Rockville, Maryland’s Fina Biosolutions recently was awarded an SBIR grant to develop a genetically detoxified tetanus toxin as a carrier protein for conjugate vaccines.  The NIAID funded grant is for $289,000 and will use a mutant toxin engineered by Dr. Joseph Barbieri of the Medical College of Wisconsin.  FinaBio’s Scientific Director, Andrew Lees, noted “We are very appreciative of the help from BHI in securing this grant which will help us to commercialize a new genetically detoxified vaccine carrier protein that complements our existing conjugate vaccine portfolio.” FinaBio has created an E. coli strain with an oxidative intracellular environment that grows to very high densities and can express soluble disulfide bonded proteins. The mutant tetanus toxin will be produced in this E. coli strain and compared as vaccine carrier protein with the chemically detoxified protein.  Fina Bio received assistance from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in preparing the SBIR grant application through its Federal Funding Assistance program.

This new program is specifically aimed at helping patients with Type 2 diabetes, who take medications to control their blood sugar levels.

Sonavex, a Baltimore-based medical device company, has announced a raise of $3M in financing including the first close of its Series A round led by Grey Sky Partners. Recently named Maryland’s 2016 Incubator Company of the Year, Sonavex is focused on improving surgical patient outcomes with point-of-care imaging technologies. Other organizations participating in this financing include CRCM Venture Capital, TEDCO, and the Abell Foundation. Award of a $750k Phase II SBIR grant from the National Science Foundation is also included in the financing. With this influx of capital, Sonavex will be advancing the commercialization of EchoSure, a Doppler ultrasound system, and developing additional ultrasound solutions currently in the company’s pipeline. The press release also announces the addition of Bill Niland, CEO of Harpoon Medical, and Bob Hallenbeck, former executive at Becton Dickinson, to Sonavex’s Board of Directors.

Sisu Global Health got more recognition for its device that recycles blood for use during surgery, winning the First Mile Innovation Challenge.

The competition, which was run by the Consortium of Affordable Medical Technologies (CAMTech), GE Sustainable Healthcare Solutions and MGH Global Health, sought applications from around the world that address health hardships in low and middle income countries. About 80 companies from 16 countries applied, according to an announcement.

Redox, a Madison, WI-based startup that develops digital tools that enable healthcare applications to access data from electronic health records systems, says it has raised $9 million from investors.

New York-based RRE Ventures led the Series B financing. Other participants in the funding round included return backers .406 Ventures (in Boston), HealthX Ventures (Madison), and Flybridge Capital Partners, which has offices in Boston and New York. .406 Ventures led Redox’s $3.5 million Series A round, which was announced in late 2015.

Since its inception, biotechnology has been preoccupied with virus filtration, the clearance of invasive and adventitious viruses from biopharmaceutical products. And now, far from waning, virus filtration is set to become even more important. Virus filtration, reports Markets and Markets, constitutes a global market that is growing 12% each

The NIH has awarded MIMETAS and the University of Pittsburgh a prestigious SBIR grant to develop a Liver-on-a-Chip platform for high throughput discovery and development. Accurate prediction of hepatotoxicity is a major problem in the development of new drugs leading to high development costs.  Animal hepatotoxicity testing is expensive, unsuited to high throughput and overall has unreliable concordance with human hepatotoxicity. MIMETAS scientists have teamed up with the University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute led by D. Lansing Taylor, Ph.D. to develop a liver-on-a-chip platform of unprecedented throughput, predictivity and usability. “We’re extremely happy to be working with Lans and his team on this project”, says Dr. Anthony Saleh of MIMETAS. “Prof. Taylor is a frontrunner in developing in vitro liver cultures and has vast experience with microfluidic techniques." “We were extremely impressed when we learned about the MIMETAS OrganoPlate platform”, commented Prof. Taylor. “It enables High Throughput, 3D co-culture with a vascular and hepatic compartments, as well as ease of handling. There is really no equivalent in the Organ-on-a-Chip space”.

