The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded more than $600,000 to a division of Johns Hopkins University on Tuesday to increase economic development in the region’s digital health field.

gel-e is developing a line of advanced hemostatic and wound treatment products that address unmet needs from the operating room to the backyard.  Following previous clearances for topical and external use of its platform technology (see http://www.gel-e.co/news.html), the Company is now expanding its label to include use for internal and surgical applications.  The first product, now on an accelerated path as a Breakthrough Device, is an expanding injectable hemostat, Life Foam™.   Life Foam can rapidly provide temporary control of bleeding from non-compressible abdominal wounds that are not amenable to tourniquet application in trauma and battlefield conditions.  As the tradename suggests, this product is designed to save the lives of those injured in battle, or that are the victims of traumatic accidents or even terrorist attacks.  

In the last five to 10 years, it would seem as though Baltimore is finally emerging (at least economically) — from its slow, multi-decade decline. But if you’re a resident of one of the city’s poorer neighborhoods, you might not know it.

A nice, relaxing glass of Bordeaux or Cabernet might easily seem like the perfect treatment for an anxious or slightly depressed state. Though, the alcohol might lead one down a slippery path rather quickly. Instead, investigators at the University of Buffalo (UB) and Xuzhou Medical University in China have decided to focus their attention on the widely studied plant compound—found in considerably higher levels in red wine than most other plants—called resveratrol. This phenolic compound has been studied for several decades, in connection with reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and for the treatment of cancer, with mixed results. Yet now, researchers found new evidence of resveratrol displaying anti-stress effects by blocking the expression of an enzyme related to the control of stress in the brain.

A patent granted to George Mason University Research Foundation Inc., which describes a novel treatment method for pre-invasive breast cancer, has been exclusively licensed to Targeted Pharmaceuticals LLC, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on utilizing cannabinoids for the treatment of  oncology and central nervous system disorders.

Venn Innovation, a non-profit Moncton-based incubator established to connect New Brunswick’s tech ecosystem, has received approximately $475,000 from the federal government in the form of a grant.

BrainScope announced today that it has successfully completed a nearly five year, $9.9 million U.S. Department of Defense research contract supporting the development and validation of an objective marker of the presence and severity of concussion. In a large blinded validation study, the system demonstrated its ability to help clinicians assess concussion at the time of injury, reflect severity of injury, and aid in their assessment of readiness to return to activity. BrainScope extended the work performed under this Department of Defense contract to include adolescents funded through private investment from BrainScope and a second award from the NFL-GE Head Health Challenge I.

The Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National Health System announces its 7th Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium is slated for Sunday, Sept. 22 in Boston, Mass., featuring a $150K medical device competition focused on innovations for neonatal and NICU care. Following the theme "Pediatric Device Clinical Trials: Forging a Better Path," this year's symposium explores the pediatric device clinical trial process, including progress insights, current challenges and potential solutions.

Venture capital fundraising this year by biopharma startups is on course to fall behind last year, though it will be above the figure for 2017. But the biggest story may be where that funding is going.

Frederick, Maryland continues to be a hotbed for biotech and a destination of choice for many new startups. The last few years have seen one-time startups like RoosterBio, Inc., BioFactura, Inc. and Akonni Biosystems thrive and grow within the Frederick life science support ecosystem. 

A patent granted to George Mason University Research Foundation Inc., which describes a novel treatment method for pre-invasive breast cancer, has been exclusively licensed to Targeted Pharmaceuticals LLC, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on utilizing cannabinoids for the treatment of oncology and central nervous system disorders.

If you attended any of the events, conferences and panel discussions in the BioHealth Capital Region this year you probably would have picked up on a consistent theme. Whether it was at the ISPE Chesapeake Bay Area Chapter’s MAST Showcase, the BioHealth Capital Region Forum held at AstraZeneca in April or the more recent NCI Tech Transfer Showcase, talent and capital were hot button topics discussed intensely during the sessions, over lunch and while networking at each event. 

Emmes today announced that it has received a Workplace Excellence Seal of Approval from Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE). This is the fifth consecutive year the company has received the AWE Workplace Excellence award.

AUTM - #Egypt tech transfer partnership and information exchange co-sponsored by the USDA continues this week with stops this week at #Maryland TEDCO and BioHealth Innovation, Inc. in the BioHealth Capital Region

Scientists are getting closer to understanding how to turn the body’s energy-storing white fat cells into energy-burning beige fat cells, opening up hopes that fat deposits could one day be deliberately manipulated to prevent obesity and related health conditions.

MaxCyte, the global clinical-stage cell-based therapies and life sciences company, announced today that it has appointed Dr. Dhana Chinnasamy, a 20+-year expert in the research and translation of gene and immunotherapies, as its Vice President, Non-Clinical and Translational Studies. In her new role, Dr. Chinnasamy will oversee all non-clinical and translational activities for MaxCyte's CARMA platform working closely with the clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, and business development teams in support of MaxCyte's clinical-stage therapeutic development.

