|
 Dutch biotech MIMETAS B.V. announces that it has raised 5.2 million dollar to fund its expansion as a global leader in organ-on-a-chip technology. Venture capital investors Zeeuws Investerings Fonds (ZIF) and Participatiemaatschapij Oost Nederland (PPM Oost) have joined forces with national and regional partners to fund development and sales of MIMETAS’ unique 3D disease- and tissue modelling technologies.
Jos Joore, co-founder and Chief Business Officer of MIMETAS, acknowledges that these resources arrive at a strategically important moment: “Collaborations with top-tier pharmaceutical companies are expanding rapidly, an example of this is the recently announced 1.6 million dollar kidney-on-a-chip project with Roche, Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. The funds will be used to scale up the production of OrganoPlates™ and strengthen our activities in predictive preclinical model development, thus consolidating our leadership in this highly competitive field.”
back to top 
 Wednesday, October 15, 2014, 08:30am - 11:45am
Please join BioHealth Innovation and the National Institutes of Health in a session to learn more about the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for innovative small companies in the United States. SBIRs are non-dilutive federal research and development grants and contracts that fund innovative research efforts intended for commercialization by small business
This free event brought to you by BioHealth Innovation allows you to hear directly from the largest NIH Institutes on what they are looking for in a high quality grant application. These Institutes include the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Disease (NIAID), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS).
After remarks from each Institute, we will break out into a speed networking session to talk about your project with program managers.
Contact Ethan Byler at ebyler@biohealthinnovation.org if you are interested in scheduling one-on-one meetings.
back to top
Don’t miss the third annual full-day Innovation 2 Commercialization (I2C) conference featuring three informative plenary sessions to help launch, commercialize and fund YOUR technology to make your business venture profitable!
Hear panels on innovation, commercialization and financing featuring speakers from MedImmune, Brain Sentry, Naval Research Lab and more. Plus, learn about the "Amplimmune Story" and enjoy lunch as you discuss issues affecting your innovation or small business with a subject matter expert from a federal lab, university tech transfer office, venture capital firm, business service organization and others who serve as your table host.
back to top
The patent covers novel MDCK cells that have been adapted to grow in serum-free culture medium as well as cultivation techniques MedImmune uses to increase vaccine production titres.
According to the patent the modified cells support replication of attenuated influenza virus to a log10 TCID50/mL of at least 7, which is a significant advance on previous highest viral titres – around 4 log10 TCID50/mL - described in the literature .
back to top
Joel S. Marcus, founder, chairman, and chief executive of Alexandria Real Estate Equities, has focused the real estate investment trust on developing properties for the life sciences industry. While it operates in other biotechnology and medical technology hubs from New York to San Francisco, the Pasadena, Calif., company’s largest cluster of properties is in Greater Boston, where it owns 3.5 million square feet of space in Cambridge’s Kendall Square, along Route 128, and in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. On a visit to Cambridge, the 67-year-old Marcus spoke with Globe reporter Robert Weisman. Here’s what he found out:
back to top
As Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE: ARE) marks the 20th anniversary of its founding, the provider of state-of-the-art real estate for the science and technology industries is seeing occupancy, demand and new development all reach record levels.
“It’s an interesting time because we’re seeing the innovation economy doing miraculously well,” said Joel Marcus, founder and CEO of Pasadena, Calif.-based Alexandria.
back to top
MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca,…
In order to access this content you need to be logged into the site and have an active subscription or trial subscription. Please login, take a free trial or subscribe in order to continue reading.
back to top
Swiss drug major Roche (ROG: SIX) has acquired exclusive rights to a primer extension-based target enrichment technology and associated patent applications filled by therapeutic target discovery company AbVitro.
AbVitro and Roche scientists are to collaborate on the development and application of the technology, which will be used to support next-generation sequencing directly from blood or other biological samples, a key advantage for clinical sequencing applications. It will be incorporated into Roche’s sequencing unit research and development pipeline to support the strategy of providing a full next-generation sequencing workflow solution for clinical sequencing.
back to top
Join the BioBuzz networking group at our next free event. Along with 100's of the region's bioscience workers, you too could be making new connections, getting jobs and helping to build a stronger, more connected industry through the BioBuzz community!
