Our founder

Dr. Bruce Holub

Founder · PhD Biochemistry

University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph. Over 200 papers in medical, nutrition and other scientific journals, with a research programme centred on dietary omega-3 fatty acids and human health.

Dr. Holub founded the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute to help educate health professionals and the public about DHA and EPA, the physiologically essential omega-3 fatty acids found mostly in fish, seafood and other marine sources.

Past PresidentNutrition Society of Canada
Past ChairNutrition Task Force, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
University Professor EmeritusHuman Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph
FounderDHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute
MRC FellowUniversity of Michigan Medical School
Research collaborationsClinical groups at Canadian medical schools and the Mayo Clinic, and in Japan and Greenland

Seen on CBC, CTV and Global, and quoted in the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Maclean’s and Chatelaine.

Full biography

Dr. Holub received his B.Sc. from the University of Guelph in 1967 and his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1971, majoring in biochemistry with a minor in nutrition, followed by post-doctoral training as an MRC Fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School. He has served as President of the Nutrition Society of Canada and as Chair of the Nutrition Task Force of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

He has authored over 200 papers in scientific journals, in addition to book chapters and conference proceedings. His research programme focuses on dietary omega-3 fatty acids from fish and fish oils, plant oils, and the nutraceuticals and functional foods made from them, for human health and the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and other chronic disorders. He has also evaluated nutraceuticals and agri-foods for improving human health and for their potential cost savings to the healthcare system, and has studied the composition and health risks of foods containing trans fatty acids. He maintains collaborative research with clinical groups at Canadian medical schools, the Mayo Clinic in the United States, in Japan and Greenland, and with the agri-food sector.

Dr. Holub has spoken at over 300 off-campus events in over 15 countries, as an invited speaker to universities, international conferences, food companies, medical groups, government agencies and lay groups. He has made over 30 appearances on national television in Canada, on CBC, CTV and Global news and on programmes including Marketplace, Michael Coren Live, 2nd Opinion and Medical Hotseat, and has given over 200 interviews to newspapers in Canada and the U.S., including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Montreal Gazette and Hamilton Spectator, and to magazines including Men’s Health, Prevention, Chatelaine and Maclean’s.

200+papers in scientific journals
300+invited talks, in over 15 countries
30+national TV appearances in Canada
200+newspaper and magazine interviews, in Canada and the U.S.

Recognition

Recognised by GOED

The laboratory holds the Special Achievement Program (SAP) Award for the 2026-2027 term, which runs to 30 June 2027; by the laboratory’s own record it has been held twice, for 2024-2025 and 2026-2027.

See the award at GOED

GOED SAP Recipient badge, 2x winner, for the 2024-2025 and 2026-2027 terms

Team

The people behind the results

Meet the scientific and quality team responsible for method oversight, laboratory review and client questions.

Dr. Pierre Beaumier

Co-founder · PhD Chemistry

Over 50 years in analytical chemistry. Past president of the Association of the Chemical Profession of Ontario (Chartered Chemists) and of the Canadian Society for Chemistry (2008–2009), and one of the founders of Maxxam Analytics.

Full biography

Maxxam Analytics became Canada’s largest private analytical testing laboratory. Dr. Beaumier has been at the forefront of innovation in the development of testing methods, with 40 published papers, and in analytical accuracy and quality systems and standards, across many commercial sectors: environmental testing, genetics, pharmaceuticals, food safety, human drug testing, occupational health and safety, and testing services for the oil and gas industry.

For his contributions to chemistry he was awarded a fellowship in the Canadian Institute of Chemistry and presented with an international research award from the ACPO. Throughout his career he has contributed to the science of analysis, to the development of scientific standards and to public education, through the Canadian Society for Chemistry and the International Association of Racing Chemists, and as a Director of Hospitals in Common Laboratories.

Andrew Jenkins

Chief Scientific Officer · MSc Biochemistry

Leads the team providing lipid testing services to diverse clients. Over ten years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry have given him strong expertise in biochemistry, chromatography and regulatory standards, and a keen eye for detail and quality.

Full biography

Andrew is also a co-founder of and analytical consultant to Testing My Health, a start-up offering personalized health and wellness testing kits built on cutting-edge technology and scientific research, where he designs, validates and interprets the tests. The venture reflects his passion for empowering people to take charge of their own health and well-being.

He holds an MSc in Biochemistry from the University of Guelph, where his research covered the structure and function of proteins in neurological diseases, and brings the same commitment to continuous learning to new opportunities in molecular biology and health analytics. Member of the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute.

Gini Bourner

Quality Assurance

Medical technologist focused on quality assurance, standardization, immunology and hematology, with over 40 years across hospital and community laboratories.

Full biography

At Dynacare Laboratories, Gini was first Director of Hematology and then Scientific Director of Hematology, supporting the organization in standardization and quality assurance. She has served as an assessor for the Ontario Ministry of Health laboratory accreditation program, was a member of the board of the International Committee for Standardization of Hematology, and has authored or co-authored several papers and posters on quality assurance and laboratory standardization.

Outside of work, Gini is an avid curler and enjoys spending time in the garden.

Equipment

Analytical equipment built for precision

Our laboratory uses modern, high-performance instrumentation selected specifically for lipid and fatty acid analysis.

A gas chromatograph with its autosampler, beside an ICP-MS

Specialised instrumentation

We use dedicated analytical systems suited to the measurement of fatty acids, lipid classes and oxidation parameters across oils, foods, feed and supplements.

High-resolution analysis

Our chromatography systems are configured to provide reliable separation and accurate quantitation of complex fatty acid and lipid profiles.

Controlled, traceable performance

Instruments are routinely calibrated, maintained and monitored against standards, controls and reference materials, and tied into our quality system and validated methods — so results are sound, reproducible and documented.

Accreditation

Accreditation you can inspect

Lipid Labs is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 through the Standards Council of Canada. The public scope identifies the methods currently covered, and tests outside that scope or completed by a partner laboratory are identified rather than implied.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017Accredited laboratory

SCC accreditedStandards Council of Canada

GOED memberOmega-3 trade association

DHA/EPA Omega-3 InstituteFounded by Dr. Bruce Holub

See the full scope

Custom analysis

Not on the menu?

Custom method development and non-routine matrices are a significant part of what we do. Tell us what you need to find out, and a chemist will reply about whether and how we can do it.

Talk to a chemist