celebrating 25 years of canadian innovation - Parkinson Canada

AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt FROM MediApLANet tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt

talent search Why a skills shortage affects us all

empower the industry the crucial role of commercialization

BUIlDIng a BIO-EcOnOMY

March 2012

00 3 STEPS/TIPS FACTS

INVESTING IN OUR GREATEST MINDS Experts explain the need for drug innovation and further investment in neurology

celebrating 25 years of canadian innovation

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s a founding Director of the Canadian industrial biotechnology association, now known as BIOTECanada, it amazes me to think that 25 years have passed since those first exciting days dreaming and planning on how to realize the huge economic benefits from biotech. The biotech sector and innovation is even more important and exciting today as it was then. It is critical for Canada’s economic, cultural and social well being. We need to continue strong support for basic research and development and increase our focus and energy on the commercialization of the research.

cess story of research, development, manufacturing, world wide distribution and a cost effective prevention of, what used to be a devastating disease,called Rh disease of the newborn. There are many other research successes in Canada but too few Canadian commercialization successes. Canada is a recognized world leader in research, primarily through post-secondary and government institutions. We are the inventors of insulin, electron microscope, the pace maker, instant food and numerous other examples. Did you know that Henry Woodward, a Canadian, holds the original patent for the light bulb, subsequently purchased by the Edison Company? Where are these commercialized?

National success stories

The transformative years

My own experience of leading the development of WinRho at the Winnipeg Rh Institute, and now produced at Cangene, demonstrates that locally funded research can be translated into a successful Canadian innovation. WinRho is a Canadian suc-

As a Director of Canada Foundation of Innovation, (CFI) I see a strong commitment to research infrastructure by the Canadian government. CFI is responsible for over $12-billion in funding in 15 years transforming Canada to a world leader of research. CFI

“the innovator’s job is not to deliver a proven result, but to discover and implement what seems to be impossible.” Albert D. Friesen, PhD CeO, CentreStone Ventures

is just one of a number of great federal and provincial funding agencies, but more can and should be done to transform this research to successful commercialization in Canada. My personal view is that the reduction in the SR&ED program as recommended by the Jenkins Report is a step backwards. Yes, the present program can be improved to reduce cost and complexity. Tax incentives help “pull out” research from academia and by private companies. According to stats, the Canadian private sector does not do its share of research investing.

Bridging the funding gap More commercialization in Canada is needed. However, today our bio-economy already contributes $85 billion,or more than seven percent to Canada’s GDP and supports an employment of more than one million, similar to the auto industry. China is investing in a huge way in biotechnology.It is an important part of their 5 Year Plan. Germany, India, Brazil and others are also investing. The US is stepping up its focus on an Innovation Strategy. Nations aren’t standing still and are making serious investments because they want these jobs. What do we need to do to improve the

The Ontario Agricultural College. Advancing the bioeconomy since 1874. www.oac.uoguelph.ca

translation of research to stronger economic outcomes? I suggest to become more entrepreneurial and to increase our innovation efficiency. The notion that innovation is chance is misplaced.Thomas Edison put it succinctly “Genius (or Innovation) is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” The innovator’s job is not to deliver a proven result but to discover and implement what seems to be impossible.This will therefore likely lead to failure.This is necessary and should be celebrated, not estranged. We must train and celebrate entrepreneurs. Innovation is converting assumptions into products and services as quickly and inexpensively as possible. This takes discipline, determination, persistence and even perspiration. Health care is one of Canada’s most pressing fiscal challenges taking up over 40 percent of provincial budgets. This is not sustainable. Biotechnology innovation is certainly one major source of the solution. Canada has the basis but what we need now is implementation.

2 · MARCH 2012

AN iNdepeNdeNt SUppLeMeNt by MediApLANet tO tHe NAtiONAL pOSt

challEngEs WE RECOMMEND Quality of life How new research and technology is bringing new hope to parkinson’s patients.

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“innovative research has given us three practical applications that will help people with parkinson’s improve their quality of life.” Innovation required

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Service delivery

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Why a new school of thought needs to be applied to drug development. expxloring the gap between clinical researchg and real change. PHOTO:BIOTECANADA

The business of creating a bio-economy is a competitive one, with the Canadian focus on growth and effective strategy for implementation.

1 FACT

BE AWARE OF HOW THE RESEARCH SECTOR CAN AFFECT YOUR HEALTH

KEEPING CANADA COMPETITIVE IN THE BIOTECH SECTOR BIOTECanada is celebrating 25 years as an industry association. These milestones remind us to reflect on how much the industry has accomplished. From global changes come opportunities. Our membership, with some 250 biotech companies working in all sectors, continues to grow every month. Moreover the work of our members is growing a competitive new economy built on an entrenched longevity of success. Every day I meet incredibly talented entrepreneurs who are pushing boundaries, developing useful products, and helping us with the solutions to some of our world’s largest challenges. And yes,we are seeing money being made in biotech.

Joining forces Even with the increasing knowledge and competition in our industry globally, Canadian companies are focused on growth and even executing exit strategies to create wealth for the investor. In the first two months of 2012, we’ve seen over $2 billion in deals. Companies joining forces such

“even with the increasing knowledge and competition in our industry... Canadian companies are focused on growth.” Peter Brenders President & CEO, BIOTECanada

as Enobia and Alexion in Montreal, Xenon in Vancouver collaborating with Genentech, and YM Biosciences raising funds through an IPO in Toronto.The driving forces we are seeing for company growth include technologies or products with the high potential for clinical development; products well positioned for large partnerships, products with public interest and with growing unmet medical needs that are highly attractive to the markets for financing. We are showcasing these successes to our government and guiding them to achieve more. If Canada wants to compete and modernize its economy a strong portfolio of public policy tools must be in place. The success of

research depends on access to capital and creating the environment for investment. Investors build industries not governments; governments enable investors. Last fall’s Research and Development Expert Panel Report outlined the need for a simpler more streamlined program, aimed at lessening the level of abuse from perceived applicants or their agents. Our association was pleased to see the panel confirm the need for funding for commercialization and risk capital, and the call to simplify the SR&ED tax credit. We have been on the record on how best to improve the existing SR&ED to remove some of the administrative burden, grow the value equation for

bUiLdiNG A biO-eCONOMy 4tH editiON, MARCH 2012

investment into all Canadian-based operations and ultimately realize the levels of capital our industry requires to keep building here. However, we have voiced serious concerns about limiting the current SR&ED program to only including labour costs. In order to compensate for such a change, the new refundable SR&ED rate would have to be dramatically increased.