The event is always free and we offer free drinks to the first 50 to 100 who arrive depending on how much we've been sponsored on a given month. People from all around the the region are coming out each month for this unique and welcoming monthly happy hour. It's a great place to meet up with coworkers past and present, make new connections or just catch up on the latest industry gossip If you're new and haven't yet made it out to an event, then we hope that you'll join us this month and see what all the Buzz is all about.
back to top
A Johns Hopkins neuroscientist hopes to fuel future research projects by turning his expertise into a video game that stars a dolphin.
Hopkins neuroscientist John Krakauer, who studies movement and human obsession with movement, worked with Hopkins software architects Omar Ahmad and Promit Roy, and Baltimore artist Kat McNally to create the game “I Am Dolphin.” The game was released through iTunes Oct. 9 and costs $2.99.
back to top
The University Senate made progress on the policies and guidelines that address non-tenure-track faculty — or professional track faculty, as they will soon be addressed, after a proposal passed in the senate yesterday.
The proposal, which passed by a vote of 61–12 with four abstentions, aims to create an overall title for faculty who are not on the tenure track but contribute to the university through teaching, research or service.
back to top
The National Institutes of Health on Thursday awarded almost $32-million in grants to more than two dozen institutions to devise innovative ways of helping researchers handle huge sets of data seen as increasingly central to future medical discoveries.
The grants are the first outlay in a project, announced last year and known as Big Data to Knowledge, that’s expected to involve more than $600-million in spending by 2020. Its goals include developing and distributing methods, software, and tools for sharing, analyzing, managing, and integrating data into medical research.
back to top
In 2014, startups took home nearly $1M in cash and prizes from the InvestMaryland Challenge. For 2015 we have new categories and are racking up partner prizes like cash grants, incubator space, legal advice and consulting services.
Start your application today! Applications are due December 12th.
$100,000 Grand Prize Categories
- IT HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
Enterprise Software, Data Analytics, Social Media & Apps, E-Commerce and Marketing/ADTECH.
- DEFENSE & SECURITY
Cybersecurity, Unmanned Systems, Defense, Communications Infrastructure, Public Infrastructure and Grid Security.
- LIFE SCIENCES
Biopharmaceuticals, Medical Devices & Diagnostics, Nutraceuticals, Agriculture Bio & Aquaculture and Healthcare IT.
- SUSTAINABILTY & EXPLORATION
EdTech, Energy, Solar Power, Space & Satellite Technologies, Climate Change/Weather, Water Management and Materials Science.
back to top
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 FLC Awards. Since its inception in 1984 the FLC Awards have become one of the most coveted honors in the technology transfer field, with over 200 Federal laboratories honored for their work in projects that advance the mission of technology transfer. To reflect the diversity in scope and number of technology transfer efforts undertaken by federal laboratories and their partners, seven categories of awards will be presented:
back to top
A California-based business accelerator that considers applicants based on their test scores is considering launching a Baltimore chapter.
Founder Institute already operates in 61 cities, and now it's looking for its first Baltimore class. Local organizers will be hosting events throughout the month of October to determine whether any local entrepreneurs meet their standards – talented folks who would be a part of the four-month program that would start later this year or toward the beginning of 2015.
back to top
A business accelerator that admits people based on their entrepreneurial potential — not just their business idea — is looking for its first Baltimore class.
Founder Institute, a California-based organization that operates accelerator program in 61 cities, is considering launching a Baltimore chapter. Local organizers will be holding engagement events in October to gauge interest and determine if any local entrepreneurs are good candidates. The four-month program could start later this year or early next.
back to top
The ETC (Emerging Technology Centers) www.etcbaltimore.com,Baltimore City’s award-winning technology innovation centers, announced today that The Abell Foundation will continue its support of AccelerateBaltimore™for 2015. Six companies will be selected for this intensive 13- week program and will be awarded $25,000 each to help propel their business ideas forward.
“We are absolutely thrilled that The Abell Foundation is continuing its support of AccelerateBaltimore (AB),” said Deborah Tillett, ETC’s president. “Of the 16 companies to successfully complete the program, 81% are still in business and have raised over $2.5 million in follow-on funding.”
back to top
A pilot program launched this week in four NIH institutes looks to speed up development and commercialization of new products and services generated by projects funded through the agency’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards.
