Life Sciences Ontario Announces 2026 Awards Celebrating Excellence, Leadership, and Innovation Across the Life Sciences Sector
Life Sciences Ontario (LSO) has announced the recipients of the 2026 LSO Awards, recognizing outstanding leadership, innovation, and service across Ontario’s dynamic life sciences ecosystem. Now in its 23rd year, the LSO Awards represent one of the province’s longest-standing and most respected programs dedicated to celebrating individuals and organizations whose contributions have meaningfully advanced life sciences research, commercialization, policy, and patient impact.
The 2026 award recipients reflect the breadth, depth, and diversity of excellence within Ontario’s life sciences community. From visionary leaders who have shaped public policy and research commercialization, to companies delivering patient-centred innovation, to volunteers whose advocacy strengthens the sector’s collective voice, this year’s honourees exemplify the collaborative spirit driving Ontario’s life sciences forward.
“From breakthrough innovation to sustained leadership and advocacy, this year’s recipients exemplify the excellence driving Ontario’s life sciences sector forward,” said Dr. Jason Field, President and CEO of Life Sciences Ontario. “We are proud to recognize their work and celebrate the meaningful impact it is having for patients, communities, and the future of life sciences in Ontario.”
The 2026 LSO Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Automotive Building at Exhibition Place in Toronto, bringing together leaders from industry, academia, healthcare, government, and the investment community for an evening of celebration and connection.
Honouring Excellence Across the Life Sciences Ecosystem
Ontario’s life sciences sector continues to play a vital role in advancing healthcare, economic growth, and global innovation. The 2026 LSO Awards highlight achievements across multiple dimensions of the ecosystem, including research leadership, commercialization, community building, entrepreneurship, corporate excellence, and volunteer service.
This year’s recipients include:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – John Wilkinson, President & CEO, Wilkinson Insight Incorporated
- Community Impact Award – Cate Murray, President & CEO, Stem Cell Network
- Leadership Award – Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, Life Science Consultant, Board Member & Entrepreneur Mentor
- Life Science Company of the Year Award – Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Emerging Company of the Year Award – AmacaThera Inc.
- Volunteer Awards – Kira Pejemsky and Adrian Kupesic
Together, these honourees reflect a shared commitment to advancing science, strengthening the ecosystem, and improving outcomes for patients and society.
Lifetime Achievement Award
John Wilkinson, President & CEO, Wilkinson Insight Incorporated
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals whose careers have had a lasting and transformative impact on Ontario’s life sciences sector. This year’s recipient, John Wilkinson, has played a pivotal role in shaping the province’s innovation and research landscape through public service, strategic leadership, and sustained advocacy.
The Honourable John Wilkinson served as a member of the Life Sciences Ontario Board of Directors from 2017 to 2025, bringing invaluable insight and experience to the organization during a period of significant growth and policy development. His connection to the life sciences sector began during his tenure as a Member of Provincial Parliament from 2003 to 2011, where he served as Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s first Minister of Research and Innovation, then-Premier Dalton McGuinty.
In 2007, Wilkinson was appointed Ontario’s first full-time Minister of Research and Innovation, a role in which he became a driving force behind the province’s $1.6 billion Innovation Agenda. Working alongside a dedicated leadership team, he helped design and implement far-reaching investments to strengthen research excellence, accelerate commercialization, catalyze venture capital, and attract global talent.
Following his political career, Wilkinson has continued to support the life sciences sector through board service and advisory roles, including with Greenfield Global, a leading supplier of pharmaceutical-grade alcohol that plays a critical role in the life sciences supply chain. His strategic guidance and advocacy were instrumental in advancing Ontario’s world-class Life Sciences Strategy, helping usher in a new era of investment and opportunity.
Community Impact Award
Cate Murray, President & CEO, Stem Cell Network
The Community Impact Award honours leaders who have strengthened Ontario’s life sciences ecosystem through collaboration, advocacy, and community building. Cate Murray, President and CEO of Canada’s Stem Cell Network (SCN), is recognized for her exceptional leadership in advancing regenerative medicine research and translation.
