API Stories
CMPC Reaches Key Milestone in Quality Management Systems
We’re pleased to announce the successful completion of Novatek’s Quality Management Systems for the Critical Medicines Production Centre (CMPC)—a key milestone in advancing the Canadian Critical Drug Initiative (CCDI), which we lead in collaboration with the University of Alberta.
Our technical operations team, led by Hans Bauer, recently completed the Computer System Validation (CSV) for three core Novatek systems: the Material Management System, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and the Calibration & Maintenance Module.
With these systems in place, the CMPC now operates under a fully integrated quality-management framework, ensuring reliable, compliant and efficient operations.
Key capabilities include:
- Material Management System – Tracks materials from warehouse to production floor with complete traceability and real-time inventory visibility.
- Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) – Enhances the precision of chemical and microbiological testing while streamlining lab workflows.
- Calibration & Maintenance Module – Coordinates upkeep for roughly 300 pieces of equipment, ensuring readiness and adherence to GMP standards.
“With the Novatek implementation we can ensure the proper operation documentation with low documentation time, reduced errors and ensure the GMP-compliance acceptance by the Canadian regulatory authorities.” – Hans Bauer
This milestone strengthens CMPC’s operational readiness, positioning us to efficiently support future technical and production initiatives while maintaining full compliance with GMP standards. A huge thank you to the Novatek team for their support in the successful implementation of these critical systems!
Learn more about our commercial manufacturing capabilitiesShowcasing Machine Learning in Mental Health Research
Our Associate Director of Quantitative Solutions, Scott Campbell, recently presented at the Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CSEB) conference in Montréal, highlighting how machine learning (ML) can deepen understanding of psychiatric disorders and support the development of more effective therapies.
His research, “Machine Learning in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Mood Disorders””, demonstrated how integrating genetic and environmental data enables ML models to capture the complexity of psychiatric conditions more accurately than single-factor approaches.
Key insights from the review include:
- Machine learning provides powerful tools to improve prediction of clinical outcomes and enhance diagnostic precision.
- ML models that combine genetic and socio-environmental data outperform models relying on isolated factors.
We’re excited to see Scott contribute to advancing valuable, data-driven approaches that have the potential to transform mental health research and support the development of innovative therapies.
Events
Life Sciences Week 2025
Life Sciences Week—Alberta’s biggest life sciences celebration—is back, and this year’s event lineup features exciting new events alongside returning must-attend activities!
Register for exclusive tours, such as the Biotechnology Business Development Centre (BBDC) in the Edmonton Research Park, where you’ll get an inside look at Alberta’s cutting-edge labs and facilities. Explore the spaces where innovation comes to life, see the latest research in action and discover how Edmonton is building a vibrant life sciences corridor connecting universities, industry and innovation hubs.
Experience the full excitement of Life Sciences Week by joining these highly anticipated events from September 22 –26:
- Tuesday, Sept 23 — Calgary Showcase Day + U of A Student & Industry Day
In Calgary, innovators and startups gather at Platform Calgary for a full day of insights, networking and collaboration. Meanwhile, at the University of Alberta, students and early-career professionals connect with industry through lab tours, panel sessions and interactive programming.
- Wednesday, Sept 24 — Edmonton Showcase Day
Join Edmonton’s dynamic innovation community at Edmonton Unlimited for a day packed with presentations, panels, startup pitches and networking opportunities—all showcasing the region’s life sciences excellence.
- Thursday, Sept 25 — BioAlberta Health & Life Sciences Showcase
Celebrate Alberta’s top innovators at BioAlberta’s annual showcase and awards, recognizing leadership and impact across the health and life sciences sector.
- Friday, Sept 26 — Science Unframed Wrap-up Party
Close out the week with a vibrant celebration at the Art Gallery of Alberta—a chance to reflect, connect and toast to a successful Life Sciences Week!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting week! Visit lifesciencesweek.ca to get involved today.
Register for eventsLife Sciences & Innovation News
- UK-based AI Rehab has chosen the Edmonton Metropolitan Region as the location for its North American headquarters in AI-driven physiotherapy. Its system uses real-time data and analytics to personalize knee rehabilitation programs and explores gamification to aid patient engagement. The company has tapped into local assets, like the CSW Accelerator, Amii, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, and Alberta Innovates, highlighting Edmonton’s growing strength in healthtech and AI ecosystems.
- CureDuchenne highlighted its investment in Entos Pharmaceuticals. Entos CEO John Lewis discussed emerging treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Larry Luxner at the CureDuchenne 2025 Futures conference.
- My Fertility Labs has opened clinics in Edmonton, Leduc, and Calgary, aimed at individuals and couples who have been trying to conceive for three months or longer and want a science-based, holistic alternative to assisted reproductive technologies.
- Nanostics is partnering to integrate its prostate cancer test into men’s healthcare systems across Alberta and Canada.
- NiaHealth raised $6 million this summer, with CEO Sameer Dhar saying it was a “major milestone,” and that the momentum behind the company is real.
- Orpyx Medical Technologies has launched a new insole platform, which can monitor the development of diabetes in order to take proactive measures.
- PanTHERA CryoSolutions has signed a major deal with BioLife Solutions and is now making global waves in cryopreservation.
- PanTHERA CryoSolutions‘ Jason Acker received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his contribution to science through the company, the University of Alberta, and Canadian Blood Services.
- RJH Biosciences highlighted three figures in its latest newsletter that demonstrate successful miRNA delivery using its transfection reagents. It also published a video showcasing its mRNA transfection reagents, which offer high efficiency and low toxicity for gene therapy research.
- Team CarePal is collaborating with Cerebral Palsy Alberta to create tools that recognize and uplift family caregivers, supporting those with cerebral palsy and similar conditions.
- Clinical Trials Alberta and Alberta Innovates are seeking feedback from stakeholders across Alberta to help develop priorities, goals, and strategies to expand Alberta’s clinical trial environment via this program and related initiatives.
- Health Cities is leading an Alternate Level of Care Project, with support from the Government of Alberta, to improve care pathways for Albertans who are in hospital beds but no longer require health care.
- The University Hospital Foundation has announced the recipients of the 2024 Kaye Competition, which is awarding more than $1 million to Edmonton-based researchers. The annual competition is funded by a $30-million donation from the late Donald Kaye.
- The Alberta government is investing $2 million through the Innovation Catalyst Grant to support eight tech projects. Recent graduates from STEM master’s and doctoral programs will receive $250,000 over two years to develop and commercialize science-based products and services.
- The First Nations Health Consortium, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary have formed a research partnership to improve health outcomes for Indigenous children, youth, and families. The collaboration will prioritize community-led research, build capacity for Indigenous students and researchers, integrate technology for data and service delivery, and engage in policy to advance equity.
- NorQuest College unveiled a measles training simulator to give health care professionals hands-on experience identifying the disease in patients with darker skin tones. Instructor Eryn Winfield noted that most textbooks show measles on very white skin tones. The simulator uses animated dummies that can be programmed to represent different races, genders, and severity of infections.
- University of Alberta researchers, led by Toshifumi Yokota, have identified a peptide that improves the effectiveness of genetic therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common type. The new peptide helps guide drugs into heart muscle cells, which has been a challenge for existing exon-skipping drugs like viltolarsen (developed in Yokota’s lab and approved for use in 2020).
- The University of Calgary is collaborating with Genome Canada on Canadian Precision Health Initiative-funded projects. These projects will assess genetic testing to optimize mental health interventions in children.
- The University of Calgary‘s Precision Health Program is fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in health care professionals by equipping them with advanced skills to improve patient outcomes.