Dr. Julia Levy was a dedicated and visionary member of the UBC community. She received her first degree at UBC, and after earning her PhD returned to become the first woman to hold the rank of professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. This set her on a lifelong path of trailblazing through male-dominated spaces.

In 1981, Dr. Levy cofounded QLT, one of BC’s pioneering and most impactful biotechnology startups that paved the way for many others to succeed. Working with UBC chemist Dr. David Dolphin, her team developed the drug Visudyne for age-related macular degeneration. Visudyne was a breakthrough in the ophthalmology field, offering the first treatment for the leading cause of blindness among the elderly. “Being part of something which started out as fascinating science and ended up effectively changing the lives of thousands of people is an incredible experience,” said Dr. Levy in a convocation speech she delivered at UBC. “I feel truly blessed to have been part of that.”

In her remarkable career, Dr. Levy left an indelible mark as a researcher, mentor and reluctant (she called it “accidental”) entrepreneur. “She was an original, and to see what she had achieved in that era, it was amazing. She imparted that spirit to all of her trainees,” said Dr. Stephen Yip, a former PhD student of Dr. Levy and a clinician-scientist at UBC, Vancouver General Hospital and BC Cancer. “She was supportive of my entry to the combined MD-PhD program, which at that time was still very much a novelty.”

Despite her success in academia and business, Dr. Levy often cited mentorship as one of the most enjoyable aspects of her career. Upon her retirement, Dr. Levy remained an active advisor to the biotechnology community and provided guidance to new life science start-ups through UBC’s Creative Destruction Lab at the Sauder School of Business.

In honour of Dr. Levy’s incredible legacy, her family, friends and colleagues at UBC have established the Dr. Julia Levy Memorial Fund. Your gift will pay tribute to Dr. Levy’s visionary scientific research, mentorship and entrepreneurship by supporting students and programs in UBC’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Final decisions on the designation will be made in consultation with the family.