Schulich research suggests biopharma companies spend too much time on drug discovery projects
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A new study out of York University’s Schulich School of Business shows that biopharma companies might be ‘pulling the plug’ too late on research and development (R&D) projects that show few signs of succeeding.
The study, available online for an early view and to appear in the journal Production and Operations Management, investigates whether scientific teams in biopharma firms allocate too much time to early-stage drug discovery projects that are doomed to fail.
Spending on research and development (R&D) by firms such as J&J, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi amounts to billions of dollars and is rising. However, the increase in R&D spending has not been accompanied by increases in the returns on investment (ROI), which has become a growing concern in the biopharma industry. According to the findings of the new study, a primary cause for this decline in productivity is the failure to discontinue less-promising, early-stage drug discovery projects fast enough.
Moren Lévesque
Authors Moren Lévesque, professor of operations management and information systems and CPA Ontario Chair in International Entrepreneurship at York University’s Schulich School of Business, together with Annapoornima Subramanian, an associate professor of industrial systems engineering and management at the National University of Singapore, and Vareska van de Vrande, a professor of collaborative innovation and business venturing at Erasmus University, uncovered that if a biopharma firm possesses a large portfolio of late-stage drug development projects and a large scientific team involved in early-stage drug discovery, then the firm can achieve maximum gain by shifting more resources toward the late-stage projects than the early-stage ones.
“A central feature of drug discovery projects is whether the drug is more of a follower- type or first of its kind,” says Lévesque, co-director of Entrepreneurial Studies at Schulich. “Pfizer’s LIPITOR was a follower drug developed to lower bad cholesterol since it had four predecessors prior to its launch in 1997. But the NERLYNX launch by Puma Biotechnology in 2017 and the FEDOSINE launch by BioCryst Pharmaceuticals the same year were both first-in-class drugs.”
By nature, first-in-class drugs face significantly more risk during their development since they have no predecessors to learn from. “We found that highly risk-averse firms extended the time to discontinue these projects. By being highly risk-averse, risk becomes more of a concern than return, with the result that some biopharmas are not pulling the plug fast enough.”
Lévesque says these findings, which are based on rich data related to approximately 1,300 early-stage drug discovery projects in biopharma firms worldwide, also reflect a tradeoff faced by decision-makers: first-in-class drugs promise high returns but face high risk of coming to fruition, while follower drugs face lower returns and lower risk.
“Whether a drug is a follower or first-in-class is not a binary measure but more like a continuum because it is captured by the number of competitors that engage in the discovery of similar drugs,” says Lévesque. “To balance risk and return, biopharmas should favour delaying pulling the plug on those projects in the middle of this continuum.”
But there is a caveat to this recommendation, she adds: “Highly-risky, first-in-class drug projects targeted at rare diseases – aka orphan drugs – might never see the light of day if we follow this recommendation, so third-party intervention is required.
“Governments worldwide must find ways to encourage biopharmas to continue developing drug projects targeted at rare diseases, like the 2010 National Institutes of Health (NIH) program to accelerate the discovery of such drugs.”
To afford biopharma firms a longer time to pull the plug on these drugs, Lévesque contends that “policymakers can also play a crucial role to encourage biopharma firms to openly share selected drug discovery data with other firms wanting to work on these needed drugs.”
Lévesque says that recent drug discovery during the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the door to promising new models of future drug development. “AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer were part of a program from the NIH where scientific teams at the biopharmas received the help of university researchers to develop new drugs,” says Lévesque. “Today, Oxford University and AstraZeneca are working together on the ‘Oxford Vaccine’ for COVID-19 or, more scientifically, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. Such programs that combine expertise and efforts will undoubtedly remain needed in the new normal ahead of us.”
Year in Review 2020: Top headlines at York University, May to August
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As a new year emerges, YFile takes a look back on 2020 to share with readers a snapshot of the year’s highlights. “Year in Review” will run as a three-part series and will feature a selection of top news stories published in YFile. Here are the stories and highlights for May to August, as chosen by YFile editors.
May
Small carpenter bee
Mom genes: What makes a bee brain buzz?
Researchers at York University’s Rehan Lab took a unique look at motherhood. They studied genetic traits in small carpenter bees in order to better understand the effects of maternal care on offspring. These solitary, typically not aggressive bees couldn’t hurt you with a sting even if they tried to, but maybe that’s just the way their mothers raised them.
