PRiME Lunch & Learn Series with Paul Dick & Associates Ltd.
Title: "The Human–Animal Health Innovation Continuum: Research, Product Development and Market Opportunities"
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Time: 11:30 – 1:00pm (Lunch will be provided; please register to help us plan the catering accordingly)
Location: Room 2145, Bahen Centre, room, 40 St. George St., Toronto
Human and animal health innovation are closely connected. This session will explore how animals contribute to the research and development of human-focused therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and other health technologies. It will also examine the reverse opportunity: adapting, expanding, or repurposing human health innovations for use in animal health.
Drawing on Pda’s product development, regulatory and commercialization experience, the session will highlight examples across different product categories and discuss the key scientific, regulatory, intellectual property, and time-to-market considerations that influence these opportunities.
Event Objectives:
Explore the role of animals and animal models in human health research and product development.
Identify areas of overlap between human and animal health innovation.
Examine opportunities to adapt or repurpose human health technologies for veterinary use.
Discuss practical considerations affecting regulatory pathways, patent strategies, development timelines, and commercialization.
Pda Speakers:
Dr. Paul Dick, DVM, MSc, Founder and President, brings more than 35 years of animal health industry experience spanning research and development, regulatory affairs, business development, corporate strategy, and commercialization. Through leadership roles at Elanco Animal Health, Naturagen, industry associations, and Pda, he has guided the development, approval, licensing, and commercialization of diverse animal health products. His experience includes identifying new applications for existing technologies, building industry and academic partnerships, and helping innovators assess how products and knowledge developed for human health may be adapted for veterinary use. He has also advised government and industry organizations and played an instrumental role in establishing Health Canada’s Veterinary Health Product Notification Program.
Ronaldo Avella Lavado, BVetMed, MSc, Business Development, Operations and Regulatory Affairs Manager, is a veterinarian with experience in animal health product development, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, and commercialization strategy. At Pda, he leads business development initiatives, oversees multidisciplinary projects, supports client relationships, and helps companies evaluate regulatory pathways and market opportunities across established and emerging animal health sectors. His work includes connecting innovators with scientific, regulatory, academic, and commercial partners and assessing how technologies developed for human health may be expanded, adapted, or repurposed for veterinary applications. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, Ronaldo supports collaboration with stakeholders across the Americas and international markets.
About Paul Dick & Associates Ltd.
Paul Dick & Associates Ltd. (Pda) is a global animal health consulting company specializing in the development, registration, and commercialization of veterinary drugs, biologics, feeds, veterinary health products, diagnostics, devices, and digital technologies. Pda supports innovators throughout the product lifecycle through regulatory strategy, clinical development, market assessment, business planning, partnering, and go-to-market support. The company also works at the intersection of human and animal health, helping organizations evaluate veterinary applications for human-focused technologies and supporting animal studies that contribute to translational research and product development.
This month's PRiME Lunch & Learn is sponsored by Paul Dick & Associates Ltd.
PRiME Lunch & Learn Series - Industry Insights:
Attendees will learn how to recognize the potential animal health applications of human-focused innovations, assess whether existing research and data may support veterinary development, and identify the early questions that should be considered when evaluating regulatory requirements, intellectual property protection, time to market, and commercial viability.