API Stories
Startups pitch and win funding to advance their companies
At this year’s second inaugural Life Sciences Investment Summit, hosted by Startup TNT and powered by API was a massive success!
BioMimir captured investor’s attention, winning the top prize of $175,000 for their venture. BioMimir is a female-founded medical device company enabling healthcare providers to improve treatment outcomes for complex wounds.
Investors also made side deals to back Nanostics, who is developing novel diagnostic tests to help bring clarity to healthcare decisions, and Qualisure Diagnostics, who is producing diagnostic tests that help to personalize cancer care.
This means in just two summits, a total of six health and life sciences companies have received funding, which is a testament to the incredible work that innovators are doing in this sector.
API to supercharge drug development with $80.5M federal funding
Innovators and researchers will have a new path to developing new drugs with the Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI). As we add new production and manufacturing facilities API will offer support for all phases of commercialization, including clinical trials.
Andrew MacIsaac, API’s CEO, says, “investments in capacity related to the pandemic have focused predominantly on vaccines and there hasn’t been investment in small molecule manufacturing despite the fact that it makes up 80 to 90 per cent of the drugs that are in the health care system. This investment in capacity is critical for Canada’s resiliency when it comes to these drug shortages.”
Read about how the CCDI project will boost drug development
Read more about the CCDI project and the what we’ll be building
API is hiring an Executive Office Assistant
API is looking for an Executive Office Assistant to join our team. Read the job posting on the API website and share with anyone you think may be interested in applying!
Life Science & Innovation News
API Board Member Mauro Chies new AHS Lead
API board member Mauro Chies was named the new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AHS in March 2023. Chies has been serving as the Interim President and CEO of AHS since April, 2022.
We congratulate Mauro on this accomplishment!
API Board Member Launa Aspeslet joins Edmonton Unlimited Board
In April 2023, Edmonton Unlimited announced their new board members, which includes API Board Chair Launa Aspeslet. We congratulate Launa on this new opportunity!
YEG Startup Awards open for voting
The YEG Startup Awards have now opened voting for the three “People’s Choice” award categories: Community Initiative of the Year; Connector of the Year; and New Startup of the Year.
API has two entries in these categories:
- Paramita Chaudhuri Basu, Director of Programs and Ecosystem Development is nominated for Connector of the Year
- The Health Innovation Hub, which is an API program run in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta, is nominated for Community Initiative of the Year.
Voting for the People’s Choice awards closes May 7, 2023. The awards ceremony will be held on May 10, 2023.
Life sciences news
- Christine Hughes has been appointed dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta. She has served as interim dean since 2021.
- API’s founding dean, Dr. Neal Davies, along with James Stewart and Dr. John Mackey, developed a credit card sized kit that safely stores drugs that can save people having a heart attack. Listen Carrie Doll’s Inner Circle podcast where she explores their inspiration, the technology, and how this new product is saving lives. Apple | Google | Spotify
Opportunities and resources of note
- Edmonton Unlimited has created EDGI, a visual database of the Edmonton region’s innovation ecosystem. All innovation companies are encouraged to claim their company profile or register themselves, as this tool helps stakeholders learn about Edmonton innovation and inform future decisions.
- Nominations are now open for the 2023 ASTech Awards. Nominate an individual, team, or company that is inspiring innovation in Alberta, paving the way for leaders of tomorrow, or developing amazing products or research.
- The Government of Alberta has given the University of Alberta the green light to establish an Innovation Fund, expected to be launched this year. The fund is a separate, for-profit subsidiary that will gain capital through venture philanthropy. The fund will invest in Alberta-based startups founded by University of Alberta students, alumni, faculty, staff and Alberta entrepreneurs.