Since assuming leadership of SCN nearly a decade ago, Murray has overseen the growth of the organization into a national cornerstone of Canada’s regenerative medicine ecosystem. Under her leadership, SCN has secured $117 million in funding, directly supporting cutting-edge research, early-stage clinical trials, and investments in Canadian regenerative medicine companies.
Murray’s career spans public policy, government relations, and research leadership. She began her professional journey as a ministerial policy advisor before joining the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), where she supported Canada’s health research community. She later joined the Council of Canadian Academies, helping ensure that expert research findings informed public policy.
Today, Murray leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to translating Canadian scientific discoveries into patient benefit. She also serves on multiple strategic advisory committees and is a strong advocate for STEAM education, believing that creativity and science are deeply interconnected.
Leadership Award
Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein, Life Science Consultant, Board Member & Entrepreneur Mentor
The Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose vision and mentorship have shaped innovation and commercialization within the life sciences. Dr. Raphael (Rafi) Hofstein has been a central figure in building bridges between research, industry, and global markets.
Dr. Hofstein joined MaRS Innovation (now Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners) as President and CEO at its founding in 2009. Under his leadership, the organization launched more than 50 startup companies, attracted over $300 million in seed funding, and established international strategic partnerships that positioned Toronto as a hub for research commercialization.
A co-founder of Clinical Trials Ontario, Dr. Hofstein has chaired the organization for a decade, helping streamline clinical trial processes and enhance Ontario’s competitiveness. His career also includes leadership roles in Israel’s biotechnology sector, including founding and directing companies listed on NASDAQ and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
As a current member of the Life Sciences Ontario Board of Directors, Dr. Hofstein continues to contribute his expertise in commercialization and ecosystem development.
Life Science Company of the Year Award
Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The Life Science Company of the Year Award recognizes organizations demonstrating excellence in innovation, patient focus, and long-term impact. Seaford Pharmaceuticals Inc., founded in 1991, exemplifies these qualities through its commitment to science-driven, patient-centred healthcare solutions.
Under the leadership of President Tamara Seales, Seaford has built a strong portfolio across dermatology, digestive health, nutritional supplements, and women’s health, with a particular focus on niche and under-served therapeutic areas. The company’s rigorous approach to clinical evidence, regulatory excellence, and thoughtful product design has earned it a reputation for quality and integrity.
Rooted in family values and guided by a long-term vision, Seaford remains an active contributor to Canada’s life sciences ecosystem, collaborating with healthcare professionals and regulators to improve patient outcomes.
Emerging Company of the Year Award
AmacaThera Inc.
The Emerging Company of the Year Award celebrates early-stage companies advancing next-generation technologies. AmacaThera Inc., led by Co-Founder and CEO Mike Cook, is recognized for its innovative hydrogel-based drug delivery platform.
AmacaThera’s proprietary technology enables precise, sustained delivery of therapeutics, transforming from liquid to gel at body temperature. Clinically validated and Phase 2-ready, the platform supports a wide range of applications, from small molecules to biologics. With partnerships spanning global pharmaceutical companies, AmacaThera is helping redefine how drugs are delivered to patients.
Volunteer Awards
The Volunteer Awards recognize individuals whose dedication strengthens Life Sciences Ontario and the broader ecosystem.
Kira Pejemsky, recently retired from Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, has been a tireless advocate for the life sciences sector for more than three decades. Since joining LSO as a volunteer in 2016, she has played a key role in awards programming, outreach, and community engagement.
Adrian Kupesic, Director of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety at Bayer Canada, is recognized for his leadership in policy advocacy and government relations. A valued member of LSO’s Policy and Government Relations Committee since 2020, Kupesic has helped advance LSO’s advocacy priorities while also championing rare disease awareness.
The 2026 LSO Awards ceremony promises to be an evening that celebrates success, strengthens connections, and invests in the future of Ontario’s life sciences sector. Tickets are now available, and Life Sciences Ontario invites the community to join in recognizing the leaders, innovators, and volunteers shaping the future of healthcare and innovation.
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