NGBideas

In this archive episode of NGBideas, host Jim Wilson sits down with Professor Christine Allen from the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. Join us as we explore Dr. Allen's remarkable journey from her early days in Ottawa to becoming a globally recognized leader in drug formulation and development. Discover her insights on the integration of AI in drug development, her experiences in academia and indust...

In this throwback episode of NGBiLab, host Jim Wilson sits down with Kevin Neal and Jean-Francois Mio from Tatum Bioscience in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Discover how they are revolutionizing cancer treatment by programming bacteria to become cancer-fighting drugs. Learn about their journey, the challenges they face, and their vision for the future of immunotherapy. Tune in to explore the cutting-edge innovations in Canada's life...

In this throwback episode of NGBideas, host Jim Wilson sits down with Brigitte Nolet, President and CEO of Roche Canada Pharma. They explore Brigitte's journey as a trisector leader, her personal experiences as a patient, and her insights into Canada's life sciences sector. Discover the importance of honesty in leadership and the potential of healthcare innovation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, am...

This week, we’re throwing it back to when Jim connected with Sydney Robinson, CEO and co-founder of Vessl Prosthetics, based in London, Ontario. Sydney and her team are pioneering next-generation prosthetic solutions specifically designed for below-knee amputees. Their innovative technology features automatic adjustments that ensure a consistently comfortable fit—greatly improving quality of life for many.

In 2025, Vess...

This week, we’re revisiting an episode with Cate Murray, President and CEO of the Stem Cell Network (SCN) in Ottawa. SCN is a Canadian not-for-profit supporting three main objectives: advancing stem cell and regenerative medicine research, training the next generation of researchers, and sharing breakthroughs in this incredible field.Founded in 2001 with federal support, SCN has grown from a few dozen labs to over 270 worl...

Join host Jim Wilson as he sits down with Dr. Arinjay Banerjee and Dr. Volker Gerdts from the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) in Saskatoon. Discover how VIDO is at the forefront of infectious disease research and vaccine development, bridging human and animal health. Learn about their cutting-edge facilities, global partnerships, and the ambitious plans to make Canada a leader in pandemic preparedness. T...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Shanil Ebrahim as he shares his journey from Saudi Arabia to Canada, navigating cultural transitions, and building a successful career in healthcare consulting. Discover how his experiences shaped his leadership style and his vision for creating a lasting impact in the healthcare industry. Shanil's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

This week on NGB Ideas, we’re revisiting a Season 1 conversation with Gordon McCauley, President & CEO of AdMare BioInnovations. Gordon has built his career at the intersection of politics, investment, and life sciences — and today, he’s at the center of Canada’s growing biotech ecosystem. In this episode, Gordon shares his journey from political staffer to venture capitalist to leading one of Canada’s most influential...

Join Jim Wilson as he sits down with Bill Hunter, a pioneering figure in the Canadian life sciences community. From his early days in Mississauga to founding Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Bill shares his journey of innovation, resilience, and the pursuit of medical breakthroughs. Discover how his passion for science and entrepreneurship led to the development of life-saving technologies and his vision for the future of med-te...

In this episode of NGBideas, we sit down with Bharat Srinivasa, Co-Founder of Amplitude Venture Capital, to trace his journey from Bangalore to Canada and into the world of biotech investing. Bharat shares how curiosity, persistence, and networking shaped his path from biology labs to consulting and venture capital, and reflects on the growth of Canada’s life sciences ecosystem, the challenges of company creation, and the ...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Matthew Miller, a distinguished scientist and academic leader, as he shares his journey from a small town in Ontario to becoming a key figure in infectious disease research. Discover how serendipity and mentorship shaped his career, the challenges of starting a lab, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his work. Matthew also discusses the importance of basic science funding...

Join us as we delve into the remarkable career of Neil Fraser, a visionary leader in the Canadian medtech sector. From his early days growing up in a nomadic family to becoming the president of Medtronic Canada, Neil's journey is one of innovation and leadership. Discover how he transformed Medtronic into a powerhouse in the industry, his insights on value-based healthcare, and his ongoing influence as a policy advisor. Tu...

In this episode of NGBI Ideas, host Jim Wilson sits down with Alison Symington, a key leader in the Ontario life sciences community. Alison shares her journey from the UK to Canada, her academic pursuits, and her impactful career in life sciences. Discover how she bridges the gap between industry and academia, and her insights on the future of genomics and AI. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about innovation, collabo...

In this episode of NGBideas, host Jim Wilson sits down with Andrew Casey, the outgoing President and former CEO of Biotech Canada. They discuss Andrew's journey from his early days in Montreal to leading one of Canada's most influential biotech organizations. Andrew shares insights on the challenges and triumphs of his career, the future of the biotech industry, and his thoughts on leadership and innovation. Tune in to hea...

July 23rd 2024 – This week we have the privilege of speaking with Amol Karnick, President and CEO of KA Imaging, spun out of the University of Waterloo, Ontario. Amol and his team are developing high dynamic range and lower dose x-ray detectors for the medical, industrial, and veterinary imaging markets. Their portable x-rays provide a high-resolution view of both hard and soft tissues, which Amol hopes will revolutionize ...

July 2nd 2024 – Join us this week as we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Karen Mossman, a researcher and innovation leader from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Karen previously served as the Vice President of Research at McMaster and was part of the team of researchers who first isolated the COVID-19 virus. We discuss her early aspirations, challenges in academia, and the importance of mentorship and suppo...

June 25th 2024 – We are thrilled to announce that this week we will be welcoming Penny Walsh-McGuire from the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL), based in Charlottetown, PEI. Join us as we delve into CASTL's role in the Canadian life sciences ecosystem, how they are fostering the next generation of biopharmaceutical manufacturing professionals, and learn about Penny’s journey from her roots ...

June 18th 2024 – This week, we welcome Sarah Howe, Chief Operating Officer of St. Joseph’s Research Center in Hamilton, Ontario. Join us as we delve into Sarah’s journey, from founding Y-Space at York University to her triumphs and challenges in leading the next generation of mental health, lung and chest, kidney, and genitourinary research in Canada.

St. Joe's Research Institute: research.stjoes.ca
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