USask celebrates new startup incubator, mobilizing campus innovations to market
SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (USask) community, provincial and municipal leaders, and members of the province’s business community are coming together on Thursday, February 16 from 4:30-6 pm, to celebrate the grand opening of a new startup incubator named Opus.
A pre-accelerator program designed to support the unique needs of USask founders, Opus provides necessary access to programming, infrastructure, and a network of mentors and advisors to promote successful ventures and inventions developed on campus.
Media are invited to meet the entrepreneurs and experts from the pilot program, hear their startup story, and network with leaders and innovators in the industry.
Event details:Date: Thursday, February 16, 2023
Time: 4:30-6 pm
Location: Innovation Place, 230 Galleria Building (15 Innovation Blvd)
Panel Speakers – Speakers are USask researchers who are members of the first cohort of Opus participants and have seen the benefits in its programming to develop their own unique and transformative ventures.
Dr. Robert Laprairie (PhD) - Laprairie and his team are developing psychedelic and non-psychedelic psilocybin-based therapeutics to treat depression and anxiety. Most of the drugs currently available in the market are slow-acting and only effective in one-third to one-half of all patients. These new therapeutics will provide an alternative to conventional antidepressants for patients that work quickly and at lower doses.
Dr. Michael Levin (MD) - Levin’s research identified a knowledge gap while studying the brains of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. His team found a missing piece of the puzzle and developed an innovative drug design. This new drug prevents nerve cells from dying, and in fact, grows them back, meeting the need of MS patients for a new therapy to treat this debilitating disease.
Dr. Ekaterina (Kate) Dadachova (PhD) - Dadachova is developing targeted treatments for bone cancer with animal and human applications. This drug is designed to target and destroy cancer cells by delivering ionizing radiation to the tumour and distant metastases which will be killed by radiation.
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For media inquiries, contact:
Brooke Kleiboer
USask Media Relations
306-966-1388
brooke.kleiboer@usask.ca
On-site media contact:
Leslie-Ann Schlosser
USask Director, Research Profile and Impact
306-966-1464
leslieann.schlosser@usask.ca