New MembersLifeSciences BC welcomes the following new Silver Sponsor:Vancouver Economic Development Commission  LifeSciences BC welcomes the following new members: BC Preclinical Research Consortium The BC Preclinical Research Consortium provides state-of-the-art animal based research tools to investigate models of human disease and the assessment of safe and effective treatment solutions designed to alter the course of disease development and progression. Goals are to enable translational research critical for commercial opportunities in the B.C. life sciences industry. Development of this research network for animal researchers across B.C. will foster communication, collaboration, education and greater efficiency in animal research. BioFinance BioFinance is the Canadian Life Science industry's leading investor conference. The meeting brings together key industry players to consider investment opportunities and issues affecting companies in biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics and research tools. Participants include senior life science executives, institutional and venture capital investors, industry analysts, corporate finance executives and experts from the scientific and medical communities in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. BroadReach BioSystems Inc. Industry and scientific domain expertise in stem cell research and therapeutics, industrial and clinical cell biology, research tools and reagents, cellular therapy, cell-based assays for drug screening, as well as contract business development, Marketing and Business Communications. Healthmetrx DigitalPT is a proficiency testing program designed for medical laboratories to make PT efficient and cost effective. DigitalPT is the most medically relevant, internet enabled PT program available. Hyaluron Hyaluron Contract Manufacturing (HCM) aseptically fills liquid and lyophilized products into syringes, vials, and custom containers in pre-clinical to commercial scale development. HCM excels in process development scale up of difficult formulations including: emulsions; viscous gels; suspensions, liposomes, and proteins. HCM works with you to meet your manufacturing needs from clinical through commercial scale in strict compliance with all FDA and international regulatory requirements. ICORD, International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries From Cells to Community: ICORD research is anything from cellular to community level research that addresses a question concerning the promotion of improved functional outcomes and quality of life for people with spinal cord injury. ICORD's research activities span the continuum from basic, preclinical discovery, to human-based discovery, to acute clinical interventions, to chronic care and rehabilitation, to community integration and participation. Kardium Kardium is a technology pioneer developing new medical devices to address cardiovascular diseases. The company was founded in 2007 by a team that has a track record of excellence in medicine, business, and engineering. A highly skilled development team and sophisticated rapid prototyping facility have been assembled in order to commercialize several patent pending concepts. Lignol Lignol Innovations is commercializing its unique integrated cellulose to ethanol process technology for biorefining ethanol (fuel alcohol), pure lignin and other valuable co-products from renewable and readily available biomass. The technology is based on original ‘Alcell’ biorefining technology that was developed by General Electric and Repap Enterprises at a cost of over $100 million. Lignol also intends to invest in, or otherwise obtain, an equity ownership in energy related projects which have synergies with its biorefining technology. Lignol is a Canadian corporation based in Vancouver, British Columbia. MSI Methylation Sciences Inc. Methylation Sciences, Inc.(MSI) has patented a new formulation of a naturally occurring human molecule called S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAMe). SAMe has been produced and sold as a prescription drug in parts of Europe and as a dietary supplement (natural or food based treatment) in the US for more than 10 years. In physician trials, it is equally as effective as current antidepressant drug therapy (i.e. Prozac) but is free of some of the most intolerable side effects. MSI will move quickly into a clinical proof of concept Phase II trial in H1/09 with completion in Q2/10. MSI is examining the dietary supplement market as a possible near term market. NeuroKinetics NeuroKinetics Health Services (B.C.) Inc. is a Vancouver company whose work is researching and implementing techniques to help people overcome health problems that relate either directly, or indirectly, to brain function. Through twenty years of research and development, founder Dr. Souvestre has designed non-invasive diagnostic equipment and treatment devices that identify and correct conditions which are often considered untreatable by classic medical procedures. NeuroKinetics combines concepts from aerospace physiology, neuroscience, bioengineering and acupuncture, to provide an innovative and integrated multi-disciplinary approach to correct and prevent postural, sensory-motor and cognitive dysfunction. Penn Pharmaceutical Services Renegade strategies is a strategy firm engaged in developing and implementing comprehensive growth strategies for small- and medium-size companies with science-based technologies or products. Using a unique approach, the organization produces strategic and tactical plans that are rigorous, simple, affordable, and global in scope. With skills in both the business and science fields, Renegade strategies shows uncompromised dedication to helping small- and medium-size companies grow to their full potential and beyond. Featured Member BC Clinical Genomics Network – linking you to research tools If you study problems relating to the genetic factors that contribute to disease and wish you had more information to assist you in developing ground breaking solutions then read on because a new network has been formed to help you do just that. Whether you believe that the current standard of scientific knowledge and medical treatment for certain diseases needs improving and you want to leverage the best technology and the best minds to achieve your goal; or you have heard about the latest advances in identifying and sequencing genes and wish to apply them to the questions you are interested in then the BC Clinical Genomics Network (BCCGN) is the place for you. BCCGN has been created with the support of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) to help researchers in BC by creating the infrastructure to facilitate genomics research in our province. BCCGN connects the necessary resources including state-of-the-art technology platforms and expertise in the analysis of genetic data. BC is at the forefront of genomics research and we are starting to see the benefits in our health care system. An example of where this approach is already reaping benefits is the case of adverse drug reactions which cause a strain on the Canadian healthcare system of over $13 billion. “We are helping in the understanding of the genetic factors which predetermine a patient’s susceptibility to drugs” says Michael Hayden, co-founder of the BCCGN. Dr Hayden cites the case of anthracyclines, which are life-saving treatments for some, but cause lifelong cardiac damage in others. A Canada-wide study has shown anthracycline cardiotoxicity appears to be caused by a defect in the transportation of the drug out of the heart muscle in individuals with particular genetic markers. The goal is to have a bedside diagnostic test available within 5 years to identify high risk patients before they are administered treatment. Another case in point is the work being done in identifying genes involved in developmental and behavioral impairment. Using array genomic hybridization technology the genomes of these patients can be looked at with a far greater resolution than ever before. The technologies being used to do this work are advancing rapidly. The capacity of the current ultra high throughput DNA sequencing platform from Solexa is 350 times greater and a mere fraction of the cost compared to that used for the original Human Genome Project. Information on this and other genomic technologies can be found on the Network’s website at www.bccgn.ca Says Jan Friedman, also a co founder of the network, “to develop new diagnostics and improved treatments, we need to facilitate research that will bring us to that point. This is where we want the BC research community to contact BCCGN with their projects so we can help them make the most of BC’s facilities and resources” For more information contact:- Shelin Adam, Coordinator, BC Clinical Genomics Network 604 875 2000 ext 6063; ashelin@interchange.ubc.ca; www.bccgn.ca |
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