2018 Annual General Meeting

2018 Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Sir John A. Macdonald Building
144 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario
(across the street from Parliament Hill)
Research Canada’s 2018 AGM is all about our Members. We have a day packed full of panel discussions, a Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Luncheon with Members of Parliament and the launch of our new Strategic Plan 2020, which our Members have helped us to develop! Please join us for an important day.

Dr. Rose Goldstein, Professor, Faculty of Medicine at McGill University

Dr. Rose Goldstein is a Professor of Medicine at McGill University, and until recently, was the Vice-Principal of Research and Innovation at McGill from 2010 to 2017. She has served on many not-for-profit Boards of Directors and as a clinician-scientist conducted research in immunogenetics of rheumatic disease and the cellular basis of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the exploration of gender and health topics in medical training, and the study of conflict resolution in health care and medical education.

 

Dr. Martha Crago, Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation, McGill University

Dr. Martha Crago is McGill University’s Vice-Principal (Research and Innovation). ‎She is the Chair of the Research Committee of the U15 as well as a member of the SSHRC Governing Council, the NSERC Committee on Research Partnerships, and the AAU’s Senior Research Officers Committee. In 2016, the Minister of Science of Canada selected her to be a member of Canada’s Fundamental Science Review. Dr. Crago was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2017.

Mr. Shawn McGuirk, PhD Candidate, Goodman Cancer Research Centre and McGill University
Co-President, Science & Policy Exchange

Shawn McGuirk is a Ph.D. student in the Laboratory of Dr. Julie St-Pierre and Vanier Scholar at McGill University, where he studies the role of metabolism in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Mr. McGuirk is also a board member of Acfas and is co-President of the non-profit group Science & Policy Exchange, whose mandate is to engage students on science policy. He and his team mobilized the Canadian trainee community around the Fundamental Science Review in advance of Budget 2018 with their #Students4theReport campaign.

Ms. Michelle McLean, Senior Vice-President, Health and Wellness, Hill + Knowlton Strategies

Michelle McLean is an experienced lawyer who has specialized in public affairs and government relations, serving both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors and providing strategic counsel and support to a wide array of health organizations. Throughout her career, she has managed several national, large-scale projects, including the launch of the Mental Health Strategy for Canada, as well as a campaign for the funding of the Cancer Control Strategy for Canada, which relied on grassroots mobilization, traditional media relations and advocacy.

Ms. Vanessa Sung, PhD Candidate, Goodman Cancer Research Centre and McGill University
Co-President, Science & Policy Exchange

Vanessa Sung is a PhD Candidate in the Laboratory of Dr. Morag Park at McGill University where her work focuses on mechanisms of tumour initiation in breast cancer. Alongside her research, she is co-president of Science & Policy Exchange, a non-profit organization working to provide a platform for elevating the student voice in science advocacy, communication, and evidence-informed policy-making. Ms. Sung was instrumental in leading #Students4theReport in support of the Fundamental Science Review and is a passionate advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in science.

Dr. Jim Woodgett, Director of Research, The Lunenfeld- Tanenbaum Research Institute

Dr. Jim Woodgett is Director of the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, where he runs a laboratory focused on signal transduction. He has also been a staunch advocate for investigator-initiated research funding in Canada, in transparency of research and in the critical importance of effective peer review.

  • 12:00 pm – 1:20 pm: Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Luncheon on Innovations in Healthy Aging hosted by Mr. John Oliver, MP, Oakville, Chair of the Parliamentary Health Research Caucus, Co-hosted by Vice-Chairs, Ms. Marilyn Gladu, MP, Sarnia-Lambton, Ms Carol Hughes, MP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing and Senate Representative, Senator Judith Seidman (Research Canada Members, Supporters and Partners – By Invitation Only)

Innovations in Healthy Aging

Canada is aging faster than ever. Canadians are living longer and with fewer disabilities than the generations before them. At the same time, the majority of seniors have at least one chronic disease or condition. Older adults can live longer, healthier lives by staying socially connected, increasing physical activity, eating in a healthy way, taking steps to minimize risks of falls, and refraining from smoking. However, there are real environmental, systemic and social barriers to adopting these healthy behaviours. The Parliamentary Health Research Caucus Luncheon on Innovations in Healthy Aging will explore how we can address these barriers using, among other things, technology and home design for aging in place, which can offer alternatives for assisted living. This event will be held during Research Canada’s Annual General Meeting.

Guest Speakers:

Dr. Allison Sekuler, Sandra Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and VP, Research, Baycrest Health Sciences
Managing Director, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

Dr. Allison Sekuler is the Sandra Rotman Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and VP Research, Baycrest Health Sciences; and Managing Director, Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation. She holds faculty appointments at the University of Toronto and McMaster University.  Her research focuses on understanding how the brain processes visual information, and how that brain processing changes across our lifetimes, with an aim of developing methods to prevent, detect, and treat age-related sensory and cognitive decline.

Dr. Heidi Sveistrup, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer, Bruyère Research Institute
VP Research and Academic Affairs, Bruyère Continuing Care

Dr. Heidi Sveistrup is the CEO and CSO of the Bruyère Research Institute, VP Research and Academic Affairs of Bruyère Continuing Care and Professor at the University of Ottawa. As a neuroscientist specializing in movement she is working with clinicians to develop and test rehabilitation and exercise interventions and technologies for older adults.  Her lab has been using virtual reality for adults post-stroke, developing technologies for supporting older adults to stay in their homes, and implementing novel motivational technologies for increasing activity and participation in long-term care residents.