Through utilization of agricultural waste,marginal land use and biomass, Canada is in a position to become a global leader in the bio-economy. One of our main challenges is commercialization—and that is where the Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC) in the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph comes in with the mandate of bringing ideas and products to market, quickly and effectively.

Ontario’s agricultural hub, an innovative new bio-economy is being born. Traditionally,the University of Guelph is considered one of the premier institutes for those interested in pursuing research in the agricultural sector.But a new conglomerate of researchers interested in putting its own spin on agriculture’s relevance to Ontario’s economy is looking to bio products. Amar Mohanty, Premier’s research Chair in Biomaterials and Transportation, and director of the university’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC), says the centre is working to meet an expanding market. “We’re looking to develop and produce green products that are costcompetitive to their alternatives,” says Mohanty.

Developing innovations

From lab to lawn

In the midst of Southwestern

One of the centre’s recent crowning

achievements are its bio-bins, which combine post-consumer plastic with natural plant fibres—notably switchgrass—grown on a Huron County farm. The bio-degradable storage bins have been picked up by both Home Hardware and Canadian Tire. From an economic perspective, Mohanty points out that in many cases bio-plastics cost “less than virgin plastics.” “We’re always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint,” says Mohanty pointing out that development of bioproducts opens new venues for farmers and manufacturers. The BDDC team, which, according to Mohanty, is comprised of 25 to 30 researchers, engineers and biologists from an array of disciplines, is developing economically-viable ways to utilize plant sources for resins

Photo Credit: All images are from iStock.com unless otherwise accredited. Managing Director: Gustav Aspegren [email protected] Distributed within: National Post, March 2012 This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve the National Post or its Editorial Departments.

Taking the next steps We will be monitoring the upcoming Federal Budget announcement, with a particular look at how the recommendations from the Expert Panel on Research and Development may be implemented. In the meantime, Canadian biotech companies continue to impress upon our elected officials the value and success of our industry and the increased benefits of investing in home grown innovations.

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DON’T MISS! PETER BRENDERS president and CeO, biOteCanada [email protected]

Utilizing canada’s resources in bioproduct innovation One of the key elements of the bio-economy is Canada’s vast supply of agricultural and forestry resources, and how it can be put toward the commercialization of the bioproducts we use in our everyday lives.

Responsible for this issue: Publisher: David Shoemaker [email protected] Designer: Penelope Graham [email protected] Contributors: Peter Brenders, Albert Friessen, Anthony Gioviazzo, Wilf Keller, Nadine Lunt, Indrani Nadarajah, Marlene Orton, Avril Roberts, Andrew Seale, Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation

“to supplement petroleum-based products.”

A green foot forward In an effort to further commercialize bioproducts, the centre is also researching: the use of whole green composites to make biopolymers for the packaging, auto interior and construction industries; natural fiber and biocomposites both grown and from agricultural waste as alternatives to synthetic fibers in plastics; and using lignin a major industrial bioproduct from the forestry industry to make biopolymer. “We’re hopeful the market will continue to expand,” says Mohanty.

ANDREW SEALE [email protected]

Powering a bioeconomy Canadian biotech firms are powering a new form of economy: the bio-economy is

based on the increasing use and application of biotechnologies in all types of economic activity. From green pesticides made from viruses to car seats out of renewable soy foam, to medicine targeted to a person’s specific body, biotech is changing all parts of our life.

How can we realize the potential of the bio-economy? ■ People: Develop, attract and retain world-class talent in both biotechnology research and the commercialization of innovation. ■ Capital: Stimulate new capital formation, achieve world-leading efficiency in the use of capital, and create the most bio-friendly tax regime in the world. ■ Operating environment: Align all government policies, regulations and research and commercialization efforts to capture the full potential of innovation.

Courtesy of biOteCanada

A Global Opportunity with a Large Untapped Parkinson’s Market

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ith an aging baby boomer population, where an estimated four million people a year will be turning 65 for the next 19 consecutive years in the US alone, the number of cases of neurodegenerative diseases is expected to rise. There are currently about 6 million known Parkinson’s disease

brain die or become impaired. Usually, these healthy nerve cells would produce dopamine within the brain; dopamine is of vital importance as it allows for coordinated function of movement and the body’s muscles. Without dopamine, the neurons in the brain are likely to fire without control and will leave patients unable to control body movements. Unlike other diseases, Parkinson’s doesn’t affect any specific nationality or sex, mak-

and inflammation. The new, reformulated drug, created by Cynapsus, APL-130277, can be taken orally by placing a rapidly dissolving, thin-strip under the tongue. The company has shown, through studies, that their thin-strip prototype dispenses the appropriate amount of the drug into the bloodby stream. Recent survey results of US insurance companies show that most would be willing to reimburse

By Kristy Larson ber of Parkinson’s disease cases in the US is approximately 900,000 and about 33% of these cases could be candidates for using APL-130277. In January 2012, the company released the results of their first human study of APL-130277 and its dosing. The study proved to be successful; the correct amount of the drug is dispensed into the bloodstream in an appropriate amount of time. Overall,