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) recently released the report Transforming Ideas into Advances: Best Practices in State and Regional Bioscience Economic Development Initiatives. This biennial report provides a good summary of state initiatives serving the industry plus a discussion of new developments by state.

The 24-week, part-time program will be geared toward working professionals, who may be looking to pursue new job opportunities in tech.

I recently visited Egypt as part of a team led by the Departments of State and Agriculture, supported by the good folks at the AUTM Foundation. Egypt, like many countries, is looking at our model for integrating research universities into their economy. I was asked to speak about the Bayh-Dole Act and thought it was important to emphasize that there were many factors required beyond enacting a law to reverse an entrenched national policy.

Elon Musk grabbed a lot of attention with his July 16 announcement that his company Neuralink plans to implant electrodes into the brains of people with paralysis by next year. Their first goal is to create assistive technology to help people who can’t move or are unable to communicate.

Venture capital fundraising this year by biopharma startups is on course to fall behind last year, though it will be above the figure for 2017. But the biggest story may be where that funding is going.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE), an urban office REIT and the first and longest-tenured owner, operator and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, today announced that it has been selected by NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, as the 2019 Developer of the Year. The award, which is the association's highest honor, will be presented to Alexandria at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at NAIOP's CRE.Converge conference in Los Angeles.

If companion diagnostics (CDx) were people, they would be old enough to drink. The first CDx won FDA approval in 1998, when Dako Denmark (since acquired by Agilent Technologies) received authorization to market HercepTest. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay was designed to detect human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein overexpression in breast tumors of patients who may benefit from Herceptin (trastuzumab), a targeted therapeutic for certain types of breast cancer marketed by Genentech (now a member of the Roche Group).

Earlier today, NAIOP announced it had chosen Alexandria Real Estate Equities its 2019 Developer of the Year, the organization's highest honor. "Founded on the premise that life science companies are most successful when positioned in close proximity to world-renowned academic and medical institutions, cutting-edge scientific and managerial talent and strategic investment capital," said NAIOP, "Alexandria has utilized Harvard Business School Professor Michael E. Porter's cluster theory as the foundation of its differentiated and multifaceted business model."

When:Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Join Women In Bio-Capital Region to discuss one of the most important elements of entrepreneurship - how to determine whether to bring start-up team members in-house (and creatively convince them to work for your startup), or utilize vendors and contractors (and vet and manage them). We are excited to present an excellent panel of strong female professionals with diverse expertise in launching and facilitating successful businesses in the biotech space. Our panel will feature: Emily English, Ph.D. and CEO of Gemstone Biotherapeutics; Anne Balduzzi, Director of Advisory Services at TEDCO; and Maria Granovsky, Ph.D., J.D., and founder of Swimming Otter Communications. Dr. Ethel Rubin, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at BioHealth Innovation, Inc. will be our moderator for the evening, helping to highlight the panelists’ inspirational stories and cautionary tales of how to successfully start your own business (typically with little funding). Come prepared to listen, learn, ask questions, and have the opportunity to meet the leading ladies of our entrepreneurship-focused WIB evening. We can’t wait to see you there!

Venture funding raised by Maryland companies took a big jump in the second quarter of the year, as companies in the state raised a total of $226 million.

Chris Jeschke’s path into the startup world began with an unexpected outreach from an online advertising company. Following eight years at Advertising.com and four years at Booz Allen Hamilton, Jeschke is now CTO of Fells Point-based Protenus and building a team of next generation junior developers.

The Galien Foundation today announced the 2019 Annual Prix Galien USA Award nominees. Counted among the global health innovation industry's most prized honors, the Prix Galien Award recognizes outstanding biomedical and medical technology product achievement that improves the human condition.

In a massive new analysis of findings from 277 clinical trials using 24 different interventions, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have found that almost all vitamin, mineral and other nutrient supplements or diets cannot be linked to longer life or protection from heart disease.

Researchers at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) recently received $1M from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA, part of the US Department of Defense) to advance their work developing wearable sensors that measure biochemical information to diagnose disease. IBBR Fellow Dr. Gregory Payne (Research Professor, IBBR) is principal investigator on the award.

Health care and medical research may attract considerable philanthropic dollars from wealthy individuals, yet many givers question whether their dollars have an impact. 

Since the days of its founding, Johns Hopkins University has encouraged a spirit of innovation among its students and researchers. So it's no surprise that many alumni go on to start their own companies.

Venture capital-backed companies based in the United States raised a record number of mega-rounds with 64 $100M+ deals this past quarter.

What is the NIH and how is NIH related to venture capital? Isn’t NIH a government research organization? NIH is widely recognized as the world’s premier biomedical research agency. Few realize that NIH, through its Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, is also the world’s largest early stage life sciences investor. We back over 1000 companies each year with over $1B! Companies that are awarded these much-coveted, non-dilutive awards for product development cannot do it alone. We need private, institutional and venture fund partners to help these companies bring products to market. That is where the investment world comes in.

The new space comes as 1776 shifts in its D.C.-area footprint.