Cerebro Therapeutics is a biotech company based in Quebec City developing disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, with a primary focus on Parkinson's.

Unlike current therapies that only manage symptoms, Cerebro is working to stop the disease from progressing altogether.

In this episode, Jim Wilson speaks with president and co-founder Martin Levesque about a company that spun directly out of his research lab at Laval University.

Martin explains the science behind their approach, which combines immunotherapy and gene therapy to deliver protective antibodies across the blood-brain barrier in a single injection, and how a striking result in a mouse model convinced him the work needed to reach patients.

Martin also reflects on the leap from academic researcher to startup founder, the support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and why he believes the first treatment to halt Parkinson's could be made in Canada.

Based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, ResearchNB is the province's research funding agency. Think of the federal tri-councils CIHR, NSERC, and SSHRC combined into one and operating at a provincial level.

In this episode, Jim Wilson speaks with CEO Candice Pollack about an organization that has moved well beyond the traditional role of a passive funder. Candice explains how ResearchNB now actively connects researchers with industry, government, and community to make sure good research does not simply end up as a paper on a shelf, but moves toward real impact whether through commercialization, policy change, or better patient care.

Candice also makes a heartfelt case for New Brunswick as one of Canada's most underrated places for research and innovation, and why she believes the province's small, nimble approach is a strength rather than a limitation.

Node AI is a software as a medical device company based in Hamilton, Ontario using artificial intelligence to guide surgeons through endobronchial ultrasound, a critical procedure used to determine whether lung cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Until now, surgeons performing it have essentially been navigating blind.
In this episode, Jim Wilson speaks with co-founder and CEO Mackensey Bacon about a company that grew out of a surgeon's simple observation: if a phone can recognize a face, why can't AI identify a malignant lymph node? Mackensey explains how that idea became a company with four clinical trial sites across Canada and an FDA submission on track for the end of the year.
Mackensey also reflects on the strength of Hamilton's life sciences ecosystem and what it takes to lead a startup alongside two of the best in their fields.