Education students double as consultants during placement
The Students Consulting on Teaching at York (SCOTAY) program offers education students the opportunity to work closely with Teaching Commons staff to prepare and serve as consultants to faculty members who are interested in gaining insights into their teaching practice through the eyes of a student.
York University’s ‘C4’ Capstone Classroom Project wins prestigious international award
The Cross-Campus Capstone Classroom (C4) Project, a York University project that brings a diversity of students from different disciplines together to work on real-life problems, received an international award from Airbus and the Global Engineering Deans Council (GEDC).
Dezsö J. Horváth
Dezsö J. Horváth: Celebrating the career of a pioneer in management education Dezsö J. Horváth stepped down after 32 years as dean of York University’s business school. He left a lasting legacy in management education, and his tenure made him the longest-serving dean of any major business school in the world.
York University receives approval to build its Markham Centre Campus
Friday, July 24 was a very good day for York University, the City of Markham, York Region and the Province of Ontario. It brought news that York University will be moving forward with a bold plan to build the $275.5-million Markham Centre Campus (MCC) that will help drive economic growth and social development in York Region and Ontario.
The new stadium dome pictured from above and at ground level
New dome over York Lions Stadium and field conversion will transform Keele Campus
York’s Keele campus will look a bit different come the spring of 2021. A major renovation to the York Lions Stadium will transform the stadium into the cornerstone of a new vision for athletic and recreation facilities on campus. The dome will be installed over a converted former 2015 Pan American Games stadium playing surface, and is part of an $8.2-million upgrade.
York archivist recognized for contributions to the profession and community Anna St.Onge, director of Digital Scholarship Infrastructure with York University Libraries, has been recognized by the Archives Association of Ontario with the James J. Talman award for challenging conventional thinking about archival work.
Check back in the next edition of YFile for Year in Review 2020: Top headlines at York University, September to December. For part one, covering January to April, go here.
Year in Review 2020: Top headlines at York University, January to April
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As a new year emerges, YFile takes a look back on 2020 to share with readers a snapshot of the year’s highlights. “Year in Review” will run as a three-part series and will feature a selection of top news stories published in YFile. Here are the stories and highlights for January to April, as chosen by YFile editors.
January
Research on global environmental safety earns Professor Satinder Brar international award Professor Satinder Brar‘s work aims to find innovative ways for cleaning contaminated water, ensuring communities have access to clean and safe drinking water for generations to come. This research earned her the International Achiever Award from Save the Environment.
Lassonde PhD student solves an 18-year-old problem Nearly 20 years ago, a satellite mission called GRACE was launched to monitor mass transfers occurring above or below the Earth’s surface. The gravity field maps derived from GRACE measurements were obscured by very disturbing thick lines sweeping from south to north. A Lassonde School of Engineering PhD student, Athina Peidou, solved this problem that has occupied the international scientific community for more than 18 years.
Faculty associations’ award recognizes founder of motherhood studies, matricentric feminism Andrea O’Reilly, a professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, founder of Demeter Press and the Journal of the Motherhood Initiative, received a 2019 Status of Women and Equity Award of Distinction from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. The award recognizes faculty whose work has improved the lives and working conditions of academics who belong to historically marginalized groups.
York researchers receive $1.1 million in COVID-19 research funding Three York University researchers received more than $1.1 million in COVID-19 rapid research funding over two years to explore issues of trust, stigmatization and social perceptions of risk from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Additional funding from CIHR for COVID-19 rapid research was announced later in March.
AMPD faculty member receives prestigious award for young artists Freya Bjorg Olafson received the National Art Gallery of Canada’s 2020 Sobey Art Award. Described as a pioneer in Canada’s dance community, Olafson is an intermedia artist who works with video, audio, painting and performance.
Check back in the next edition of YFile for Year in Review 2020: Top headlines at York University, May to August.
Research shows sharing-sized meals could have negative impact on health
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A woman’s hand reaching for french fries out of a man’s hand
Schulich School of Business Associate Professor Theodore J. Noseworthy has co-authored a new, soon-to-be-published study that shows that consumers underestimate the impact to their waistlines – and their health – when eating sharing-size meals and other food products.
