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.

A new analysis finds that more physicians are gaining telemedicine skills, an industry that’s expected to grow to over $130 billion by 2025. Here’s more from the report:

After bouncing back last year both in dollars raised and number of deals, the initial public offering (IPO) market was expected to at least approach that success this year.

Are you a start-up in Maryland, DC or Virginia seeking feedback on your biohealth business idea, pitch deck, or commercialization plan? Schedule your feedback session with BHI EIRs on one of the following dates:

• 7/24/19 (All slots filled)
• 9/4/19
• 10/9/19
• 11/20/19
• 1/22/20
• 2/26/20
• 3/25/20
• 4/22/20
• 5/27/20

(45 minute blocks of time beginning at 9:00 in the morning. If the morning slots are filled, more time will be allotted beginning at 1 p.m.) 

These take place at BHI headquarters in Rockville or by videoconference via Zoom.

Pre-registration and forwarding of a power point deck one week before the session is required. Sign up here ("EIR resource" at BHI HQ, Rockville).  For questions, more information, or to be added to the wait list, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

How did Virginia manage to snag the biggest economic development prize in recent memory?

Amazon says its abrupt decision in February to pull out of a deal to build part of its giant second headquarters in Long Island City, Queens, was not about politics, despite speculation to the contrary. But when opposition in New York grew, Chairman Jeff Bezos and his team decided it only made sense to focus their efforts on the other victor in the HQ2 sweepstakes: Northern Virginia.

Drones have made the news once again. This time, to aid in swift and reliable delivery of life-saving temperature-controlled medications required in emergency situations. A collaboration between Direct Relief, Merck (MSD outside the U.S. and Canada), Softbox, AT&T and Volans-i is pushing the boundaries and capabilities of UAVs- also known as drones, and confirmed a successful fourth pilot proof-of-concept mission was conducted in the Bahamas last week.

A leading genomics company with international reach is opening its first commercial location on the East Coast at Baltimore’s University Maryland BioPark.

Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI), a privately held, Maryland-based biotechnology company, announced today the appointment of Andrew Eisen, M.D., Ph.D. as VP, Clinical Development. Dr. Eisen is a translational medicine and clinical development specialist with over 20 years of experience in the biotech and pharma sectors.

For Jim Allison, cancer has always been at the back of his mind. He'd lost many family members to the disease, including his mother when he was young, and is himself a cancer survivor.

TruGenomix Combats PTSD Suicides

The University of Maryland (UM) BioPark and Wexford Science & Technology, LLC, today announced Illumina, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of life science tools and integrated systems, as the newest tenant in the UM BioPark's 801 W. Baltimore St. building. The building is owned by Ventas, Inc., a life sciences real estate investment trust (REIT) and is part of Wexford's Knowledge Community development at the UM BioPark.

Watch this video on the Dutch biopharmaceutical industry in the Netherlands and get inspired by the Dutch. The perfect location to build your biopharmaceutical business. We open our doors for you!

Sea levels are rising, and that is sending more ocean water into streets, sewers and homes. For people who live and work in coastal communities, that means more otherwise-sunny days disrupted by flooding.

A tech company in Charlottesville is being recognized for its groundbreaking data that could help treat chronic illnesses.

New research done by AMPEL BioSolutions shows that a blood sample, when paired with its computer coding, can detect disease activity in patients who have lupus or other autoimmune diseases.