TORONTO, ON – January 15th, 2026 – Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) proudly announces the recipients of the 2026 LSO Awards, celebrating excellence, leadership, and innovation across Ontario’s life sciences sector. Now in its 23rd year, the LSO Awards continue a long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations whose contributions have significantly advanced Ontario’s life sciences ecosystem.
From visionary leaders who have shaped research commercialization and public policy, to community builders strengthening Canada’s regenerative medicine ecosystem, this year’s award recipients reflect the depth and diversity of excellence across Ontario’s life sciences. The awards also recognize companies delivering patient-centred innovation, emerging enterprises advancing next-generation drug delivery technologies, and dedicated volunteers whose leadership and advocacy continue to strengthen the sector.
This year’s award recipients represent diverse facets of achievement across Ontario’s life sciences community:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – John Wilkinson, President & CEO, Wilkinson Insight Incorporated
- Community Impact Award – Cate Murray, President & CEO, Stem Cell Network
- Leadership Award – Rapahel (Rafi) Hofstein, Life Science Consultant, Boards Member & Entrepreneurs Mentor
- Life Science Company of the Year Award – Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Emerging Company of the Year Award – AmacaThera Inc.
- Volunteer Awards – Kira Pejemsky, Former Director of Business Development, BLG, and Adrian Kupesic, Director, Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety, Bayer
“From breakthrough innovation to sustained leadership and advocacy, this year’s recipients exemplify the excellence driving Ontario’s life sciences sector forward,” says Dr. Jason Field, President & CEO of Life Sciences Ontario. “We are proud to recognize their work and celebrate the meaningful impact it is having for patients and communities.”
Following the tremendous success of last year’s sold-out event, this year’s ceremony will take place at the Automotive Building at Exhibition Place in Toronto, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Registration for the event is now open. Secure your tickets today and join us in honouring these incredible leaders.
Biographies
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Wilkinson, President & CEO, Wilkinson Insight Incorporated
The Honourable John Wilkinson served as a valued member of the Life Sciences Ontario Board of Directors from 2017 – 2025. John was first introduced to the sector as a Member of Provincial Parliament from 2003 – 2011. He served as the Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s first Minister of Research & Innovation, Premier Dalton McGuinty.
In 2007 he was called to Cabinet and served as Ontario’s first full-time Minister of Research & Innovation. Working alongside a team that included Deputy Minister George Ross, Assistant Deputy Minister Bill Mantel and a very young Dr. Jason Field, John was instrumental in the creation and execution of Ontario’s $1.6 Billion Innovation Agenda. Far reaching investments were made to strengthen research excellence, commercialize innovation, catalyze venture capital and attract world-class talent. Moreover, global opportunities were seized by bolstering existing institutions and creating new ones.
Post politics John serves on numerous Boards, including Greenfield Global, a leading global source of pharmaceutical grade alcohol, a critical component in the life sciences supply chain.
John brought his unique perspective to the LSO Board and helped it create a long-term government relations strategy that focused on garnering support from all parties at Queens Park. His thoughtful insights and relentless advocacy were instrumental in convincing the Ontario government to adopt a world class Life Sciences Strategy that is creating a new era of investments and prosperity.
Community Impact Award
Cate Murray, President & CEO, Stem Cell Network
Cate Murray is President and CEO for Canada’s Stem Cell Network (SCN). Cate is an experienced not-for-profit executive with a background in government relations, public policy and communications. Cate has been leading and growing the Stem Cell Network for nearly a decade. As the head of SCN, she has secured $117M in funding that is directly leading to cutting-edge research for the benefit of patients, contributing to the growth of Canada’s regenerative medicine sector, and ensuring next generation talent have the skills and expertise needed to compete on the global stage. She has introduced SCN support for early-stage clinical trials and investments to directly support Canadian regenerative medicine biotech companies.
