Karolina Valente is the Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Scientific Officer of VoxCell BioInnovation Inc., a biotechnology company based in Victoria, British Columbia, focused on advancing 3D bioprinting technologies to develop vascularized, human-relevant tissue models for drug screening.
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Karolina moved to Canada to pursue a Ph.D .degree in Mechanical Engineering, where her academic research centred on microfluidics and drug delivery systems developed for breast cancer. Her career has been driven by a strong commitment to bridging engineering innovation with life sciences to address critical gaps in preclinical research and improve the predictive power of drug development.
Since founding VoxCell, Karolina has led the company’s growth from an early-stage venture into an internationally recognized biotechnology firm. Under her leadership, VoxCell has expanded its multidisciplinary team, established collaborations with academic institutions, pharmaceutical partners, and contract research organizations, and secured significant public and private funding ($15M) to support commercialization and scientific advancement.
Karolina is recognized for her ability to translate complex scientific research into practical, scalable solutions while fostering a collaborative and mission-driven organizational culture. Her work has contributed to advancing ethical research practices by reducing reliance on animal models and accelerating innovation in human health.
In addition to her role at VoxCell, Karolina is actively engaged in Canada’s innovation ecosystem and is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship, women in STEM, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She believes that meaningful progress is achieved through scientific excellence, responsible leadership, and a long-term commitment to positive societal impact.