Theodore J. Noseworthy
The study, to be published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, explores whether the latest consumer fad for food sharing is negatively impacting health. Over the last decade, consumers have become accustomed to going to restaurants where the menu is designed to be shared by the entire table. More recently, brands such as M&M’s, Snickers and Skittles have released sharing-size options, and Hershey’s is advertising its products as ‘perfect for sharing.’
As the popularity of this trend increases, so too does the debate over how food sharing is impacting health. Mars-Wrigley, the company behind brands such as M&M’s and Skittles, suggests that food sharing can help with weight maintenance by facilitating portion control. However, critics are claiming that food sharing may be encouraging excessive caloric intake.
Authors Noseworthy, associate professor of marketing and a Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Entrepreneurial Innovation and the Public Good at York University’s Schulich School of Business, and Nükhet Taylor, an assistant professor in marketing management at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, discovered that sharing food biases how people think about the consequences of their caloric intake – or put another way, people underestimate the fattening potential of shared food. This has important health consequences because these same people become prone to select more calorie-dense foods in subsequent food choices.
“People tend to regulate their caloric intake; we may pass on an ice cream sundae if we’ve already eaten a few french fries. It seems, however, that if we were to take those same fries from a shared plate, we tend to discount the consequences of eating them in our minds. Thus, there’s little to stop us from eating that sundae,” explains Noseworthy, scientific director of the NOESIS Innovation, Design, and Consumption Laboratory at Schulich.
The big question for Taylor was why this is happening. “When people eat from their own plates, they feel that they own the food on that plate. This facilitates the acceptance of the consequences of the calories they ingest, such as the possibility that these calories may lead to weight gain,” notes Taylor. “In contrast, shared consumption means eating from a communal resource. This can erode individual ownership, and lead people to underestimate the consequences of caloric intake.”
Researchers discovered that sharing food biases how people think about the consequences of their caloric intake
To test how sharing was impacting people’s perceptions, the research team showed participants some of the most popularly shared food items such as french fries, M&M’s, and McNuggets. Some participants examined these food items on an individual plate to be consumed alone, whereas others examined them on a shared plate to be consumed with others.
Across five studies, generalized to different populations and different food items, researchers replicated the notion that food appears less fattening when it is shared. They also confirmed that a lack of ownership over the shared food is indeed responsible for this bias.
These findings represent a cautionary note for companies that strive to engage in responsible marketing, as well as for public policy makers.
“Obesity is an increasingly widespread epidemic in North America, and the most common reason outside of genetic factors is the overconsumption of food,” says Noseworthy. “Companies need to be aware of the potential negative impact they may be having on consumers’ health when they engage in marketing campaigns that emphasize food sharing.”
These results also have broader implications. One particularly interesting implication is about ownership.
“If sharing is biasing fattening judgments because of a lack of ownership over the food, the bigger question becomes: How can we increase consumers’ sense of ownership over what they consume?” says Taylor. “This would certainly be interesting from a public policy perspective, as it can help reduce the tendency to discount calories in general.”
Remote Teaching Support Fund strengthens York’s approach to virtual learning
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When the pandemic first hit, the move to remote learning was a challenge, but one that could be tackled with the tremendous efforts of faculty and staff, and the help of programs and infrastructure in place at York. When it became clear that the shift to online learning would extend to additional terms, more investment was needed to enhance virtual offerings. To help the York University community meet this unprecedented demand, the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic launched the Remote Teaching Support Fund.
Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps
“In the first wave, Faculties did an incredible job of delivering the winter term virtually,” said Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps. “As we began to look ahead at upcoming terms however, we wanted to make sure that they were able to apply for funds to help instructors and students respond to any pressures they faced and have what they needed to be successful.”
With this investment, the School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design (AMPD) was able to bolster support for instructors through AMPD Computing services. The help was needed as faculty expanded their online course complement from 80 to 800 virtual courses in the fall and winter 2020/21 terms. Staff were also able to work closely with an instructional technology coordinator to support course delivery with Moodle, create online course structures and engage more directly with students.
Similarly, the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professionals Studies was tasked with the virtual delivery of over 2,400 undergraduate and 420 graduate courses in the summer, fall and winter terms. Hiring an online educator to work with the associate dean of teaching and learning allowed them to have the technical training needed to deliver virtual seminars, large format lectures, tutorials and graduate teaching. Extra eLearning support team members were also hired to help staff understand how to better engage in online platforms like Moodle and Zoom.
