API Stories
From Milestones to Momentum: API Year-In Review
It’s a brand-new year! As we begin 2026, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the meaningful progress and contributions we made over the past year, efforts that not only strengthened our ecosystem but helped sustain and accelerate momentum for Alberta’s life sciences sector.
Last year, our team successfully:
- Completed full integration of quality management systems at CMPC and performed Factory Acceptance Tests for all core equipment
- Appointed Dr. Launa Aspeslet as Chief Translational Officer, where she oversees our translational services, including regulatory affairs, pre-clinical and clinical development, quantitative solutions and early product prototyping
- Launched two new programs in collaboration with academic and industry partners to support life sciences students and innovators: the Life Sciences Placement Program and the Medtech Innovation Highway Program
- Hosted Alberta’s third Life Sciences Week, achieving the highest registration numbers to date
These milestones inspire us to keep building on this momentum in the year ahead. With continued support from our partners, we aim to deepen collaboration across the sector, expand opportunities and support for talent and innovators and strengthen our efforts in building a globally competitive and resilient life sciences sector.
Read our full Year-in ReviewAPI Events
A-Medico Webinar Series
Protecting innovation starts with a strong IP strategy. On January 29th, A-Medico is hosting a webinar exploring how intellectual property supports life sciences innovation, partnerships and long-term growth.
Hear from IP experts Rhiannon Adams from Parlee McLaws and Caroline Lefebvre from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, as they cover fundamental IP strategies, from patents and trademarks to building a smart, commercialization-ready approach.
RegisterLean Derisking: Taking Your Proof of Concept to the Clinic
Looking to move your life sciences innovation from early proof of concept into the clinic? Join our team in a live webinar with BioSpace on February 24 and learn practical strategies for advancing development using lean, cost-effective approaches.
Our subject matter experts, Chief Scientific Officer, Sir Michael Houghton, Chief Translational Officer, Dr. Launa Aspeslet, and Executive Scientists, Dr. Daren Ure and Dr. Daniel Trepanier, will share valuable insights on how to:
- Leverage lean, integrated teams to support development from early stages through the clinic—without added overhead
- Navigate cost-effective development pathways enabled by Canada’s collaborative innovation ecosystem
- Build de-risked timelines supported by a stable regulatory framework and advanced infrastructure
Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to hear from leading scientists and clinical experts, gain actionable insights and discover how a lean, de-risked approach can help accelerate your path to the clinic.
Register todayLife Sciences Week 2026
Life Sciences Week just announced an early save the date for September 21 to 25, 2026, marking the fourth year of this flagship, province-wide initiative!
Once again, we’re bringing together Alberta’s life sciences community, offering a series of free events that showcase the latest innovations, inspire dialogue and build stronger connections across our life sciences ecosystem. Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to participate, host events and get involved!
Life Sciences & Innovation News
- Baüne has received the Certificate of Recognition from AstraZeneca’s Mentorship Program for Latin America, and it has joined the A Catalyse Network.
- Entos Pharmaceuticals is collaborating with Mediphage and Chromatin Bioscience thanks to advisory services and funding from UKRI Innovate UK and the National Research Council’s IRAP program.
- Fedora Pharmaceuticals Inc. will unveil a novel class of antibiotics at the Interdisciplinary Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance and Innovation in Las Vegas from Jan. 28 to 30.
- Future Fields released a case study demonstrating how the EntoEngine platform and Instar 1.0 biofactory facilitate rapid scalability for protein production.
- Nanostics COO Catalina Vasquez appeared on The Founder Mindset podcast to discuss the motivation behind founding the company and developing ClarityDX Prostate.
- Nimble Science has received new seed funding from HaloHealth to help advance the development and commercialization of the SIMBA Capsule.
- Nimble Science will present clinical data from SIMBA Capsule studies at Pharmabiotics 2026, validated against endoscopy for fluid sampling in the distal small intestine.
- OncoHelix announced the addition of PGx, a pharmacogenetic test screening for 64 variants across genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transport proteins, to its testing portfolio.
- OncoHelix Co-Lab in the UAE achieved CAP Accreditation. “We’re incredibly proud of the team behind this achievement and what it represents for the future of OncoHelix and our lab in the UAE,” the company shared.
- PanTHERA CryoSolutions published a tutorial showing how ice recrystallization inhibitors reduce recrystallization-driven injury and variability in cryopreservation workflows.
- Voyageur Pharmaceuticals has secured 100% ownership of a proprietary iodine extraction technology, and it has appointed inventor Dr. Brian Mueller as Director of Chemistry.
- BioAlberta invited Canadian SMEs to apply for a co-innovation partnering mission to Switzerland for Swiss Biotech Day and the Eureka Global Innovation Summit. The deadline to apply is Jan. 30.
- biohubX announced an MOU with Quantify Incubator in South Korea to provide founders with strategic guidance, acceleration programs, and access to global investors.
- GlycoNet opened applications for Summer Awards for Undergraduate Students ($7,000) and the Advanced Training Opportunity Program (up to $9,000), with a deadline of Jan. 25, 2026.
- The Institute of Health Economics published two new reports: on indirect and direct costs associated with Type 2 diabetes, and on team-based primary care models.
- The Alberta government announced a $3.25-million investment toward the $6.5-million redevelopment of the Glenrose Hospital Foundation therapeutic pool, which closed in November 2024.
- The Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation at NAIT has received new accreditation for research from the U.S.-based Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
- D. Lorne J. Tyrrell, director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. Tyrrell was recognized for his global impact in virology and leadership at the University of Alberta, including his role in Canada’s pandemic response.
- A new Fourth Floor Atrium opened at the University of Alberta Hospital, created through philanthropy, including support from Festival of Trees donors and the University Hospital Foundation.