Canaccord Adams has expanded its life sciences practice, adding two senior investment bankers and two experienced research analysts from First Albany Capital to its global team.

Jeff Barlow will lead the effort for Canaccord Adams in the U.S. as managing director and head of life sciences banking. Barlow is joined by fellow banker Matt Steere, who joins the firm as managing director. William Plovanic and Jason Mills have joined the firm as managing directors in equity research. With these new hires, Canaccord Adams’ Global Life Sciences practice increases to eight research analysts and six senior investment bankers.

“We are very excited to expand our Life Sciences practice, and with the addition of this research team Canaccord Adams expects to be covering more than 80 Life Sciences companies by midyear,” said Kevin Dunn, president & CEO of Canaccord Adams Inc.

“Our new colleagues are a proven team and bring extensive relationships to our firm from all regions in the United States. Working together for the past several years, the investment banking team has been very active in the capital markets and in the merger and acquisitions of emerging growth companies,” added Jamie Brown, head of U.S. Investment Banking.

The firm notes that Barlow and Steere will work closely with their counterpart Steve Winokur, Investment Banking sector head in Canada, and Plovanic and Mills will work closely with Karl Keegan, Global sector head for Life Sciences research in London.