The Faculty of Science created virtual labs for biology, chemistry and physics courses. They were able to hire a student from the School of Arts, Media, Performance and Design specializing in film production and editing, as they recorded procedures and lab activities for online courses.
To help the York University community meet demand for virtual learning tools, the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic launched the Remote Teaching Support Fund
In the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, over 30 instructors and teaching assistants accessed one-on-one supports for remote teaching and learning. Help centred around creating online assignments, recording lectures and tips to keep students engaged in remote learning.
The Schulich School of Business planned to take 130 courses online in the summer and over 300 courses virtual in the fall of this year. With a significant number of international students accessing programming from different time zones, live sessions were balanced with asynchronous elements. The fund supported them in hiring champions to work over the summer to help convert courses to these new formats.
Osgoode Hall Law School used funds to host many one-on-one Zoom and Moodle training sessions for instructors and students. This support allowed Osgoode to ensure that their Information Technology Service remained highly responsive to students’ needs as they navigated the Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other platforms.
At Glendon Campus, two bilingual faculty members offered personalized support to 40 instructors and helped them both navigate Teaching Commons resources and create eClass pages in Moodle. These services have benefitted close to 1,500 students who have accessed over 80 online courses.
The Lassonde School of Engineering launched an Educational Innovation Studio and they have been bringing together experts with backgrounds in instructional, assessment and experience design, as well as skillsets ranging from academic integrity, educational technology, videography, animation, digital media and gamification. Their initial focus was on creating safe spaces for innovation and trying out new techniques in teaching and learning to improve student experiences at the course level. The next phase of this work will involve hiring educational innovation champions and shifting to greater refinements at the program and departmental level.
York University Libraries also has plans to create new online government and policy learning eLearning modules for political science and policy students that will include video resources and interactive features. A new position is being created to focus on leveraging content from existing research resources, such as the Government Information Research Guide and finding ways to enhance critical thinking and engagement with these materials.
As more projects like these are happening across campus, supporting the York community with the shift to virtual remains a top priority. As much awaits for 2021, some important groundwork has been laid to ensure that instructors and students can adjust and stay closely connected.
Twelve York grads earn spot in Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100
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Twelve York University alumnae have been recognized as female leaders in Canada who work to build positive change and empower others. The women are recipients of the WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards for 2020.
WXN is a Canadian national organization that celebrates the advancement of women. Launched in 2003, the Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Canada’s top female executive talent as well as their organizations and networks.
The awards are organized into 13 categories. Below are this year’s winners and the categories for which they were recognized.
Cynthia Loyst
Cynthia Loyst, co-host, creator and CEO of The Social, is a York University alumna with a BFA (’98) and selected in the Arts, Sports & Entertainment category. A passionate advocate for healthy sexual information, Loyst is best known for giving advice and opinions on the joys and complications of love. A writer, public speaker and co-host on CTV’s The Social, she has shared her expertise on The Marilyn Denis Show, etalk, CTV News Channel, The Loop and various radio stations. Her website, FindYourPleasure.com, is dedicated to pleasure, sensuality and unadulterated joy. Last year, she published her national bestseller book, Find Your Pleasure.
Stachen Frederick
Stachen Frederick, executive director at Weston Frontlines Centre, is a York University alumna with a BSW (’13) and selected in the category Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders. Weston Frontlines Centre (WFC) is a youth charity in Toronto that offers children and youth a safe, welcoming place away from the streets. Frederick is also founder of the international organization BrAIDS for AIDS, which promotes HIV/AIDS awareness and provides access to resources for Black communities through culturally appropriate practices. As well, Frederick is a professor at Sheridan College in the School of Social Work and a consultant/grant writing coach.
Lorraine Gray
LorraineGray, superintendent at Stations Services, Hydro One, is an alumna with an MBA (’09) and selected in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders category. Gray is a professional engineer with 15 years of experience at Hydro One, 12 of which have been in leadership positions. In her current role, she is responsible for one of six zones covering the Province of Ontario. Today she leads more than 100 employees that in-service and maintain crucial electricity equipment. She is one of only three women to ever hold this position and is a fierce advocate for women pursuing non-traditional roles.
