Every day we wake up inspired to help pets live longer, healthier lives by empowering people with simple and affordable tools.
Vision & Path
We imagine a world where diagnosis is as easy as: walking to the store, purchasing a test, and immediately having results at your fingertips. We want to show the world that affordable and decentralized testing is possible.
SN Biomedical was founded in a garage in Leduc, Alberta by Dr. Hillary Sweet and Dr. Matthew Nickel in 2019 shortly after graduating from their PhDs at the University of Alberta. Hillary and Matthew met in 2014 while doing their PhDs under one of Canada's top biomedical engineers, Dr. Robert Burrell, and have been working together ever since.
They both imagined building a company that was devoted to helping improve the lives of animals and people. Together the team at sn biomedical is driven to make this dream a reality by providing simple and affordable diagnostics to those that need them.
Hillary Sweet, PhD
CEO & Co-Founder
Hillary wakes up every day inspired to help others. Hillary graduated with a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Alberta in 2018, specializing in point-of-care clinical diagnostics.
Matthew Nickel, PhD
CTO & Co-founder
Matthew wakes up inspired every day to help build a better world. Matthew graduated with a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from the University of Alberta in 2018, specializing in nano-structured materials in medicine.
Alicia Naundorf, BSc, RVT
Sales Representative
Alicia wakes up every day with a passion to improve the lives of animals and their people. Alicia graduated with from the Animal Health Technology program at NAIT in 2011, and went on to achieve a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Alberta in 2018. She has worked as an RVT in many capacities including emergency, high volume spay and neuter, general practice, and equine.
Merle Olson, MSc, DVM
Mentor
Merle, alongside his wife Barb, currently owns and operates Alberta Veterinary Laboratories (AVL) and Solvet, manufacturing and distributing veterinary pharmaceuticals across Canada. AVL specializes in veterinary products to control pain and protect the health and well-being of animals. Merle was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2021 - the highest honour the Province of Alberta can bestow on a citizen.
Barb Olson, MSc, PhD
Mentor
Barb left academia in 2004 to pursue biotechnology in the private sector. She founded AVL and Solvet, with her husband Merle and is now in charge of quality control, quality assurance, and regulatory affairs. Part of her role is maintaining a facility to fulfill requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices and that complies with Health Canada. Barb was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2021 - the highest honour the Province of Alberta can bestow on a citizen.
Louie
Chief Entertainment Officer
Louie wakes up every day excited to play and bring joy to his pet parents! He graduated from puppy training in 2020 and loves spending time with the Kidney-Chek team as they help save the lives of pets.