The first class of 21 three-person teams of researchers and entrepreneurs gathered in Chevy Chase, MD, this week, concluding Wednesday, for the launch of the NIH Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) Team Training Pilot Program. The teams are all based at therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices companies funded with NIH SBIR Phase I grants, awarded to establish feasibility of proof of concept for commercializable technology.
back to top
For more than 3,000 years, traditional Chinese medicine was the predominant medical treatment in China. In recent decades, the practice has gained popularity in the the west.
Herbal medicines and various mind and body practices, such as acupuncture and tai chi have become a fashionable way to treat or prevent health problems.
An ancient practice finds its place in modern society. This is the Beijing Chinese Medicine clinic in Santa Monica, Los Angeles.
back to top
T, business, human capital and other stakeholders can now use cloud-based analytics to more effectively attract, acquire, serve and engage customers, Deloitte Digital announced today. Deloitte Digital has created an analytics offering for Wave, the Salesforce Analytics Cloud that is designed to offer greater flexibility than on-premises solutions. Deloitte Digital's approach to cloud-based analytics is designed to help companies create strategies for success in a new environment. An example of Deloitte Digital's commitment to Salesforce Analytics Cloud is its Member Connect solution, a health care industry-focused accelerator with an intuitive approach to the customer journey focusing on omni-channel interactions and a holistic view of the customer.
back to top
Of the 115 healthcare accelerators in the world, 87 are in the U.S., most of them are geared to digital health and are under two years old. Although many accelerator companies have created jobs and there have been some exits, most have yet to show anything for the investment in them. That’s understandable given the age of the average accelerator and given that it can take seven years before a company can realize a return on capital for investors. But the consensus of a new report published by the California HealthCare Foundation is that we should expect some consolidation soon.
back to top
Downtown Partnership of Baltimore Inc. is launching a grant program aimed at getting more tech firms to consider moving downtown.
The nonprofit is offering six $10,000 grants to tech firms willing to give office space a try downtown for at least a year. Firms must locate to within Downtown Partnership's "management authority area," a 106-block area that includes the central business district, part of midtown's west side and the west side of downtown up to Greene Street.
back to top
While all The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People listed by Stephen Covey remain relevant and timeless, the one which resonates with me most is the seventh — sharpen the saw. In the life sciences industry, Covey’s concept of continuous improvement is more than just a habit, but a way of life. This is especially true for those who work in pharma and biopharma manufacturing — striving to maintain high quality, be on time with delivery, increase productivity (often with fewer resources) and so on. If you work in manufacturing, you are probably tempted to stop reading and get back to work.
back to top
Health information technology (HIT) refers to a broad spectrum of technologies, ranging from personal health-monitoring applications to big data analytics. The venture capital firm Rock Health recently reported that venture capital funding in the HIT field reached $3 billion for 2014, well surpassing the $1.9 billion invested in the sector during 2013.[1] The LSN research team tracks investors in early stage life sciences, and we have noticed a growing interest in HIT as well.
back to top
Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Interim Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development M. Jeffrey Miller and DC Innovates today announced grants for eight tech startups through the Digital DC Tech Fund (DDCTF). DDCTF is a catalytic fund that provides grants of $25,000 to $200,000 along with a customized mentorship program for early- and growth-stage technology ventures in the District of Columbia.
"Each of these grantees represents a bright future for technology, innovation and economic growth in the District of Columbia," Mayor Gray said. "Through the Digital DC Tech Fund, my administration is able to provide resources and opportunities that will allow grant recipients to grow their companies and continue to make the District a place where innovative companies can start, develop and thrive."
back to top
For creative writing, Joyce Carol Oates got it right when she advised, “Be daring, take on anything.”
But when you are trying to make a good first impression on you future boss, concision and confidence sets a qualified applicant apart from one who doesn’t sound sure of her own experience.
back to top
Andrew Laver has long worked with life science startups through his work as an angel investor, venture capitalist and investment banking. Now he’s getting that perspective from one of Healthbox’s newest accelerators in Salt Lake City.
As I mentioned in another post, it’s interesting that an accelerator would take on so many medical device companies (four). But as Laver points out, it goes with the territory because there are so many in the region. Salt Lake City has the biggest concentration of medical device manufacturers in the country, according to Utah’s economic development corporation. It has more than 100 medical device companies.
back to top
Failure to diagnose the Ebola case quickly in Texas raises questions about electronic health records, known as EHRs.
Information entered by a nurse was not transferred to doctors in an emergency room. With more of our medical records going digital, failures in the relatively new technology will become more important to all of us.
back to top
|