Fatema Pirone
Fatema Pirone, senior director of Enterprise Innovation at CIBC, is a York University alumna with a BA (’07) and an EMBA (’16) and selected in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders category. Pirone is a bold leader who constantly strives to create impactful change; qualities that have driven her dynamic career at CIBC. She is a trailblazer who redefined innovation across the bank, evolving CIBC’s Innovation mandate from a simple vision to an established unit. Her leadership provokes thoughtful conversations, results in impactful execution and creates purposeful client experiences.
Reetu Gupta
ReetuGupta, president and CEO of Easton’s Group Hotel, The Gupta Group, The Gupta Family Foundation; and chief strategy officer, Rogue Insight Capital, is a York University alumna with an MBA (’08) and selected in the category BMO Entrepreneurs. Gupta is a force to be reckoned with, sitting as the CEO of three companies, and co-founder of Rogue Insight Capital. She was honoured with the distinction of WXN’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in 2019 as well as Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in June 2017. She is wildly passionate and with this energy she continues to exceed excellence and is an inspiration not only in her industry, but for women everywhere.
Caroline Cole Power
Caroline Cole Power, founder and chief executive officer at Canadian HR Solutions, Inc., is a York University alumna with a BAS (’95) and selected in the BMO Entrepreneurs category. Cole Power launched Canadian HR Solutions, Inc. in 2010. She has since expanded the company’s footprint to 10 Canadian cities and established a national facilitator network to serve clients from coast to coast to coast. Operating divisions include Canadian HR Academy; Sensitivity Training Canada, a provider of Respectful Workplace Training; and Worldwide Workplace Learning, a provider of workplace-related online courses in English, French and Spanish.
Jane A. Langford
Jane A. Langford, senior vice-president, Legal at TD Bank, is a York University alumna with an LLB (’95) and selected in the CIBC Executive Leaders category. Langford is a proven leader and a sought-after critical and innovative thinker. After 15 years as a litigator, including partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP, she moved to the corporate world. At the helm of TD’s Canadian legal department, she provides strategic counsel on all aspects of the bank’s operations. She is a champion for women’s economic and professional advancement and a tireless advocate for diversity, in boardrooms throughout the workplace and community.
Effie Simanikas
Effie Simanikas, vice-president, Operations, Finance and Information Technology, IAMGOLD, is a York University alumna with an MBA (’01) and selected in the CIBC Executive Leaders category. After holding executive roles in multiple sectors, Simanikas joined IAMGOLD in 2011. She has also played a key role in evaluating several growth options that led to IAMGOLD’s current transformational growth strategy. She serves on several Cote Gold joint venture committees, is a board member of Euro Ressources, and is actively involved in several organizations committed to women’s career advancement, including the WXN’s Diversity Council.
Susan Uthayakumar
Susan Uthayakumar, country president at Schneider Electric Canada, is a York University alumna with an EMBA (’12) and selected in the CIBC Executive Leaders category. Uthayakumar has been with Schneider Electric for 15 years, progressing through increasingly senior roles until being appointed country president in January 2018. Throughout her 23-year career, her demonstrated ability to break down barriers and turn challenges into opportunities has empowered her to chart a path of success. She is an influential voice in the industry, and is passionate about building the next generation of leaders.
Catherine Yuile
Catherine Yuile, executive vice-president, Data Intelligence, Canada and Latin America, Edelman, is a York University alumna with a BA (’01) and selected in the CIBC Executive Leaders category. A marketing and communications research veteran, Yuile is an active, inclusive leader on Edelman’s Global Women’s Equality Network (GWEN) steering committee, driving initiatives and events that support women’s success in the workplace. She volunteers on multiple boards to drive the research and analytics industry forward and supports diversity and inclusion in business, including the Insights Association and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Council Working Group for Women’s Advocacy.
Rusul Alrubail
Rusul Alrubail, executive director at Parkdale Centre for Innovation, is a York University alumna with a BA (’07) from Glendon, and is a former York University staff member, selected in the Manulife Science and Technology category. Alrubail is the executive director of Parkdale Centre for Innovation, a non-profit incubator that seeks to fill the accessibility and inclusivity gap to innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, especially for underrepresented groups: women of colour, newcomers, and those from low-income backgrounds. She is also a published author, keynote speaker and mother of two.