Cate began her career in the mid-90s as a Ministerial policy advisor. After leaving politics she joined the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) where she combined her knowledge of government and communications to support Canada’s health research community. Building on her experience at CIHR, Cate joined the Council of Canadian Academies as a member of the senior leadership team where she worked with over a dozen expert panels to raise awareness of their work and see its adoption into public policy.
Today, Cate leads a team of approximately 20 talented professionals, Board members, and stem cell and regenerative medicine scientists and scholars who share a passion for delivering Canadian innovations to patients. She serves on the strategic advisory committees for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute. Cate is also a member of the Public Policy Forum’s Life Sciences Leadership Table and the Resilient Health Care Coalition.
Cate has an Honours Degree from King’s College at the University of Western Ontario. She is a mother of two daughters and stepmother to two sons. Cate is passionate about STEAM and lives by the mantra that every great scientist needs an arts major.
Leadership Award
Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, Life Science Consultant, Boards Member & Entrepreneurs Mentor
Dr. Hofstein joined MaRS Innovation (aka Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners-TIAP) as President and CEO in June 2009, the year of the organization’s inception. Under Dr. Hofstein’s leadership, MaRS Innovation has 1) incorporated over 50 startup companies and attracted over $300M in seed funding for these companies; 2) forged significant international strategic partnerships and 3) was the successful recipient of a twice-awarded Federal grant under the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program. During all these years, Dr. Hofstein acted as a key leader in bringing global industry focus to Toronto as a place of burgeoning and increasingly important research and commercialization activities. As part of the effort, Dr. Hofstein was the cofounder of Clinical Trials Ontario and has been its chairman for the last ten years.
Prior to landing on planet MaRS Innovation, from 1999 to 2009, Dr. Hofstein held the position of President and CEO of Hadasit Ltd., the technology transfer company of the Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem and as the founding chairman of Hadaist Bioholding which has been listed on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange. He is also a co-founder and director of BiolineRx, Israel’s largest biotech company listed on NASAQ.
Dr. Hofstein was a co-founder and director of Triphase, Canada’s largest Oncology oriented accelerator. In addition, he has been a member of the board of directors of CQDM (Montreal, QC) for over a decade focusing on paving the Innovation Corridor between Ontario and Quebec. Dr. Hofstein is also a current member of the Life Sciences Ontario Board of Directors, where he contributes his deep expertise in commercialization, innovation, and ecosystem development to advance the organization’s mission.
Life Science Company of the Year Award
Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Tamara Seales, President
Founded in 1991 by the Seales family, Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a proudly Canadian life sciences company dedicated to advancing patient care through scientific excellence, innovation, and purpose‑driven healthcare solutions.
For more than three decades, Seaford has researched, developed, and commercialized specialty healthcare products in Canada and internationally, earning a strong reputation for quality, integrity, and patient‑focused design. Deeply committed to the life sciences, the company applies rigorous clinical thinking, evidence‑based development, and a strong regulatory foundation to deliver meaningful therapeutic solutions.
Seaford’s portfolio spans dermatology, digestive health, nutritional supplements, and women’s health, with a particular strength in niche and under‑served therapeutic areas. Each product is thoughtfully developed to address specific patient needs, reflecting Seaford’s belief that impactful healthcare begins with science, empathy, and precision.
As an active contributor to the Canadian life sciences ecosystem, Seaford collaborates closely with healthcare professionals, partners, and regulators to support responsible innovation and improved health outcomes. Rooted in family values and guided by a long‑term scientific vision, Seaford Pharmaceuticals remains committed to enhancing quality of life – today and for generations to come.
Emerging Company of The Year Award
AmacaThera Inc.
Mike Cook, Co-Founder & CEO
AmacaThera is a leading developer of next-generation hydrogel-based drug delivery solutions. Using a proprietary blend of known polymers, AmacaThera’s clinically validated hydrogel platform is transforming drug delivery by enabling the precise, tunable, and sustained release of a wide range of therapeutics, from small molecules to biologics. Transforming from liquid to gel at body temperature, AmacaThera’s hydrogel enables drugs to be delivered to and stay precisely where they are needed and released over days or weeks, depending on the specific needs of each therapeutic application. AmacaThera’s technology has been tested in a Phase 1 clinical trial and is Phase 2 ready.
