Samuel Abraham, PhD (Genetics)
Vice President, Strategic Relations
As Vice President, Strategic Relationships for the BC Cancer Agency, Dr. Abraham works with industry and academia to establish partnerships and development strategies to promote and implement the BC Cancer Agency’s mandate.
Dr. Abraham received his PhD in Genetics from the University of British Columbia in 1995 and joined Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals as a senior scientist in 1996; he later became Project Leader for the Transplant program, as well as Division Leader for Cell and Molecular Biology. Dr. Abraham became a Scientific Analyst at the Technology Development Office (TDO) of the BC Cancer Agency in 2000 and served as Director of the TDO from 2002 - 2007. He was appointed Vice President, Strategic Relationships for the BC Cancer Agency in December, 2007. Dr. Abraham serves on the Canadian Institute of Health Research’s Proof of Principle Review team and is a member of the Board of Directors of Westlink Innovations Network, an organization formed to facilitate communication, collaboration and technology development and commercialization in Western Canada.
Telephone: (604) 675-8199
Email: sabra@bccancer.bc.ca
Sarah Jane Lee, MBA, BSc
Director
Ms. Lee joined the TDO team in June 1999. Her primary role is to identify and assess the feasibility of intellectual property for commercialization as well as assist in the development business models for the commercialization process. Ms. Lee earned a Bachelor of Science, specializing in Human Nutrition, from the University of British Columbia, in 1995 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Saskatchewan, in 1998. In addition to her role at the BCCA, Sarah also managed a consulting company, SmartStart Business Resources from 2000 to 2003 and continues to provide consulting services for a number of independent ventures including a management consulting practice focused on business planning for early stage companies. Sarah is an annual participant and mentor for the Telus New Ventures judge panel.
Telephone: (604) 675-8196
Email: sjlee@bccancer.bc.ca
Patrick Rebstein, PhD (Microbiology and Immunology)
Associate Director
Dr. Rebstein joined the TDO team in July 2004. He works with scientists and clinicians at the Agency to enable the scientific development of intellectual property.
Dr. Rebstein received his MSc in Medical Biophysics at the Ontario Cancer Institute (University of Toronto) and his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia. He joined the Biochemistry group at Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals as a research scientist in 1997. In 2001 he joined Active Pass Pharmaceuticals and in 2004 was promoted to Director of Drug Discovery. Dr Rebstein has over seven years of industry experience in the drug discovery process. This experience allows him to enable the further development of initial exciting discovery research, guide the translation of research findings into the clinic, and evaluate the commercial potential of scientific discoveries.
Telephone: (604) 675-8000 ext. 7718
Email: prebstein@bccancer.bc.ca
Ron Lauener, PhD (Experimental Medicine)
Scientific Development Officer
Dr. Lauener joined the TDO team in December 2002 as Scientific Development Officer. In this role he works with scientists and clinicians at the Agency to assist in the scientific development of intellectual property, fuelling translational research as well as the commercial potential of discoveries.
Dr. Lauener received a BSc in Chemistry from Simon Fraser University, an MSc in Genetics and Ph.D in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia. He joined Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals as a senior scientist in 1997 and managed several research/pre-clinical stage projects with a focus on drug discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics. He also served as Divisional Leader for the Biochemistry group. Dr. Lauener has over five years industry experience in translating discovery research through to clinical proof-of-principle.
Telephone: (604) 675-8197
Email: rlauener@bccancer.bc.ca
Kimberly Richmond, MSc
Technology Commercialization Specialist
Ms. Richmond joined the TDO team in October 2004. Her primary role is to work with researchers and clinicians in the execution of research contracts and agreements as well as the identification and protection of BCCA Intellectual Property for commercialization. Ms. Irving earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Lethbridge in 1995, and a Master of Science in Molecular Biology from the University of Alberta in 2002. Prior to joining the TDO, Ms. Irving was employed at SemBioSys Genetics Inc. as an Alberta Heritage Foundation Intellectual Property Intern.
Telephone: (604) 675-8000 ext. 7719
Email: krichmond@bccancer.bc.ca
Susan Grose
Agreement Administrator
Ms. Grose rejoined the TDO in May 2007 and is the primary contact for confidentiality and material transfer agreement processing in addition to coordinating activities with TDO staff. Previously she was Corporate Secretary for Perceptronix Medical Inc., a spin-off company of the BC Cancer Agency. From 1998 – 2004, Ms. Grose functioned as an Intellectual Property Manager at TDO. Ms. Grose has lengthy experience working with companies and managing contract timelines and licenses. Her knowledge of BCCA research activities and personnel make her an invaluable member of the TDO team.
Telephone: (604) 675-8198
Email: sgrose@bccancer.bc.ca
Leon Poznanski , MBA BSc.
Technology Commercialization Specialist
Mr. Poznanski joined the TDO team in September 2008. In his role as Technology Commercialization Specialist, he works with scientists and industry to execute research contracts and agreements, as well as assisting with business development and commercialization projects. Before joining the TDO, Mr. Poznanski worked in the Centre for Genetic Modeling at the BC Cancer Research Centre as a lab assistant for four years. Mr. Poznanski holds an MBA with a specialty in biotechnology management, and a B.Sc.(Hon.) from Simon Fraser University.
Telephone: (604) 675-8000 ext 7711
Email: lpoznanski@bccancer.bc.ca
Shatha Qaqish, PhD (Chemistry)
WestLink Intern
Dr. Qaqish joined the TDO team in January 2009. In her role as a WestLink Intern, she works with scientists at the BC Cancer Agency to assist in the development of intellectual property and the commercialization process. Dr Qaqish also manages research contracts and agreements and assists with business development projects. Dr. Qaqish received her BSc and MSc in Chemistry from the Hashemite University in Jordan, and her PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Qaqish joined WestLink Innovation Network in January 2009 to be part of the technology commercialization team in Western Canada.
Telephone:(604) 675-8000 ext 7607
Email: sqaqish@bccancer.bc.ca
