Awards Gala

Awardee Biographies

Lifetime Achievement Award

Name: Dr. Janet Rossant

Dr. Janet Rossant is a global innovator in developmental biology and a leader in stem cell science. She is President and Scientific Director of the Gairdner Foundation, Senior Scientist Emeritus at SickKids, and University Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Rossant has led ground-breaking research on the genes that regulate embryonic development in mice, many of which are conserved in human development.  She discovered some of the key genes that drive the first cell differences in early development and has derived stem cell lines from these embryos.  Her findings helped lead to the discovery of a new placental stem cell type – the trophoblast stem cell.  This important work has far-reaching implications for greater understanding of early pregnancy loss in humans and for the advancement of regenerative medicine. Dr. Rossant led the Research Institute at The Hospital for Sick Children for Ten years and was a key supporter of commercialization initiatives in regenerative medicine in Ontario.

Dr. Rossant has also shaped policy on the ethical use of human embryonic stem cells in Canada and served as President of the International Society for Stem Cell Research, influencing global debates on stem cell research and gene editing.

A vocal advocate for women in science, she has received numerous awards, including the CIHR Michael Smith Prize, the Killam Prize, North American Laureate for the 2018 L’Oréal-UNESCO award for Women in Science and the Gairdner Wightman Award.

Community Impact Award

Name: Alex Muggah

Since 2016, Alex Muggah has served as concierge to Hamilton’s innovation ecosystem. He is founding Director of the Synapse Life Science Consortium, a partnership of anchor organization representing 34,000 employees, and serves as VP Life Sciences at Innovation Factory.

In these roles, Alex has helped shape and propel Hamilton’s engagement with life science companies from across Ontario, facilitating collaborations that catalyze healthcare innovation and improve patient outcomes.

Under his leadership, Synapse has helped build a more connected and collaborative community in Hamilton, linking networks from across Canada. Leveraging Hamilton’s world-class academic and clinical institutions, Alex has created programs that have funded over 150 companies (and counting) to undertake collaborative projects. These programs provide access to the infrastructure, expertise and facilities necessary for companies to scale and grow.

With over 20 years of leadership experience in both private and public sectors, Alex previously held roles at the Massachusetts Health Connector, Deloitte, the Harvard Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.

Leadership Award

Name: OBIO^®

Founded in 2009, OBIO^® is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization offering programming and infrastructure to support early-stage and venture-backed companies across the therapeutics, medtech, diagnostics, digital health and consumer health sectors. OBIO^® enables organizations to raise capital, hire and train industry-ready talent, facilitate the commercialization and adoption of their technologies in health systems, and access infrastructure across various areas of focus: Capital Access & Adoption, Skills Development & Training, Women in Health and Critical Technologies.

OBIO^® membership offers companies and their teams access to mentorship & expert resources, grants, experiential learning opportunities and more. Since its inception, OBIO^® has worked tirelessly to develop programs for the life sciences & health tech sector, build resilience, help small-medium enterprises have their technologies procured in Canadian healthcare systems, and attract investment to grow the sector and support the province’s economic development.

Life Science Company of the Year

Name: Trudell Medical Limited

Trudell Medical Limited, located in London, Ontario, has a history that started in 1922 and has operated for over 100 years as a private, family-owned company. Trudell’s corporate office, along with four of seven operating companies are in, and operate out of Ontario. Trudell has grown by focusing on innovating, manufacturing, and providing medical devices and value-added service to help improve the health of the patients they serve.

Today, Trudell serve patients in over 110 countries around the world with medical devices and services that make their lives better. Their focus is on bringing innovative respiratory, and other medical devices and services to patients globally.

Emerging Company of the Year

Name: Zucara Therapeutics Inc.

Zucara Therapeutics Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative drugs for Type 1 (T1D) and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Zucara is developing ZT-01, a first-in-class, once-daily therapeutic to prevent hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels) in people with T1D and insulin-dependent Type 2 diabetes. ZT-01, currently in Phase 2 development, is designed to restore glucagon secretion to prevent hypoglycemia, which could dramatically change diabetes disease management and improve both patient health and quality of life. The ongoing Phase 2a “ZONE” trial is evaluating the effect of ZT-01 on preventing nighttime hypoglycemia in people with T1D.

Zucara builds on Ontario’s historical legacy in diabetes research and has raised over US$50M in funding, most recently through its Series B financing that included strategic investor Sanofi, and the Perceptive Xontogeny Venture Fund, which also participated in the Company’s Series A financing. Zucara Therapeutics Inc. has previously been supported by The Helmsley Charitable Trust, Breakthrough T1D, GlycoNet, Mitacs, NRC-IRAP and its founding institutions TIAP and adMare BioInnovations.

Volunteer Awards

Name: Marko Perovic

Marko Perovic is an Associate Director of Public Affairs at Novo Nordisk, responsible for advancing policies and partnerships that create healthier populations and resilient health systems. This includes working with partners to secure a commitment from the Ontario government to develop a provincial chronic disease strategy to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of chronic disease.

Marko was also instrumental in establishing the Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations at the University of Toronto in 2021, which unites researchers and students with patients, clinicians, community members, policymakers, and city planners in Peel Region to co-create solutions that will make populations healthier in an effective, feasible, sustainable, and equitable way.

He also represents Novo Nordisk Canada in its work with Life Sciences Ontario and the Danish Life Sciences Forum to help ensure that the life sciences industry continues to be an important source of jobs, economic growth, and improved health outcomes for Canadians.

Name: Simonne Rauch

Simonne was awarded the Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) Scholarship in 2022 and has since remained an active volunteer with LSO’s mentorship program. She earned her degree in Life Sciences from Queen’s University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at the University of Toronto.

Simonne has gained valuable health research experience as a research student at The Hospital for Sick Children. Additionally, she has collaborated with a world-renowned dermatologist and co-authored a research article published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery.

Simonne’s professional experience includes working in the pharmaceutical industry, where she supported sales and marketing teams in the launch and management of ophthalmology and optometry therapeutics. Now, as a mentor for the next cohort of LSO scholarship recipients, Simonne is excited to share her insights and experiences to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders in life sciences.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact andy@lifesciencesontario.ca.