Lucia Iacovelli
Lucia Iacovelli, Canadian managing partner, Tax & Legal, KPMG in Canada, is a York University alumna with a BAS (’90) and selected in the Intact Professionals category. Iacovelli is KPMG’s Canadian managing partner for Tax and Legal and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She is focused on setting strategic direction for clients and markets, people and knowledge, operational excellence, and public trust and quality. As a member of the firm’s Global Tax Steering Committee, she is also involved in helping define the firm’s strategic priorities globally. Iacovelli uses her influence and her voice to ensure various leadership tables are balanced with female leaders.
These women join a prestigious community of past award winners, including Canada’s most iconic women trailblazers: former Osgoode Interim Dean Mary Condon; Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps; York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton; Julia Foster, former Chair of the Board of Governors of York University; bestselling author Margaret Atwood; astronaut Roberta Bondar; Arlene Dickinson, chief executive officer, Venture Communications; Christine Magee, president, Sleep Country Canada; Michaëlle Jean, former governor general of Canada; Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music; and York University alumna Kathleen Taylor, Chair of the board, Royal Bank of Canada.
For a complete list of winners, visit the WXN website.
About the Women’s Executive Network (WXN)
WXN inspires smart women to lead. WXN creates and delivers innovative networking, mentoring, professional and personal development to inform, inspire, connect and recognize its community of more than 19,500 smart women and their organizations in the pursuit of excellence. WXN enables its partners and corporate members to become and to be recognized as employers of choice and leaders in the advancement of women.
Founded in 1997, WXN is Canada’s leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of women in management, executive, professional and board roles. WXN is a founding member of the Canadian Board Diversity Council, dedicated to increasing the diversity of Canada’s corporate boards. In 2008, WXN launched in Ireland, followed by London, U.K., in 2015, creating an international community of female leaders.
Study shows Schulich faculty among world’s most cited researchers
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A new study led by a Stanford University professor reveals that a number of the faculty members at York University’s Schulich School of Business are among the top two per cent most cited researchers in their field and/or subfield in the world.
The study, titled “Updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators” and published in PLOS Biology, showed that 12 Schulich professors were among the top two per cent in 2019.
The Schulich faculty members included in the top two per cent in 2019 include: Russell Belk, Ron Burke (deceased), Wade Cook, Charles Cho, Eileen Fischer, Matthias Kipping, Dirk Matten, Dean Neu, Christine Oliver, Robert Phillips, Perry Sadorsky and Gregory Saxton.
In addition, nine Schulich professors were among the world’s top two per cent most cited researchers in their field and/or subfield over the course of their entire career. These Schulich faculty members include: Russell Belk, Ron Burke (deceased), John Buzacott (emeritus), Wade Cook, Matthias Kipping, Dirk Matten, Dean Neu, Christine Oliver and Perry Sadorsky.
Schulich faculty members were also ranked highly in various categories among all researchers in Canada. Cho, professor of accounting and the Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability, was the most-cited academic in Canada in the Accounting subfield for 2019; Neu, professor of accounting, was the most-cited academic in Canada in the Accounting subfield in the career category; and Belk, professor of marketing and the Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing, was the most-cited academic in Canada in the Marketing subfield for both the 2019 and career categories.
Schulich professor releases book providing historical roadmap on management research
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Schulich Professor Mattias Kipping
Schulich School of Business Professor Matthias Kipping’s recently released book, History in Management and Organization Studies: From Margins to Mainstream, presents a comprehensive and integrated view of how history has informed management research with a focus on organizational theory and strategy. The book was co-authored with Professor Behlül Üsdiken from Özyeğin University.
Mattias Kipping
“The book sheds new light on how a historical perspective can contribute to a greater understanding of organizations and organizational strategy,” said Kipping, who is the Richard E. Waugh Chair in Business History.
Building on Kipping’s prior and ongoing publications, the volume provides an overview of how the relationship between history and management scholarship has evolved from the 19th century until today, focusing mainly on the post-World War II period. The book systematically surveys the kind of research programs within organizational theory and strategy that have used historical data and history as theoretical constructs, while also identifying the remaining “blind spots”. It offers a kind of roadmap for management scholars and historians to situate their research, and hopefully find new roads for others to travel.
