Andy, Author at BioHealth Innovation

May 26 2026

How ARPA-H Is Opening New Doors for Small Businesses: Sam Gussman-Toh on Funding, Commercialization, and Breakthrough Health Innovation on BioTalk

By Andy BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast, News

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Sam Gussman-Toh, Portfolio Manager for the Small Business Program at ARPA-H, joins the conversation to discuss how the agency is creating new pathways for small businesses developing ambitious health technologies.

Sam explains how the ARPA-H model differs from traditional federal funding programs, with a focus on moonshot health solutions, program manager-led portfolios, milestone-driven contracts, and a strong emphasis on moving technologies toward real-world use. He also discusses how the Small Business Program supports SBIR and STTR performers through Phase I, Phase II, Direct to Phase II, and Fast Track awards.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platforms:
Apple: https://apple.co/4wRucB6
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4dOOMte
iHeart: https://ihr.fm/4e5doPz
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4e5M3Na
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4e6otji
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/4wXSDgn

The conversation highlights how ARPA-H is working with ambitious small businesses, including non-traditional companies and early-stage startups that may be working with the federal government for the first time. Sam also shares how commercialization support is built into the program, including ARPA-H’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence partnership with BioHealth Innovation. Through that relationship, BHI EIRs help performers strengthen regulatory strategy, intellectual property planning, go-to-market strategy, reimbursement considerations, and other key commercialization needs.

Sam also discusses ARPA-H’s draft Small Business Program solicitation, the upcoming virtual Proposers’ Day on June 11, and what companies should know about the application process, topic areas, technical pitches, and future funding opportunities.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Sam Gussman-Toh is Portfolio Manager for the Small Business Program at ARPA-H, where he coordinates and oversees the agency’s SBIR/STTR awards and commercialization support services for participating small businesses. Sam joined ARPA-H in 2022 and wrote the agency’s first SBIR/STTR solicitation. He has held several roles in the Office of Commercialization and has worked closely with Program Managers to build the agency’s commercialization infrastructure and strategy. Previously, Sam designed and managed rapid prototyping programs across agencies in the Department of War. His technical background is in computer science, with interests in computer vision, autonomous robotic systems, and computational pathology.

May 22 2026

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BioHealth Innovation Board Member Prashant Panchal Named Head of Portfolio, Capacity and Business Operations, Biopharmaceutical Development at AstraZeneca

By Andy News

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) congratulates Prashant Panchal, MS, MBA, a member of the BHI Board of Directors, on his recent promotion at AstraZeneca from Director to Senior Director. His new business title is Head of Portfolio, Capacity and Business Operations.

In this role, Panchal’s scope is focused on the Biopharmaceutical Development department within Biopharma R&D. The team supports all biologics projects, helping advance the planning, operations, and coordination needed to move complex programs forward across AstraZeneca’s biologics portfolio.

“I’m excited to step into this new role and grateful for the opportunity to lead Portfolio, Capacity, and Business Operations for Biopharmaceutical Development at AstraZeneca. This is a tremendous opportunity to continue supporting our world-class scientists and engineers as we advance a complex biologics portfolio, deliver innovative therapies that make a meaningful difference for patients, and contribute to the local life sciences ecosystem.”

Panchal brings a strong combination of scientific training, business strategy, and operational leadership to his work. Prior to this promotion, he served as Director of Business Planning and Operations at AstraZeneca, where he oversaw capacity planning, capital expenditure, contracting, portfolio management, and governance for a department of more than 1,100 employees supporting over 100 drug programs.

His career has included roles across several leading biopharmaceutical organizations, including Eisai Pharmaceuticals, Teva Biopharmaceuticals USA, and AGC Biologics, one of the sector’s largest contract manufacturers. This experience has given him a broad view of drug development, manufacturing, business planning, and the operational needs of growing biopharma organizations.

Beyond his role at AstraZeneca, Panchal has been an active contributor to the region’s biohealth ecosystem. As a member of the BHI Board of Directors, he supports the organization’s mission to accelerate the commercialization of biohealth technologies and strengthen the BioHealth Capital Region. He also serves on the board of the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC), advancing workforce development, industry-academic collaboration, and early-career mentorship. In addition, he serves on the board of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), where he brings a life sciences industry and business perspective to support economic growth across the county.

Panchal holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a focus in Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics from the University of Maryland, along with a Master of Science in Biotechnology Management and an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

BHI congratulates Prashant on this well-earned promotion and looks forward to his continued leadership and contributions to the region’s growing biohealth community.

May 18 2026

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Building Montgomery County’s Next Chapter: MCEDC’s Jared Smith on Talent, Partnerships, and the Future of Economic Development

By Andy BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast, News

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Jared Smith, MBA, CEcD, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, joins the conversation to discuss his new role leading economic development efforts in one of the nation’s most important biohealth markets.

