Life Sciences Nova Scotia CEO Doris Grant will take on an additional role following a collaboration agreement between her industry group and Nova Scotia Health.

Grant has been announced as the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub’s new managing director, returning to the organization where she previously spent just over three years as senior director of innovation. Gail Tomblin Murphy, a top civil servant at Nova Scotia Health who has been closely involved in the running of the Innovation Hub, will stay on in an advisory capacity.

“This partnership presents a unique opportunity to integrate our efforts and amplify our impact on healthcare innovation and the life sciences ecosystem,” Grant said in a statement. “I look forward to driving initiatives that will benefit patients, healthcare providers, innovators, entrepreneurs and our vibrant healthcare and life sciences ecosystem."

Grant, who was appointed CEO of Life Sciences Nova Scotia in May, previously spent just over a year as its vice president of business development and strategy. In total, she has worked in the biotech space for nearly 30 years and held private sector, public sector and academic roles.

“I believe there is a real opportunity here to coordinate our efforts and make our ecosystem stronger,” said Life Sciences Nova Scotia chair Kevin Sullivan. “Not only between LSNS and Health Innovation Hub, but across the ecosystem. We are excited to play our part in helping make that happen.”

It is not uncommon for founders in the life sciences space to tell Entrevestor that the industry would benefit from increased collaboration, particularly in the realm of commercializing innovation.

“Our vision for this organization is to have a thriving, resilient, connected life sciences ecosystem,” Grant said in May. “That is what we believe in, and that is what we want to build, across the province and beyond.”