The book is intended for anybody planning to conduct historical research within management and organizational studies, and aims at becoming a standard text of research methods courses in business schools and departments of management studies.
York University lands Top 20 spot in six of nine programs rated across Canada in “Maclean’s” ranking
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York University appeared in six of the nine Top 20 lists Maclean’s magazine compiled to rank university programs in Canada.
The 2021 rankings, published in October, lists York University as a top-rated university in the following categories: Business (No. 8), Education (No. 5), Environmental Science (No. 14), Mathematics (No. 14), Nursing (No. 19) and Psychology (No. 6).
The rankings consider both program reputation and research reputation in each program category.
In the overall rankings for comprehensive schools, York University placed sixth, moving up one spot from the 2020 rankings when it was No. 7.
Some highlights from the rankings include:
York University was ranked sixth for its Psychology program behind UBC, McGill and University of Toronto (which all tied for No. 1) and University of Alberta and Western University (which tied for No. 2).
York University’s ranking in the Psychology program jumped to No. 6 from No. 10 in the 2020 rankings.
In the Education program category, York University was ranked fifth behind UBC and University of Toronto (tied for No. 1), the University of Calgary (No. 3), and the University of Alberta (No. 4).
York University’s ranking in the Education program jumped to No. 5 from No. 10 in the 2020 rankings.
York University’s ranking in the Environmental Science category landed a No. 14 spot this year, and did not appear on the 2020 ranking list.
York grad lands major Dragon’s Den deal with her innovative AI wig platform
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Akosua Asare
York University Schulich alumna and LaunchYU Accelerator graduate, Akosua Asare, pitched her artificial intelligence (AI) powered wig-fitting platform on CBC’s Dragon’s Den earlier this month and landed a deal with Canadian investor, Manjit Minhas.
Akosua Asare
This self-driven entrepreneur captivated the Dragons, receiving a $150,000 business investment for 25 per cent of her company, Essence Luxe Couture; which features the first virtual wig try on. Using the power of AI, customers can use an app to try on a variety of wigs, which fit and look like their own hair, from the comfort of their own home.
The AI used to analyze user facial features, skin tone and facial structure was developed with the support of researchers at York University. The work is supported by a Smart Computing for Innovation (SOSCIP) project with the Department of Math and Statistics Associate Professor Michael Chen, a collaboration that was facilitated by Innovation York’s industry engagement unit. Backed by funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), SOSCIP’s Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Accelerated Platforms were able to provide as much as 97 per cent accuracy on face shape classification.
The project provided York University students the opportunity to both apply and build their expertise and research, with far reaching implications for the Canadian technology industry.
“Our mathematics graduate students developed the AI solution for Akosua’s startup,” says Chen. “During development, students were able to gain essential experience developing an AI product with real-world application. Projects like this allow us to provide innovative AI solutions, while training AI talents, who are an essential driver of a thriving AI powered economy.”
Akosua Asare on the Dragons Den
Coupled with the support from York University research, Asare also received additional assistance from Innovation York’s LaunchYU Accelerator program, where she spent four months fine-tuning her business through hands-on workshops, one-on-one mentorship, investor office hours, and various networking resources.
“Throughout the program, Akosua was not afraid to ask for support and feedback, which is just one of the things that make her such a great founder. Seeing the development of her pitch and watching her land a deal on Dragon’s Den was such a proud moment. It really shows us how far she’s come as an entrepreneur,” said David Kwok, associate director of Entrepreneurship at Innovation York.
Before landing her deal, Asare was named the Schulich Startup Night People’s Champion for her pitch in the alumni category. Her drive and positive attitude continue to motivate entrepreneurs today.
“Akosua is such an inspiring member of our entrepreneurial community,” says Chris Carder, executive director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Schulich School of Business. “She always has a ‘can-do’ energy and commitment to giving her time to the next generation of student Founders and Innovators. We are all behind her in her journey – 100 per cent.”
Asare could not be more motivated to elevate her company given the potential it has. As she explains to the Dragons during her pitch, “the value of the application, it’s limitless what it can be applied to.” The founder and mother of two is on her way to launching her business with the support of York University and the newest member of her team – Minhas.
