Norma Biln is a founder and Chair of the Board of Augurex Life Sciences Corp, a UBC-spinout biotechnology company that, over the past two decades, has focused on arthritis biomarker research. Augurex is now a leader in the field of clinical diagnostics, specializing in biomarker-driven tests for autoimmune conditions, and is recognized by LifeSciences BC as the 2024 Emerging Company of the Year. Dr. Biln’s passion for improving arthritis patient outcomes led her to pursue her doctoral research in strategies to reduce patient diagnostic delay in the rheumatology referral pathway.
The first 17 years of Dr. Biln’s career began in clinical research with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, continuing in various roles with Amgen and Abbott Laboratories. Since the founding of Augurex in 2008, Dr. Biln has served as a director on the boards of several private and public traded companies, not-for-profit organizations and industry associations.
As a leading figure in the biotechnology sector, Dr. Biln was recognized as Western Regional Winner and National Finalist for the 2023 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Innovation Award, 2018 BC Business Most Influential Women STEM Stars and in 2017, Canada’s Most Powerful Women WXN: Top 100 Award Winner and a 2017 nominee to the Order of Canada.
Dr. Biln holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiology from McGill, a Master’s in Business Administration, a PhD in Population and Public Health from UBC, and an NACD.DC Directorship Certification from the US National Association of Corporate Directors.