“A survey of 500 neurologists from around the globe clearly shows that most of them would rather prescribe an oral form of the medication over an injection.” cases worldwide. This statistic is staggering considering that the onset of symptoms for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s usually starts around the age of 60 where an estimated 1% of the population is affected. About 15% of cases start as early as age 50 and cases have been diagnosed in patients as young as 18. Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc. [CTH-TSXV], a specialty pharmaceutical company focussing on Parkinson’s, is currently working on a reformulation of an approved drug, currently used to treat the motor fluctuation symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, that will be a more convenient and less painful, fast acting rescue for patients during the “Off ” (freezing) episodes, they experience up to several times per day. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affectsamong other things, motor function; it is a progressive disease for which there is currently no cure. PD occurs when nerve cells or neurons in the

ing its cause very hard to pinpoint. Currently there is no treatment to slow the progression of PD, most of the drugs used are to treat the symptoms instead of stopping them from occurring. Since the lack of dopamine in the brain is caused by the nerve cells dying, most of the forms of treatment are drugs that attempt to replace or mimic the dopamine in the brain. Unfortunately, the more a patient uses these drugs the more ineffective the dosing becomes. This, combined with the continually dying cells, results in, approximately 33% of patients experiencing “off episodes” where they can’t move or talk, according to the definition of a rescue therapy, provided by regulatory authorities. Currently, patients are administered the drug, Apomorphine, for treatment of their off episodes. Many patients find this drug inconvenient because it is only offered in injection form. It also is painful as the injection site, for many patients that use the drugs, reacts and causes scaring

patients, once this new drug was approved. The survey also showed that almost half of the people who responded said they would pay approximately 25% more for APL130277 if it showed additional clinical benefit over its convenience and lack of scaring. APL-130277, if approved, will be the first oral formulation of Apomorphine on the market. APL-130277 will have the ability to treat patients with moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease which gives the drug a very wide demographic of users. Because Cynapsus’ current regulatory and clinical plan is based on a reformulation, meaning that the drug itself is already approved and the application is to change the way it is administered, the project has a shorter path to go though for its approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration. Cynapsus estimates that once released, the peak in annual sales for APL-130277 will be between $300 million-$1 billion on a global basis. The current num-

Cynapsus’ current venture is proving to be very promising for the company and the future treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Cynapsus is in good hands with President & CEO, Anthony Giovinazzo who brings over 17 years of experience and expertise, including clinical development, licensing, institutional financing and M&A. His objective is to execute on a timely basis, those activities that will derisk the project, such that the company will become an acquisition by one of the eight global and specialty pharma that are currently under confidentiality agreements which he anticipates will be in less than two years. n

For more information: call 416-703-2449 www.cynapsus.ca CTH: TSX-V

Why companies miss out on competing globally. Is it happening to you? No business can succeed without the capital needed to innovate, but where do the ideas come from? The answer of course, is people. The right people working for you are the critical “corporate DNA” to attract partners and raise capital, according to Rob Henderson, Executive Director of BioTalent Canada. This seems like a no-brainer when it is applied at the highest echelon of business; after all, successful companies can’t (and don’t) settle for a substandard CEO. But how often does it apply to a biotech company’s entire approach to HR? Unfortunately, most biotechnology companies are facing the harsh realities of being a small to medium enterprise (SME), which means most of their time is spent innovating and there is no dedicated HR department. Just as businesses strategize to attract capital investment, they need to formulate strategies for finding, acquiring and retaining the right talent. It’s not biology, but it’s a science that SMEs can’t afford to ignore. Henderson urges corporations to look to Canada’s Biotech SMEs that have raised the most capital or completed the

most successful partnership ventures in the past year as an example. “The common element that they all cite as crucial to the deal was the team they had in place,” he says. At the recent BioPartnering conference in February, 2012 in Vancouver, large companies like Xenon Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Bayer stated openly that their partnerships with companies like OncoMed Pharmaceuticals and Genentech depended strongly on the strength and fit of the talent and teams on both sides. BioTalent Canada is closely linked to the success of Canada’s growing biotechnology companies and to Canada’s standing as a global leader in biotechnology because they connect those employers to a rich talent pool. “Many positions within biotechnology companies are highly specialized, and it pays to cast a net as wide as possible,” says Henderson. As the HR hub of Canada’s bio-economy, BioTalent Canada’s tools help companies access talent pools such as internationally educated professionals (IEPs) and identify employees whose traditional skills can map into the bio-economy. These HR tools help identify specialized

“Access to new ideas and the right talent breeds innovation.” Rob Henderson Executive Director of BioTalent Canada skills, recruit with precision, and retain key personnel. They also address common reservations Canadian companies have about hiring immigrants such as the potential of being stalled by cultural and language barriers. A national non-profit organization, BioTalent Canada launched its Bio-economy Language Instruction Course last month, which is designed to strengthen the Canadian English speaking and listening skills of internationally educated professionals (IEPs) to assist them with successful integration into the workplace. “Access to new ideas and the right talent breeds innovation. Placing people in the right roles allows companies to build their businesses in the long-term,” says Henderson.

The right skills complete the equation for success © 2012. BioTalent Canada, and The PetriDish are registered trademarks of BioTalent Canada.

You have the science covered. Now how do you grow your bio-business? BioTalent Canada™ HR tools help you identify the skills you need, recruit with precision, and retain valued personnel. The new additions to our growing set of bio-economy occupational skills profiles give you insight into the bio-specific qualifications required for key positions in many bio-economy companies. You can also take advantage of our BioTalent HR Tool Kit, our online job board, The PetriDish™ and countless other resources.

biotalent.ca

This project is funded by the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program.

The HR hub of Canada’s bio-economy

Gain the insight you need to: Map traditional skills to the bio-economy Identify skills needs by bio-occupation Verify skills as bio-relevant

The #1 Biotechnology Job Board in Canada. petridish.ca

4 · MARCH 2012


InsPIRaTIOn

2 FACT

Question: What are the key focuses required to creating a successful bio-economy? Answer: Increasing success in the areas of recruitment, capital and improving the operational environment will aid in the skills shortage currently experienced by the industry.

