Tell Us Your Story. What motivated you to start your business? Why are you passionate about what you do?

The drug development industry is historically inefficient, with a staggering 95% failure rate and an average development cost of $2 billion USD per drug. Recognizing this significant challenge, we founded VoxCell BioInnovation to revolutionize drug development. Our platform enables drug developers to prioritize efforts on candidates with higher success probabilities, accelerating the creation of life-saving therapies while reducing R&D costs. This innovation enhances the accessibility and affordability of medicine, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide. My journey with VoxCell began with a deeply personal connection to cancer. One of my parents battled cancer when I was just six years old, an experience that left a lasting impact on me. This personal connection drove my academic pursuits, culminating in a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, where my research focused on engineering breast cancer tissue models and developing targeted delivery systems for tumor areas. During this time, I encountered the significant challenge of accessing human tissue samples, which are essential for accurate research but often out of reach for academic budgets. Researchers frequently had to rely on less translatable and accurate testing platforms, which hindered progress in cancer research. In response to these challenges, I began developing the concept behind VoxCell during my Ph.D., and in 2020, I officially incorporated VoxCell BioInnovation in Victoria, B.C. Our mission is to break down the barriers posed by the limitations of traditional 2D and 3D preclinical testing platforms. By leveraging cutting-edge 3D bioprinting technology, we create more accurate and accessible human-like tissues, reshaping the landscape of drug development and cancer research.

Describe and demonstrate, including metrics, your community support. How do you support and uplift your community, and how do they show that support in return? Minimum 25 words, maximum 2500 characters.

VoxCell envisions transforming drug development with human-like vascularized tissue models that accurately predict human-drug interactions. Our goal is to drastically reduce the 95% failure rate in drug development, saving the industry billions annually and bringing effective treatments to patients faster. This vision is crucial as the industry shifts from animal models, driven by the FDA Modernization Act's push for ethical, relevant alternatives. We further promote responsible and sustainable consumption and production by replacing traditional animal testing methods with more ethical and sustainable tissue models. By participating in this work, we contribute to the reduction of environmental harm and resource inefficiency associated with drug development. We further support economic growth and drive progress in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. VoxCell's approach to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), is reflected by it being a female-founded and led enterprise. Our senior leadership team represents diversity, with 50% being female and 75% being immigrants. To further support under-represented groups, VoxCell implements inclusive recruitment strategies, offering internships, co-op placements, and targeted skill development programs. We have established partnerships with local universities and colleges, providing resources and support for academic research. Specifically, our recently commercialized product has secured its first partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. VoxCell supports local startups and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) by offering mentorship. VoxCell has participated as a mentor within several local and provincial-based incubators for startups, assisting in business development. Community Feedback and Support: The community has shown immense support for VoxCell through increased brand awareness, investment, and increased collaboration requests. Local pharmaceutical SMEs have recognized our technology and we have signed 10 pilot projects with these prominent drug developers for the validation of our technology, assisting us in bringing it to the market. The community has further recognized our impact within the community, by awarding us the VIATEC Startup of the Year award 2023, Life Sciences BC's Companies to Watch – Recognition Honour Roll 2024, and naming us a top finalist for Company of the Year – Growth by the BC Technology Impact Awards 2024.

Why do you deserve to win the Business Impact award?

VoxCell BioInnovation deserves to win the Business Impact Award due to our transformative contributions to drug development, commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, and dedication to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Our innovative human-like vascularized tissue models, developed using Canada’s first high-resolution 3D bioprinter, proprietary universal bioinks, and advanced vascularization software, address the alarming 95% failure rate in drug development. This breakthrough not only saves the industry billions annually but also accelerates the availability of effective treatments for patients. By providing more accurate and translatable human-like tissue models, we enable pharmaceutical companies to identify unviable drug candidates early, reducing costly late-stage failures. This innovation is crucial as the industry shifts from animal models to ethical and relevant alternatives, driven by the FDA Modernization Act. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected in our efforts to promote responsible and sustainable consumption and production. By replacing traditional animal testing methods with more ethical and sustainable tissue models, we contribute to reducing environmental harm and resource inefficiency associated with drug development. VoxCell also supports economic growth and drives progress in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries through our innovative solutions. At VoxCell, diversity and inclusion are core values. As a female-founded and led enterprise, our senior leadership team represents diversity, with 50% being female and 75% being immigrants. We implement inclusive recruitment strategies, offering internships, co-op placements, and targeted skill development programs to underrepresented groups. Our partnerships with local universities and colleges provide resources and support for academic research, and our mentorship programs for local startups and SMEs further demonstrate our commitment to community support. The community has shown immense support for VoxCell through increased brand awareness, investment, and collaboration requests. We have signed 10 pilot projects with prominent pharmaceutical SMEs, validating our technology and assisting us in bringing it to market. Additionally, our impact has been recognized through awards such as Life Sciences BC's Companies to Watch – Recognition Honour Roll, and our nomination as a top finalist for Company of the Year – Growth by the BC Technology Impact Awards.

Tell Us About Your Culture. How are you creating a sustainable and healthy workplace where everyone feels welcome? Provide examples of leadership you show in interactions with clients, vendors, contractors, staff and others.

Diversity and Inclusion: As a female-founded and led enterprise, we place a strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion. Our senior leadership team is composed of 50% women and 75% immigrants. We actively implement inclusive recruitment strategies to ensure diverse representation across all levels of our organization. This includes offering internships, co-op placements, and targeted skill development programs to underrepresented groups. Professional Development: We invest in the continuous growth of our employees by providing access to training programs, workshops, and conferences. Each team member has a personalized development plan tailored to their career goals and aspirations. Mentorship Programs: Our leadership team actively participates in mentoring both within and outside the company. By providing guidance and support to emerging professionals, we foster a culture of continuous learning and development. Community Involvement: We lead by example through our active involvement in community initiatives and industry events. This includes participating in local incubators and contributing to academic research. Client Relations: Our leadership team sets the standard for client interactions by emphasizing transparency, integrity, and responsiveness. We build strong relationships with our clients by understanding their needs and delivering tailored solutions.