Building on this foundation, AmacaThera leverages its proprietary hydrogel platform to co-develop innovative drug delivery solutions with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners. The platform’s inherent versatility enables the creation of long-acting formulations that enhance therapeutic efficacy, improve patient convenience, and minimize systemic exposure. Scalable and cost-effective to manufacture, AmacaThera’s hydrogel technology supports a collaborative business model designed to deliver value across a broad range of therapeutic areas and product modalities. AmacaThera has partnerships with leading global pharmaceutical companies and is actively pursuing additional opportunities.
Volunteer Award
Kira Pejemsky, Retired Business Development Professional
Kira Pejemsky recently retired from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG), where she served as Director of Business Development for the firm’s Intellectual Property practice and multiple sector groups for nine years. This role capped a distinguished career of more than 30 years in business development, communications, and marketing across a range of industries, including technology, legal services, and national industry associations. For the past 18 years, her professional focus included supporting Canada’s life sciences sector, alongside extensive volunteer involvement with organizations such as BIO and Life Sciences Ontario (LSO). A long-standing advocate for the sector, Kira is widely known for her ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities in ways that drive meaningful impact.
Kira has been an active supporter and volunteer with LSO since 2016. She has served on the LSO Awards Presentation Committee for several years and co-emceed the Awards Presentation in 2025, bringing energy, professionalism, and fresh ideas to the event. She is a strong champion for LSO’s outreach efforts, actively supporting ticket sales and audience engagement. Beyond committee work, Kira has played a key role in enabling LSO programming by helping to secure event space at BLG, most notably for the Ideas to Action event. She has also facilitated valuable networking opportunities to expand LSO’s presence in Ottawa, including helping to host LSO’s first Ottawa-based event in 2024. Through her dedication, strategic insight, and collaborative spirit, Kira has made a lasting contribution to LSO and the broader life sciences community.
Volunteer Award
Adrian Kupesic, Director, Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety, Bayer
Adrian leads Public Affairs for Bayer in Canada, where he oversees the company’s engagement with policymakers and health system partners to advance sustainable health and innovation. With two decades of experience spanning government and industry, he is recognized for his strategic leadership and policy expertise in the life sciences sector.
Prior to joining Bayer, Adrian served as a senior political advisor at Queen’s Park, where he played a key role in advancing policy initiatives across the Ministries of Health, Housing, Northern Development, and Policing. He later led health system advocacy efforts for Ontario’s seniors, including at the Ontario Long-Term Care Association, where his work helped secure historic investments in infrastructure, frontline care, and system renewal.
Outside of work, Adrian is a devoted husband and father who is often seen at the local rink or on the sidelines of the soccer pitch, cheering on his kids as they chase sporting glory. When not following their latest season, Adrian dedicates his time to advocacy for rare diseases with emphasis on cystic fibrosis, supporting efforts to improve access to care and accelerate progress for those living with rare conditions.
Adrian has been an active and valued member of Life Sciences Ontario’s Policy and Government Relations Committee since 2020. Over the years, he has played a key role in preparing for LSO’s Queen’s Park lobby days by supporting outreach efforts and helping to secure meetings that advance LSO’s advocacy priorities. His thoughtful feedback and consistent engagement have strengthened the committee’s work throughout the years. Adrian’s dedication, reliability, and leadership continue to make a meaningful impact on LSO’s advocacy efforts, and the organization is grateful for his ongoing contributions.
About Life Sciences Ontario
Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) is a member-funded, not-for-profit organization with a legacy of more than 35 years advancing the success of Ontario’s life sciences sector. LSO collaborates with government, academia, industry, and other life sciences organizations in Ontario and across Canada to promote and encourage commercial success throughout the sector. LSO is an effective conduit for delivering policy options to governments and is dedicated to promoting Ontario’s life sciences sector internationally.
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact andy@lifesciencesontario.ca.
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