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ABOUT $110 BILLION IS INVESTED IN RESEARCH IN CANADA

The bio-economy skills shortage— is there a solution in sight? HOW WE MADE IT Canadian biotechnology companies can go much further, says BIOTECanada President Peter Brenders. “We need to focus on three things to be successful in creating the bioeconomy—people, capital and the operational environment.” What is the bio-economy? According to the BIOTECanada report, “Beyond Moose and Mountains”, there are 600 biotech companies in Canada, and the bio-economy is worth $86.5 billion, or seven percent GDP. It employs more than one million people. By 2030, the bio-economy is likely to involve three elements: advanced knowledge of genes and complex cell processes,renewable biomass,and the integration of biotechnology applications across sectors, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports in its 2010 document, “The Bioeconomy to 2030: Designing a policy agenda”. However, while the jobs may be out there, finding skilled applicants can be tricky. Indeed, many employers in this highly skilled, tech-heavy sector are constantly looking to nab individuals with very specific skill sets, some of which can only be found in overseas professionals. This is nothing new.In 2006, Industry Canada pub-

Rob Henderson Executive Director, Biotalent Canada

lished an update on the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy, implemented in 1998. Even then, participants expressed reservations about the skills gap and said that immigration policies needed to be tailored accordingly. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) has identified skills shortage as an issue to focus on this year, says President Perrin Beatty. “We need a 21st century workforce. We know that the skills we require are going to come from immigration. Once people are here, we need to put them where their skills can be utilized most effectively,” he stresses. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in 2011, there were about 36,000 applicants who fell within the skilled workers category. Beatty notes that the average skilled immigrant is better educated than their Canadian counterpart. But to truly leverage off their skills, these people must be supported by systematic official thinking.

Skills mismatch or shortage? First, though, the skills gap needs to be accurately identified and quantified. Indeed, Rx&D (which represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies in Canada) senior policy director Mark Ferdinand wonders whether it is really a skills shortage the biotech sector is experiencing, or whether it is a skills mismatch. “What we need is a thorough inventory of the existing skills and projected requirements of the biotech sector. This would also involve talking to students. There’s no reason why the sector councils, academia, industry and government cannot come together to collaborate o n this. We need solid infor-

mation if we are to move forward,” he says. CCC’s Beatty and BioTalent Canada’s Executive Director Rob Henderson agree with this observation. Beatty clarifies though that “I am not calling for another study. There’s an enormous body of work that’s been done to show that it’s a serious problem and it’s growing. The question is, how do we stitch the various studies together and actually do something about it? The whole exercise should be infused with a sense of urgency and that hasn’t been the case before now.”

One company’s experience Vancouver-based biotech firm Aurora Biomed has a workforce of about 35, 20 percent of whom are internationally educated professionals, many of them engineers. Fay Jang, Aurora Biomed’s business development manager, said the company began hiring IEPs in earnest about five years ago. They currently have engineers on their payroll from Singapore, India and China. Jang acknowledges that language and different workplace cultures can be issues, but says they are not insurmountable. A certain amount of flexible thinking is required so that the job can be tailored to fit the applicant’s skills. She also says there is no salary differentiation between a Canadian educated professional and an IEP. “What our staff earn is solely based on what they do.” As for skills accreditation, Aurora has a simple solution: test them and put them on a three-month probation.This way,they dispense with the angst of wondering if a potential hire can do the job. “We do this for both Canadian applicants and IEPs” she offers.

The pragmatic approach BioTalent Canada recognizes that not all companies are willing to jump into the fray like Aurora Biomed, and require some hand-holding. Its approach is pragmatic. “We see time and again immigrants have valuable skills to offer Canada. It serves both Canada’s bio-economy and the IEP to keep t h e i r skills relevant during a long a c c r e d i t at i o n process,” says Henderson. BioTalent Canada is

positioning these professionals to employers as a brand new talent pool they can access. Employers are receptive when there is a face to the profile, he says. To remove as much of the guesswork that comes with hiring an IEP as possible, BioTalent Canada also has augmented its skills profiling work last month, by introducing 19 new skills profiles to the existing 12. IEPs can also utilize the organization’s BioSkills Recognition Program to determine their readiness for work in the bio-economy by receiving the BioReady™ status. Meanwhile, the organization is launching a national scoping labour market study of the biotech industry this year, to get an accurate reflection of industry’s needs.

The role of the IEP Recognizing the problem of skill shortage is one thing, but in lacklustre economic times, when people fear for their jobs, immigration, especially immigration involving highlyskilled,well-paid professionals,can be an emotional issue, and governments must tread warily. A scout around various blogs will yield posts by bewildered PhD science graduates who remain unemployed. However, industry groups like BIOTECanada, Rx&D, BioTalent Canada and even the CCC are all too aware that the internationally educated professional (IEP) is a special breed and must be nurtured if Canada is to reap the rewards of their brain power. Talk must be backed up by action say all four groups. Policy direction is hugely important and cannot be discounted. “Even when the right applicant is found, the glacial pace of visa processing can be a real test of patience for the companies involved,” notes Brenders. Small biotech companies typically have about 24 months of cash on hand. Their business cannot endure a prolonged paper process, so they end up spending some of their precious capital on lawyers’ fees. “Companies are fine with good regulation, if it’s not too burdensome. The problem is that when small companies view these processes as too burdensome, they often just open up another office in the skilled employee’s jurisdiction and leave the person there. Sometimes, the entire company will move to the other jurisdiction, leading to a very expensive brain drain for Canada.” Rx&D’s Ferdinand is blunt in his assessment of the problem. “It’s not enough to know that you have good

people, it’s not enough to spend the money, you need to align policies across the board.” Or more colloquially, the right hand must know what the left hand is doing. “The biggest problem for the bio-economy is whether we have the right policies to encourage innovation over the next 25 to 50 years.” Ferdinand calculates that about $110 billion are invested in biotech research in this country, of which $40 billion is hived off towards basic research, with the remainder going towards applied research. If Canada is to reap the full gains of monetizing its research discoveries, then its intellectual property regime must, at the very least, keep pace with what’s going on in the rest of the world, he explains. “No one is under the illusion that you can compete against double-digit growth economies in Asia and eastern Europe. Singapore, for example, has taken a very strategic view of what’s required to create and foster a booming bio-economy and it’s paying off. I am just in awe of what it has achieved.”

Competing voices

Referencing University of Toronto urban theorist Richard Florida, Bren-A ders describes the greatest competi-i tion in the 21st century as the com-i petition for the brain. Consequently,i Canada needs to be systematic abouta the way it attracts people to thisc country and to reward them accord-t ingly. “People are as mobile as capital.c Demand is going to grow and peopleb will go to where they are wanted,” Brenders says. T Government is faced with a lot ofa competing voices and he is realis-a tic about the challenges the bioteche sector faces. “We need to paint bio-c economy as the technology for ther next generation. Even the multi-billion dollar oil and gas sector receivesm government support right now. Forty years ago, they were where we are now. Things can change.” ”Biotech sectors like agri-food and sustainable development will soon be global challenges which is why Canada must be forward thinking to maintain its standing as a global biotech leader,” says Rob Henderson. “Those countries that have access to the richest talent pools will lead the rest.”

