UBC Medicine scientists have founded six new spinoff companies that build on their research to turn discoveries into real-world impact.
They are among nine spinoff companies launched this fall with support from UBC, bringing the university’s combined total to 284.
From next-generation therapeutics to AI-powered drug discovery platforms, Faculty of Medicine spinoff companies are translating UBC innovations into better health outcomes for people across Canada and the world, while strengthening B.C.’s booming life sciences economy.
Spinoff companies are a key part of UBC’s innovation ecosystem. They are created to commercialize innovations developed at UBC, support university research by funding further development, or deliver services that originated within a UBC department or unit.
Innovation UBC supports researchers in taking their breakthroughs from lab to market, working behind the scenes to evaluate inventions, secure IP rights and build commercialization pathways. Seven of the newest ventures completed a UBC Express License Agreement, Innovation UBC’s new templated agreement to accelerate the formation of spinoff companies.
Many of the spinoff companies received support from Innovation UBC’s venture building programs, including Venture Founder and HATCH Venture Builder.
The UBC Faculty of Medicine is home to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs who are turning research, discoveries and ideas into transformative health solutions. Together, they play a pivotal role in powering B.C.’s life sciences sector — the fastest growing in Canada — which now includes more than 2,000 companies, many of which are UBC spin-offs or lead by UBC community members.
Faculty of Medicine-affiliated Spinoffs:
ImageCyte Technologies
Empowers scientific discovery and innovation by providing next-generation cell analysis tools that are simple, scalable and accessible through cutting-edge nanowell technology.
- UBC affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Applied Science; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science
- Founding team: Dr. Hongshen Ma and Samuel Berryman
Metastem Therapeutics
Developing a tumor-specific antibody-drug conjugate for the treatment of cancer based on a novel tumor target called podocalyxin (PODXL).
- UBC affiliation: School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
- Founding team: Prof. Kelly McNagny, Prof. Calvin Roskelley, Dr. Samuel Abraham, Dr. Julyanne Brassard, Ms. Pamela Dean, Dr. Michael Hughes, Mr. Daniel Wattier
Promirin Therapeutics
Designing a personalized activatable nucleic acid-based treatment platform to deliver therapeutics for currently untreatable tumours.
- UBC affiliation: Faculty of Medicine
- Founding team: Dr. Dermot Kelleher and Dr. Shane Duggan
RAK AI
Defining the future of drug development by combining world-leading AI drug-discovery technology with tailored biological target qualification.
- UBC affiliation: Department of Urologic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
- Founding team: Dr. Artem Cherkasov, Dr. Mads Daugaard, Jeffrey Bacha
Resolve Nanotherapeutics
Pioneers nanotherapeutics that boost innate immunity for acute infection treatment, offering resistance-proof care for patients.
- UBC affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine
- Founding team: Dr. James Russell, Dr. Pieter Cullis, Dr. Cedric Brimacombe, Dr. Ehsan Ansari Dezfouli
SeraGene Therapeutics
A pre-clinical stage biotech company committed to reimagining the treatment of coagulation disorders through innovative RNA and nanomedicine technologies.
- UBC affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine
- Founding team: Dr. Erika Siren, Dr. Lih Jiin Juang, Dr. Amy Strilchuk, Dr. Katherine Badior, Dr. Christian Kastrup, Dr. Pieter Cullis