Biohealth Innovation - 288th Edition

BioHealth Innovation

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January 23, 2018

University of Maryland Baltimore President Dr. Jay Perman Interviewed on New Episode of BHI Podcast - BioTalk with Rich Bendis

Dr. Jay Perman, President, University of Maryland, Baltimore, joins Rich Bendis for a BioHealth Capital Region conversation. They cover topics from Innovation and Commercialization to Community and Education in the region. Dr. Perman is the sixth President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore. His presidency is marked by a commitment to such issues as interprofessional education, community engagement, innovation and commercialization, and economic development.

Listen now on iTunes , Google Play , TuneIn and on the BHI Website.

Think Resources: BioHealth Innovation - Rich Bendis interview with MCEDC

MCEDC talks with Rich Bendis, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, about how his organization fuels the science industry in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Montgomery County on Shortlist for Second Amazon Headquarters - Bethesda Beat - Bethesda, MD

Montgomery County has been named one of 20 potential sites for Amazon’s second headquarters, the tech company announced Thursday morning.

Protenus plans Baltimore hiring push after raising $11M Series B - Technical.ly Baltimore

Six months after closing its most recent funding, Protenus reported raising $11 million in Series B funding, and is planning more hiring.

This Rockville incubator is designed to help small firms get federal contracts - Technical.ly DC

Trying to get your company into the federal marketplace? The GovCon Incubator is designed to teach you the ropes.

Qiagen, HTG Molecular Begin Third Project Under CDx Development Pact - GenomeWeb

HTG Molecular Diagnostics said today that it has entered into a third project for a new clinical assay development program under an existing master assay development, commercialization, and manufacturing agreement with Qiagen.

JHU's Christy Wyskiel recognized for impact on companies, communities in Baltimore | Hub

Christy Wyskiel, senior advisor to the president of Johns Hopkins University for enterprise development, has been named to the Baltimore Business Journal's Power 10, "a group of leaders, both veteran and emerging, who are making a significant impact on their companies and communities."

Johns Hopkins-Led Team Develops Blood Test to Detect Multiple Early-Stage Cancers | GenomeWeb

An international team led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University has developed a test that analyzes circulating DNA and proteins for the detection and possible localization of multiple early-stage cancer types.

Qiagen Gets FDA OK for Expanded Use of EGFR CDx for Lung Cancer Drug - GenomeWeb

Qiagen said today that the US Food and Drug Administration has extended the indications for use of its Therascreen EGFR RGQ PCR kit to guide the use of Boehringer Ingelheim's Gilotrif (afatanib) for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer harboring non-resistant EGFR mutations.

KeyGene Licenses University of Wisconsin Sequence-Based Genotyping Patents - Keygene

KeyGene and the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced today that they have entered into a service license agreement to practice KeyGene’s patented Sequence Based Genotyping (SBG) methods. Under the agreement, UW-Madison, through its Biotechnology Center (UWBC), is licensed to offer SBG services in all species to research collaborators and clients worldwide.

Solera Health and WellDoc Partner to Offer Health Plans and Employers a Holistic Approach to Diabetes Prevention and ManagementSolera Health will integrate the BlueStar® Digital Therapeutic, a... | Markets Insider

Solera Health, an integrated benefit network, and WellDoc®, a leading digital therapeutic company, announced today that WellDoc’s BlueStar® digital therapeutic will join the Solera network as a diabetes management solution of choice. The partnership aligns both companies’ goals to improve the lives of those living with chronic diseases while enhancing clinical results and decreasing overall healthcare costs.

Lupin receives FDA approval for generic Tamiflu Capsules

Pharma Major Lupin announced that it has received final approval for its Oseltamivir Phosphate Capsules USP, 30 mg (base), 45 mg (base), and 75 mg (base) from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a generic version of Hoffman-La Roche, Inc.’s Tamiflu Capsules, 30 mg, 45 mg, and 75 mg.

James B. Murray Jr. and Todd A. Stottlemyer: Higher education investments and business partnerships can transform Virginia | THEIR OPINION | richmond.com

Virginia’s able new leaders have pledged bipartisan collaboration. Crafting a new investment strategy for the commonwealth would be an excellent place to start.

Economic development head sees continued strength in tech for county | Employment | fredericknewspost.com

The technology industry will be a big part of Frederick County’s economic future, and the county has the young workers available to support the growth, the head of Frederick County’s Office of Economic Development believes.

A Cheap and Easy Blood Test Could Catch Cancer Early - MIT Technology Review

A simple-to-take test that tells if you have a tumor lurking, and even where it is in your body, is a lot closer to reality—and may cost only $500.

Where the money is: Top 100 VCs investing in US biotechs during 2017 – Endpoints News

It was a big year for US biotechs raising cash from VCs, with flush investors sinking a record-breaking $10.5 billion into new and growing companies during 2017.

Colleges Are Key Players in Cities’ Bids to Host Amazon’s 2nd Headquarters - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Since Amazon narrowed its list of potential locations for a second headquarters on Thursday from over 200 qualifying regions to just 20 finalists, colleges in those lucky cities have become more hopeful that they might reap the benefits if the huge company comes to town.

The Medicaid Agency of the Future: What capabilities and leadership will it need? | McKinsey & Company

Medicaid’s scale and complexity are unprecedented. State Medicaid leaders will need to innovate if they are to develop the capabilities that will enable them to steer their agencies into the future.

