Health Innovation Panel
HEALTH INNOVATION PANEL
Building Public and Private Sector Partnership
Chaired by Dr. Michael Julius
How does the U.S. do it better and will it work in Canada?
This panel explored the strategies employed by our American colleagues to forge fruitful partnerships, as well as the lessons we can learn to transform discovery research into commercial and social innovations here at home. Meet our panelists and read the panel summary here.
Dr. Michael Julius, Chair
VP, Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Research Canada’s Science Advisor
Since October 2000, Michael has served as VP of Research at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he stewards a $100M annual research enterprise. An internationally recognized immunologist, he is a Professor in the Departments of Immunology and Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, has published over 200 research papers and reviews, and has acted as Editor of the highly cited review journal, Seminars in Immunology.
Before joining Sunnybrook, Michael was a member of the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland; an Associate Professor in the Dept of Microbiology and Immunology at McGill University in Montréal, Quebec; and, Chair of the Dept of Immunology at the University of Toronto, ranked as one of the top 10 academic centres of immunology in North America. Read more
Ms. Kathy Megyery
In May 2012, Kathy assumed the position of VP of Innovation and Healthcare Solutions at Sanofi U.S., collaborating with various think tanks such as the Milken Institute to document emerging multi-stakeholder partnerships aimed at accelerating biomedical innovation. She was previously a member of Sanofi’s Canadian Executive team, acting as VP, Strategy and Public Affairs after joining the company in 2006.
For 15 years prior, Kathy worked for SECOR – Canada’s largest, privately owned management consulting firm – where she became Partner and spearheaded the firm’s Life Sciences Practice. Kathy holds an MBA from McGill University and a Masters degree in Economics from Concordia University.
Garry Neil, MD
Garry joined Medgenics in September 2013 where he heads a global R&D team based in the USA and Israel engaged in gene therapy of serious diseases. He is also adjunct Partner at Apple Tree Partners (ATP) and helps guide the in-licensing, development and commercialization of the ATP pipeline based in New York, NY. An industry thought leader, he is also CEO of TransCelerate Biopharma Inc. (TBI), a new pro competitive cross-industry partnership designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of biopharmaceutical R&D.
Garry was previously Corporate VP of Science & Technology at Johnson & Johnson and Group President, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development; Chairman of the Science and Regulatory Executive Committee of PhRMA and Chairman of the PhRMA Foundation; and a Board member of the Foundation for the NIH, the Reagan Udall Foundation for FDA and the Science Management Review Board of the NIH. He has also attained academic posts at various institutes including the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, the University of Toronto, the University of Iowa College of Medicine and the University of Pennsylvania (adjunct).
Garry has over 30 years of experience in science, medicine and pharmaceutical development and has written 50+ articles and book chapters in his field.
Simon Pimstone, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Simon is President and CEO, and a founder and Director of Xenon, one of Canada’s leading privately owned biotechnology companies. He also serves as Director of the biotechnology companies Enject in California and Indel Therapeutics and Eupraxia in Vancouver.
Simon is an internal medicine specialist (FRCPC) with an interest in cardiovascular disease; a consultant physician at the UBC Hospital, Cardiology Clinic; and, a director and past Chair of LifeSciences British Columbia. He also serves as a director of Providence Health Care.
Simon is a member of numerous committees and boards including the Translation Advisory Committee of the PROOF (Prevention of Organ Failure) Centre, the Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics (CMMT) Advisory Board, and the BC Health Research Strategy Advisory Board for the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research. He is also Vice Chair of the Executive Management Team for the BC Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (BCCRIN), a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council, which reports to Industry Canada, and a co-chair of the 2013 State of the Nation Report on Canadian Science and Technology. Read more
Mr. Russell Williams
Russell is a passionate advocate for innovation in health care and in economic development. Since joining Rx&D in March 2004, he has promoted policies that improve patient outcomes by expanding patient choice and access to new medicines and vaccines while ensuring that Canada is a world leader in attracting biopharmaceutical investments.
Under Russell’s leadership, the association’s Code of Ethical Practices has been enhanced to ensure that all member companies adhere to the highest standards of ethics. He has participated in numerous provincial working groups and task forces aimed at improving the partnership between industry, governments and other stakeholders.
Prior to joining Rx&D, Russell had a successful career in provincial politics and community service, where he led a variety of public policy debates on issues regarding the role of government in R&D, compensation for victims of contaminated blood, access to services for the disabled, linguistic policy, and pre-hospital emergency services. He continues to volunteer in the area of palliative care. Read more