Julia Levy

Julia Levy (May 15, 1934 – December 5, 2024) was a Canadian microbiologist, immunologist, educator and entrepreneur.

Early life and education The daughter of Guillaume Albert and Dorothy Frances Coppens, she was born Julia Coppens in Singapore. In 1940, her father sent her mother and his two daughters from their home in Indonesia to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he joined them at the end of World War II after he was released from a Japanese prisoner of war camp.

Initially Levy was Chief Scientific Officer of QLT, but from 1995 to 2001 she served as chief executive officer and President of QLT. As a result of the success of Visudyne, QLT became one of the 21% of biotechnology companies that were profitable in the year 2000.

She has expanded her methodology to treat HIV/AIDS, arthritis and age-related macular degeneration.

Honours and awards Levy was named a fellow in the Royal Society of Canada in 1980, Pacific Canada Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 and an Officer in the Order of Canada in 2001. She has received the Future of Vision Award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Helen Keller Award for Contributions to Vision and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Columbia Biotechnology Association.

Personal life and death She married Edwin Levy; the couple have two children.