Valente, chief executive officer and chief scientific officer of VoxCell BioInnovation is receiving an Emerging Alumni Award from the University of Victoria (UVic) for her leadership in cancer research and drug testing.
Emerging Alumni Award recipient Karolina Valente, PhD '20. Photo credit: Michael Kissinger
Shortly after completing her PhD at UVic, Valente founded VoxCell to create 3D bio-printed tissue for drug testing. The company is working to replace animal testing with more accurate, human-relevant models, creating faster, safer and more effective pathways to life-saving treatments.
Under Valente's leadership, the company has raised millions in funding, filed multiple patents, expanded internationally and gained global recognition for its work in oncology and bioprinting.
In addition to the impact that Valente is making on the biotech industry, she is also reshaping biotech leadership. Her team reflects a wide range of lived experiences and harmonizing skills which for her "make the science stronger."
Valente remains deeply connected to UVic as an educator and mentor. She sees her roles as complementary, not competing.
"My training at UVic gave me a strong foundation in how to think critically, lead with intention, and support people as they grow," says Valente. "Those principles shape everything I do today."
11 Distinguished Alumni for 2026
Valente is one of 11 recipients of UVic's ɬíɬəl ʔa kʷs ƛ̓kʷəxnəq Skʷukʷəlstəŋəƛ̓ | SIÁMĆEȽ |Distinguished Alumni Awards in 2026. Kyle Empringham, co-founder of The Starfish Canada, which has evolved from a student-led campus blog into one of Canada's longest-standing youth-serving climate charities, has been recognized for empowering youth and educators worldwide through climate education and leadership. Snuneymuxw First Nation leader and executive director of Kw'umut Lelum, Sqwulutsultun, William Yoachim has been awarded for his work in building a nationally recognized, Coast Salish-rooted child welfare model.
The awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of UVic graduates in three categories: Presidents' Alumni Awards, Emerging Alumni Awards and Indigenous Community Alumni Awards.
