Gowling WLG is delighted to award the firm's $5,000 Life Sciences, Society & the Law Scholarship to Alexandra Hollis, a third-year law student at the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University.
Presenting the scholarship cheque to Alexandra Hollis is
partner James Buchan.
Now in its third year, the scholarship supports emerging legal leaders in life sciences, with the winning paper selected through a blind review by Gowling WLG's internal committee. This scholarship, made possible by financial support from Bayer Canada, is awarded to the law student who writes the most distinguished paper exploring the dynamic relationship between life sciences and society from a legal perspective.
Alexandra's winning paper, titled Methods of Medical Treatment Patents: A Narrowing of the Exemption, explores how Canada's current legal approach to medical treatment patents—though rooted in important social goals—has become overly broad and unclear. She proposes a more focused standard that protects access to care and innovation while offering greater legal clarity.
"Alexandra's work demonstrates a thoughtful approach to the intersection of intellectual property law and public health policy—grounded in strong legal reasoning and a clear understanding of the broader societal impact," said James Buchan, a partner Gowling WLG's Life Sciences and Intellectual Property groups. "We're proud to recognize her achievement and look forward to seeing her future contributions to this field."
Gowling WLG would like to thank all the students who applied for this year's scholarship.
The application period for the 2026 scholarship will begin in February 2026.
For more information and terms of eligibility, visit the scholarship page.
About Gowling WLG's Life Sciences Group
Whether working with biotech startups, research organizations or large pharmaceutical companies, Gowling WLG's team has the depth of life sciences experience clients look for. By engaging us, you'll gain access to advice on all relevant legal issues from professionals who are immersed in your sector and can guide you through every stage of your products' life cycles, as well as your company's development. Learn more about Gowling WLG's Life Sciences Group.