Startup Maryland™ Unveils Video Pitches from the 2017 STRT1UP Roadshow Tour and Celebration of Innovation | Entrepreneurship

Startup Maryland today unveils video pitches from the participants in the 2017 STRT1UP Roadshow. Entrants are now in the running for the Pitch Across Maryland competition. Categories this year for the Pitch Across Maryland include:

Fan Favorite; Champions' Choice; Industries (Cyber, Manufacturing, LifeScience, Social Innovation); Overall Winner

The STRT1UP Roadshow, which is the year-long tour around the state of Maryland, celebrates the vibrant ecosystem around innovation and entrepreneurship. During the roadshow, entrepreneurs climb on the Startup Maryland video bus to deliver a 2-4 minute video pitch summarizing their venture and opportunity. Each presenter receives a link to a professionally-edited version of their video for free and then all the videos are posted on the Startup Maryland YouTube channel as part of the Pitch Across Maryland competition. The following link takes you to where participant videos can be found in Playlists based on the location/tour stop at which 2016 companies pitched:

Who wins as healthcare undergoes unprecedented changes - Business Insider

It's been an exciting and at times challenging few years for the healthcare industry.

New I-Corps project to help D.C. startups market technology – The GW Hatchet

A 4-year-old entrepreneurship program is getting a D.C. twist.

The Innovation Corps, a program that helps researchers commercialize products, will expand its Accelerate D.C. program this month, which will give $25,000 grants to eight startup teams from the D.C. community and mid-Atlantic region that are not involved with GW. Officials said the new venture will widen the focus of I-Corps, a program that has traditionally helped faculty researchers market products from golf ball designs to water quality tests in regional sites around the country.

UMBC produces more black MD, PhD graduates than any other U.S. school - Baltimore Business Journal

University of Maryland, Baltimore County produces more black M.D. and Ph.D. degree-earners than any other college in the country, according to new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Johns Hopkins Just Got the Largest Donation Ever Given to a Philosophy Department - The Chronicle of Higher Education

A well-known investor is giving a $75-million donation to the Johns Hopkins University’s philosophy department, and the university is calling the gift the largest ever for a philosophy program. With the funds, the department will be named for William H. (Bill) Miller III, the donor, and plans to add nine full-time faculty members to its current 13 within 10 years, according to a Hopkins news release.

Internships Help Community College Grads' Job Prospects

Forty percent of recent associate degree graduates who had a relevant job or internship while in school had a good job waiting for them after graduation. By comparison, only 16% of those with a job or internship that was not relevant to their field of study had a good job waiting for them. Those without a job or internship fared worst of all, with only 6% saying they had a good job upon graduation.

Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, Leonsis Family Entrepreneurship Prize hold ‘Bark Tank’ pitch competition - Washington Business Journal

A group of Georgetown University entrepreneurs will present their startups to a panel of high-profile judges Tuesday, in a competition following the popular “Shark Tank” model: a fight for funding.

Robots and researchers are teaming up to design better drugs

They say that speed kills, but in medical science it can also save lives.

NIH SBIR/STTR 2018 Omnibus (Parent) Grant Solicitations

NIH has launched a new series of initiatives to enhance the accountability and transparency of clinical research. ALL applications, including SBIR/STTR, proposing any specific aims that meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial must now be submitted to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that specifically states it accepts clinical trials. These initiatives target key points along the whole clinical trial lifecycle.

What biotech venture capitalists think of massive early funding rounds - Business Insider

Over the past few years, biotech startups have been successful at raising large amounts of capital just as they're starting out. It has led to a lot of unicorns, with multibillion-dollar-valued companies having raised hundreds of millions in their series A or B rounds.

Big plans for biotech by Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE: ARE) for Mission Bay's last open commercial site - San Francisco Business Times

As biotech booms, and life sciences companies find it tough to find space, Alexandria Real Estate Equities plans an 11-story building with an emphasis on space and cash for startups.

HHS issues Four (4) PHS 2018-2 SBIR and STTR Omnibus/Parent Grant Solicitations with FORMS-E and Clinical Trials Policy Updates

2018 SBIR and STTR Omnibus/Parent Grant Solicitations for the NIH, CDC, and FDA, Clinical Trial Not Allowed and Clinical Trial Required

SBIR Omnibus/Parent Clinical Trial Not Allowed Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-18-574)
STTR Omnibus/Parent Clinical Trial Not Allowed Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-18-575)
SBIR Omnibus/Parent Clinical Trial Required Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-18-573)
STTR Omnibus/Parent Clinical Trial Required Funding Opportunity Announcement (PA-18-576)

Major advances occurring in traumatic brain injury care for Soldiers - The United States Army

New developments in traumatic brain injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment are certain to improve patient health among Soldiers, as well as improve Army readiness, said Tracie Lattimore, director of the Army's Traumatic Brain Injury program within the Office of the Army Surgeon General.

The 10 Most (And 10 Least) Innovative States In The U.S.

Thinking you want to make a move to an innovative new tech hub that's on the front line when it comes to education, research and business development? Forget the expected enclaves of cool like San Francisco or Brooklyn. In-the-know millennials have already moved on to the next innovation hubs.