WHO WE ARE

KASM Life Sciences is a West Coast based company that provides expertise-based consulting services to the biotechnology and Life Science sectors. We combine our extensive industry and academic experience to focus on assisting organizations ranging from universities with promising research to start-up companies that are ready to move into the clinic.

Specifically we can help in areas such as market research and technology assessment, project planning and management, CRO and CMO sourcing, technology transfer along with scientific writing and presentation and glass slide digitalization and image analysis. Based on our backgrounds we are able to effectively communicate our findings to all levels of experience ranging from the technologist to the CEO. We provide our scientific, technical and business advice with a keen appreciation for critical business and organizational considerations ensuring that projects are delivered with professionalism on time and within budget.

In addition to the principals, KASM utilizes a network of consultants based on project requirements.

At a glance

We have over 40 years of combined experience in management and scientific solutions for the biotechnology and life science industries. Our expertise encompasses creating and managing new companies, technology assessment, financing, marketing and business development along with basic research to small scale manufacturing for Phase 1 clinical trials. In addition to the principles Aruna Somasiri and Malcolm Kennard, the company has further access to the expertise of a network of external consultants.

Mission Statement

To provide sound business and science-based advice to clients by taking time to fully understand the client’s needs and problems and to work closely with the client to generate a winning outcome. Each client will be treated equally regardless of size or scope of the project with each member of our team committed to the clients’ success. Our belief is that the best advice comes from a combination of rigorous scientific and technical expertise combined with a sound business oversight.

Our Expertise

Professional experience

We have over 40 years of combined experience in management and scientific solutions for the biotechnology and life science industries. Our expertise encompasses creating and managing new companies, technology assessment, financing, marketing and business development along with basic research to small scale manufacturing for Phase 1 clinical trials. In addition to the principles Malcolm Kennard and Aruna Somasiri, the company has further access to the expertise of a network of external consultants.

Expertise

  • Business Management
  • Start-up Company Creation
  • Business Planning and Strategy Development
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Research Scientist
  • SOP Preparation
  • GLP Facility Setup
  • Study Planning and Design
  • Research Project Management
  • Histopathology Related Solutions
  • Mammalian cell culture, Molecular Biology and Immunology

Aruna Somasiri, PhD. MBA

Dr. Somasiri has over 8 years of experience entrepreneurial experience in the biotechnology service sector. He is a founder and the President of Wax-it Histology Services Inc., a Vancouver-based CRO. He has extensive experience in Management, Strategy, Planning and Operations of start-up companies. He authored SOP’s and oversaw GLP implementation of Wax-it. He also has experience in study design and planning for early stage discovery and pre-clinical trials. Additionally, Dr. Somasiri is an expert in mammalian cell culture model development, imaging and scientific data analysis.

Dr. Somasiri has a MSc in Anatomy and a PhD in Cancer Biology from the University of British Columbia. He also holds a MBA in Biotechnology from the Simon Fraser University. He is an author of over 10 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, over 20 conference proceedings and holds a provisional patent.

Expertise

  • Start-up company creation
  • Operations Management
  • Technology transfer
  • Diagnostic development
  • Drug development/Pharmaceuticals/ CMC/IND
  • Manufacturing/GLP/GMP/SOP
  • Chemical/Biochemical Engineering
  • Antibody Production
  • Mammalian cell culture/recombinant protein production
  • Cell line engineering
  • Fermentor/bioreactor design
  • Protein purification and characterization

Malcolm Kennard, PhD

Dr. Kennard has over 22 years experience in manufacturing and R&D in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and is an expert in the areas of recombinant protein production and purification, mammalian cell line development, bioreactor design and scale up as well as drug and diagnostic development. He has extensive experience with project management, GMP, GLP, quality assurance and SOP writing, regulatory requirements for drug approval, technology transfer as well as safety and animal care.

At present Dr. Kennard is a consultant at viDA Therapeutics and the Michael Smith Laboratories, UBC. He has also recently consulted at Pfizer, Invitrogen, and BiOasis. Previously, he was Director of CMC at Protox Therapeutics Inc., Director of Cell Line Engineering at Chromos Molecular Systems Inc., and Director of Research and Development at BioMarin Pharmaceuticals Canada. Prior to working in industry, Dr. Kennard was a professor in BioChemical Engineering at Heriot Watt University, Scotland and later at the University of Western Ontario, Canada. During this period he was a founder member of a small antibody production company Bioscot Ltd.

Dr. Kennard has a MSc. and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a Chartered Engineer. He is author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications, over 50 conference proceedings and book chapters and holds four patents.

Expertise

  • Leica/Aperio ScanScope
  • Laser Scanning Confocal Systems
  • Spinning Disc Confocal System
  • Research
  • Project & Operation Management
  • SOP Preparation & Validation
  • Cancer Signaling
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Marketing

Michael Chou, MSc, CSE

Manager – Digital Pathology & Image Analysis

Michael has over 5 years of combined experienced in Academia and Biotechnology industry. In addition to his extensive imaging experiences, he is experts in areas of cancer signaling, genetics, molecular biology and marketing. He has extensive experience with market analysis, GLP, SOP preparation and project and operation management. Prior to joining our team, he held positions as Laboratory Managers at Simon Fraser University and Inorganic Analyst at Environmental Division of ALS Laboratory.