Jared shares how his experience in Louisiana and Nevada shaped his approach to economic development, including the importance of diversification, business retention, workforce strategy, and bringing partners together around shared goals. He also explains MCEDC’s role as a public-private partnership and how the organization works with local government, chambers, business leaders, nonprofits, academic institutions, and other stakeholders to support companies across Montgomery County.

The discussion highlights the county’s deep talent base, global diversity, quality of life, and position as the center of a top U.S. biopharma hub. Jared also discusses MCEDC’s strategic planning process, the importance of reducing uncertainty for companies, and why economic development should be viewed as an investment in long-term community strength.

Throughout the episode, Jared emphasizes that MCEDC is focused on listening, connecting the right people, helping companies navigate available resources, and building a more competitive future for Montgomery County.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. https://thepodcastconsultant.com/

Jared Smith serves as the President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, where he leads economic development initiatives to attract, retain, and expand businesses within key industries in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Jared joined MCEDC in December 2025 after spending more than a decade in Nevada’s economic development ecosystem. As Director of Economic Development for the City of Henderson, he supported a community within the Las Vegas Metropolitan Statistical Area of more than two million residents. During his tenure, he played a key role in diversifying a tourism-driven regional economy and supported the creation of more than 20,000 jobs. Previously, as Chief Operating Officer of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, he helped deliver $17.2 billion in regional economic impact, the highest in the organization’s history.

His economic development and business experience spans business attraction, retention, and expansion, as well as workforce development and long-term strategic planning. He has collaborated with companies across a wide range of industries, from established businesses to high-growth sectors. Before moving to Nevada, Jared was Director of Business Development at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Manager of Business Retention and Expansion at Louisiana Economic Development, where he designed and deployed a comprehensive economic development strategy and outreach program to expand corporate businesses statewide.

Throughout his career, Jared has worked with elected officials at the local and state levels and led various international missions. A Certified Economic Developer, he is an active member of the International Economic Development Council and has been recognized twice, in 2024 and 2022, as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect. Jared holds an MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University, a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute.

May 13 2026

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BioHealth Innovation Welcomes Caroline Popper and Julie Wilkinson as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence

By Andy News

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is pleased to announce the addition of Caroline Popper and Julie Wilkinson as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs). Together, they bring decades of experience across medical technology, diagnostics, digital health, commercialization strategy, FDA pathways, manufacturing, corporate development, and venture-building.

Popper is a business leader, physician, and lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in medical technology, diagnostics, and the life sciences. Her work has focused on technologies and services that improve healthcare efficiency, with a growing emphasis on the intersection of healthcare, biology, technology, and artificial intelligence.

She has held operational and strategic roles at BD and bioMérieux, served as Chief Business Officer of MDS Proteomics, founded Popper and Company, and co-founded The Sherpanis with Julie Wilkinson. She also served as Chief Commercial Officer of Johns Hopkins Precision Medicine and led commercialization activities for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Healthcare Mission Area. She currently serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association Healthcare Section AI Task Force.

Wilkinson is a scientist, C-level executive, and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience advancing MedTech innovations through FDA clearance and GMP manufacturing across medical devices, digital health, and in vitro diagnostics. She has led R&D efforts at major health technology companies, including Abbott, Beckman Coulter, and Agilent, and founded and grew a life science service company from zero to $10 million before a successful exit.

Her expertise spans FDA product development pathways, MedTech technology readiness, investor diligence, product-market fit, value proposition development, business model design, and commercialization strategy. She was also part of the $2 billion RADx Tech NIBIB initiative, which helped create U.S. manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 tests, and has led company teams through FDA authorization and manufacturing scale-up for new diagnostics.

“Caroline and Julie bring the kind of hands-on operating experience that is invaluable to entrepreneurs and early-stage companies,” said BHI President and CEO, Rich Bendis. “Their combined expertise in diagnostics, MedTech, FDA strategy, commercialization, manufacturing, AI, and venture-building will strengthen BHI’s ability to support innovators as they move from promising technologies to market-ready solutions.”

“Caroline and I are very excited to join the BHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence team and support our capital region entrepreneurs as they accelerate the transformation of innovative ideas into market-ready products. Turning an idea into a successful commercial product takes far more than funding and determination, it requires the collaboration of experienced experts working together as an active team. The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program led by Rich Bendis exemplifies that collaborative approach and provides entrepreneurs with the strategic support needed to move innovation forward,” said Julie Wilkinson, New Entrepreneur-in-Residence, BioHealth Innovation.

As Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Popper and Wilkinson will work with BHI and its partners to help emerging companies evaluate technology readiness, refine commercialization strategies, navigate regulatory and development milestones, assess market opportunities, and build stronger pathways toward investment, partnership, and growth.