INDRANI NADARAJAH [email protected]


MARCH 2012 · 5

nEWs Parkinson’s research: achieving quality of life Parkinson’s disease affects over 100,000 Canadians.

on their own, using the software we provide.” The original pilot project was funded by Parkinson Society Southwestern Ontario through Parkinson Society Canada’s national research program. In a longer-term project,Jog is using a technology-enhanced suit to understand the dynamics of human motion. The suit is a multi-sensor device that will relay critical information about how people with Parkinson’s move their arms, legs, heads and bodies to coordinate action as they move throughout their own homes. “If the mobility suit can give us, say, three sensors that are the most predictive of mobility dysfunction in Parkinson’s,” says Jog. “We could possibly have a portable, easy-to-use, inhome mobility assessment system, in a few years’ time.” Together with the VR-based rehabilitation program, it makes a neat package. Funding for the pilot “suit” project was provided by Parkinson Society Canada. The project continues to be funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

They all want a cure. But, in the meantime, they want to live the best lives possible with their disease. Research is likely the quickest way to get there.

Improving mobility With symptoms such as tremor, slow movement, muscle rigidity and walking difficulties, people with Parkinson’s have impairments in coordinating posture, motion and navigation. At the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Mandar Jog, director of the Movement Disorders Program at London Health Sciences Centre and his team, in collaboration with Dr. Michael Katchabaw, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science, are building virtual reality scenarios to study how people with Parkinson’s navigate spaces such as an apartment interior and a grocery store aisle. While wearing virtual reality (VR) goggles, the subjects will perform tasks like watering plants or picking up grocery items, as the basis for a VR-based rehabilitation program that correlates directly to activities of daily living. “Cleaning the house and shopping are activities you can’t train for with standard rehabilitation techniques,” says Jog. “We want to create a rehab program that people can implement

Managing non-motor symptoms Parkinson’s is considered primarily as a movement disorder. However, some people tell their neurologists that the non-motor symptoms create the greatest disruption of quality of life.

Others are not even aware that loss of smell, constipation, urinary problems, insomnia and depression are linked to Parkinson’s. Dr. Ron Postuma, a neurologist at the McGill University Health Centre, hopes to change that. He has developed a guide with a questionnaire to help people identify the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s and to discuss treatment options with their doctors. “The idea is to put the information into the hands of patients so they can seek medical help and to give them clues about what they may be able to do about these symptoms, on their own.” The booklet resulted from a psychosocial research partnership between Parkinson Society Canada and the CIHR’s Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction. Postuma says it’s a perfect example of how clinical care can be improved by research.

A COMPLEX SYSTEM Many are not aware that symptoms such as loss of smell, insomnia and depression can be linked to Parkinson’s.

concrete examples of the need for ongoing investment in research.” says Joyce Gordon, president and CEO of Parkinson Society Canada. To learn more about Parkinson’s research in Canada and to download a copy of A Guide to the Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, visit www.parkinson.ca.

Investing in research “Innovative research has given us these three practical applications that will help people with Parkinson’s improve their quality of life. They are

AVRIL ROBERTS [email protected]

commercialization funding: a crucial missing piece

A decade ago, there was a failing effort by the Canadian capital markets, Federal and Provincial governments, as well as pension funds, insurance companies and the Banks, to strategically empower the commercialization funding of biomedical technologies.

of money to the academic research sector. Yet they have been unable to develop effective policies for a long term strategy to significantly grow commercialization funding for the life sciences sector.There is also only a handful of private equity pools targeting the life sciences sector.

The public perception

Today, the problem is exacerbated and more acute, but it is pushing up against a post 2008 financial crisis environment where the government’s contemplate austerity budgets to reign in the deficits. Federal and Provincial governments continue to provide large sums Anthony J. Giovinazzo CEO, Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc.

It is surprising that taxpayers do not ask: How can we be funding this medical and scientific training and research and not have programs in place to fund the commercialisation of any inventions? Especially when the majority of the medical and scientific inventions are sold prematurely to American and European companies, or are not developed at all.The foreign buyers in most cases have reaped the world wide income, high paying jobs and have the pleasure of selling those drugs and devices, discovered by means of public funding,back to us. Today, although there is a crisis, for

the life sciences industry, in terms of commercialisation capital available, there are potential intelligent solutions that are a combination of public private sharing.

Sharing the burden One of these would be the extension of the flow-through shares program. There are many small public companies and some private companies, that could go public if the Federal government would treat the life sciences sector the same as it treats the natural resource and some alternative energy projects. Simply, flow-through shares allow companies to pass the losses they create early in development on to investors who claim them against their personal income, in exchange for buying shares of these companies. The deduction cushions the financial risk for the investors, and provides precious capital to the companies.

Implementing strategy

As a result of 55 years of the use of flow-through shares, as a strategic capital tool, an internationally strong natural resources junior and senior public company sector has been built. Further, flow through shares are not a government hand out. They are a market based tool (the market decides which companies are funded), and are a temporary deferral of tax dollars. That deferral of tax is offset by many new high tax paying jobs, and eventually, the tax on worldwide inflow of income to Canada. We have many early discovery successes from government funded science and medicine in this country. Our goal should be to reap the real financial rewards on a global scale from the commercialization of these innovations.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Creating a case for drug innovation ■ Discovering a new drug is a very expensive business. Soaring research costs and failure after failure in expensive clinical trials have led to fewer new medicines on the market and plenty of job losses in the pharmaceutical industry. Annual job losses in the pharmaceutical industry tallied 20,000 last year and 50,000 in the previous year. These are largely highly skilled, highpaying research and development positions that are also key to sustaining a healthy national economy. In early February, AstraZeneca announced that its research site in Montreal was to close,and it would no longer be investing heavily in neuroscience diseases such as Alzheimer’s and autism. The industry now is under serious strain, and this leaves Canadians wondering where science will find the cures to some of the most serious diseases.

