API Stories
Teaming up with Edmonton’s Tech Leaders to Drive Regional Innovation
In November, our CEO, Andrew MacIsaac, represented API alongside Edmonton tech leaders at the MIT Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP) workshop to collaborate on driving innovation and advancing the growth of Edmonton’s technology ecosystem.
MIT REAP is a global initiative aimed at engaging communities around the world to strengthen innovation-driven ecosystems and transform economies. Through this program, Andrew is working closely with Edmonton technology and innovation leaders to align strategies and develop a unified vision for driving transformative economic growth in the region.
Thank you to the Government of Alberta for supporting this initiative! We’re excited to see the game-changing impact of these collaborative efforts on Edmonton’s technology landscape and look forward to paving the way for a more vibrant, innovative, and sustainable economic future.
Read the full article hereBold Visions, Big Decisions, and Groundbreaking Innovations
Last month, we were thrilled to celebrate another night of innovation and announce the winner of Startup TNT’s Life Sciences Investment Summit powered by API!
Congratulations to Klinrisk! Klinrisk is leveraging AI and advanced lab data analysis to create scalable prognostic tests that personalize care and improve chronic condition management, with a focus on cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic syndromes.
The event also showcased impressive pitches from other top finalists, including Assure CKD, Azor Biotek, MHCombiotic Inc., and RJH Biosciences. These companies are developing cutting-edge solutions, from advancing small molecule therapies for unmet medical needs to revolutionizing cancer treatment with novel therapeutics.
Thank you to all innovators, investors, partners and life sciences enthusiasts who came out to support and celebrate this incredible summit journey with us! We’re excited to keep you posted about the future of the Life Sciences Investment Summit in the new year. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to shape this impactful initiative!
Missed out on all the fun? Don’t worry—we got you covered! 👇
Watch the Live Stream HereApplications are now open for the API Pharmacometrics Fellowship Program
Yes—you read that right! The API Pharmacometrics Fellowship program returns next year and we’re now accepting applications until January 6, 2025.
Tailored for graduates and industry professionals in the life sciences, this program provides an unparalleled opportunity to develop expertise in biostatistics and pharmacometrics.
Curious to learn more? Hear from our industry experts Fernanda Talarico, Biostatistician, and Morteza Hajihosseinin, Biostatistical Data Scientist, on how this program can equip you with cutting-edge skills and help you excel in this dynamic industry!
Don’t wait—take the next step in your career today and make a lasting impact in the Canadian drug development community.
Apply NowHeads up: Our Office Will be Closed for the Holidays!
As we celebrate the season, our office will be closed from December 25, 2024 to January 1, 2025. During this time, we will have limited availability to respond to inquiries.
However, applications for ongoing training and programs will remain open and we encourage you to explore our offerings and submit your applications online. We’ll review and respond as soon as we return!
Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year! 🎄🎇
Events
Arab Health 2025
Arab Health is bringing together global healthcare industry leaders to showcase the latest innovations, foster collaboration, and drive the future of healthcare at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 27 – 30, 2025.
Last year, our team proudly participated in Arab Health alongside the Government of Alberta and other ecosystem partners from Edmonton. Together, we showcased Alberta’s vibrant and thriving life sciences and innovation ecosystem to a global audience.
Learn more about Arab HealthLife Sciences & Innovation News
- Aurinia Pharmaceuticals praised the American College of Rheumatology’s updated 2024 guidelines for the screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis. The new guidelines emphasize the importance of early, effective treatment to preserve kidney function, recommending a triple immunosuppressive therapy regimen, including the use of Aurinia’s LUPKYNIS as a first-line treatment for three to five years. Aurinia presented data at the American College of Rheumatology Convergence that reinforces the drug’s importance in treating lupus nephritis.
- Future Fields has opened Instar 1.0, its new biomanufacturing facility in central Edmonton. The 6,000-square-foot plant is the latest, most exciting stop along a road of challenges Future Fields has overcome to scale up its manufacturing capacity for proteins used in several industries.
- My Viva Inc. is partnering with the Women’s Health Coalition of Canada to address critical gaps in the healthcare system. The app’s users can now access tools and resources for urinary and pelvic health and self care.
- NanoTess has partnered with the Calgary Ostomy Society to provide advanced skin and wound care for people with ostomies using its NanoSALV Catalytic technology, which enhances healing and offers antimicrobial protection.
- OncoHelix CEO Dr. Faisal Masood Khan spoke at the third Emirates Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant & Gene Therapy Congress in Abu Dhabi, focusing on innovative strategies in precision medicine for predicting AML relapse.
- Calgary-based healthtech startup OraQ, led by dentists-turned-entrepreneurs, has raised $2.6 million in seed funding to commercialize its AI-driven clinical decision support platform for dental practices across North America. The platform, which has received Health Canada and FDA approval, aims to help dentists assess patient risk more consistently, improve patient trust, and enhance business outcomes.