Great news in the happiest season of the year. We've published our 3D neuronal models for drug screening in Nature Scientific Reports and we received a grant with Pittsburg University for liver-on-a-chip. Of course we're looking forward to meet you at the SLAS2017 in Washington and at the ISSCR in Basel. And Christmas would not be Christmas without our warm wishes for the holiday season and the year 2017. We're definitely looking forward to it!

In Africa, the team building Sisu Global Health is stepping up the introduction of its blood transfusion device. In Baltimore, the team is posting fundraising gains.

Sisu recently raised $500,000 from the Camden Partners Exelixis Fund, CMO Katie Kirsch said.

Every year, millions of fish raised in aquaculture die of nervous necrosis virus (NNV). “The disease affects the brain, and the fish lose their vision and balance,” says Vikram Vakharia, professor of marine biotechnology at UMBC. As a result of damage to the nervous system, “the fish just swim in circles,” Vakharia says. His lab is housed at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Leiden-based biotechnology company Mimetas has received 1.6 million USD funding for development of an organ-on-a-chip model for neurotoxicity. The aim of the project is to improve existing neurotoxicity tests and to reduce experimentation on animals. A panel of experts from BASF, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, Abbvie, NC3Rs and renowned academic institutions has selected the Mimetas solution from a lineup of strong competitors. Mimetas will lead the consortium, which also includes the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (Utrecht, The Netherlands) and Cellular Dynamics International (Wisconsin, USA).

Rockville, MD, November 19, 2014 – BeneVir BioPharm, Inc. today announced it closed a Series A investment round with Pansend, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HC2 Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: HCHC). BeneVir’s core technology was licensed from New York University (NYU) and originally developed by Ian J. Mohr, Ph.D., NYU Langone Medical Center.

BeneVir used this core technology to develop a pipeline of cancer immunotherapy drug candidates that affect antigen presentation in both tumor cells and antigen presenting cells. BeneVir’s pipeline consists of oncolytic viruses delivered locally or systemically. Once inside tumors, the viruses selectively destroy cancer cells, evade elimination by the immune system, and activate multiple classes of anti-tumor immune cells. This multi-mechanistic approach builds upon key elements of both oncolytic virus and immune-checkpoint inhibitor approaches to cancer treatment and is designed to block the major methods that tumors use to subvert the immune system. Proceeds of the financing will be used to conduct initial proof- of-concept clinical studies of BeneVir’s lead product, further develop the pipeline, and establish partnerships to test promising combination therapies in a diverse set of metastatic solid tumors.

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Benevir has been accepted into the Hive program and will be taking part in the TEDMED 2014 convention from September 10-12, 2014 in Washington, DC and San Francisco.

BeneVir's cancer therapeutic is designed to induce the immune system to recognize and rid the body of two types of tumor cell. The first type is responsive to current immunotherapies, and many patients experience complete remissions. Tumor cells of the second type have evolved to hide from the immune system and are refractory to current immunotherapies. These tumor cells are ultimately responsible for tumor recurrence and poor clinical outcomes. To our knowledge, there is no technology in development that can induce immunity to both types of tumor cell. We feel we have a unique perspective in the emerging field of cancer immunotherapy and that our technology will exhibit enhanced clinical benefit for a wide range of cancer patients.

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We are pleased to announce that emocha Mobile Health launched its video-based directly observed therapy application, miDOT, in Harris County, Texas. miDOT will be used to bridge the distance between healthcare workers and the tuberculosis (TB) patients that are dispersed across the nearly 1,800 square miles surrounding Houston, which has one of the nation’s highest Tuberculosis rates. The roll-out began in early February after emocha won a competitive bidding process based on a head-to-head pilot with competing technologies.

July 8 - 9, 2015, Boston, MA, USA

The first ever Organ-on-a-Chip World Congress focuses on Organ-on-a-Chip technology, Biofabrication and 3D-Bioprinting in the life sciences. The conference will be held on 8-9 July 2015 in Boston, organized by Selectbio.

