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After creating the satellite-radio industry and developing a drug for her daughter’s serious disease, Martine Rothblatt is leading her biotech to test another boundary of what’s possible.

The 68-year-old entrepreneur’s newest mission is to create an endless supply of organs. Her company, the $12 billion Maryland-based biotech United Therapeutics, has already put gene-edited pig hearts, lungs, and kidneys into humans in clinical studies. Rothblatt now hopes to start making organs with 3D printing to solve the organ-supply crisis, with over 100,000 Americans on waiting lists for transplants.

Image: Martine Rothblatt, CEO of United Therapeutics, previously founded the satellite-radio pioneer SiriusXM. Elijah Nouvelage/REUTERS

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020. Alongside growing incidence rates each year, knowledge of molecular and tumor biology has also increased and notably affected cancer treatment paradigms. Until recently, cancer therapeutics focused on four main types of treatment: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. However, over the past ten years, immunotherapy has emerged as a novel and revolutionary approach to cancer treatment.

There is a new revolution of technology emerging based on the understanding of sub-atomic physics: quantum. This revolution leverages advanced scientific understanding and engineering capabilities at the sub-atomic level to create new solutions across critical domains such as computing, sensing, cryptography, materials, and communications. Through particle-level precision controls, technologies may provide uniquely powerful, fast, and precise capabilities that will benefit society.

You’ve Created the Technology. Put It to Work with I-Corps.

I-Corps at NIH is an entrepreneurship training program specifically designed for companies that received Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer funding from NIH and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During this 8-week, hands-on program, you’ll learn how to focus your business plan and get the tools to bring your treatment to the patients who need it most.

I-Corps Program Benefits

• Get funding up to $55,000 to cover program costs.
• Receive training from biotech sector experts.
• Expand your professional network.
• Build the confidence and skills to create a comprehensive business model.
• Gain years of entrepreneurial skills in only weeks.

Questions about the program should be directed to the agency contact at your awarding NIH/CDC institute or to one of the contacts in the table below.

Expedited Bill 31-22 will alter eligibility requirements of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Matching Grant Program

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 29, 2022—Today the Montgomery County Council unanimously passed legislation that will fuel economic development by providing the County Executive with greater flexibility regarding the administration of the County’s program to match federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grants. The legislation is sponsored by Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee Chair Hans Riemer and Councilmembers Will Jawando and Andrew Friedson, who sit on the PHED Committee.

Illumina Accelerator alum Polaris Genomics is investigating how genomics can help diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health issues. The Maryland-based company is developing genomic panels that could more objectively screen people for PTSD and help them get the care they need.

“Our mission is to make these invisible wounds visible using the power of genomics,” says Polaris Co-Founder and CEO Charles Cathlin. “We believe genomics is a driving force to connect mental illness to its biological underpinnings. By doing that, we can decrease the stigma, suffering, silence, and suicide.”

Image: Polaris Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Naclerio and Polaris Co-Founder and CEO Charles Cathlin | Photo: Noah Willman

SANTA MONICA, Calif. & AMSTERDAM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Neogene Therapeutics, Inc. (Neogene), a global clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the discovery, development and manufacturing of next-generation T-cell receptor therapies (TCR-Ts), today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by AstraZeneca.

With a shared goal of bringing cell therapies to patients with solid tumors, Neogene’s expertise in TCR-T discovery, development and manufacturing will strengthen AstraZeneca’s ambition to transform outcomes for patients.

The NIH Technology Transfer Program has won the Licensing Executive Society’s Deals of Distinction award for 2022. The Deals of Distinction Award is given to an outstanding licensing deal from the past year. Steve Ferguson, Special Advisor at the NIH Office of Technology Transfer, recently attended the LES award ceremony to accept the award on NIH’s behalf. Continue reading to learn about this award-winning license agreement from Steve himself.

For this LES “Deals of Distinction” Award the National Institutes of Health (NIH) licensed COVID-19 technologies arising from our intramural research to the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) for access through the World Health Organization’s (WHO) COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP). These licenses for COVID-19 technologies will enable global manufacturers to develop COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to COVID-19 countermeasures is severely lacking.

Updated 11/29

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) and Montgomery County are pleased to announce the selection of Luis Gutierrez as a part-time “Executive in Residence”—a position dedicated to providing 1:1 technical assistance to Montgomery County-based biotech and medtech startups.

We’re excited to announce this year’s finalists for the third annual 2022 BioBuzz Awards. These awards celebrate the people and companies across our regional community and their efforts and accomplishments to impact human health and build a stronger biotech community.

The annual BioBuzz awards celebrate the people, companies and communities across the BioHealth Capital Region and, starting this year, Greater Philadelphia. These awards laud and recognize their efforts and to impact human health and build stronger, more vibrant biotech communities.

There are so many people and organizations doing great work in these regions, selecting finalists was not an easy task. We’re very excited to announce this year’s BioBuzz Awards finalists for 2022.