Dr. Jason Szeto, PhD
Scientist, Immunology Platform, Analytical Research and Development, Sanofi-Pasteur
Jason Szeto is currently a scientist working with the global vaccine company Sanofi-Pasteur. Prior to this, he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology-Biotechnology at the University of Ottawa, with his Honour’s thesis focusing on the mechanisms of bacterial plasmid replication. With interest in molecular microbiology, Jason pursued his doctoral studies at the same institution and investigated cell division proteins of pathogenic Neisseria bacteria using molecular, biochemical, and microscopy techniques. After completing his PhD, he joined the laboratory of Dr. John H. Brumell, Hospital for Sick Children, as a post-doctoral fellow. In the Brumell lab, Jason conducted bacteria-host interaction studies on the food-borne pathogen Salmonella typhimurium. Using cellular microbiology and fluorescent cell imaging methods, he studied the intracellular growth of Salmonella and its interaction with host cell systems in vitro. As a post-doctoral fellow, Jason also had the opportunity to guest lecture at the University of Toronto, including several third and fourth year undergraduate general microbiology and microbial pathogenesis classes, respectively. After his fellowship, Jason was recruited in 2008 to join the Immunology-Microbiology Department of Sanofi-Pasteur Canada, located at the Sunnybrook Hospital Campus in Toronto. There, he conducted preclinical research on candidate pathogenic bacterial vaccine antigens to assess their efficacy and mechanisms of action. After a restructuring of global Sanofi-Pasteur operations, Jason became a member of the Immunology Platform of the Analytical Research and Development North America division, where he develops and conducts immunological assays to monitor the stability, potency, and quantity of candidate vaccine antigens and therapeutic proteins.
Dr. Richard Cheung, PhD
Associate in the Technology and Intellectual Property Group; Fasken Martineau, LLP
Richard Cheung is an associate lawyer in the Toronto office of the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP Intellectual Property Group and a member of its Life Sciences industry group. Richard practises in all areas of intellectual property law with a focus on patents. In addition, he counsels clients on regulatory issues related to health products in Canada including compliance and enforcement matters, drug pricing and reimbursement, data protection, patent listing, and medical device licensing. Richard also has experience in a wide range of matters involving the innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, including proceedings under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.
Richard is a licensed pharmacist in the Province of Ontario with experience in community and hospital pharmacy. His doctorate thesis involved the development of a novel particulate delivery system for anti-cancer drugs. He has broad technical experience in the areas of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.
Mr. Mark Penner, MSc, LLB
Partner in the Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group; Fasken Martineau, LLP
Mark is a partner in the Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group with expertise in the acquisition, protection and enforcement of intellectual property. Mark is registered to practise as a patent and trade-mark agent before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. He is also registered to represent Canadian applicants before the United States
Patent & Trademark Office. Mark’s practice also involves the IP aspects of corporate transactions (e.g. financing, mergers & acquisitions and joint ventures) such as protection of confidential information, trade secrets and know how, conducting due diligence, as well as technology acquisition and licensing.
Dr. Martin Offringa, PhD
Senior Scientist and Program Head, Child Health Evaluative Sciences at SickKids Research Institute
After graduation from medical school in 1986 Martin Offringa trained in epidemiology and clinical decision analysis at the Rotterdam Centre for Clinical Decision Analysis, and completed his training in paediatrics and neonatology. Motivated by the increased focus on clinical research in children and the stark deficiencies in knowledge about optimum ways to deal with methodological and practical challenges of research in children, Dr Offringa created StaR Child Health. StaR Child Health brings together an international group of leading methodologists, clinicians, regulators, funders, and decision makers to systematically identify what is known, create a research agenda when gaps exist, and translate information into practical guidance for end-users. In 2012, Dr. Offringa was appointed as Senior Scientist and Head of the Child Health Evaluative Science Program at The Hospital for Sick Children, he holds a clinical appointment in the Department in Neonatology and is a Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto.