The current advisory body for Health Emergency Readiness Canada is the Life Sciences Expert Advisory Council.
On this page
Overview and mandate
The Life Sciences Expert Advisory Council advises the Government of Canada on how to strengthen Canada’s biomanufacturing and life sciences sectors, particularly where health and economic security overlap. Its main role is to give independent, strategic advice to Health Emergency Readiness Canada (HERC) to help improve Canada’s ability to prepare for and respond to health emergencies, while also supporting the growth of the sector.
The Council brings together expertise to reflect HERC’s needs, with representation across foundational research and development, industry and commercialization, and public policy and health security perspectives. Using this broad experience, the Council supports the development of a strong, innovative, and resilient life sciences sector that can adapt to new technologies, respond to global changes, and contribute to long term economic growth and national health security.
Further, the Council will provide the Government of Canada with expert real-time perspective and advice during an industrial response to a health emergency.
Members
-
Dr. Joanne M. Langley (Co-chair)
Professor of Pediatrics and Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine; Division Head, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, IWK Health Care Centre
-
Dr. Marco Marra (Co-chair)
Professor, University of British Columbia
-
Dr. Penny Ballem
Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of British Columbia
-
Dr. Alan Bernstein
Professor emeritus and Distinguished Fellow, Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto
-
Dr. Brian Courtney
Associate Professor and Clinician Scientist, University of Toronto, Schulich Heart Program and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
-
Karimah Es Sabar
Founder and CEO, Ameekha Solutions Inc.
-
Alexandre Le Bouthiller
General Partner at Linearis Ventures, Chief Corporate Officer & Co-Founder at Imagia
-
Dr. Filippa Lentzos
Associate Professor in Science & International Security, King’s College, London
-
Mark Lievonen
Principal, JML Advisory Services
-
Dr. Dennis Liotta
Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University
-
Chris Procyshyn
Technology Executive and Life Sciences Leader
-
Dr. Benjamin Rovinski
Managing Director and Senior Vice-President, Lumira Ventures
-
Dr. Ilse Treurnicht
General Partner at North South Ventures
Registry of interests
The Government of Canada has processes in place to manage potential conflicts of interest, consistent with similar advisory bodies internationally. Council members are required to declare any conflicts and will not participate in discussions or be asked to provide advice where a conflict exists. We keep a public registry of declared interests to support transparency.
Past life sciences advisory bodies
In the past, other groups provided expert advice to support the Government of Canada’s work in the life sciences sector. Learn more about these groups.