MIMETAS is corporate sponsor of this inaugural conference.

Oral Presentation Abstract Submission Deadline: February 27, 2015

Poster Submission Deadline: June 30, 2015

Maarssen, the Netherlands, 14 June 2013 - MIMETAS was awarded the prestigious LifeSciences@Work award during yesterdays' Dutch Life Sciences SME Event. 75 recently established Life Science companies were invited to compete through an on-line video pitch contest. The video pitches were analyzed by a professional jury, consisting of primarily investors and life science professionals.

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MIMETAS today announces the appointment of Herbert L. Heyneker, Ph.D. as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Heyneker will be supporting MIMETAS in her mission to develop high-throughput Organ-on-a-Chip products for predictive therapy testing.

"Organ-on-a-Chip technology is extremely hot in the United States today. But none of the technologies I've seen so far comes even close to the level of elegance and sophistication that MIMETAS is offering." says Herb Heyneker, who is based in the San Francisco Bay area. "I am strongly convinced that MIMETAS technology has the potential to create a revolution in medicine development and therapy selection. [...]"

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MIMETAS' co-founder Paul Vulto has won the Audience Award and the runner up Jury Award for Best Proposition at the International Conference on the Commercialisation of Micro- and Nanosystems (COMS). The jury, which included serial entrepreneur Steven Walsh and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Janusz Bryzek, called the MIMETAS proposition a technology that will change the world, having the potential to grow into a billion-dollar company.

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The UK-based National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) has awarded MIMETAS with £100k in the NephroTube Crack-it Challenge, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Roche.

The NephroTube Crack-it Challenge aims to develop a microfluidic renal model predicting renal toxicity during pre-clinical development. In collaboration with the UMCN Pharmacology-Toxicology Department and the Swiss FHNW, MIMETAS will develop a kidney-on-a-chip by combining its OrganoPlate™ 3D-culturing technology with the human renal cell line ciPTEC™.

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MIMETAS and BHI created a U.S. subsidiary of MIMETAS to access the clinical, regulatory and scientific resources available in Central Maryland and to access the U.S. marketplace, the largest life sciences market in the world.

"We're very pleased to add Todd to the MIMETAS team," said Jos Joore, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of MIMETAS. "Todd couples a vast experience in business creation with a profound understanding of biology and disease mechanisms. Most importantly, Todd shares our sense of urgency around enabling better medical treatment by using more predictive cell culture models."

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MIMETAS and Galapagos will collaborate to develop miniaturized 3D cell culture models that mimic specific aspects of human diseases. These models will be applied to the identification and improvement of novel compounds. Dr. Richard Janssen, Senior Director of Target Discovery at Galapagos, states: "The MIMETAS platform is the first to combine organ-on-a-chip technology with our high throughput screening of primary human cells. As we see it, OrganoPlates™ make 3D culture as straightforward as traditional cell culture."

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MIMETAS is part of Medical Delta: the consortium of top life sciences and medical technology partners in the Netherlands. Medical Delta is a research, sales and logistics driven life sciences and medical technology cluster situated in the economic heart of the Netherlands, between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and the Port of Rotterdam. In this Leiden -- Delft -- Rotterdam region, top-ranked universities and medical centers work together with industry and government to provide a dynamic environment for innovative spinoffs and international companies. With thanks to Roel Kamerling.

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What do you need to turn a brilliant idea into a business? “A good morale boost,” says Abhishek Motayed, Founder and President of N5 Sensors, Inc. of Rockville. Motayed had that boost this month when N5 Sensors received two Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awards totaling $250,000. The grants came from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) towards N5 Sensors work developing low-power, computer chip-size benzene, carbon monoxide, and ammonia sensors. A 2012 UMD Invention of Year Award winner, Motayed has kept close contact with the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), a crucial participant in the creation of N5 Sensors. “My interactions with OTC were very positive and encouraging. They are very knowledgeable—they knew exactly how to advise me on funding, commercialization, and patenting,” says Motayed.