The private-public partnership

Aled Edwards is head of the Torontobased Structural Genomics Consortium,one of the largest public-private drug discovery partnerships in the world. He says it is the process of drug invention itself that needs reinvention. “We all now agree that the process of investing in research is so expensive and so risky that it does not make sense for any single company, single institution or government to bear the costs alone,” he said.The solution lies in researchers from academia and companies pooling resources to share the risk,he said. He has developed a business model to partner with global pharmaceutical companies to produce and share research data with all scientists. SGC is building momentum to create this new model with support from and in collaboration with the Government of Canada through Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and international partners, such as the Wellcome Trust and several of the largest pharmaceutical companies. Open sourced early-stage drug development could reduce duplication, share the burden of early investment costs among industry, governments and institutional partners . “Not only does this approach advance science faster”,said Edwards,“it also is a way for industry to remain profitable and vibrant.” On the other hand, if we don’t act, then I fear that when our children are older, they will still face a world with no treatments for Alzheimer’s,schizophrenia, autism and other terrible diseases.”

ANTHONY J. GIOVINAZZO CeO, Cynapsus therapeutics inc.

MARLENE ORTON

[email protected]

[email protected]

Canada's bio-economy: •

Contributes $86.5 billion to our GDP

•

Over 1 million Canadians are part of the bio-economy employment network

www.biotech.ca

Canada’s Voice for Biotechnology

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6 · MARCH 2012


InsIghT NeWS

The link between research and practice ■ The reality is that very little of research outcomes make it into a sustained practice change. This is known as “second valley of death”, the first valley being the gap between basic and translational research where basic research outcomes are put into a clinical context. The gap between clinical research outcomes and sustained practice changes that improve quality of health and services is a significant challenge to research organizations, policy makers and care providers. The outcome of research is the first step in a process that works to move research results into practice to support the innovation necessary to improve care and services. This innovation pipeline is the value proposition that Ontario needs to address the gap between research and the implementation of outcomes that improves the quality of care for consumers and develops the range of effective services that they need. This pipeline is no more evident than in ONF’s work on mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). mTBI or concussion is an often overlooked, misdiagnosed and poorly managed occurrence across all age groups. It can be a result of a senior’s fall,a child’s playground injury,a worker’s injury or an adolescent’s sports injury.For most,it will be sorted out in a week to three months but for others,it will form the basis of life altering persistent symptoms that will compromise their participation as full members of society. To address these problems ONF is leading the Concussion/mTBI Strategy; a multi-sectoral approach to improve recognition, diagnosis and management of Concussion/mTBI in Ontario, identifying five priority areas: recognition and awareness, diagnosis and early education of patients and families, management of persistent symptoms,psychosocial and reintegration and evaluation of access. The foundation supports the development of mTBI Clinical Guidelines that assist health professional’s providers in their assessment, treatment and management of mTBI. With our partners we are assessing how concussion care is delivered around the province from the sports arena to the emergency room, to the clinics that see patients with persistent symptoms. We’re approaching everything from the lens of “the system” to ensure changes are widespread and sustainable. “ideal system of care” to facilitate the system changes necessary to successfully identify,manage and reintegrate those living with mTBI injuries. KENT BASSETT-SPIERS Chief executive Officer Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation

CELEBRATING THE BUSINESS OF INDUSTRY MARKING MILESTONES This spring marks the four-year anniversary of Toronto-based not-for-profit MaRS Innovation (MI) a leading commercialization agent for a cluster of medical research and technology institutes led by University of Toronto and the affiliated teaching hospitals. But despite a risk-averse industry and shaky financial climate, Raphael Hofstein,president and CEO of MI,has faith in the power of Canadian research and development. “Too often the talent and technology moves south of the border,” says Hofstein. “In Canada, we have all the building blocks—if we were to put them together it could lead to economic success.” MaRS Innovation was born in 2008 with the goal of paving the way to commercialization for research and intellectual property from its 17 academic and research members. Hofstein took the reins of the organization in 2009 after two and a half decades of developing businesses from the

start up stage in Israel and the United States. His unwavering faith in the idea of quality research and good management has helped MaRS Innovation to establish more than 15 companies to commercialize its members’ innovative healthcare-related ideas and bioinnovation (i.e., drug discovery, molecular diag. “So many great ideas fall off the cliff because of lack of capital and management—these are the two main challenges for us when we start doing the things

we want to do,” says Hofstein.

Finding the right partner for the process MI isn’t looking for just any project to commercialize. Although Hofstein’s strategy is to take good science and research and establish a company to attract investors—first, the idea must make it through a stringent set of evaluation criteria. “Industry standards suggest that of the early-stage projects reviewed , you can only expect five to 10 percent to meet the criteria primarily when the economy requires the promotion

3 FACT

HEALTH, MEDICAL AND PHARMA MANUFACTURING REPRESENTS 64.4 PERCENT OF THE BIO-ECONOMY

of early winners (‘low hanging fruit’),” says Hofstein. In order to get MI’s support, ideas must be patentable, able to be commercialized in a short period of time and contributive to the Ontario/Canadian economy. “But the five to 10 percent—if the underlying research relies on highly qualified science—has the chance to become the nucleus of an industry. I believe this kind of commercialization to be a key part of the future of the economy of Canada because we can establish the foundations around transformational science,” says Hofstein. Hofstein says he prefers to see MI as being in the business of building industries—something he says that contributes to the future of Canada’s economy. “It is directly addressing the number one concern in Canada,which is job creation,” says Hofstein.

ANDREW SEALE [email protected]

The measures taken to rebuild brain cells New vaccines, bio-diesel and engine oils made from oilseed crops, biological therapies for Alzheimer’s and cancer, new plastic composites from agricultural sources, trans fat-free cooking oil, renewable biomass energy sources—all are examples of ways biotechnology is changing our economy.

reach $153 billion per year by 2038, up from the current cost of $15 billion per year. Without fundamental scientific advances such as ours, it is certain that the burdens will grow dramatically,” says Sutherland. “It is urgent that we find ways of preventing, reversi n g a n d

Health, medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing represents 64.4 percent of the bioeconomy and in Canada, one of our most imperative areas for the need for innovation, research, infrastructure and commercialization is neurology.

