conference (CUBEC) is hosting the 2025 CUBEC Annual Conference on January 25 to connect Canada’s brightest minds in biomedical engineering and technology!

Happening across four host cities—Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary—this dynamic conference offers students opportunities to gain insights from industry experts, connect with leading biomedical and technology companies, and network with fellow students and like-minded peers.
We’re thrilled to sponsor this year’s conference and look forward to engaging with students at the University of Calgary! Paramita Chaudhuri Basu, our Director of Academic Engagement & Delivery, will be speaking at the event, and we’ll also have a booth where you can connect with our team and learn more about exciting opportunities we offer for students!
Don’t miss out on this exciting event—secure your spot now!
I’m going!2025 OBIO® Investment Summit
Dive into a world of innovation and connect with top Canadian life sciences companies at the OBIO® Investment Summit from February 5-7 in Toronto!

This is your chance to engage with industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem partners, all while exploring exciting partnerships and opportunities to collaborate! Be part of the action at the Early Technology Showcase and the Pharma & MedTech Business Development Forum to uncover the next big breakthrough in life sciences and health tech.
Learn moreN2 Annual Conference 2025
From February 11-12, the Networks of Networks (N2) is hosting its 17th Annual Conference, the premier pan-Canadian event bringing together professionals in clinical research to foster collaboration across sectors within the community.

This year’s theme, “The Next Chapter in Clinical Research: Tomorrow Starts Today,” will spotlight expert-led discussions on critical topics, from the latest updates on Clinical Trials and Regulatory Operations from Health Canada to emerging trends in AI shaping the future of clinical research.
Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge, make valuable connections, or explore new opportunities, the N2 Annual Conference is a great platform to engage with clinical research experts and collaborate with peers!
Sign me up!Prairie Bioeconomy Guild: Natural Products Canada
Discover the future of sustainable health innovation at BioAlberta’s Prairie Bioeconomy Guild on February 12!

Featuring Darren Bolding, Regional Director, Prairies at Natural Products Canada (NPC), this session dives into how NPC is empowering early-stage Canadian founders with access to guidance, funding, and vital connections to unlock their full commercial potential and drive cleaner, greener, and healthier solutions.
I’ll be there!Life Sciences & Innovation News
- Baüne announced it has entered a partnership with Institut TransMedTech de Montréal and Polytechnique Montréal to advance health technologies for use in remote areas and also in space.
- Entos Pharmaceuticals CEO John Lewis discussed research from his University of Alberta lab and Dr. Roy Duncan’s lab at Dalhousie University, on developing an improved drug delivery system that bypasses the liver.
- Fluid Biomed has received US$27 million in Series A financing to advance the ReSolv stent, the world’s first bioabsorbable polymer-based stent for treating brain aneurysms. The funding round was co-led by Amplitude Ventures and an undisclosed major strategic investor, with contributions from a range of institutional and private investors.
- Lumiio announced an exclusive partnership with FSHD Society and TRiNDS to create the Global FSHD Innovation Hub, a commercial entity focused on fostering global collaboration in FSHD research and pharmaceutical development. The Hub aims to improve clinical trials, provide crucial international data for therapeutic approvals, and develop digital tools to enhance research and health outcomes.
- Nimble Science announced the launch of a new data platform designed to empower biopharma and digestive health product customers to innovate in gastrointestinal health. The company also welcomed Prof. Eran Segal from the Weizmann Institute of Science to its scientific advisory board to provide strategic guidance in advancing health innovations.
- OncoHelix has partnered with Qualisure Diagnostics to offer the Thyroid GuidePx test, which uses next-generation sequencing to personalize treatment for papillary thyroid cancer patients across Canada. The testing will be conducted at OncoHelix’s laboratory in Calgary.
- PulmVita announced the start of patient trials for its new PillowsPlus Cannula, which aims to enhance oxygenation and comfort for long-term oxygen therapy patients.
- Start Alberta highlighted significant investments in Alberta-based companies like Fluid Biomed, PulseMedica, and Syantra, which are leading innovations in medical devices that enhance healthcare globally. The post features local medical device innovators, including Rehabtronics, Breth, Nimble Science, and others, who are advancing patient care through cutting-edge technology.
- Voyageur Pharmaceuticals CEO Brent Willis announced a major milestone by signing a letter of intent for a strategic collaboration with Global Contrast Imaging Company, a top five multinational pharmaceutical company in the contrast agent market.
- Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute Fellow and Canada CIFAR AI Chair Ross Mitchell is enhancing the use of AI in healthcare to streamline administrative tasks. This advancement allows healthcare professionals to concentrate more on client care delivery.
- BioAlberta released its annual report and financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, highlighting efforts to promote Alberta’s life sciences sector through collaboration, innovation, and showcasing its impact.
- Genome Alberta‘s annual report highlights the significant impact of collaboration on Alberta’s innovation landscape. The organization also shared its 2023-24 annual report, highlighting strategic partnerships and investments that address Alberta’s key challenges, and position the province as a leader in the global bio-economy.
- The Institute of Health Economics announced the NOAHE Postdoctoral Fellowship, offering recipients practical experience in health care research. Interested candidates should apply by Jan. 31.
- GlycoNet researchers at the University of Alberta have developed two innovative tools using DNA-encoded viruses to enhance the study of glycans, which are crucial sugar molecules in health and disease. “A better understanding of sugar interactions could lead to new breakthroughs in diagnostics and therapies,” Glyconet said in a post.
- A University of Alberta research team has developed a machine learning model that accurately predicts ADHD in kindergarten students by analyzing provincial health records and teachers’ developmental assessments. The aim is to enable earlier interventions for at-risk children. The study, published in PLOS Digital Health, highlights the potential of AI in identifying ADHD several years before diagnosis, with predictive factors including classroom behaviour and socio-demographic data.
- A research team from the University of Alberta has developed the Bento Arm, a prosthetic arm utilizing AI to interpret the user’s intentions through muscle signals, securing eighth place in an international assistive technology competition. Demonstrated at Cybathlon 2024, this innovation highlights the critical role of AI in enhancing the connection between users and robotic limbs, with the technology being made open source for global use.