Adam Buffone is the Associate Director of the Office of Clinical Trials at Health Canada’s Pharmaceutical Drugs Division. With a Master’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa, Adam has over 15 years of experience at Health Canada, including roles such as working in the Vaccine Quality Labs, Senior Clinical Evaluator in the Office of Clinical Trials for both biologics and pharmaceutical drugs, and Senior Regulatory Affairs Officer. His work has contributed to the modernization of clinical trial regulations. Previously, Adam managed the Medical Officer Group and the Biologist Section within the Office of Clinical Trials in the Pharmaceutical Drugs Division. In his current position, he oversees clinical trial reviews, serves as the Deputy Topic Lead for Canada on ICH M11, and contributes to the Special Access Program. Adam will be presenting on behalf of Health Canada, sharing insights and advancements in the field of clinical trials.

Bruno Lemire is a Medical Affair professional with over a decade of experience in leadership roles within the pharmaceutical industry, currently serving as the Medical Lead for the Oncology Pipeline at GSK. He has led high-performing teams at GSK and Novartis, driving clinical trial footprint and enhancing scientific awareness through strategic initiatives. Bruno received his PhD in Experimental Medicine from Université Laval, his master’s from the University of Ottawa and his bachelor's degree from McGill University.

Armstrong is a molecular biologist with a PhD focused on bioinformatics and computational biology in HIV, a specialization that allowed him to contribute to significant research during his postdoctoral studies, particularly within Hepatitis C. This academic foundation gave him a profound appreciation for the intricacies of biological research and the potential for technological interventions. Transitioning from academia to the pharmaceutical industry, Armstrong immersed himself in an array of roles. His diverse experiences spanned from business analytics and development to specialized work in machine learning (ML), specifically within clinical R&D in global pharmaceutical companies in the Fortune 500. Each role provided him with valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of the industry. His interests range from basic, foundational research to clinical drug development. The fusion of these experiences led Armstrong to co-found Simmunome, where he currently serves as CEO. At Simmunome, he is leveraging his background in ML and bioinformatics, diving deep into biological complexities to find innovative solutions to challenges in biological and clinical R&D. Armstrong finds the work at Simmunome incredibly rewarding and is excited to see where the team’s continued research and exploration will lead.

Dr. Joanna Gotfrit is a Medical Oncologist at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa. She specializes in Gastro-Intestinal and Head & Neck cancers. She received her MD from McMaster University and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology at the University of Ottawa, followed by a fellowship in Gastro-Intestinal Oncology, and a Master’s of Health Management at McMaster University. Her research focus is in health systems and health policy. She is the chairperson for the Ontario Medical Association executive section on Hematology and Medical Oncology. She is also involved on multiple hospital committees, and in teaching and medical education.

For over 15 years, Olivier has led a variety of missions, all focused on patients, caregivers, researchers and healthcare professionals in the fields of reproductive medicine, obstetrics, oncology and rare diseases. Olivier also has a strong knowledge of the political environment and government affairs in health and innovation at both federal and provincial levels. Olivier has put this expertise to work for patients and their families to facilitate and accelerate access to innovation in healthcare. For more than 3 years, Olivier has contributed to the success of CATALIS' mission, piloting patient engagement programs and other strategic initiatives aimed at optimizing Quebec's clinical research ecosystem.