NGBideas

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Cove Neurosciences is a precision neuroscience company focused on translating complex brain data into meaningful insights. Their analytics software helps researchers and pharmaceutical companies better understand human brain function without requiring specialized data science expertise.

In this episode, host Jim Wilson speaks with co-founder and CEO Dr. Nardin Samuel about the company's unexpected...

Based in Hamilton, Ontario, Innovation Factory is one of 17 Regional Innovation Centres across Ontario, providing free advisory services, training, and mentorship to entrepreneurs at every stage - from idea to scale-up. With a particular strength in life sciences, roughly 35% of the 850+ companies Innovation Factory supports each year come from that sector, drawn in part by Hamilton's exceptional ecosystem of hospitals, un...

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Skinopathy is a medical technology company on a mission to provide accessible healthcare on demand. By integrating advanced AI with smartphone technology, Skinopathy allows patients to screen for skin cancer and other conditions from home, bridging the gap between early detection and specialized medical intervention.

In this episode, host Jim Wilson speaks with co-founder and CEO Keith Loo about t...

Join host Jim Wilson for a conversation with Zaid Atto, founder and CEO of Xpan in Vaughan, Ontario.

Xpan is a medical device company focused on minimally invasive surgery, developing a new approach to surgical trocars used in laparoscopic procedures - tools that haven’t changed much in decades, despite being used in millions of procedures every year.

Zaid shares how the idea started while he was studying biomedical engineer...

Based in Laval, Quebec, NMX Research and Solutions is a specialized biopharma firm helping scientists find new medicines faster. By using tools like NMR spectroscopy and Fragment-Based Lead Discovery, NMX bridges the gap between lab research and real-world cures while mentoring the next generation of Canadian biotech leaders.

In this episode, host Jim Wilson sits down with founder Steven LaPlante to trace his journey from a...

Join us for throwback insightful conversation with Matthew Miller, a distinguished scientist and academic leader, as he shares his journey from a small town in Ontario to becoming a key figure in infectious disease research.

Discover how serendipity and mentorship shaped his career, the challenges of starting a lab, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on his work.

Matthew also discusses the importance of basic science fu...

Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Vive Crop Protection is a leading agri-tech company dedicated to helping farmers "do more with less." By focusing on development over discovery, Vive combines synthetic chemistry with bio-based pesticides to create high-performance products that lower costs for growers while reducing the environmental footprint of traditional farming.

In this episode, host Jim Wilson sits down with CEO and...

Based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, AxCell Labs is a biotech engineering startup developing a new generation of biomaterials designed to help the body heal itself.

Their core innovation is a specialized scaffold made from bacterial cellulose—originally derived from a local kombucha culture—that provides a physical structure for human cells to colonize and regenerate soft tissue lost to trauma, surgery, or cancer.

In this e...

Join host Jim Wilson for a conversation with Simon LaPointe, founder and CEO of EncephalX in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

EncephalX is a medical device company focused on helping people recovering from severe head injuries and strokes. Their main invention, the Dynamic Cranioplasty System, aims to turn two dangerous brain surgeries into one by creating a special implant that allows the brain to swell and heal safely without having t...

Join host Jim Wilson for a conversation with Dylan Horvath, founder and principal of Cortex Design in Toronto, Ontario. 

Cortex helps MedTech teams take medical devices from early concept through to commercialization, with a focus on designing for real users and the full set of stakeholders who influence adoption. 

Dylan shares how a childhood obsession with robotics led him into systems design engineering, then into industr...

In this episode of NGBi Lab, host Jim Wilson welcomes Loreen Wales, the Founder and CEO of Revive Wellness and My Viva.

Discover the harrowing origin story that fueled Loreen's mission: a near-fatal accident at age 19 that left her with a miracle survival and a relentless drive to transform how we deliver patient care.

From her early days as a dietitian in Edmonton to realizing that the healthcare system lacked a personalize...

In this episode of NGBi Lab, host Jim Wilson welcomes Akeem Gardner, CEO and Founder of Canurta Therapeutics. Discover how Akeem transitioned from law school and farming into the biotech space to build a company developing botanical drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases, with a lead program targeting ALS.

From his unconventional entrepreneurial journey and the shift from ingredient supplier to full biotechnology co...

In this episode, host Jim Wilson sits down with the team at McCallum-Sather Architects to explore their forward-thinking approach to sustainable, integrated design in the life sciences sector. Mary Georgious and Liam Brown share how their architectural and mechanical engineering expertise come together to shape high-performance lab environments. They discuss the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and user-centered ...

Dr. Amol Deshpande shares his journey from a Toronto upbringing to a diverse career spanning chronic pain medicine, emergency and cardiac care, healthcare consulting, and venture support at MaRS. He reflects on key experiences at UHN, WSIB, Toronto Rehab, and AIoT Health, as well as launching his podcast Reboot Health.

Amol also discusses the state of Canadian life sciences, the need for genuine collaboration, and the impor...

Join us for an engaging conversation with Nima Zamani, co-founder of Cobionix, as he shares the inspiring journey of building a cutting-edge robotics company. Discover how Cobionix is revolutionizing healthcare with its needle-free AI-powered robotic injection technology, addressing labor shortages, and pioneering autonomous medical solutions. Nima also delves into the challenges of entrepreneurship and the critical role o...

In this episode Jonathan Bramson walks us through his path from childhood in Montreal to pursuing a PhD at McGill and becoming a leading voice in gene and cell therapy. He reflects on early influences, academic anxieties, and the unexpected turns that led him into oncology and biotech. We explore the evolution of gene therapy, the power of mentorship, the realities of building in the life sciences sector, and the creativit...

In this episode of NGBiLab, host Jim Wilson welcomes the innovative minds behind YellowBird Diagnostics: Nicholas Calvert, Alexia Kirby, and Adam Shuhendler. Discover how this dynamic team, spun out of the University of Ottawa, is revolutionizing disease diagnosis with cutting-edge chemical technologies. From their entrepreneurial journey to the challenges of bringing molecular imaging to the clinic, this conversation delv...

In this engaging episode, Jim Wilson sits down with Marc Jeschke, a renowned surgeon and researcher, to explore his fascinating journey from Germany to becoming a leading figure in burn care and research. Marc shares insights into his early life, the challenges and triumphs of his career, and his vision for the future of healthcare. Discover how his passion for innovation and dedication to patient care have shaped his path...

In this archived episode of NGBiLab, host Jim Wilson revisits his conversation with Bronwyn Bridges, CEO and co-founder of PragmaClin, a pioneering startup from St. John's, Newfoundland. PragmaClin's innovative digital tool, Prims, is designed to enhance the assessment of Parkinson's disease, offering more objective and efficient pathways for neurological care. Bronwyn reflects on her journey, the hurdles overcome, and the...