September 19, 2025
New investments focus on biotherapeutics, RNA medicines, cell therapies and policy innovation to prepare for the future
Vancouver, BC — With drug resistance, immune diseases and emerging infections ramping up the urgency for modern treatments, we need faster ways to turn new discoveries into better health care for patients and communities.
Genome BC is funding four new health research projects at the University of British Columbia (UBC) to do just that. The initiatives will help Canada respond more effectively to health threats and strengthen B.C.’s biomedical innovation ecosystem by advancing domestic capabilities in key areas like next-generation therapeutics, biomanufacturing and regulatory science.
The projects are being led by researchers at Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub, a UBC-led national initiative aimed at accelerating the development of lifesaving medicines for Canada. Each project addresses a critical gap in Canada’s ability to respond to complex and emerging health challenges, from designing new therapies and improving delivery systems to removing policy roadblocks that delay patient access.
From hard-to-treat infections to system-wide bottlenecks, the four projects tackle some of the most urgent barriers in modern health care. The projects each take on a different challenge, but all aim to speed up access to more innovative, effective solutions for patients.
CHALLENGE: Antimicrobial resistance decreases the effectiveness of current treatments and increases the risk of future pandemics.
RESPONSE: Researchers are working to turn protective microbes in the human gut into new therapies — creating a front-line defence against antibiotic resistance.
CHALLENGE: RNA medicines hold tremendous promise, but there are barriers slowing their development
RESPONSE: Improving the design, testing and optimization of RNA therapies to speed up treatments for hard-to-treat diseases.
CHALLENGE: New treatments can’t help patients if outdated policies keep them out of reach.
RESPONSE: Generate the tools and evidence needed to accelerate the adoption of health innovations into care more quickly, safely and equitably.
CHALLENGE: Cell therapies can help treat immune-mediated diseases, but resource-intensive production limits access.
RESPONSE: Scientists are developing ready-made cell therapies that can be quickly scaled, deployed and made accessible to people in need.
Together, these projects reflect the value of investing in research with a clear path to real world impact.
Funded by Genome BC, Michael Smith Health Research BC and federal and industry co-funders, the projects will contribute to CIEBH’s efforts to strengthen national capabilities in health innovation, policy and domestic biomanufacturing.
Quotes:
“These projects combine scientific excellence with a clear pathway to patient impact. They will accelerate the translation of discovery into therapies and policies that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
– Dr. Federica Di Palma, Chief Scientific Officer and VP Research and Innovation, Genome BC
“Together with Genome BC and other partners, we are catalyzing additional investment in British Columbia’s life sciences sector. Through these investments, Health Research BC helps strengthen BC’s capacity to innovate and to respond quickly to pandemics and other public health emergencies.”
-Dr. Bev Holmes, President and CEO at Michael Smith Health Research BC.
“These exceptional projects will help position Canada and British Columbia as a global leader in immuno-engineering and biomanufacturing. By bringing together scientific excellence with policy and regulatory expertise, we are accelerating the pathway for life-saving treatments to move from the lab to patients and communities — ensuring those who need them can benefit more rapidly and equitably.”
– Dr. Michelle Wong, Executive Director, CIEBH & Senior Director, Research, UBC Faculty of Medicine
PROJECTS BACKGROUNDER:
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Contact: A.G. Klei, Senior Communications Manager, Genome BC
