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About
About
About
From Idea to Impact
Most medical innovations stall between concept and clinic. BioNext exists to close that gap!
BioNext is a medical technology incubator based in London, Ontario, part of Western University's Innovation & Strategic Partnerships department and situated within Western Research Parks. We work with founders at the earliest, most uncertain stages — when a clinical problem is clear but the solution isn't. Our job is to help turn that insight into a technology that works in the real world.
Whether you're working in medical devices, biologics, or pharmaceuticals — and no matter what stage you're at — BioNext provides the infrastructure, networks, and expertise to move forward with confidence. From first prototype to regulatory approval to commercialization, we are here to help.
BioNext was born from the vision of Dr. Maria Drangova, Professor of Medical Biophysics at Western Univeristy, who recognized the need for a dedicated environment where health innovators could develop bold ideas, access the right expertise and build successful companies. That founding vision remains at the heart of BioNext's approach to supporting the next generation of health innovation entrepreneurs.
Services
By aligning design with regulatory and business strategy from the outset, BioNext helps founders build technologies that are not only innovative—but credible, clinically relevant, and positioned to scale.
Fabrication and Manufacturing
Turn your ideas into physical, testable prototypes with hands-on technical support from our Biomedical Fabrication Specialist.
- Technical Design: Access support for product design, manufacturing planning, and the development of Quality Management Systems (QMS).
- Rapid Iteration: In-house prototyping capabilities allow for quick adjustments based on form, usability, and clinician feedback.
- De-risking: Helping you build solutions that adhere to Health Canada, FDA, and ISO standards, strengthening alignment between design and clinical use.
Clinical Trial and Regulatory Strategy
Our dedicated Clinical Research Manager works with you to create a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the medical landscape, from study design through to regulatory approval.
- Study Design: Expert assistance in designing feasible clinical studies and navigating research ethics.
- Regulatory Guidance: Support for navigating Health Canada and FDA requirements.
- Validation Pathways: Identifying appropriate pathways for early feasibility and validation trials.
Growth and Commercialization
Providing mentorship and networks that turn great technology into a viable business.
- Life-Sciences Ecosystem: Stress-test your assumptions and validate your technology at in our networks at Western, London Health Sciences Centre, and Lawson Research Institute.
- Partnership Network: Access a broad ecosystem of industry partners and national networks that open doors and accelerate your path to market.
- Business Development: Mentorship spanning business development, financing strategy, and commercialization — the full path from prototype to market-ready product.
Resources
"BioNext has played a major role in accelerating our technical progress. Their access to dry lab space, vent hoods, high-end 3D printing capabilities, and a wide range of fabrication and measurement tools has enabled us to rapidly develop and iterate on prototypes, testing rigs, and early-stage product designs.
Equally important has been their network of experienced specialists across clinical trials, engineering, and machining. The ability to draw on this expertise has helped us make better-informed decisions, refine our direction, and pursue our goals with greater confidence."
- Oleksiy Zaika, Co-Founder of Vessl Prosthetics
What sets BioNext apart is hands-on access to the full development stack in our state-of-the-art makerspace. With in-house 3D printing and fabrication tools, founders can compress the cycle from idea to physical prototype, enabling them to grow and scale quickly. The BioNext makerspace provides the following tools for clients:
- Fabrication tools and equipment
- Electronic equipment for product development, testing, and repair
- Power supplies
- Oscilloscopes
- Soldering tools
- Reflow oven
- Dual-extrusion 3D printers for functional prototyping
- Ultimaker S5 and S7 Pro
- Medical-grade resin printers for creating biocompatible and sterilizable medical devices
- Formlabs Form 3B+ and Form 3BL
- Industrial-grade 3D printing with fiber reinforcements for enhanced strength
- Markforged X7 Industrial Printer
- Precision cleaning and thermal processing of components and parts
- Fisher Scientific Ultrasonic Tank
- Heratherm Advanced Protocol Programmable Oven
BioNext clients have access to dedicated office space in the heart of the innovation community, working alongside fellow founders and entrepreneurs to collaborate, share learnings, and grow your network. BioNext's office space includes:
- Hot desks
- Meeting rooms
- Storage lockers
- Private phone booths
Team and Mentors
Sarah Brooks
Associate Director, New Ventures
Western University
Email: sarah.brooks@uwo.ca
Sarah manages BioNext, Western's medical innovation incubator, specializing in the advancement of Life Science and IT technologies. She oversees commercialization training and programming offered by the technology transfer office. She brings over 20 years of technology commercialization experience across the US, UK, and Canada, having worked at every stage of the company lifecycle — from venture-backed startups to successful exits.
Martin Smith
Venture Growth Advisor
TechAlliance
Email: marty.smith@techalliance.ca
Marty supports company growth through market research, design thinking, and funding strategy, drawing on his extensive experience building several life sciences startups.
Deniz Edwards
Director, Internal
Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship, Ivey Business School, Western University
Email: dedwards@ivey.ca
Deniz leverages her experience launching an FDA-approved medical device to help founders navigate the technical and business complexities of their entrepreneurial journey.
Colin Macaulay
Business Development Manager
Technology Transfer Office, Western University
Email: cmacaul3@uwo.ca
Colin guides life-science entrepreneurs through IP strategy and market analysis to help translate research ideas into viable business models.
Contact Us
If you are an entrepreneur looking to grow your venture or you wish to get involved with BioNext, please complete our intake form and a member of our team will contact you to arrange a meeting.
For general inquiries, please contact us at bionext@uwo.ca
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