Their addition reflects BHI’s continued commitment to expanding its EIR network with leaders who have deep technical expertise, operating experience, and a strong understanding of what it takes to move biohealth innovations from concept to commercialization.

Organizations and Institutions interested in EIR support through BHI are encouraged to contact Rich Bendis, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, at rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org.

About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is a nonprofit innovation intermediary that accelerates the commercialization of promising biohealth technologies. BHI works with entrepreneurs, startups, research institutions, federal laboratories, universities, investors, and industry partners to help move science from discovery to market.

Through its Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program, non-dilutive funding support, international soft-landing services, and commercialization expertise, BHI helps companies and innovators strengthen business strategies, pursue funding, connect with partners, and navigate the path toward growth. BHI is also a founding member and manager of the BioHealth Capital Region brand, supporting the continued development of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia as one of the nation’s leading life sciences clusters.

May 12 2026

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Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund Hosts 2026 Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Tech Showcase in Baltimore

By Andy News

BALTIMORE, Md., May 12, 2026 — The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) hosted its 3rd Annual Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Tech Showcase on April 30, 2026, at City Garage in Baltimore, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders, including a keynote by Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, to highlight Maryland’s growing leadership in regenerative medicine. The event showcased companies such as Nanochon, Theradaptive, and Seraxis, and drew investors and advisors from J.P. Morgan, Anzu Partners, SOSV, and Newpath Partners, among others.

Hosted in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Commerce and Blackbird Laboratories, the full-day event welcomed more than 160 attendees and featured pitch presentations, keynote remarks, an Oxford-style debate, and a networking and poster reception. The program centered on advancing Maryland’s regenerative medicine ecosystem by connecting innovators with investors, industry experts, and partners who can help move promising technologies toward commercialization and patient impact.

Pitch presentations spanned the full arc of translational regenerative medicine and featured primarily MSCRF-supported awardees, including academic innovators, early-stage ventures, and growth-stage companies. Sixteen pitches from Maryland-based companies and academic researchers showcased technologies across the regenerative medicine pipeline. Academic presenters included Warren Grayson, Michael Anderson, Annie Kathuria, and Hee Chee Choi from Johns Hopkins University, as well as Miroslaw Janowski from the University of Maryland. Companies presenting included Caleo Biotechnology, Stemora Inc., Modelus, Phycin Inc., Nanochon, Inc., miRecule, Sereneuro Therapeutics, Theradaptive, HoH Cells, Diagnostic Biochips, and Seraxis.

“Maryland continues to demonstrate remarkable strength in stem cell and regenerative medicine. This showcase highlights the quality of innovation taking place across our state. By bringing the community together under one roof, we are helping to create the conditions for collaboration, investment, and long-term growth in this sector.” said Ruchika Nijhara, PhD, Executive Director of MSCRF

The event also reflected the shared commitment of MSCRF, Blackbird Laboratories, and the Maryland Department of Commerce to supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and life sciences development in Maryland.

“MSCRF is a crucial organization in our state’s life sciences funding ecosystem and a natural partner for Blackbird Laboratories,” said Matt Tremblay, PhD, CEO of Blackbird Laboratories. “We were delighted to co-host the 2026 Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Tech Showcase and support a platform that helps innovators gain visibility, receive meaningful feedback, and build the connections needed to move promising science closer to commercial and patient impact.”

“Maryland Department of Commerce was proud to support this year’s Tech Showcase, which brought together a wide range of partners to promote and advance life sciences in Maryland,” said Matthew Cimino, PhD, Senior Manager, Business Development, Life Sciences, Maryland Department of Commerce. “The event featured an inspiring group of spin-outs from our flagship universities, including companies attracting significant capital and improving the health and lives of people in Maryland and beyond.”

The event also included an Oxford-style debate on organoids versus animal models in drug discovery and testing, featuring Stephen Horrigan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Noble Life Sciences, and Annie Kathuria, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The discussion explored predictive value, ethical considerations, and translational relevance in advancing new approaches to drug discovery and testing.

In her keynote remarks, Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller highlighted the vital role of regenerative medicine in delivering life-saving treatments and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting MSCRF’s efforts to improve health outcomes, create high-quality jobs, attract investment, and strengthen Maryland’s life sciences economy.

MSCRF also recognized this year’s review panelists for contributing perspectives from venture, strategic, nonprofit, and institutional investment organizations. Participants included Matt Tremblay, Blackbird Laboratories; Deborah Hemingway, Ecphora Capital; Bob Storey, LaunchPort; Eddie Cherok, Blackbird Laboratories; Prateek Katti, Newpath Partners; Cathryn Paine, Anzu Partners; Brett Shealy, J.P. Morgan; Parsa Amiri, SOSV; Tien Wong, Opus8; Sara Dauber, J.P. Morgan; Julie Lenzer, ADJ Celebration; Chris Steele, MTEC; Calvin Aubrey, Broadoak Capital Partners; John Dierkes, Pickwick Capital Partners; Sammy Datwani, Life Science Angels; and Jack Miner, TEDCO.

