CCRM At 15: Powering Canada's Rise In Cell And Gene Therapy

Toronto, Ontario — CCRM is proud to celebrate its 15th anniversary, marking a decade and a half of advancing regenerative medicine and helping to establish Canada as a global player in the maturing cell and gene therapy field.

Since its founding in 2011, CCRM has worked at the intersection of science, business and investment to accelerate the translation of promising discoveries into therapies that can reach patients. Over that time, the organization has supported hundreds of industry and academic projects, helped launch and scale dozens of companies, and played a catalytic role in attracting hundreds of millions of dollars in investment into Canada’s regenerative medicine sector.

“Fifteen years ago, the regenerative medicine sector in Canada was still emerging, with tremendous promise but significant gaps between discovery and commercialization,” said Michael May, President and CEO of CCRM. “We set out to help close those gaps by launching and investing in companies, building specialized development and manufacturing infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across the ecosystem. I’m proud of the role CCRM has played in putting Canada on the global map for cell and gene therapy. There is still more to do, and we remain focused on enabling the next generation of therapies to reach patients.”

Among its many contributions, CCRM has been instrumental in supporting the creation and growth of leading companies such as BlueRock Therapeutics (a subsidiary of Bayer AG), Notch Therapeutics (acquired by Roche), and Montreal-based ExCellThera. These companies, rooted in breakthrough science developed in Canada, have collectively attracted significant international investment and forged partnerships with global pharmaceutical firms, thereby demonstrating the strength of the country’s innovation pipeline.

CCRM has also played a central role in building Canada’s biomanufacturing capabilities for cell and gene therapies. Recognizing early that manufacturing would be a critical bottleneck for the field, the organization helped advance solutions in scalable process development, automation and analytics. Its leadership contributed to the establishment of advanced manufacturing infrastructure and expertise that are now essential components of the national ecosystem.

A defining example of this leadership is CCRM’s role in establishing OmniaBio Inc., Canada’s largest cell and gene therapy contract development and manufacturing organization, headquartered in Hamilton, Ontario. Designed to address global demand for high-quality manufacturing capacity from preclinical to commercial scale, OmniaBio represents a major step forward in ensuring that therapies developed in Canada, and abroad, can be produced efficiently and at scale.

The global cell and gene therapy market has expanded dramatically over the past decade, with estimates placing its value at more than US$30 billion today and projecting growth to exceed US$200 billion within the next decade.¹ This rapid expansion reflects a wave of scientific and clinical breakthroughs, as well as increasing regulatory approvals for therapies targeting cancer, rare diseases and other serious conditions. CCRM’s work has helped position Canada to capture a meaningful share of this growing market.

“CCRM’s success over the past 15 years reflects the power of partnership and a shared commitment to building something enduring for Canada,” said Michael Nobrega, Chair of the Board of CCRM. “By bringing together expertise across science, industry and investment, CCRM has helped create a foundation for long-term growth in regenerative medicine. As artificial intelligence and new technologies like quantum computing begin to intersect with this field, CCRM is well-positioned to continue leading and shaping the future of innovation.”

CCRM is exploring how emerging technologies can further accelerate innovation in regenerative medicine. Its collaboration with IonQ, a global leader in quantum computing, is one such example. Together, CCRM and IonQ are investigating how quantum computing can be applied to complex biological systems and bioprocess optimization. They have established DeepTech Bio Lab,™ a centre of excellence to accelerate advanced therapies through quantum, artificial intelligence and digital technologies. This forward-looking partnership reflects CCRM’s commitment to staying at the forefront of scientific and technological advancement and unlocking new possibilities for the field.

In parallel, CCRM has supported the development of a highly skilled workforce by delivering training programs and collaborating with academic institutions to ensure talent pipelines keep pace with industry needs. It has also fostered collaboration across sectors, bringing together researchers, clinicians, companies, investors and policymakers to align priorities and accelerate innovation.

CCRM’s influence extends well beyond individual projects or companies. Its model has helped de-risk early-stage technologies, making them more attractive to investors and partners, while its convening power has strengthened Canada’s reputation as a collaborative and innovation-friendly environment.

As it looks to the future, CCRM is focused on addressing the next set of challenges facing the field, including reducing the cost of therapies, improving manufacturing efficiency, and expanding patient access. Through continued investment, partnership and innovation, the organization is committed to ensuring that Canada is a leader in the field, launching the next wave of innovative regenerative medicine companies.

CCRM’s 15th anniversary is not only a celebration of past achievements but also a recognition of the collective effort that has built a thriving ecosystem – one that delivers real-world impact and offers new hope to patients in Canada and around the world.

About CCRM
CCRM is a global, public-private partnership headquartered in Canada. It has received funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and leading academic and industry partners. CCRM supports the development of regenerative medicines and associated enabling technologies, with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy. A network of researchers, leading companies, investors, and entrepreneurs, CCRM accelerates the translation of scientific discovery into new companies and revolutionary medicines for patients with specialized teams, dedicated funding, and unique infrastructure. In 2022, CCRM established OmniaBio Inc., a commercial-stage CDMO for manufacturing cell and gene therapies. Visit us at ccrm.ca.

1. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/12/09/3202431/0/en/cell-and-gene-therapy-market-size-to-worth-usd-232-22-billion-rising-at-24-cagr-by-2035.html