Thousands of school-age children who visited the Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Biotechnology Education booth at the USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo got to try their hands at extracting DNA from strawberries, treating yellow fever and comparing DNA sequences to determine which animals are related to one another.

The Center for Biotechnology Education participated in the third biennial USA Science and Engineering Festival Expo, held this year in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.  The three-day event, considered the largest science festival in the country, featured more than 3,000 hands-on activities presented by hundreds of universities and public and private organizations.

The future of health technology is in the palm of your hand. Mobile communication, wearable devices, data sharing, analytics and even gaming concepts will soon seamlessly meld with medical treatment.

DreamIt Health Baltimore explored these possibilities in a four-month accelerator program that fostered nine early-stage companies. Company representatives demonstrated their products, presented plans for growth and pitched to investors during the program’s culminating Demo Day on Wednesday.

What started as a Johns Hopkins Hospital program to train healthcare workers to treat HIV in Uganda has evolved into a multimedia platform for adherence, clinical trials and chronic diseases rolled into a healthcare startup, Emocha, In a presentation at DreamIt Health Baltimore’s demo day, CEO Sebastian Seiguer talked about the company’s origins at Johns Hopkins University Hospital and its relevance for both developing and industrialized countries.

Circulomics Inc has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop its new Nanobind DNA/RNA extraction technology. 

Nanobind is an inexpensive thermoplastic nanomaterial developed for high integrity DNA and RNA extraction. Its hierarchical structure of microscale folds topped by nanoscale wrinkles creates a high binding area silica surface capable of capturing large amounts of high molecular weight (MW) DNA and RNA.

Merck & Co Inc (MRK.N) is considering selling a big portfolio of mature drugs that could fetch more than $15 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, as the U.S. drugmaker continues to streamline businesses to focus on high-growth areas.

Merck, which is also in the process of selling its $14 billion consumer healthcare unit, is working with an investment bank on the potential sale of the off-patent drugs, which could draw interest from generic drugmakers, the people said.

With the decline of great industrial laboratories, such as Bell Labs—home of such major technological advances as the transistor and research that won seven Nobel Prizes, all in physics—many universities are putting increased focus on technological innovation, translational research, and commercialization. Work leading to successful innovations, however, "does not necessarily result in outcomes that are traditionally counted [by universities] in career advancement, such as publication," write Paul Sanberg, senior vice president for research and innovation at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and his co-authors in an article published 28 April in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In fact, it "often requires faculty members with a different working mindset and modus operandi than those conducting purely basic research."

A team of physicists, psychologists and developers have produced a mobile health platform to make virtual reality and augmented reality more accessible as a self-help tool for treating phobias. Phobius, part of DreamIt Health Baltimore’s inaugural class, has developed a smartphone-enabled tool and is planning a September launch for its consumer product, which includes goggles and an iPhone or Android app.

Phobius comes to Baltimore by way of Barcelona. In addition to the consumer-facing tool, a clinician-facing track is under development. The consumer-facing platform will concentrate on phobias from insects and public speaking to needles. The company plans to market it without any guarantees of its effectiveness in curing these phobias. But it also plans to seek FDA clearance and a CE Mark from European regulators to use the device for treating post traumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorders.

The angel investor market in 2013 continued the upward trend started in 2010 in investment dollars and in the number of investments. Total investments in 2013 were $24.8 billion, an increase of 8.3% over 2012, according to the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. A total of 70,730 entrepreneurial ventures received angel funding in 2013, an increase of 5.5% over 2012 investments. The number of active investors in 2013 was 298,800 individuals, an increase of 11.4% from 2012. The increase in both total dollars and the number of investments resulted in a deal size for 2013 that was slightly higher than in 2012 (an increase in deal size of 2.6% from 2012). These data indicate that angels were active investors in 2013 but those that did invest decreased their individual investments from $85,435 in 2012 to $83,050 in 2013, a decrease of 2.8%. The $24.8 billion in total investments is close to the market high of $26.0 billion that occurred in 2007.

In the face of rising drug research and development costs and continued pressures against increasing prices for medicines and health care services, the biopharmaceutical industry must find ways to increase innovation and efficiencies. The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) today announced that leaders from industry and academia will come together at the Janssen Research & Development West Coast Research Center in San Diego on June 23, 2014, for AURP's BioParks 2014 Meeting . Participants will address recent shifts in pharmaceutical R&D models and the role bioparks play in this evolution.

"Research parks play a vital role in fostering collaboration between universities and the private sector. While this is important across all research-based industries, the need for such collaboration is absolutely critical in the biopharmaceutical space," said Kevin T. Byrne, MBA, AURP President, and President, The University Financing Foundation.

When I recently sat down with Andrew Skibo, regional VP of supply biologics, global engineering, and real estate at AstraZeneca (AZ), I was the guy with no experience. Sure, I have 20+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience, but after a few minutes of conversation, I learned that this exchange could only be described as one between a veteran and a rookie — and I was the latter.

