Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D.
Venture Partner @ Lumira Ventures
Toronto, Canada
Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. is a Series D investor at Lumira Ventures in Toronto focused on Health Care and Therapeutics. Dr. Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. is the Venture Partner at Lumira Capital Corp. Dr. Underdown joined Lumira Capital in 1997 and is responsible for coordinating scientific and technical due diligence of investment opportunities. Dr. Underdown serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of University Medical Discoveries, Inc. He was previously aManaging Director and Managing Partner at Lumira. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Medtech Partners Inc. He serves as the Chair of Board of Directors of Ontario Genomics Institute. He serves as the Chairman of OsteoQC since November 25, 2014. He has been a Director of VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc., since November 2009 and BioCanRx since Janaury 2018. He has been a Director of Formation Biologics Inc. since July 4, 2014. He serves as Director of McMaster Innovation Park, enGene Inc., and Nysa Membrane Technologies. He served as a Director at Argos Therapeutics, Inc. since 1999 until March 14, 2016. Dr. Underdown serves as a Director of Ception Therapeutics, Inc., Golden Horseshoe Biotechnology Network, MedInnova Partners Inc., Transmolecular Therapeutics, Ontario Genomics Institute, Merix Biosciences Inc., Transplant Technologies Inc., Working Ventures CMDF Queen's University Scientific Breakthrough Fund, Ellipsis Neurotherapeutics, Inc. and Welichem Technologies Corp. He served as a Director at Natrix Separations, Inc. He served as a Director of Aptose Biosciences Inc. from December 10, 2013 to December 15, 2014. He served as a Director of Trillium Therapeutics Inc., and Cytochroma Inc. He served as a Director of ID Biomedical Inc. since September 13, 1999 and Welichem Biotech Inc. since November 1, 2004. He served a number of senior management positions in the biopharmaceutical industry and universities. He served as a Director of Salpep Biotechnology Inc., Viron Therapeutics Inc. and MedTech Partners Inc. He served as an Assistant Vice President Research and Director of Immunology at Pasteur Mrieux Connaught from 1994 to 1997. From 1970 to 1994, he served a number of academic positions including a Professor and an Associate Dean Research at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and a Professor of Department of Pathology and an Associate Dean Research at the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University. He is an Immunologist by training and during his academic career; he focused on immune-mediated diseases as well as vaccine development. Dr. Underdown is actively involved in policy development and grant administration with a number of government and non-governmental organizations that support research including Allergen and CANVAC, Canadian National Centres of Excellence in Asthma and Vaccines and the Ontario Genomics Institute, especially as it applies to commercial development. He published over 85 articles in immunology in numerous peer review publications. He has over 20 years of investment and operational experience in the biopharmaceutical sector. He is a key player in the growth of over 10 life science companies in Canada and the US. Dr. Underdown holds a Ph.D. degree in Immunology from McGill University and undertook Post-Doctoral studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Montreal where he focused on Immune-Mediated Diseases and Vaccine Development. He attended McGill University, where he graduated with a B.Sc. degree with Honors, in Chemistry.
- Total investments:
- 1
- Last investment:
- Lead investor:
- 0%
Last updated:
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Industries Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. invests in
Stages Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. invests in
Countries Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. invests in
Contacts
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Investment Focus
Industry
- Health Care 1 (100%)
- Therapeutics 1 (100%)
- Biotechnology 1 (100%)
Investments
| Company | Description | Round | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argos Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, engages in developing immunotherapy treatments for cancer, infectious and autoimmune diseases, and transplantation rejection. The company has clinical trial programs in cancer and human immunodeficiency virus. Its products include AGS-0031 for metastatic renal cell carcinoma; AGS-0041 for HIV; CD83soluble protein for transplant rejection/autoimmune disorders; Anti IFN-alpha monoclonal antibody2 for lupus; and regulatory T cell therapy3 for autoimmune disorders. The company was formerly known as MERIX Bioscience, Inc. Argos Therapeutics was founded in 1997 and is based in Durham, North Carolina. | $25M / Series D / Apr 24, 2012 |
Co-Investors
About Lumira Ventures
With a 30-year reputation as a leading North American healthcare and life sciences venture capital firm, with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Boston, Lumira Ventures collaborates with and invests in entrepreneurial management teams to build best-in-class, innovation-centric biotherapeutic and medical device companies that are meeting significant unmet needs and creating transformation impact in communities worldwide. Since 1989, Lumira Ventures has invested in over 100 healthcare companies and currently has a portfolio of 30+ active investee companies located in Canada and the United States.
Lumira Ventures Contacts
| Name | Phone | Socials | |
|---|---|---|---|
Baye Galligan, M.A., HBA
Associate
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Benjamin Rovinski
Managing Director
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Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D.
Venture Partner
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Daniel Hetu
Managing Director
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Lu Han
Director, Business Development Asia Pacific
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FAQ
What does Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. invest in?
Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. invests primarily in Health Care, Therapeutics and Biotechnology startups, most often at Series D stage. Most of the 1 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.
How do I contact Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D.?
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When did Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. last invest?
The most recent investment recorded for Brian J. Underdown, Ph.D. closed in Apr 2012. Shizune tracks 1 investment in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.
Is Shizune's investor data accurate?
Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Oct 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.
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