The OBIO® 2026 Early Technology Showcase (ETS) will feature presentations from Canada’s leading research institutions and healthcare organizations to global investors. ETS partners are invited to present the most promising technologies as well as introduce projects with the greatest potential for commercialization in their research portfolios and emerging health science companies.
Presenting organizations
Capital BioVentures is a not-for-profit wet-lab accelerator located in Ottawa that offers early-stage funding and resources to Canadian companies. The organization provides access to specialized drug and corporate development professionals, as well as high-quality laboratory space, equipment, and non-dilutive funding. Backed by investments from FedDev Ontario and the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program, CBV provides full-service supports, allowing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop their products and expand their businesses.
Atorvia is a pre-clinical biotechnology company developing therapeutics that target critical pathological processes underlying organ failure caused by ischemia, toxicity and chronic disease.
NuvoBIO utilizing biology-informed AI to design safer, more effective peptide therapeutics.
The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) recognizes the need for healthy longevity in our society, so they have made it their mission to drive the development and adoption of transformative aging and brain health innovations. They work to achieve this mission by building innovation capacities through purposeful collaboration, accelerating innovation from idea to impact, and transforming the aging and brain health innovation ecosystem.
Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is a community of 18,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves southwestern Ontario residents. HHS provides care for all ages, from pre-birth to end of life, and specialized, advanced care to people from across the province. HHS offers world-leading expertise in many areas, including cardiac and stroke care, cancer care, palliative care and pediatrics, and is a world-renowned hospital for health-care research. Our hospital focuses daily on improving the quality of care for our patients through innovation and evidence-based practices. As the largest employer in the Greater Hamilton region, HHS plays a vital role in training the next generation of health professionals in collaboration with our academic partners, including McMaster University and Mohawk College.
The McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship is McGill University’s hub for innovation and venture creation. We support a global community of 530+ start-ups that have raised $4.1B, hold 258 active patents, and created 12,000 jobs across 46 countries.
With over a third of our portfolio in life sciences, and the ranking of McGill amongst the best universities for medical research, we are proud to support some of the most cutting-edge discoveries in biotechnology, precision medicine, and medical devices as they commercialize nationally and internationally.
Recognized globally for our ecosystem, we are proud to count partnerships with Mass General Brigham, Hôtel-Dieu de Parie, and King’s College London.
HisTurn is diagnosing and treating infertility for men using a precision medicine approach. They have developed a sperm customized (epi)genomic diagnostic panel that is matched with their AI/machine learning approach to accurately diagnose and treat male infertility.
Qalam Health Solutions: Qudrapen™ is a real-time, handheld surgical decision-support device that integrates AI and bimodal spectroscopy to accurately distinguish cancerous from healthy bone tissue during tumor resections.
The Stem Cell Network (SCN) is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that unites researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and health champions dedicated to transforming lives through regenerative medicine. As Canada’s only national organization with a specific focus on this field, SCN is uniquely positioned to drive progress in the fight against disease and power Canada’s economy through company creation and the development of future leaders.
For nearly 25 years, SCN has built a trusted, collaborative network that aligns researchers, clinicians and bioentrepreneurs across Canada and globally. Through a small but dedicated staff team and the support of expert volunteers, SCN effectively delivers research programs, mentors emerging talent, accelerates the development of cutting-edge therapies, and supports the growth of biotech companies across Canada.
Since its inception, SCN has invested over $162 million in Canadian regenerative medicine research, leveraging an additional $176 million from partners. This funding has positioned Canada as a global leader in regenerative medicine, fostering world-class expertise, spinning out innovative biotech companies, and pioneering life-changing clinical trials.
Apiary’s mission is to leverage proven biology and engineered cell technology to develop affordable, safe and efficient off-the-shelf B cells to produce therapeutics within patients.
CEREBRO Therapeutics is pioneering a first-in-class gene-immunotherapy to halt Parkinson’s progression and redefine the standard of care.
Eder Therapeutics specializes in rare diseases. With their partnership with ECOGENE-21, they have a unique ability to increase the understanding of rare diseases, outcomes, and patient journeys, enabling maximal benefit for patients, their families, and all stakeholders.
RejuvenRX addresses cancer using a unique platform that identifies synergistic molecules targeting cancer stem cells and develops novel stand-alone targeted therapies and innovative adjunct complements to cancer treatment.
Sunnybrook Research Institute (SRI) is one of the world’s premier academic medical research centres, renowned for work in medical imaging, biology, and clinical evaluative sciences. As part of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, SRI is dedicated to advancing health care through pioneering research and partnerships that translate scientific discoveries into clinical practice. More than 360 scientists work across three scientific platforms and ten research programs. Sunnybrook is recognized as a Centre of Excellence by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation, the first site in Canada—and one of only seven in the world—to receive this honour. The program is one of the most comprehensive and successful focused ultrasound research programs in the world, with technical, scientific and clinical experts accelerating progress in the field. SRI is also home to INOVAIT, Canada’s network for image-guided therapeutics and artificial intelligence, fund by the Government of Canada. Learn more at Sunnybrook.ca/research.
Yewtwist was invented by a nurse who experienced firsthand the daily frustration of tight IV tubing connections causing potential line damage, delays in care, and unnecessary waste. Seeing this problem repeatedly at the bedside and recognizing that no simple solution existed she set out to design one. Working directly with other clinicians and engineers, the product was refined through real-world use and feedback. What began as a practical workaround quickly evolved into Yewtwist: a nurse-designed, patient-centered solution that improves nurse workflow, enhances safety, and reduces costs. Early implementations included value analyses at leading hospitals, demonstrating not only improved workflow and patient safety but also measurable cost savings, further validating Yewtwist as a practical, high-impact solution.
YEX is a Sunnybrook Research Institute spinout developing a GMP-compliant, egg-derived growth supplement designed to replace fetal bovine serum (FBS) in cell culture applications across biotech, pharma, and academia. FBS is a foundational but increasingly problematic input due to high cost, batch-to-batch variability, contamination risk, and ethical and supply-chain concerns. YEX is manufactured in an ISO-7 cleanroom using specified pathogen-free eggs and is delivered with full quality control documentation, enabling consistent performance without requiring changes to existing cell culture workflows. The product has been externally validated by multiple independent users, including antibody production and viral systems, demonstrating comparable or improved performance relative to FBS. YEX is currently focused on commercialization within the biotech protein reagent market, where customers face acute cost and reliability pressures. The company has raised over $600,000 to date and is now pursuing a $1M CAD seed round to scale GMP production, convert customer pilots into revenue, and position the company for a future Series A.