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Strand Life Sciences (Strand) representatives will demonstrate new capabilities of the company's variant interpretation and reporting software, StrandOmics at the Association For Molecular Pathologist (AMP) 2014 Annual Meeting to be held from November 12th to 15th in National Harbor, Maryland. The 20th anniversary meeting's theme is "Realizing the Dream of Precision Medicine," with a special address by Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institute of Health. At AMP, Strand will host a workshop on the innovative developments and application of its StrandOmics software, plus new expansion efforts in Personalized Medicine.

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Apollo Hospitals announced the launch of cutting-edge clinical genomic tests from the Strand Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, a part of Strand Life Sciences across its hospital network. These tests in oncology, cardiovascular, heritable eye diseases and rare genetic disorders shall be integrated into clinical practice by Apollo’s subsidiary, Sapien Biosciences in partnership with Strand Life Sciences. These tests, will help doctors diagnose disease more precisely, identify the optimal treatment and monitor disease & treatment course for better outcomes. Genomics is integral to Apollo’s focus on Research and Innovations. Genomic testing involves analyses of patient genomes – genes and sequences of DNA/RNA. The analysis helps create better prognostic tools for improved disease screening and prevention strategies. The patient benefits from optimized clinical care, personalization of treatment & monitoring of outcomes. These tests come with comprehensive pre- & post-test counselling to help the patient & their physicians to integrate the tests results into the clinical care provided. Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals says,“Apollo has always believed that personalized medicine is the future of healthcare delivery. Our Chairman, Dr. P.C Reddy’s foresight of personalized health is becoming a reality today with the availability of such cutting-edge genomic tests.”

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In this episode of BioTalk, we welcome Rick Wieczorek, President and CEO of the NIH Federal Credit Union (NIHFCU), to discuss how credit unions like NIHFCU are uniquely positioned to support the biohealth and healthcare communities. With over 40 years of industry experience, Rick shares his journey from teller to CEO and reflects on NIHFCU’s 85-year history, its mission-driven approach to service, and the importance of tailoring financial solutions to meet the needs of life science professionals. He also explains the benefits of membership, the value of the NIHFCU "At Work" program for employers, and how the credit union’s “Banking with Heart” philosophy is making a difference across the BioHealth Capital Region.

In this episode of BioTalk, host Rich Bendis welcomes Sona Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Neopenda, for an inspiring conversation on innovation, impact, and scaling medical technology in underserved markets. Sona shares how a formative experience teaching in rural Kenya ignited her passion for global health, leading to the creation of neoGuard, a wearable vital signs monitor tailored for low-resource settings. This episode builds on a recent article featured on the BHI News page, offering a deeper look into Neopenda’s journey, innovations, and impact in global health.

They discuss the engineering challenges of building clinical-grade hardware for hospitals with limited infrastructure, the company’s growth from Maryland’s Relevant Health accelerator, and the deployment of over 350 devices across East and West Africa. Sona also talks about Neopenda’s next wave of products, lessons in balancing cost and quality, and the importance of community, resilience, and mission-driven entrepreneurship.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platforms:
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In this timely episode of BioTalk, returning guest Alex Philippidis, Senior Business Editor at Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, joins host Rich Bendis to explore how sweeping changes in U.S. regulatory policy, workforce dynamics, and economic pressures are affecting the biotech industry in real time.

Listen now via your favorite podcasting platforms:
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Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3EIid2q
iHeart: https://ihr.fm/3Ykuq46
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Alex breaks down the potential consequences of FDA workforce cuts, particularly for small and mid-sized biotechs that depend on regulatory guidance, and offers perspective on how HHS and NIH budget proposals could reshape the national innovation infrastructure. The conversation covers everything from the impact of tariffs on manufacturing and supply chains to the slowing pace of M&A activity and venture capital investment trends. Alex also shares his insights on IPO strategy shifts, and whether the current biotech environment is poised for a rebound—or a broader realignment with global competitors. This is a must-listen episode for anyone navigating the uncertain waters of biotech in 2025.