From cage to cortex

The need for clinical therapies For patients with dementia diseases, a clinical therapy is desperately needed. Sutherland points out that at the current rate of growth, in 30 years, someone will develop dementia every two minutes. “The total cost of dementia could

repairing injured brains. Our findings are a significant advance in that direction.” Dr. Robert Sutherland and his research team were the first in the world to regenerate cerebral cortex brain cells in adult rats. This significant discovery was made at the University of Lethbridge’s Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience,where researchers like Sutherland are developing lifechanging applications and solutions for people suffering from brain-related illness and injury.

Dr. Robert Sutherland Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience University of Lethbridge

University of Lethbridge Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) neuroscientist Dr. Robert Sutherland made international headlines in 2010 when he and his research team became the first in the world to regenerate cerebral cortex brain cells in adult rats. Regenerating brain cells is a problem neuroscientists have been struggling with for many years, with limited suc-

cess. The challenge stems from the nature of the brain itself. “If you open up a laptop and take a look at the circuit board, every portion you look at has a sophisticated set of connections with other pieces,” says Sutherland. “The brain is even more complicated.” Sutherland and his team at the U of L’s CCBN began working on the problem about five years ago. Through a combination of a specific protein therapy, an enriched living environment and exercise, the researchers were able to re-grow the lost brain cells and prove that rats had regained their memory function. While Sutherland’s regeneration technique is a major discovery, it is only the beginning. The next step will be to translate the research into therapies that work for patients. Sutherland and his team received a second five-year grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to continue the project. TANYA JACOBSON

Gundlock [email protected]

Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions leads science and innovation to grow prosperity in Alberta’s agriculture, food and forestry sectors. bio.albertainnovates.ca


MARCH 2012 · 7

nEWs DON’T MISS!

Saskatchewan: Biotech and beyond Saskatchewan is well known for its agbiotech strengths.

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s d n

e y o I n h -

s -

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT One in three Canadians will be affected by a disease that strikes the brain.

UNDERSTANDING BRAIN DISEASE IN CANADA

e n t a h■ Question: Why is it so importeant to be aware of potential brain diseases and their symptoms? f■ Answer: As one in three mCanadians will experience such a -condition, increased knowledge ,can save lives nation-wide. d o The statistics are shocking: e One in three Canadians will be y affected by a neurological or

psychiatric disease, disorder

n or injury at some point in their y lives, yet very little is concluo sively known about the ims pact of these conditions on pad tients, their caregivers, famr ilies, the community and the f health system at large. e Disturbed by this paucity of data, nine health charities came together in 2008 with the aim of improving the quality of life for people living with a chronic brain condition. Together they formed the Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC). While therapies exist for temporary respite, most neurological conditions are progressive and degenerative with no known cause or cure. “Within the

next 20 years, neurological conditions will become the leading cause of death and disability in Canada,” says Vanessa Foran, director of Policy, Partnerships and Government Relations with NHCC. “It is crucial that Canadian policymakers and health care professionals begin to equip themselves with the tools to deal with what will be a drastic shift within Canada’s population.” The combined efforts of the NHCC resulted in the Federal Government providing $15 million to fund the National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions. With 127 researchers at more than 30 institutions across the country, the study—the first of its kind in Canada—will provide information about the current and projected impact of neurological conditions over the next five, 10 and 20 years. The results will be formally presented to the Federal health minister in 2014, a year after the study concludes.

The National Brain Strategy One of the study’s goals is to provide sound data that the government and the NHCC can begin to build on. “Though it will not answer all questions with

regards to neurological conditions, it will provide a solid foundation and good direction,” says Celina Rayonne Chavannes, NHCC’s Director of Research Initiatives. “The last thing we want is for this study to gather dust on a shelf somewhere,” she continues. “Ultimately, we want the results of this study to provide support for our National Brain Strategy,” adds Foran. This translates to evidence-based policy that will explain the need for prevention, research, education, integrated care, caregiver support, income security and the elimination of genetic discrimination with regards to neurological conditions in Canada. As with all conditions, public education and awareness are crucial. “Canadians need to equip themselves with a good understanding of neurological issues especially should they need to seek help for symptoms,” says Foran. “For example, when are hand tremors just tiredness and when are they something more? “

the original nine member organizations of the NHCC have now swelled to 25. All have come together, in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Health Canada, to conduct the population health study. “This partnership is innovative as we are utilizing our limited financial resources in the best way possible for all Canadians. Instead of approaching the government with condition-specific issues, we are looking at the common impact of neurological conditions across the board. Our aim is to build on these findings to benefit all Canadians,” says Chavannes. Chavennes says that innovative partnership strategies between likeminded organizations and government can prove to be a powerful force.“Organizations and governments can find ways to capitalize on scarce financial resources.” For more information, go to www. mybrainmatters.ca.

Power of partnerships

INDRANI NADARAJAH

Thanks to the power of partnerships,

[email protected]

Renewing traditional industries

Canada has been known around the world for its rich sources of natural resources, breathtaking landscapes and impressive wildlife—in other words, “moose and mountains”.

But Canada is so much more. Canada is a leader in science and innovation. We have given the world insulin, canola, the walkie-talkie, and the antigravity suit. Now, the bio-economy can be the catalyst for the next wave of prosperity. Together we must take Canada beyond moose and mountains to establish ourselves as a leader in the latest technological advances delivering sustainable benefits today, tomorrow and far into the future.Canada’s future is a bio-economy sourced from our own discovery and resources. “Canada’s sheer volume of bio-

mass allows great opportunity in the research and development of bio products,” commented Peter Brenders, President and CEO BIOTECanada. “There are soy-based foams being used in automotive manufacturing for head rests, corn based bio plastics, bio lubricants in elevator pulls as well as jet fuels produced from oilseeds.” Integrating new bio-processing technologies within established industrial plants will deliver a vast array of renewable, value-added alternatives, such as solvents, plastics, paints, adhesives, insulation, textiles, and consumer products. “Bio products focus on use and reuse of biomass materials. These discoveries maintains and create jobs, generating economic growth, while enhancing Canada’s competitiveness on the international stage,” said Mr. Brenders. “To further help this

endeavor we have joined with other like-minded associations in creating the New Economy Alliance. Representing forestry, chemicals, agriculture, renewable fuels and biotechnology, the group promotes innovation in new technologies, which are adding value to Canada’s vast natural resources.” Together these industries are already a key component of our economy. Every day, we are integrating bio-products in an ever-wider variety of applications and uses making our lives safer and easier,while protecting and preserving our environment.

