Insights Blog

Building a Biotech: Dr. Mike Cooke’s Journey in Canada

Building a Biotech: Dr. Mike Cooke’s Journey in Canada

Building a Biotech: Dr. Mike Cooke’s Journey in Canada

Insights from the Network

Decorative shape

"We began asking different questions: What is the unmet need? What is the market opportunity? How do we create something that can be translated into a product?”

– Dr. Mike Cooke

Dr. Mike Cooke, Co-Founder & CEO of AmacaThera

Careers Beyond Academia

In this related video from SCN’s Careers Beyond Academia series, Mike Cooke reflects on his transition from academic research to biotech entrepreneurship

June 2026

Interview with Dr. Mike Cooke, Co-Founder & CEO of AmacaThera

For researchers interested in commercializing their discoveries, Dr. Mike Cooke’s journey from Stem Cell Network (SCN) trainee to biotech founder offers valuable insight into the path from academic research to company creation. Originally arriving in Canada through an SCN travel grant during his PhD, Cooke went on to conduct postdoctoral research in Dr. Molly Shoichet’s lab at the University of Toronto before co-founding AmacaThera, which was awarded Emerging Company of The Year in 2026 by Life Sciences Ontario. His experience highlights the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking in moving promising research beyond the lab. From early networking opportunities to securing a landmark licensing deal for AmacaThera’s non-opioid pain therapy, Cooke’s story reflects the growing role researchers can play in shaping the future of biotechnology.

What makes Canada an attractive place to pursue graduate or postgraduate studies or work?

I originally came to Canada from the UK through a Stem Cell Network travel grant during my PhD. That opportunity was really transformative. It allowed me to attend a meeting in Toronto, connect with researchers, and start building relationships within the Canadian stem cell community.

What stood out immediately was the openness to collaboration and the emphasis on networking. I reached out to a couple of labs to see if I could spend some time working with them. One of those labs, led by Dr. Molly Shoichet, ultimately welcomed me in. That short visit turned into a much bigger opportunity.

Canada offers a strong research ecosystem, but what really makes it attractive is the combination of access, collaboration, and willingness to support early-career researchers. In my case, that initial exposure led directly to a postdoctoral position—and ultimately, my career here.

How did your time in Dr. Molly Shoichet’s lab shape your research direction?

My time in Molly’s lab was pivotal. Even during my initial two-week visit, we were able to generate promising data by combining materials I had developed during my PhD with stem cell work in her lab. That quickly led to a publication—and an offer to return for a postdoc.

What made the lab so impactful was the balance of freedom and support. Molly encouraged exploration while providing the resources and guidance needed to move ideas forward. That environment allowed me to think beyond academic research and begin considering how our work could translate into real-world applications.

After my postdoc, Molly was incredibly supportive in helping explore the commercial potential of our research. She gave me the space to experiment with ideas and figure out how to move them toward application, which ultimately led to the founding of AmacaThera.

When did you first see the commercial potential of your work?

We formally incorporated AmacaThera in 2016 and participated in the University of Toronto’s UTEST program. That experience was critical because it shifted our mindset from purely scientific exploration to building a company.

We began asking different questions: What is the unmet need? What is the market opportunity? How do we create something that can be translated into a product?

From the beginning, we were deliberate about focusing on a viable, scalable application. Over time, each milestone—raising investment, generating clinical data, and ultimately licensing the product—reinforced that we were building something with real commercial potential.

Seeing our technology move from the lab into human trials was especially powerful. It demonstrated that what we had developed could have real-world impact.

Can you tell us about AmacaThera and its recent progress?

AmacaThera began with stem cell research, but we made a strategic decision to first develop a simpler product with a clear clinical need: a non-opioid anesthetic for post-operative pain.

The concept is to inject the treatment directly into an incision site, providing localized pain relief and reducing or eliminating the need for opioids.

In November of last year, we licensed this product to a U.S. company in a deal valued at $230 million. That was a major milestone and a strong validation of the technology and the company’s approach.

Our partner is now funding clinical development through Phase II and beyond, which represents a significant investment and accelerates the path toward commercialization.

At the same time, our long-term vision remains tied to stem cell therapies. The goal is to eventually return to those applications—such as treating stroke, blindness, or spinal cord injury—using the platform we’ve developed.

What advice would you give to trainees considering similar career paths?

It’s important to decide early whether you’re more interested in academia or industry. Both are valuable paths, but they require different experiences and mindsets.

I would strongly encourage trainees to seek out opportunities in industry or startups, even if only through internships or short-term placements. Getting that exposure early helps you understand what kind of work you enjoy and where you want to focus your career.

At AmacaThera and in academic labs like Molly’s, we see firsthand how valuable that early experience can be in helping people make informed decisions about their future.