Skibo has an impressive list of industry accomplishments, including overseeing large-scale capital projects that garnered two International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) facility of the year awards (FOYA) and two Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold awards. But what you can’t conclude from someone’s CV is the skill with which they are able to communicate their wisdom. For instance, I found Skibo to be a patient and skilled communicator, putting me at ease by stating, “If I answer any of these questions in too much detail, stop and fine-tune me as to the level you need.” What follows are his insights on applying a risk-based approach to modeling and planning for biologics manufacturing capacity. Of course, he knows a thing or two about this topic, considering nearly half of AstraZeneca’s 2014 development pipeline falls into the large molecule (biologic) category.

MedStar Health will become the final founding partner of the  1776 tech incubator in Washington, with clinicians and administrators with the Columbia-based health system having a "significant presence" in the incubator to work  alongside startups working in the health care arena. 

MedStar also plans to offer educational workshops about the evolving health care delivery landscape for entrepreneurs, officials said.

Last year investments in big data dominated health IT deals as 112 deals attracted $712 million in investments, according to a new report by StartUp Health assessing digital health investment trends in 2013 and the start of this year. But in a trend that’s likely to continue this year, sectors that saw the most growth tended to fall into one of two areas. Patient engagement had a 410 percent boost in deal flow, followed by sensors and vital-sign monitoring which showed a 243 percent rise.

Although the number of deals in the first quarter has declined to 133 compared with  the same period in 2013, deal size has more than doubled to $1.35 billion compared with $599 million last year.

The NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program will support proof-of-concept centers (Hubs) that facilitate and accelerate the translation of biomedical innovations into commercial products that improve patient care and enhance health. The REACH Hubs will provide qualified institutions with the initial investment and resources to nurture innovators to develop high priority early-stage technologies within the NIH’s mission by providing: (1) infrastructure for identifying the most promising technologies, (2) funding for product definition studies (e.g. feasibility studies, prototype development, or proof-of-concept studies), (3) coordinated access to expertise in areas required for early stage technology development (including scientific, regulatory, reimbursement, business, legal, and project management), and (4) skills development and hands-on experience in entrepreneurism.  Establishing public-private partnerships and providing additional non-federal funds will be critical for success.

A day before a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in which heads of the nation's major research agencies will jointly testify on the need for federal research investments to drive innovation and economic growth, a group of 50 leading business, higher education, scientific, and patient organizations urged members of that panel to make strong, sustained investments in research in order to close what they call an "innovation deficit."

In written testimony submitted to the Senate committee, the coalition—which includes Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels and Ralph Semmel, director of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory—described the links between basic research and economic growth, improved medical treatments, and national security. They noted that lagging U.S. investment in research and higher education combined with the significant increase in such investment by other nations has created an innovation deficit, threatening the nation's international competitiveness.

MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, and the University System of Maryland announced today that the initial research collaboration between MedImmune and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has been expanded to include the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. The collaborators have also announced that they have identified the first five research projects to be undertaken under the expanded agreement. This follows the September 2013 announcement in which MedImmune and UMB announced a five-year, $6 million collaboration to drive novel bioscience research in the state of Maryland

Poke around and you will find plenty of scary statistics about new businesses—so many that starting a company at all can seem like sheer lunacy.

While research varies widely, we've seen reports that as many as 90 percent of tech startups "fail," and that anywhere from 25 to 75 percent of venture-backed firms do not return capital to their investors. Just last week, Fab.com chief executive officer Jason Goldberg wrote a blog post about the difficulties of turning around his once fast-growing e-commerce startup, which had to cut half its staff as it pivoted away from flash sales toward a broader e-commerce approach.

University of Maryland, Baltimore County is moving forward with a new $123 million science building.

UMBC will begin designing the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building with $4.1 million from Maryland’s fiscal 2015 budget. The entire construction project is estimated at $123 million, which the state is expected to pay. Construction of the 123,000-square-foot building is scheduled to begin in March 2017 and the project should be completed by March 2019.

Pfizer, the maker of best-selling drugs like Lipitor and Viagra and a symbol of business prowess in the United States for more than a century, no longer wants to be an American company.

On Monday, Pfizer proposed a $99 billion acquisition of its British rival AstraZeneca that would allow it to reincorporate in Britain. Doing so would allow Pfizer to escape the United States corporate tax rate and tap into a mountain of cash trapped overseas, saving it billions of dollars each year and making the company more competitive with other global drug makers.

Wednesday, May 14th, 2014 – 6:00 to 8:30 PM

Smartphones and tablet computers are a new way to deliver diabetes therapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calls this new type of therapy MPT: “mobile prescription therapy.” MPT products tell you what to do to take care of your disease. The advice shows up on your smartphone or other device.  

You need a prescription for MPT products, which are regulated by the FDA. MPT products must show in clinical trials that they are safe and help people improve their health. MPT products must keep your health information private. These products are not like the simple health apps you can get for your phone or tablet. They can provide medical advice that regular apps aren't allowed to provide.

Mene Pangalos is the man tasked with nothing less than firing up the discovery engine of Britain’s second-biggest drug maker after its catastrophic fall off the “patent cliff”.

He joined AstraZeneca as head of innovative medicines in 2010, as the company was bracing for patents to expire on a string of its best-selling drugs.

