LifeLabs, a proud member of the Digital Technology Supercluster, winner of federal funding and poised to supercharge Canada's economy and technology sector

Vancouver, BC, Feb. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LifeLabs, Canada's leading medical laboratory, celebrates Thursday's announcement that the British Columbia-led Digital Technology Supercluster was one of the five winners of the Innovation Supercluster Initiative. LifeLabs is a proud member of the Digital Technology Supercluster, which is part of the Government of Canada's initiative that positions Canada as a global centre for innovation.

"As a leader in diagnostics and health care technologies, LifeLabs is proud to be part of a BC-led initiative that will significantly impact Canada's health care system and economy at large," says Jennifer Cudlipp, Vice President of British Columbia for LifeLabs. "Canadians depend on our ability to be leaders in innovation, working together to build a healthier Canada. What better way to achieve this than through the collaboration of industry expertise strengthened by government support."

The Digital Technology Supercluster is a consortium of top industry players, academia, and non-profits, working together to boost Canada's competitiveness through the use of technology and Big Data. The group aims to develop economic opportunities and address Canada's biggest challenges around productivity, precision health care, and sustainability.  

"It is an exciting time for innovation in Canada. The Digital Technology Supercluster is a generational opportunity ? one that holds significant promise for companies in BC and across Canada," says Bill Tam, Co-Chair of Canada's Digital Technology Supercluster consortium. "Now the important work begins with the vision to collaborate across sectors to unlock the power of data and digital technology in new ways, such as mixed reality, which can digitally transform companies, solves industry problems and advance economic opportunities throughout BC, Canada and the world."

"LifeLabs is not foreign to the concept of innovation, especially when it comes to technology. LifeLabs' wholly-owned subsidiary Excelleris Technologies, a Canada Health Infoway award winner, developed the first patient portals that currently provide more than two million Canadians with online access to their lab results. Through collaboration, the Digital Technology Supercluster will be able to develop life-changing advancements for Canadians, in areas like genomics and digital health technology solutions," says Joby McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Business Development at LifeLabs. "LifeLabs is excited about the role we will play in contributing to this Supercluster's success."

As an active member in the Digital Technology Supercluster, LifeLabs is furthering their vision to building a healthier Canada.

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About LifeLabs: www.LifeLabs.com

LifeLabs is a Canadian-owned company with over 50 years of experience providing laboratory testing services to help health care providers diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease in patients. In communities across British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario, LifeLabs delivers cost-effective, convenient access to laboratory testing services essential for optimal outcomes in health care. LifeLabs employs approximately 5,700 professionally trained staff and delivers over 100 million laboratory tests, supporting over 19 million patient visits annually. LifeLabs is the largest community laboratory in Canada. LifeLabs is indirectly owned by OMERS Administration Corporation, whose interest is managed by OMERS Infrastructure. In addition to being the first community lab to conduct non-invasive prenatal testing in Canada, LifeLabs is the first lab to provide online appointment booking for patients, non-fasting protocols and secure, online access to lab results for patients.

For more information about LifeLabs, visit: www.LifeLabs.com.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bbfc1dab-a6dc-45e4-9bfe-20e7ba0ce648