Dr. Rachelle Doody, Global Head of Neurodegeneration, Roche Pharmaceutical Company

Dr. Rachelle Doody is the Global Head of Neurodegeneration and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Neurodegeneration Franchise Head in Product Development, Neuroscience at Roche Pharmaceutical Company and it US entity, Genentech.  In this role she oversees late stage development of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Dr. Doody has also contributed to efforts to globalize the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease, including advising on guidelines, educating investigators throughout Europe and Asia on study design issues, and training investigators on outcome measures to support global studies.

Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director, AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence
Barbara G. Stymiest Research Chair in Rehabilitation Technology, University of Toronto

Dr. Alex Mihailidis is the Scientific Director at AGE-WELL, which focuses on the development of new technologies and services for older adults. He has been conducting research in the field of pervasive computing and intelligent systems in health for the past 15 years, having published over 150 journal papers, conference papers, and abstracts in this field.  Dr. Mihailidis has specifically focused on the development of intelligent home systems for elder care and wellness, technology for children with autism, and adaptive tools for nurses and clinical applications.

  • 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Afternoon Panel Presentation: Meeting the Advocacy Challenge for the Health Innovation Ecosystem (Research Canada Members, Supporters and Partners)

The research funding and policy framework within which our health system operates must recognize biomedical discovery, commercialization and product development not simply as outcomes, but more importantly as a part of one ecosystem. Recognizing the enormous value of the discovery and development process reinforces the imperative of supporting all aspects of a fully functioning health innovation system, and yet Canada continues to fall short in this regard. In particular, our industry partners have a great deal at stake, and it is far from certain that future decisions with respect to pricing, reimbursement, pharmacare and credit for investment in R&D will serve the private sector or, by extension, our ecosystem.

This panel discussion will feature leaders in health innovation who will speak to the challenges, potential and necessity of achieving balance among all components of a robust health innovation system in the current policy environment.

Dr. Ryan Wiley, President, Shift Health

Dr. Ryan Wiley is President of Shift Health, where he has successfully worked with industry, governments, academic institutions and non-profit organizations around the world. Dr. Wiley has facilitated and managed effective, innovative partnerships that have opened new markets and leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, and he has worked seamlessly with the public and private sectors on economic development, health research, capacity-building and commercialization initiatives in Canada, the US, Latin America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.

Mr. Peter Brenders, General Manager, Canada, Sanofi Genzyme

Peter Brenders was appointed Canadian General Manager at Sanofi Genzyme in 2012. Prior to joining Sanofi Genzyme, he was President & CEO of BIOTECanada and has worked in senior management roles in health affairs at Genzyme and Schering-Plough Canada. Currently, Mr. Brenders is on the board of directors of VIDO-InterVac and The Cameron Institute and a member of the Life Sciences Advisory Group of Global Affairs Canada. He has also served on the board of Research Canada, Advisory Boards for the NRC and was an Industry Advisor for the ACOA’s Atlantic Innovation Funds.

Mr. Andrew Casey President and CEO , BIOTECanada

Andrew Casey is President and CEO of BIOTECanada, whose membership is reflective of the national biotechnology ecosystem that extends across Canada and includes large multinational companies, early stage companies, investors, researchers, universities and research institutes. In this role, Mr. Casey communicates on the Canadian biotech industry’s behalf with government, regulators, international bodies, media and the Canadian public to ensure policymakers and regulators are aware of the ecosystem and the importance of avoiding siloed public policy which can often have unintended and detrimental impacts on portions of the ecosystem.

Ms. Pamela Fralick, President, Innovative Medicines Canada

Pamela Fralick is an experienced leader who has been fostering positive change in Canada’s health sector for decades. A convener and innovator, Ms. Fralick is one of Canada’s leading, compassionate voices in the health sector. As the President of Innovative Medicines Canada, Ms. Fralick leads the industry association for Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical companies, working with its members and communities to ensure Canadians have access to the medicines they need, when they need them.

Dr. Rafi Hofstein, President and CEO, MaRS Innovation

Dr. Rafi Hofstein is the President and CEO of MaRS Innovation (MI). In this role, Dr. Hofstein has been allocating a significant amount of time and resources for advocacy towards the advancement of the Health Innovation Canadian Ecosystem. MI represents 15 research institutions in Ontario, with a mandate to identify the most promising technologies from their Members and advance them up the value chain. As the bridging engine over the “valley of death”, MI’s focus is on the absolute need to get federal and provincial governments to create early stage financing tools.

Ms. Cynthia Stewart, Director, R&D Alliances, GE Healthcare Canada

Cynthia Stewart is the Director of R&D Alliances for GE Healthcare Canada. She is responsible for leading the development and management of new strategic partnerships between the GEHC and external partners including academia and government to drive technology innovation.  Prior to joining GEHC, Ms. Stewart’s career progression spanned positions of increasing responsibility in both academia and industry.  She has over 25 years’ experience in successfully driving technology innovation, research collaborations and strategic marketing programs.

Research Canada 2018 AGM

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Innovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members’ commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system.

Hoffman-La Roche is a leader in the research and development of pharmaceutical and diagnostic solutions that look beyond today’s horizons and make a profound difference in people’s lives. For more information, visit www.rochecanada.com.

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (KITE) is about improving lives for people experiencing the effects of disability, illness, and aging. Using some of the world’s most technologically advanced rehabilitation research facilities, our researchers conduct research in 11 broad areas, making TRR one of the most comprehensive rehab research programs anywhere.

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