Special thanks are due to the event sponsors, whose generous support helped make the Showcase possible.

The Tech Showcase is one of the ways MSCRF supports Maryland’s regenerative medicine ecosystem—from a researcher’s earliest grant to the companies that spin out of the lab and the financing rounds that follow. Through funding, convening, and ecosystem-building efforts, MSCRF continues to help advance promising science, support commercialization, and strengthen Maryland’s position as a leader in stem cell and regenerative medicine.

About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund supports stem cell and regenerative medicine research, innovation, and commercialization in Maryland. Through its funding programs and ecosystem-building activities, MSCRF helps advance promising technologies and strengthen Maryland’s leadership in regenerative medicine.

May 11 2026

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Rich Bendis Featured in PharmaBoardroom Interview on the BioHealth Capital Region

By Andy News

Rich Bendis, Founder, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), was recently featured in PharmaBoardroom for a conversation on the growth of the BioHealth Capital Region and the role BHI plays in helping life sciences companies move from promising ideas to real commercial opportunities.

In the interview, Rich reflects on the early need that led to the creation of BHI. The region already had world-class research, major federal assets, leading academic institutions, and a strong base of life sciences companies. What was missing was a stronger bridge between science, entrepreneurs, investors, industry, and the market. BHI was built to help fill that gap.

The conversation also looks at how the BioHealth Capital Region became a more connected and recognized life sciences cluster across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. Rich discusses why regional collaboration matters and how a shared identity has helped strengthen the area’s national and global position.

The article touches on the funding challenges facing early-stage biotech companies today, including tighter venture capital markets and greater pressure on non-dilutive funding programs. Rich shares how BHI works with companies to pursue SBIR and other federal funding opportunities, strengthen proposals, connect with investors, and identify strategic partners.

Rich also discusses BHI’s work with international companies looking to enter the U.S. market. That support often goes beyond simple introductions and includes helping companies understand market fit, U.S. presence, reimbursement, intellectual property, and the partnerships needed to grow successfully.

The interview offers a thoughtful look at where the BioHealth Capital Region has been, where it is today, and how BHI continues to support entrepreneurs, companies, and partners working to bring new health technologies forward.

Read the full PharmaBoardroom interview to learn more about Rich’s perspective on BHI, the BioHealth Capital Region, and the future of life sciences commercialization.

Thank you to PharmaBoardroom for the opportunity to share this story and highlight the work happening across the BioHealth Capital Region.

May 11 2026

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How Smart Incentives Shape BioHealth Growth: Ellen Harpel on Economic Development, Accountability, and Regional Competition on BioTalk

By Andy BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast, News

In this episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis, Ellen D. Harpel, Ph.D., Founder of Smart Incentives, joins the conversation to explore a topic that has shaped the growth of the BioHealth Capital Region but has rarely been discussed directly on the podcast: economic development incentives. Ellen explains why state and local governments use incentives, how they influence business location and expansion decisions, and why effective programs need clear goals, active management, performance measures, and public accountability.

The discussion looks at how incentives support companies across the full business lifecycle, from startups and emerging firms to major employers making large-scale regional investments. Ellen and Rich also examine how recent biohealth activity in Maryland and Virginia reflects the importance of workforce development, site selection, public-private collaboration, and regional thinking. A win in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. strengthens the larger BioHealth Capital Region ecosystem.

Listen move via your favorite podcast platform:
Apple: https://apple.co/3R1JXVJ
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4npHNLF
iHeart Music Podcasts: https://ihr.fm/4dCjHtC
YouTube Music Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4d4LpiM
Amazon Music Podcasts: https://amzn.to/4ffpcjb
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/4tCqlVS

Ellen also shares how organizations like BHI and Smart Incentives help companies, communities, and decision makers better understand the resources available to support growth, including financing programs, investor tax credits, grants, incubators, accelerators, and other support services. The episode closes with a practical look at transparency, evaluation, and why better data helps policymakers, economic developers, companies, and communities make stronger decisions about incentive programs.

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant. https://thepodcastconsultant.com/

Ellen D. Harpel, Ph.D., is the Founder of Smart Incentives, which helps communities make sound decisions throughout the economic development incentives process. Launched in 2013, Smart Incentives works with state, local, and national governments to design and implement incentive programs that are effective and responsible, with a focus on compliance monitoring, evaluation, transparency, and lasting community benefits. Ellen is also a Senior Research Fellow with the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness and an Affiliate Faculty member with the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Andy

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