Whether it’s a new lab space or new HQ, deciding where to establish your next office space is a tough decision.
And while setting new roots in a busy biohub such as Boston or San Francisco is tempting, it comes at a price – namely fierce competition for real estate and quality talent on top of exorbitant rent. But there are other biohubs where you can have the best of both worlds – a lively and fast-growing innovation ecosystem that is also affordable.
This webinar, brought to you in partnership by Edmonton Global and CSSi LifeSciences, explores why the Edmonton Region is quickly becoming an emerging biotech hub—and why more and more biotech, medtech, and healthcare companies are looking at Canada’s Edmonton Region as their next destination for global expansion.
Watch this webinar to discover opportunities that make the Edmonton Region a game-changer for growing life science companies.
In this webinar, you will learn how the Edmonton Region:
You’ll also hear from local life sciences companies about their experiences working in the Edmonton Region, and why industry leaders are committed to growing their presence here.
Truong has worked in the life sciences sector for over 20 years, and has built partnerships between industry, government and stakeholders to secure transformative infrastructure and patient access investments. He was a consultant at a biotech startup and then held positions of increasing responsibility in R&D and commercial operations, including Head of Marketing, Immunization Policy, and Business Operations at Sanofi Canada. He’s worked for Sanofi Canada and Canadian biotech company Medicago. Truong is a past chair of BIOTECanada’s Vaccine Industry Committee and former member of Innovative Medicines Canada Senior Advisory Group.
Jalene Anderson-Baron is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Future Fields, a fly biotechnology company on a mission to change how we do science for humanity and the planet. Winner of the 2022 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and recognized as one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2021, Jalene champions women in biotechnology, working mothers, and Alberta’s innovation ecosystem. As COO of Future Fields, Jalene oversees all operational aspects of a scaling Canadian biotech startup, including logistics, talent and facility management, quality control, and regulatory compliance. Since co-founding Future Fields in 2018, Jalene has led the growth of the company from three to 30 employees and oversaw the development of Future Fields’ 14,000 square feet lab and office headquarters. Navigating the expansion of Future Fields’ operations in Edmonton, Jalene highlights the Edmonton bioeconomy to an international audience, as well as provides insights to local bodies, including the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Business Growth and Opportunities.
A born and raised Edmontonian, Robert has a deep love of his city and its people. With an education in BioChem, Robert has diverse in-depth experience and knowledge advising, overseeing, and growing companies internationally in the biotechnology, petrochemicals, and nutraceuticals industries. Along with a rich history in international travel, particularly overseeing European and South-East Asian markets, he’s brought new business opportunities and initiatives abroad, growing Canadian companies and establishing and maintaining partnerships—and he’s bilingual in English and French. His success in business comes not only from his technical knowledge and expertise but that he enjoys helping and seeing those around him succeed. Robert brings his skills in long-term relationship building, investment, international business development, and trade initiative enhancement to any table.
Dr. Ferguson-Pell is a distinguished biomedical engineer and clinical scientist, focusing on studying secondary complications and underlying causes of physical disability. He is currently a professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine – Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. His work includes designing a rehabilitation robotics laboratory, employing virtual reality for biomechanical simulations, and developing a novel EMG analysis approach. His team, in collaboration with Telus Health Solutions, is building a living lab network to study the role of technology in community care for seniors, supported by Telus and a substantial Mitacs grant for students and post-docs. Previously, Dr. Ferguson-Pell held key positions at University College London and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Jim Sergi is the Founder and the President of CSSi LifeSciences, a global drug discovery and technology development company providing fully integrated, specialized regulatory and clinical services for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Prior to this role, Jim was the founder and managing partner of Bay Tower Capital, a life sciences merchant bank and the co-founder and CEO of ProED Communications, a healthcare services and drug development company. Jim has been responsible for over 85 successful NDA/BLA approvals and over 250 medical device approvals. His academic and medical experience includes Director of Experimental Therapeutics at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, Associate Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing at the Case Western Reserve University. Lecturer for Oncology at Cleveland State University and Adjunct Faculty and Lecturer for biotechnology at Georgetown University and John Hopkins University Graduate Schools. He has authored over 50 peer reviewed publications and has numerous issued patents. Jim serves a scientific reviewer for the NIH SBIR/STTR Commercial Readiness Program, as well as a mentor to the NIH/NHLBI and the NIH Larta FeedForward programs. He also serves as a scientific advisor and board member to numerous nonprofits, corporations, private equity and venture backed investment firms, including Defta Partners. Jim has an undergraduate degree in nursing from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a graduate degree from the University of Akron. Jim also serves as the GP of Tonic Bioventures, a venture formation life sciences fund to accelerate and de-risk breakthrough drugs and medical devices to transform patient lives.
