On April 8-9, 2026, the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Transforming Health Symposium brought together close to 500 researchers, clinicians, trainees, policymakers and industry leaders in Vancouver, B.C. to explore how biomedical discoveries can be translated into real-world impact.
The gathering opened with a traditional welcome by Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolfpack), grounding the morning in community and shared purpose.
Dr. Sharmila Anandasabapathy, dean of the Faculty of Medicine and vice-president, health at UBC, set the tone for the event.
“We are living through extraordinary times, and the opportunity now is to work together to grow our capacity within Canada: to strengthen research and innovation, deepen partnerships, and expand our ability to develop new innovations, run clinical trials, manufacture and deliver therapies for Canadians and ultimately the world.”
A critical window for Canada
Dr. Paul Hébert, president of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, highlighted the urgency of the moment:
“We are at a critical point in our history, and in our economy. There’s no question. The world order is shifting in profound ways… and it requires technological leadership and resilience, and strategic partnerships and a new way of doing business.”
He outlined enablers for success such as a pan-Canadian data strategy, stronger clinical trials infrastructure, coordinated investment, and translational research and discovery.
Keynote speaker Handol Kim, CEO of Variational AI, spoke to the accelerating pace of change driven by AI and the need to embrace AI in the health space as an opportunity to ensure our sovereignty.
He emphasized that collaborations between industry and academia play a critical role in translating discovery into real-world applications.
Scaling biomedical innovation for real-world impact
A panel discussion on scaling innovation highlighted both the strengths and opportunities of B.C.’s life sciences ecosystem.
Speakers described a vibrant sector in B.C. defined by world-class research, talent, and infrastructure.
At the same time, they pointed to what is needed to take the sector to the next level: breaking down siloed systems, establishing clearer commercialization pathways, and building connections between early-stage discovery and real-world application. There is a need to take bold entrepreneurial risks to propel Canada’s biotech sector.
“I see too many individuals stepping up to the plate and then bunting…What we really need right now is to take some big swings,” said Dr. Carl Hansen, CEO of AbCellera.
A patient story that defines the opportunity
One of the most powerful moments of Day 1 came from the story of Ty Sperle, a B.C. patient who received a world-first treatment using prime editing to address a rare disease called chronic granulomatous disease.
Though a recounting of their journey, Nurgul Sperle, Ty’s mother, reflected on how her son’s treatment was made possible through collaboration between researchers, clinicians and industry partners who moved beyond traditional boundaries to implement new technologies.
Ty’s story is a signal of what becomes possible when systems are aligned.
Partnerships as a catalyst
In a panel on partnerships, speakers mentioned B.C. must act with greater ambition to fully realize its potential. They highlighted the importance of aligning policy, investment and industry to ensure that discoveries are not only developed here but scaled and retained in Canada. With global investment rapidly shifting toward AI and computational biology, panelists pointed to a critical three-to-five-year window to build resilient, sovereign life sciences capacity while strengthening international partnerships.
“The future of AI is biology. This is the area for B.C. to double down on,” said Dr. Martine Rothblatt, founder and CEO of United Therapeutics.
Embedding equity and building trust
Equity was also a consistent theme across both days.
Candice Loring, director of Indigenous relations and initiatives at Genome BC, spoke to the importance of centering Indigenous leadership.
“If you think about systems changes and advancing Indigenous priorities, you need an Indigenous person leading this work.”
Improving access for rural and remote communities also emerged as a priority. As well trust, built through relationships and community engagement, was identified as essential to the adoption of new technologies.
Strengthening commercialization, regulation and access
In a panel on regulation, speakers noted bringing new therapies to market can take years, with only a small proportion progressing from early trials to approval.
Regulatory and reimbursement systems must evolve together, not sequentially, to improve speed to patients while maintaining safety and equity. Systems and pathways must be better aligned to take B.C. from pilots all the way to the clinic.
“In traditional models of regulation, it used to be that you show up to a drug regulator when your trial is fully developed. Now we’re in a system where regulators can peek behind the curtain and see work in real time,” said Leslie Madden, senior director and head of regulatory sciences and quality assurance, Moderna.
AI and data shaping the future of care
Day two focused on the role of AI and data in transforming health systems. Led by UBC AI and Health Network co-leads Drs. Anita Palepu and Raymond Ng, discussions explored how AI is moving from early promise into real-world applications.
“We have high expectations here because we’re a province full of innovators, full of intelligent people working together – and we want to support that work,” said the Honourable Rick Glumac, B.C.’s minister of state for AI and new technologies.
He noted that B.C. is now home to more than 600 AI companies and over 2,000 life sciences organizations employing approximately 26,000 people – sectors the province aims to expand through its Look West strategy. He mentioned the importance of building AI solutions with Canadian values in mind.
The Symposium also featured a poster session with 70 presentations spanning the translational research pathway from early discovery through to clinical practice and implementation – showcasing the breadth of work underway across the province.
Real-world AI applications on the forefront
From the BC cancer registry – where AI is helping automate data processes – to national efforts like VITAL, a pan-Canadian initiative advancing a unified hospital health data network, speakers pointed to a shift toward more integrated, system-level approaches. AI was also highlighted as a tool to help identify and respond to health misinformation.
While the pace of technical innovation is advancing, success will depend on building public trust and ensuring that data systems are used responsibly and equitably.
Closing thoughts
By the close of the Symposium, a clear message had emerged that B.C. has all the key pieces in place, and the moment to act is now to bring lifesaving innovations to patients.
As Dr. Peter Zandstra, director School of Biomedical Engineering and incoming vice-president, research and innovation, UBC, summarized:
“UBC has a foundation of incredible science and clinical medicine. How can we take this to the next level? We already are.
B.C. is already the best ecosystem in Canada for translation.”
The Transforming Health Symposium was The Transforming Health Symposium was presented by:
Academy of Translational Medicine | BC MS Cell Therapies Translational Research Network Canada’s Immuno-Engineering and Biomanufacturing Hub | Precision Health Initiative | UBC AI and Health Network
We wish to thank our partners and sponsors.
Published: April 23, 2026
