CDANXT 2025 HUB
Morning
7:30 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. Sponsor Breakfast
8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Keynote #1
From Cost Centre to Catalyst: Building Canada’s Health Economy from the Home Outward
Speaker: Chenny Xia, CEO, Gotcare
9:45 – 10:30 a.m. Session #2 | Global Perspectives: The Health Economy Imperative
Moderator Bill Dempster (3Sixty Public Affairs)
Speakers: Jenny Luray (Research!America) | Nadia Levin (Research Australia) | Anna Nilsson Vindefjärd (Research!Sweden) | Alison Evans (Research Canada)
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Networking Break
Late Morning
10:45 – 11:30 a.m. Session #3 | Pillar I – The People Imperative
Moderator: André Picard (The Globe and Mail)
Panel: Linxi Mytkolli (Diabetes Action Canada) | Brad Wouters (UHN) | Eva Reddington (MITACS) | Constance LeBlanc (AFMC) | Hon. Mike Lake (MP)
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Session #4 | Pillar II – The Commercial Imperative
Moderator: Cate Murray (Stem Cell Network)
Panel: Jessica Diniz (Breakthrough T1D) | Susan Marlin (Clinical Trials Ontario) | Christine Lennon (Incyte Biosciences) | Robert Asselin (U15) | Arima Ventin (AbbVie)
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. Networking Lunch + Special Presentation
Afternoon
1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Keynote #2
Mobilizing Public Support for Transformative Health Research & Innovation
Speaker: David Coletto, CEO & Founding Partner, Abacus Data
2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Session #7 | Pillar III – The Healthcare Transformation Imperative
Moderator: Tessie Sanci (The Hill Times)
Panel: Dr. Kumanan Wilson (Bruyère Research Institute) | Blake Daly (Bruyère Continuing Care) | Patrick Odnokon (SHRF) | Bettina Hamelin (Innovative Medicines Canada)
2:45 – 3:15 p.m. Networking Break
3:15 – 4:00 p.m. Session #8 | Pillar IV – The Mindset Imperative
Moderator: Alison Evans (Research Canada)
Panel: Anne Woods (RBCx) | Tim Evans (Concordia University) | Robin Shaban (2R Strategy) | Damian Lamb (Genesys Capital)
4:00 – 4:20 p.m. Arm-Chair Chat with Hon. Mike Lake, Stephen Scheerer & Daisy
4:20 – 4:40 p.m. Arm-Chair Chat with Novartis & Breast Cancer Canada
4:40 – 5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
Speakers: Ryan Wiley (Shift Health) & Alison Evans (Research Canada)
Putting it all together: a shared vision for Canada’s health research and innovation strategy.
Evening
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Closing Reception & Awards
Sponsored by Novartis.
Meet our 2025 CDANXT speakers
Networking is at the heart of CDANXT. Our passion is connecting leaders across the Health Research and Innovation ecosystem, and this year’s conference brings together a remarkable group of visionaries, innovators, and change-makers from Canada and around the world.
Click on any speaker below to view their profile and connect with them on LinkedIn.
Each leader brings unique insight and expertise to help shape the future of health research and innovation, and the conversations you start here can carry forward well beyond today.
Alison Evans
André Picard
Anna Nilsson
Anne Woods
Dr. Bettina Hamelin
Bill Dempster
Blake Daly
Brad Wouters
Cate Murray
Chenny Xia
Christine Lennon
Constance LeBlanc
David Coletto
Eva Reddington
Jessica Diniz
Jenny Luray
Dr. Kumanan Wilson
Linxi Mytkolli
Nadia Levin
Patrick Odnokon
Dr. Paul Hebert
Robert Asselin
Robin Shaban
Ryan Wiley
Susan Marlin
Tessie Sanci
Step into the conversation
Join fellow leaders shaping the future of health research and innovation.
Stay connected beyond CDANXT 2025
Be the first to receive follow-up notes, select slide decks, and key insights from today’s conversations, plus ongoing updates from Research Canada’s national network.
Join our mailing list and stay informed about health research and innovation, upcoming events, advocacy initiatives, and more.
Thanking our sponsors
This conference is made possible through the leadership and partnership of organizations committed to advancing Canada’s health research and innovation ecosystem. We are proud to recognize and thank our Presenting, Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsors for their vital support.
Presenting sponsor
Gold sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze sponsors
Thank you to our members
Research Canada is proud to represent more than 120 member organizations from across Canada’s health research and innovation ecosystem. Their commitment to advancing discovery, improving health, and strengthening our sector makes gatherings like CDANXT2025 possible.
Together, our members are driving the future of health research and innovation in Canada, and we are grateful for their partnership and leadership.
Help us make the next one even better
This is Research Canada’s first national conference, and your feedback is invaluable. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on today’s experience so we can continue making our events as valuable and impactful as possible.
Thank you for joining us!
We are grateful you chose to spend your day with us at CDANXT2025. Your presence, ideas, and connections are what make this gathering so impactful.
Together, we’re advancing Canada’s health research and innovation ecosystem — and this is only the beginning.
Safe travels, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
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