Awards
6th Annual Technology Vision Group LLC / BIOTECanada Student Bursary
BioPartnering North AmericaTM (BPN) is supported by leading biotechnology, pharmaceutical, financial and service companies from around the world. This key partnering event offers companies a focused business development experience that features company presentations, face-to-face partnering meetings, expert panels and workshops, and 3 days of networking opportunities.For the 6th consecutive year, Technology Vision Group LLC in partnership with BIOTECanada offered a limited number of bursaries for graduate and post-graduate students studying in a biotechnology-related program in Canada.
These bursaries provided full conference registration and a travel allowance for recipients from other parts of Canada.
2010 Bursary Recipients at BioPartnering North America

We are pleased to announce this year's winners, congratulations to:
- Krystine Dunsford-Richards (Prince Edward Island – University of Prince Edward Island, Business Administration Department)
- Marianne Ariganello (Nova Scotia – Dalhousie University, School of Biomedical Engineering)
- Edward Wilson (Quebec – McGill University, Department of Neuroscience)
- James Rowland (Ontario – University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science)
- Misha Nossov (Ontario – University of Toronto at Mississauga, Masters of Biotechnology)
- David Kideckel (Ontario – University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science)
- Matthew Mount (Ontario – University of Ottawa, Department of Neuroscience)
- Chendong Lin (Ontario – University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management)
- Jeewan Gill (Ontario – University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine)
- Darryl Baptiste (Ontario – York University, Schulich School of Business)
- Meaghan Labine (Manitoba – University of Manitoba, Faculty of Medicine)
- Blake Dornstauder (Alberta – University of Alberta, Department of Ophthalmology)
- Gina Demczuk (Alberta – University of Calgary, Master of Biomedical Technology)
- Meena Assad (Alberta - University of Calgary, Master of Biomedical Technology)
- Sidd Talukdar (Alberta - University of Calgary, Master of Biomedical Technology)
- Michaela Pittman (Alberta - University of Calgary, Master of Biomedical Technology)
- Nadya Ogloff (British Columbia – University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine)
- Anthony Fejes (British Columbia – University of British Columbia, Bioinformatics)
- Andrew Tait (British Columbia – University of British Columbia, Chemistry Department)
- Darrell Bessette (British Columbia – University of British Columbia, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)
- Aruna Somasiri (British Columbia – Simon Fraser University, Segal Graduate School of Business)
BIOTECanada offers and participates in a number of activities to increase the recognition of people and companies contributing to the advancement of biotechnology in Canada.
GOLD LEAF AWARDS - Celebrating Canadian Biotech Innovation
As a celebration of Canadian innovation, BIOTECanada's Gold Leaf Awards program is your opportunity to recognize both companies and individuals who have made significant achievements to our industry. Launched in 2001, these prestigious awards are given annually by BIOTECanada.
For more information, please visit the Gold Leaf Awards pages in this section.
CIHR BIOTECanada Schering-Plough Canada Fellowship
In September 2008, BIOTECanada and Schering-Plough Canada announced an exciting collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR creating the CIHR BIOTECanada Schering-Plough Canada Fellowship to support important research in the development of health innovations.
The winner, selected annually will be the highest ranked postdoctoral (post-PhD) fellowship candidate in Canada from one of the fields of immunology, infectious and inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, or allergies and respiratory problems as determined by the peer-review process used for CIHR Fellowship Awards. The prize is worth $20,000 over two years.
2008 Winner:
Dr. Etienne Gagnon, PhD
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School
One of the most promising new strategies in the fight against cancer involves harnessing the body's innate disease-fighting abilities. Dr. Etienne Gagnon is part of a growing research field known as cancer immunology, and his postdoctoral studies could dramatically improve our understanding of how our bodies outwit disease.
2007 Winner:
Dr. Filio Billia, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Clinician-Scientist Trainee
University Health Network
University of Toronto
Working under Dr. Rudiger von Harsdorf of the University Health Network, University of Toronto, Dr. Billia is studying why the cardiac muscle cells that make up the heart are unable to replicate. To do this, she is identifying signaling pathways that are responsible for keeping the cells in this state of arrest. Once the critical signaling molecules have been identified, they will provide novel therapeutic targets for researchers aiming to regenerate healthy heart tissue in heart failure patients, as opposed to the current regime of slowing the progressive and, ultimately, fatal course of heart failure.
ABOUT SCHERING-PLOUGH CANADA INC.
Schering-Plough Canada Inc. is a country operation of Schering-Plough Corporation that employs over 850 people across Canada. Schering-Plough Corporation is a global science-based health care company with leading prescription, consumer and animal health products. Through internal research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough discovers, develops, manufactures and markets advanced drug therapies to meet important medical needs. Schering-Plough's vision is to earn the trust of the physicians, patients and customers served by approximately 33,500 people around the world.
For more information about this award, please visit the Canadian Institute of Health Research website.
BIOTECanada – UCB Pharma National Health Innovation Patient Advocacy Awards Honour Patient Advocates
The National Health Innovation Patient Advocacy Awards recognize an individual and a non-profit organization whose outstanding contributions to the healthcare system have informed Canadians, empowered patients, and added innovative solutions into Canada’s healthcare system
The individual winner receives a $5,000 prize, and the non-profit organization winner receives $10,000. Winners are chosen by an independent panel of medical practitioners and healthcare policy experts on the basis of their impact on public awareness of diseases; their contribution to generating public healthcare policy change; demonstrated leadership, creativity an innovative thinking; an effective program of action, and realizing a better health care environment for Canadians.
The awards are presented during National Biotechnology Week.
ABOUT UCB PHARMA CANADA
UCB Pharma Canada was officially incorporated in 2006 with the objective of bringing new-and, convenient therapies to the Canadian market for auto-immune, inflammatory diseases and central nervous system disorders. As a patient-focused organization, UCB Pharma Canada’s is dedicated to bringing new and innovative programs to patients, and to the specialists who treat them, to help improve the lives of people living with severe diseases.
SCIENTIFIC TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Presented annually from 2006 to 2008 during National Biotechnology Week, the BIOTECanada-Biogen Idec Teaching Excellence Awards honour three educators who have demonstrated excellence and leadership within their schools in teaching biotechnology.
2008 Recipients
- Albert Chang, Vancouver South,BC
- Robert Adamson, Winnipeg South, MB
- Lawrence McGillivary, Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, NB
2007 Recipients
- Dr. Danielle Gauci, Northern Secondary School, Toronto, ON
- Sharon Brennan, Holy Heart High School, St. John’s, NF
- Christian Duhme, St. George’s School, Vancouver, BC
2006 Recipients
- Dr. Sheppy Coodin, Gray Academy of Jewish Education, Winnipeg, MB
- Doug (Dragan) Gajic, Centennial Collegiate & Vocational Institute, Guelph, ON
- Gabriel Ayyavoo, Francis Libermann Catholic High School, Scarborough, ON
ABOUT BIOGEN IDEC
Biogen Idec creates new standards of care in oncology, neurology and immunology. As a global leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of novel therapies, Biogen Idec transforms scientific discoveries into advances in human healthcare. For press release and additional information about the company, please see our website.