What does it take to establish Maryland as a powerhouse for biotech commercialization? In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Dr. Deborah Hemingway, Founder and Managing Partner of Ecphora Capital, shares her insights on the current investment landscape in the BioHealth Capital Region. She discusses the strategic advantages that make Maryland uniquely positioned for success, the critical gaps that must be addressed, and how state and local governments can provide essential support through tax credits, grants, and economic incentives.

Dr. Hemingway also highlights Ecphora Capital’s impact, having deployed $15 million in the last two years, and reveals the firm’s strategy for future investments, including SPVs and a dedicated fund. With deep experience in medtech commercialization, strategic partnerships, and early-stage investing, she offers valuable perspectives on where the industry is headed in 2025 and how companies can thrive in an evolving biotech ecosystem.

Listen via your favorite podcast platform:
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Tune in for a compelling conversation on innovation, investment, and the future of biotech in the BioHealth Capital Region.

In this episode of BioTalk, host Rich Bendis is joined by Amitabh Varshney, Dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences and a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, College Park. Together, they explore the groundbreaking advancements in artificial intelligence and health computing driven by the University of Maryland (UMD).

Dean Varshney discusses the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Interdisciplinary Institute at Maryland (AIM) earlier this year. He shares insights into the vision behind AIM, the strategic hiring of new faculty, the allocation of seed grants, and the development of academic programs in AI, all solidifying UMD's position as a leader in this rapidly evolving field.

Listen Now via your favorite podcast platforms:
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In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Dr. Kolaleh Eskandanian, Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer at Children’s National Hospital, discusses her work driving pediatric healthcare innovation. Dr. Eskandanian introduces the BARDA SPARK Accelerator, a groundbreaking initiative focused on advancing medical countermeasures for children, and explains how it aligns with Children’s National’s mission to lead in pediatric healthcare innovation.

She also highlights the unique challenges in developing pediatric medical countermeasures and the importance of partnerships with organizations like Rainbow Babies, Mass General, and others. Additionally, Dr. Eskandanian shares insights into the hospital’s role in fostering innovation through the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI) and the Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus.

Join us for an engaging conversation about the future of pediatric healthcare, the opportunities for innovation, and how the SPARK Accelerator is paving the way for advancements that will improve the lives of children worldwide.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platforms:
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In this episode of BioTalk, Bill Tompkins, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), discusses the strategies driving Montgomery County’s position as a leading bioscience hub. Bill highlights MCEDC’s role in reinforcing the region’s standing as the third-largest bioscience cluster in the U.S. and shares insights into the new Institute for Health Computing. He also introduces two new venture funds—the Technology Innovation Fund and the Founders Fund—designed to accelerate innovation and support local entrepreneurs.

Bill outlines MCEDC’s priorities for the upcoming year, emphasizing economic growth, investment opportunities, and fostering collaborations that make Montgomery County a thriving ecosystem for business and life sciences.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platforms:

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In this episode of BioTalk, host Rich Bendis welcomes Ric Hughen, CEO of Linshom Medical, and Talia Feldman, Software Engineer at Linshom Medical, to discuss their groundbreaking advancements in respiratory monitoring technology. As the main winners of the 2024 Crab Trap Competition at the 10th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Week, Ric and Talia share Linshom’s mission to improve patient safety through their innovative and accessible respiratory monitoring devices.

Ric explains how Linshom is addressing critical gaps in respiratory monitoring by bringing operating-room-quality data to patient bedsides and homes. Talia shares insights from the engineering side, highlighting the challenges and breakthroughs in developing reliable and user-friendly technology.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform:
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The conversation explores Linshom’s roots in the BioHealth Capital Region and how its partnerships and resources have been instrumental to the company’s growth. Talia reflects on her experience presenting at the Crab Trap Competition, and Ric discusses how this recognition aligns with Linshom’s broader visibility and growth objectives.