Day 1 Recap: A Dynamic Start to the 10th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum
The 10th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum kicked off with a strong showing of leadership from both Maryland and Virginia, setting the tone for the rest of the week. BHI President and CEO Rich Bendis opened the day by thanking Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., CEO of USP, for hosting the conference for the third year in a row. Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., introduced Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who welcomed attendees to Montgomery County, where this event has been held all ten years. Elrich highlighted the importance of Montgomery County, which is the epicenter of the BioHealth Capital Region.
Executive Elrich introduced Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who welcomed attendees to the Forum and to the State of Maryland, emphasizing the region’s importance in the biohealth sector.
The day’s agenda featured several insightful sessions, including the GEN Top 10 BioCluster Update with Alex Philippidis, Senior Business Editor at Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), where the BioHealth Capital Region’s position as a top-three bio cluster was confirmed for the second year in a row.
Pete Briskman, Executive Managing Director and Co-Lead of JLL’s Mid-Atlantic Life Sciences Practice, gave a BioHealth Capital Region Update, providing a deep dive into the region’s growth and influence in the life sciences sector.
Another notable keynote was delivered by Robert Stoffel, VP of Rare Disease, Complex Biologics and Strategic Technology Alliances at Amgen, who discussed Amgen’s entrance into the BioHealth Capital Region and the company’s long-term investment in the area. He spoke of how Amgen’s entrance into the BioHealth Capital Region began with their acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics in 2023, who years prior acquired Viela Bio, a spin-off from AstraZeneca/MedImmune in Gaithersburg, MD.
Later in the day, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) presented Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin with the 2024 Governor of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership in advancing Virginia’s $8 billion biotechnology sector. Rich Bendis, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, Inc., introduced BIO President and CEO John Crowley, who presented the award and delivered a keynote on the State of the Bio Industry, offering insights into the global trends shaping the industry’s future.
Adding a personal dimension to the day, John Sackett, President & CEO of Adventist Healthcare, shared a moving Patient Story, reminding attendees of the ultimate goal of health innovation—improving lives.
The day’s panels further broadened the conversation, covering a wide range of cutting-edge topics:
- How AI and Data Science is Transforming Pharmaceutical R&D
- Meet Some of the BioHealth Capital Region’s Med Tech Leaders
- Virginia: Leading the Way in Advanced BioHealth Manufacturing
- Transforming Healthcare: Innovations and Future Trends in Digital Health
- How Private-Public Partnership Collaboration is Growing the Baltimore EquiTech Ecosystem
- Patient Advocacy from a Practitioner and Industry Perspective
Day 1 set a powerful foundation for the rest of the Forum, bringing together government leaders, industry executives, and experts to discuss the current state and future trajectory of the biohealth industry. With networking opportunities and a lineup of dynamic speakers, attendees walked away with new insights and connections that will shape the future of the industry.
Day 2 Recap: Innovation and Competition Take Center Stage at the BioHealth Capital Region Forum
Day 2 of the BioHealth Capital Region Forum began with an insightful keynote from Craig Gravitz, Director of the Project Accelerator Transition Innovation Office (PATIO) at ARPA-H. His presentation, ARPA-H & the PATIO Office: A New National Partner for Emerging Bio-Health Companies, shed light on how ARPA-H is poised to become a critical partner for emerging bio-health innovators across the nation, offering support and pathways to accelerate breakthrough technologies and therapies.
One of the main highlights of Day 2 was the 9th Annual Crab Trap Competition, where six dynamic startups took the stage to pitch their groundbreaking solutions to a panel of expert judges: Charles Andres, Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP; Conley Jones, Vice President of Life Sciences at Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc./Alexandria Venture Investments; Katherine Hill Ritchie, Senior Director of Venture Funds at TEDCO; John Newby, Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Biotechnology Association; Derrick Rowe, Of Counsel at Wilson Sonsini; Brett Shealy, Vice President of Life Sciences at J.P. Morgan; and Matt Tremblay, Chief Executive Officer of Blackbird Laboratories.
