
Life Sciences Week 2024 was a tremendous success, bringing together over 4,000 attendees across the province for more than 70 events throughout the week! This impressive turnout is a testament to the diversity and strength of collaboration within our life sciences ecosystem.
As we reflect on another successful Life Sciences Week in Alberta, we are proud to highlight the remarkable moments that demonstrate the significant impact of this initiative and continued efforts to position Alberta as a key player in the global life sciences landscape.
Announcements & Showcases

- On Monday, September 23, the City of Edmonton and the City of Calgary officially declared Life Sciences Week. The kickoff event gathered attendees from various groups within the life sciences ecosystem and featured distinguished guests, including the Honourable Nate Glubish, Alberta’s Minister of Technology and Innovation. Minister Glubish delivered a keynote address and participated in a fireside chat with Michael Mahon, Interim CEO of Alberta Innovates. Andrew MacIsaac, CEO of API, moderated the fireside chat and delivered an presentation highlighting the immense potential and momentum of the sector in the province. The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, and City of Edmonton Councillor Keren Tang also offered their warm remarks.
- On Tuesday, September 24, Nanostics, an Edmonton-based precision health company, announced that its product CDX Prostate is now available in the United States, seeing impressive market traction following its successful launch during the inaugural Life Sciences Week in 2023.

- On Thursday, September 26, BioAlberta held its annual Health and Life Sciences Showcase and Awards Dinner, recognizing the outstanding contributions of industry leaders. Award winners included:
- Technology Innovation Award – PanTHERA CryoSolutions Inc.
- Company of the Year – Pacylex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Vista Award – Jaspreet K. Grewal
During the week, BioAlberta also announced the launch of a virtual office for the National Institute for Health and Care Research, following a new partnership with AxialBridge aimed at supporting Alberta life sciences companies in the United Kingdom.
- To close out a successful week, the Honourable Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s Minister of Health, officially declared Life Sciences Week in Alberta. Starting in September 2025, Alberta Health will designate the last week of September each year as Life Sciences Week, establishing it as an annual celebration across the province.
Insights & Tours

- Throughout the week, over 110 startups, SMEs, scale-ups, and ecosystem partners were represented across more than 50 panel discussions or presentations, offering invaluable insights into emerging trends, challenges to overcome, investment strategies, and collaborative opportunities to navigate complex industry dynamics.

- Investment & Innovation Days in Edmonton and Calgary attracted several venture capital firms. Notable participants offering their perspective and insights on investing in the life sciences in various panel sessions or presentations included Lumira Ventures, Thin Air Labs, Box One Ventures, Halo Health, Yaletown Partners, Plug and Play, and Startup TNT.

- Attendees enjoyed over 20 tours across the province, exploring state-of-the-art facilities, laboratories, and research centers. Notable facilities visited include Gilead Alberta, the Life Sciences Campus at Edmonton Research Park, the Brain Computer Interface Lab at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Northern RNA, Orpyx, Life Sciences Innovation Hub, and the YEG Airport Sustainability Campus at Edmonton International Airport, where they also showcased a drone demo.

- In collaboration with academic partners, Life Sciences Week also featured student-focused events aimed at engaging and empowering the next generation of life sciences professionals. A highlight was University of Alberta Day, which showcased 12 dynamic events, including panel discussions, forums, lab tours, and networking opportunities. These events provided students, post-doctoral fellows, researchers, and more with valuable insights, hands-on experiences, and connections to industry leaders, fostering enthusiasm for careers and talent development in life sciences.
Networking Highlights

- More than 20 innovators and entrepreneurs presented their groundbreaking technologies in a rapid-fire pitch format at the inaugural Elevator Pitch Networking Gameshow during Investment & Innovation Days in Edmonton and Calgary. This engaging format allowed participants to deliver concise, impactful presentations while vying for the attention of industry leaders and potential investors.

- The week concluded on Friday, September 27, aboard the Edmonton Riverboat, where over 220 guests from our vibrant life sciences community gathered for an evening of engaging conversations and valuable networking. Set against the stunning backdrop of Edmonton’s scenic riverfront, the event provided the perfect atmosphere for fostering connections and reflecting on the insights gained throughout the week.
A Collective Success
Life Sciences Week was made possible through the collaboration of a diverse group of sponsors and partners, including industry leaders, academic institutions, research organizations, investors, and members of our innovation community. Each contributed to the week’s success by hosting events, curating content, or opening their facilities to tours, demonstrating our collective commitment to advancing Alberta’s life sciences sector.
The week not only celebrated achievements and innovations within Alberta’s life sciences community but also paved the way for future collaborations and advancements. We extend a big thank you to our sponsors, partners, and community for the invaluable commitment and support.
As we move forward, we are inspired and excited to carry the momentum generated during Life Sciences Week 2024 into future years. The connections made and insights shared will fuel ongoing collaboration and innovation within our life sciences ecosystem. Together, we are making significant strides in advancing research, enhancing healthcare solutions, and fostering a vibrant culture of innovation that benefits Alberta and beyond.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds. See you at Life Sciences Week 2025!