- Pacylex is seeking significant investment to advance its promising anti-cancer drug, zelenirstat, through Phase 2 human trials. The company, recognized as BioAlberta‘s 2024 Company of the Year, has developed a novel class of drugs that targets cancer cells and has shown potential efficacy in Phase 1 trials.
- Pender Ventures, a Vancouver-based venture capital firm, has successfully closed its second fund with more than $100 million in commitments to invest in early-stage Canadian B2B software and healthtech startups, including those in Alberta. The firm has previously invested in DrugBank, an Edmonton-based company, which catalogues drugs in a data library.
- An article from RJH Biosciences called “Delivery Aspects for Implementing siRNA Therapeutics for Blood Diseases” was featured on the cover of Biochemistry, a journal published by ACS Publications.
- Roche Canada has launched The Future of Health: Driving Canadian Healthcare Forward, a seven-part interview series in collaboration with TheFutureEconomy. The first episode, featuring Roche Canada Pharma’s president and CEO Brigitte Nolet, and Research Canada’s Alison Evans, explores Canada’s potential as a biotech hub and emphasizes the importance of health research and cross-sector collaboration.
- samdesk has entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Boston-based ProMED, the leading global producer of alerts of infectious disease warnings. A release said these alerts will be integrated into the samdesk platform. “In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, samdesk’s platform will now automatically incorporate ProMED’s data into its crisis detection and management workflows. This ensures that organizations are not only aware of the risks but are also equipped to respond effectively, protecting their people and assets,” the release said.
- Applications are open until Jan. 13 for the ST Innovations Health Technology Innovation Program, supported by Alberta Innovates.
- The University of Alberta and Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute are hiring 21 tenure-track faculty members who will work in health care, science, robotics, and automation.
- The Alberta government said it plans to convert its five health regions into seven new health corridors as part of the health system restructure. The province will be divided into the northwest, northeast, central, southwest, and southeast, and the Edmonton and Calgary regions.
- Alberta Minister of Technology and Innovation Nate Glubish highlighted significant advancements in Alberta’s life science sector, focusing on the integration of AI with medical treatments. Local researchers have developed more responsive prosthetics for amputees by combining brain signals with artificial intelligence.
- BioTalent Canada announced that applications for its Student Work Placement Program for the winter 2024-25 term are now open, offering paid internships that cover up to 70% of costs. This initiative aims to develop student skills while supporting small-to-medium-sized businesses in the bio-economy.
- BIOTECanada congratulated Aramis Biotechnologies on its $80-million project to advance plant-based vaccines and therapeutics, bolstered by a $40-million federal investment through the Strategic Innovation Fund. This initiative will help Aramis optimize processes, enhance R&D, expand its Canadian technology platform, and create at least 80 jobs, strengthening Canada’s leadership in biotechnology innovation.
- Genome Alberta‘s recent summary report highlighted the potential of genomics technologies to enhance crop yields and economic returns in Canadian agriculture. Dr. Nancy Tout and Ian Affleck suggest that these innovations could transform crops with consumer-facing traits and improve agricultural resilience, such as drought resistance.
- GlycoNet announced a $4.5-million investment into 21 research projectsstudying biological sugars. Seven projects are at the University of Alberta, with research topics ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to breast cancer to pandemic prevention.
- Health Cities is partnering with the CAN Health Network to promote innovation and provide opportunities for health-tech companies. “Together, we’re working to make a lasting impact on health outcomes across Canada through homegrown innovative solutions,” Lisa Laferriere of Health Cities wrote in a post.
- Adam Parker, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta, is testing ways for AI-powered prosthetic limbs to learn from their users in real time. “A potential path towards improving user interactions with prosthetic limbs in the current age of artificial intelligence is to view the device not as a tool being used, but as a partner assisting the user in their daily life,” Parker said.
- Researchers at the University of Calgary, led by Dr. Wayne Chen and Dr. Robert Rose from the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, are investigating genetic variants to uncover new cardiovascular diseases and mechanisms, aiming to develop diagnostic tests and treatments for rare conditions. This study, supported by a grant from the Libin Institute’s Michael and Terry Wilson Cardiovascular Research Innovation Fund, uses mouse models to replicate patient conditions, potentially offering new insights into both rare and common cardiovascular diseases.
- Alberta has strengthened its position as a hub for clinical trials with the launch of Clinical Trials Alberta in 2021, attracting global interest by showcasing its advanced research infrastructure, centralized management systems, and diverse patient population. This initiative, supported by Alberta Innovates, the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, and Covenant Health, aims to boost the province’s economy by drawing industry R&D investments, creating jobs, and enhancing healthcarethrough cutting-edge treatments.