- Cerillo (Charlottesville, VA) – Specializing in cutting-edge solutions for microbial research
- Immobazyme (Stellenbosch, South Africa) – Focused on precision fermentation products to treat diabetic foot ulcers
- Linshom Medical (Baltimore, MD) – Developer of a wearable, real-time respiratory monitoring device
- Liquet Medical (Glen Allen, VA) – Innovator of medical devices for personalized treatment of blood clots
- Optosurgical (Columbia, MD) – Developer of a near-infrared dye to improve surgical outcomes
- Plakous Therapeutics (Winston-Salem, NC) – Focused on biotherapeutics to prevent rare pediatric diseases
The winning company, Linshom Medical, impressed the judges and audience with its presentation and received an award of $10,000 from sponsor and judge Derrick Rowe—Of Counsel, Wilson Sonsini. Cerillo was chosen to receive $10,000 in CRO Services sponsored by Noble Life Sciences and Accelevir.
The day was packed with panels that explored the future of the biohealth industry, exploring the latest technologies and trends shaping its evolution:
- How Emerging AI, Machine Learning, and Quantum Technologies Will Impact Discovery and Regulation of New Drugs and Devices: A Peek Into the Future
- Collaborative Approaches to Support Innovation in Biotechnology in the Capital Region
- New BHCR Regional Research Initiatives
- Entrepreneurs in Residence Supporting the BHCR Ecosystem
- Inside the BioHealth Capital Region: Accessing Early Stage SSBCI Funding
- Biomedical Engineering: Meet the Region’s Bio Engineering Academic Leaders
These sessions offered attendees a wealth of knowledge on the ways AI, data science, and regional initiatives are driving innovation and growth in the biohealth sector.
The day concluded with closing remarks from BioHealth Innovation, Inc. President and CEO, Rich Bendis, who highlighted the value of continued collaboration and the incredible advancements coming out of the BioHealth Capital Region.
Investment Conference in Review
The 7th Annual Investment Conference wrapped up BioHealth Capital Region Week with a full day of dynamic interactions between one hundred forty companies and over twenty five investors. In the auditorium, companies and investors delivered quick-pitches, offering a glimpse into their innovations and funding needs. Meanwhile, Several hundred one-on-one meetings took place throughout the day, providing invaluable opportunities for investment discussions and partnerships that will fuel the future of biohealth.
As we conclude this year’s BioHealth Capital Region Week, we extend our deepest gratitude to our sponsors, the planning committee, and TME for their invaluable efforts in planning and executing such a successful event. This week would not have been possible without their dedication, and we look forward to continuing this tradition of innovation and collaboration in the years to come.
Premier Sponsor: Amgen
Sponsors: Accelevir, Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Aptagen, BIO, BioHealth Innovation, BlackbirdLabs, Boston Properties (BXP), Danforth Advisors, Deloitte, Frederick Economic Development, George Mason University, Georgetown University, Greenburg Taurig, Henry Jackson Foundation, JLL, Johnson & Johnson, JP Morgan, Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom, KPMG, Maryland Department of Commerce, miRecule, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), Noble Life Sciences, PQE Group, Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC), Prince William County, QIAGEN, Scheer Partners, Shulman Rogers, TEDCO, United States Pharmacopeia (USP), United Therapeutics, University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC), Virginia Bio, Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
In-Kind Partners: AURP, Big4Bio, BioBuzz, BrainBox Solutions, TASK, Women in Bio
The planning committee for BioHealth Capital Region Week includes:
Amy Adams (George Mason University), Charles Andres (Greenberg Traurig, LLP), Betsy Baer (USP), Rich Bendis (BioHealth Innovation, Inc.), Raymond Blanchard (Industry Expert), Matthew Cimino (Maryland Department of Commerce), Hannah Cogsil (TaylorMade Experience), Brian Darmody (Association of University Research Parks), Jill Davidson (TaylorMade Experience), Andy Eckert (BioHealth Innovation, Inc.), Donna Edmonds (BRAINBox Solutions, Inc.), Kolaleh Eskandanian (Children’s National), Alex Euler (Virginia Innovation Partnership), Jordan Graham (BioHealth Innovation, Inc.), Conley Jones (Alexandria Venture Investments), Yaminah Leggett-Wells (Amgen), Jack Miner (TEDCO), John Newby (Virginia Biotechnology Association), Diana Newhart (USP), Brett Shealy (JP Morgan), Scott Shepherd (JLABS @ Washington), and Steve Wolpe (BioHealth Innovation, Inc.).