A national approach The Government of Canada has also taken steps to promote the emerging bio products industry. There is a draft roadmap underway, and programming has been undertaken by several

government organizations including Agriculture and Agri Food Canada’s Agricultural Bio products Innovation Program. Many provinces have already taken action on developing a bio-economy, and have defined provincial strategies based on their regional priorities, existing industrial infrastructure, and biomass resource base. We are committed to working with them to improve Canada’s future. Members of the New Economy Alliance include BIOTECanada, Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, CropLife Canada, Forest Products Association of Canada, and the Sustainable Chemistry Alliance.

With more than 40 percent of Canada’s arable land and 100 years of science-based agriculture, the province is well-suited for agbiotech research and the development and production of crop varieties,biofuels,bioproducts and bioprocesses. Public institutions located on the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) campus in Saskatoon support companies through contract research, scale-up and pilot plant activities. Within walking distance is Innovation Place, a research park housing numerous companies. In the realm of plant sciences, collaborative research projects are underway to develop Camelina sativa and Brassica carinata, tailoring the crops for industrial uses, such as for polymers, plastics, lubricants and aviation fuel. Wheat and cereal crops are also receiving renewed attention. The National Research Council is launching a “wheat flagship”,a major initiative on wheat research. Complementing this is a wheat genomics project underway at the U of S Crop Development Centre. Activities have expanded beyond agriculture. A number of organizations are using bioremediation techniques to help mining and oil companies clean up after themselves.This is an example of how biotechnology can integrate with other industries to benefit the world.

Innovations in health In the health sector, companies are working on plant-made pharmaceuticals, biodiagnostics and biobased surgical materials. New facilities are providing more opportunities for human and animal health research. At the U of S, an Academic Health Sciences Complex is nearing completion, with research and teaching space. Last fall, the Vaccine & Infectious Disease Organization celebrated the grand opening of its International Vaccine Centre (VIDOInterVac),a Level 3 containment facility for vaccine R&D. The Biomedical Imaging and Therapy (BMIT) beamline at the Canadian Light Source synchrotron is a powerful imaging tool for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and many other diseases. Provincial funding was recently announced for the creation of a Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation, with potential benefits for animal and human health research, as well as plant sciences. Premier Brad Wall recently announced the establishment of a Global Institute for Food Security. The institute’s mandate focuses on determining how to sustainably expand the supply of quality food and ensure that it gets to those who need it most. Also in the discussion stages is a Plant Innovation Centre that would provide advanced technologies to determine the commercial potential of crops coming through genomic and biotech projects. International partnerships are always important to Saskatchewan. In the fall, we visited Japan to establish contacts,and this summer we are welcoming a Japanese delegation to Saskatoon.The visitors will be treated to facility tours and networking events to help build bridges between companies. Partnering with the National Research Council-Industrial Research Assistance Program, AgWest Bio is working to determine the needs of the industry and support the development of a bio-industrial cluster of companies in Saskatchewan—an exciting prospect which will catalyze economic growth and employment. Saskatchewan has been experiencing significant growth, and the bioindustry plays an important role in this new economy.

NADINE LUNT

WILF KELLER, PHD

biOteCanada

president and CeO, Ag-West bio inc.

[email protected]

[email protected]

Science that powers Innovation that powers Canada www.genomecanada.ca

Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience

University of Lethbridge The University of Lethbridge is one of the post-secondary institutions leading the way in neuroscience research in Canada and throughout the world and is home to the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN). This facility houses the first Department of Neuroscience in Canada, which includes an internationally-recognized group of principal investigators that have a broad range of neuroscience research interests, including the neural mechanisms of learning, brain plasticity, recovery of function, brain development and brain disease. This work is funded by a variety of granting agencies including, National Institutes

of Health (US), Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, and Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and is a major research node within the Canadian Stroke Network. The building has become an integral part of the undergraduate and graduate programs in neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge and has attracted post-doctoral fellows and visiting scientists from around the world. The Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience represents a world-class research facility designed to provide a highly interactive and unique environment for behavioural neuroscience research in Canada.

For more information on the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience and the extraordinary research that takes place there, visit: www.ulethbridge.ca/ccbn NHCC_fullPg_ad_resize_NHCC_full_pg_ad_c_rev 3/15/12 9:01 AM Page 1

Brains matter.

www.mybrainmatters.ca

Millions of Canadians are living with a brain condition today! RESEARCH

ADVOCACY

We need to learn more about this experience to better serve individuals and families. That’s why the NHCC is collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Canada to lead Canada’s first-ever National Population Study of Neurological Conditions. Research teams across Canada are working to build a better understanding of: 4 the incidence & prevalence of brain conditions in Canada

EDUCATION

4 their impact on individuals & families 4 risk factors for onset & progression 4 co-existing conditions 4 best practice health & support services Register to receive information and regular updates about the national study at www.mybrainmatters.ca or call the NHCC at (416) 227-9700 x3476.

COLLABORATION

SUPPORT Note: Your contact information will be used for the sole purpose of providing information updates. The NHCC does not fundraise or share our database with any other organizations.

NHCC Member Organizations: ALS Society of Canada • ALS Society of Ontario • Alzheimer Society Canada • Alzheimer Society of Ontario • Brain Injury Association of Canada • Canadian Alliance of Brain Tumor Organizations • Canadian Epilepsy Alliance • Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation • Centre for ADD Advocacy Canada • Dystonia Medical Research Foundation Canada • The Foundation Fighting Blindness • Headache Network Canada • Heart and Stroke Foundation Canada • Huntington Society of Canada • March of Dimes Canada • Mood Disorder Society of Canada • Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada • Muscular Dystrophy Canada • Ontario Federation for Cerebral Palsy • Ontario Rett Syndrome Association • Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation • Parkinson Societies in Ontario • Parkinson Society Canada • Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario • Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada