By: Shanza Anwaar
The life sciences sector is distinctively situated to help tackle some of the leading social challenges governments are encountering: growing economies through investment in knowledge-based industries, providing feasible and high quality healthcare, supporting affordable clean energy opportunities and promoting technologies that maintain a clean and healthy environment.
“Life Sciences Ontario is a member-driven organization that represents and promotes the province’s vibrant and diverse life sciences sector”. Through collaborating with governments, academic circles and the healthcare sector, LSO supports commercial achievements of science organizations throughout Ontario and Canada.
This past February LSO held its Annual Awards Dinner Gala in the Exhibition Place, Toronto. With keynote speaker Kevin G. Lynch, Vice Chair of BMO Financial Group, the awards were recognizing the best of the best in the life sciences industry. Among them was Altitude Accelerator’s founding member and Vice Principal: Research at the University of Toronto Mississauga, Ulrich Krull.
Professor Krull has been vital in connecting the academic sphere with the business community in the Peel region through activities such as the creation of the Master of Biotechnology program, who’s graduates are impacting the life sciences sector across Ontario, and the Western GTA Convergence Centre, which evolved into the Altitude Accelerator. Professor Krull created an alliance with the Mississauga Board of Trade (MBOT) as well as helped Altitude Accelerator develop best practices to engage and support startups. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Dr. Krull received the Community Service Award by the LSO.
With over 200 scholarly publications, “co-editor of four books and an inventor listed on more than a dozen patents” Dr. Krull’s “pioneering work in artificial chemo-reception, nanoscale materials and microfluidics chip technologies for DNA detection and RNA targets” has gained him nationwide recognition. Most importantly, these technologies have been fundamental in launching and commercializing four startup companies.
The LSO awards are a platform through which the life sciences community in Ontario identifies individuals who have made outstanding contributions locally, nationally and internationally in the life sciences sector. Other notable wins were the Lifetime Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, Public Service and Emerging Life Sciences Company of the Year awards.
Shanza is a Social Media Intern at Altitude Accelerator. Pursuing two undergraduate majors in anthropology and professional writing at the University of Toronto Mississauga, Shanza is also a co-editor and content writer at the Digital Enterprise Management Society. She hopes to make her mark as a Social Media Consultant.
The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal and professional experiences. Visit Altitude Accelerator for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.