A new $1.7 million lab at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County is designed to teach students about science through experience.

The 3,000-square-foot Science Learning Collaboratory in UMBC’s Meyerhoff Chemistry Building, is a partnership with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which paid for the project. UMBC students will take classes in the new lab during the school year and Howard Hughes will use the space during the summer. The university unveiled the new space Monday.

Adventist HealthCare on Monday named Terry Forde its new president and CEO.

The Gaithersburg-based hospital system had already tapped Forde its interim leader following last month’s announcement of CEO Bill Robertson’s planned departure. In February, Robertson said he would leave for a new position with MultiCare Health in Tacoma, Wash. Robertson, 54, had been Adventist's CEO since April 2000.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2014 8:30 am, Rockville, Maryland 

The biomanufacturing industry faces an unprecedented challenge with the emergence of biosimilars.  The pathway to approval for biosimilars is a fluid process and several key aspects are still not determined.  The University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will deliver a one-day symposium on the current trends of characterization and production of biosimilars.  On Friday, June 13, 2014 at 8:30 am join the thought-leaders, policy-makers, and creators of biosimilars as we present current trends, ideas, and predictions.

For decades, large companies have gone shopping in Silicon Valley for startups. Lately, the pressure of continuous disruption has forced them to step up the pace.

More often than not, the results of these acquisitions are disappointing.

What can companies learn from others’ failed efforts to integrate startups into large companies? The answer: There are two types of integration strategies, and they depend on where the startup is in its lifecycle.

When Bryan Sivak joined then D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty’s administration as chief technology officer, he was fresh from building his own business. Five years later, Sivak has become something of a government-embedded entrepreneur. He left the District to become Maryland’s first chief innovation officer in 2011. He is now chief technology officer at the Department of Health and Human Services. There, he manages the IDEA Lab, a series of programs that reward innovation, bring private sector leaders into the agency, and provide employees with time and money to pursue ideas. The effort aims to infuse a sense of entre­pre­neur­ship in the risk-adverse temperament of government.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of humans — claiming more lives than car accidents, war, famine, and natural disasters.

So it’ll come as good news that scientists at Johns Hopkins have found a drug that acts by stopping any hardening of the arteries, and prevents fat from clogging up blood vessels.

On an industrial park next to Liverpool's John Lennon airport, drugs companies are involved in research that is driving a new frenzy of multibillion-dollar takeover deals. The focus on this Merseyside site is on creating what could be the next big thing for the sector: biological medicines, derived from living organisms.

In laboratories here and around the world, the quest for the latest blockbuster drug has sparked another flurry of deal activity. Last week saw GlaxoSmithKline of the UK and Swiss rival Novartis agree a multibillion dollar swap of assets, while it emerged that another British firm, AstraZeneca, has been the subject of a £60bn approach from US group Pfizer. And every participant is seeking a deal that will yield a clutch of medical bestsellers.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 finalists have a lot to celebrate. They've built their dream companies. Expanded. Innovated. And now EY is recognizing them for their achievements. Help us congratulate these outstanding entrepreneurs. Join us at this years event and see who will take home top honors.

With a pinch of history, a dash of pride, and a heaping helping of collaboration, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, put forth a winning recipe in his first annual State of the University Address.

Speaking at a packed School of Nursing auditorium on April 24 that included dignitaries such as University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor William E. Kirwan, PhD, Perman discussed UMB's recent achievements and the challenges it will confront in the coming year.

QIAGEN N.V. QGEN  has posted its 2013 Annual Report on its website at http://www.qiagen.com/About-Us/Investors/Financial-Information/Financial-Reports .

QIAGEN's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 04, 2014, a copy of which can be found on the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov or in the "Financial Information" section of the "Investors" section of our website at http://www.qiagen.com/About-Us/Investors/ . QIAGEN will provide printed copies of the 2013 Annual Report to shareholders free of charge upon request. To obtain a printed copy of the 2013 Annual Report please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The potential for crowdfunding, as defined in the JOBS Act, to fundamentally change the nature of capital formation is tremendous, potentially opening up avenues to investment and borrowing that were previously only available to a small segment of the investing community, let along the general public. And one sector that could see truly revolutionary change is health care.

Maryland’s strength in the technology sector is making it one of the fastest-growing exporters of high-tech goods and services in the U.S.

Maryland ranks eighth on the list of the nation’s fastest-growing exporter of high tech goods, according to a recent report from Technology CEO Council, a public policy advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. More than 9.5 percent — or $24.425 billion — of the state’s GDP can be attributed to the tech sector.

Here I am presenting opportunities to those engaged in research for electric and other advanced vehicles, to engage in research related to their own research, earning some money for their efforts, as well as helping their country.  Note: Some of these are restricted to American citizens, or certain “Permanent Resident” or “protected” foreigners.  Others require watchful tracking of what the foreigners do.

The current DoD Small-Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Solicitation, 2014.2, will be open until June 25.  There is a large selection of topics available.  I will be selecting and rating many of these, to make it easier for readers to select topics of interest. This may take a week or so, because I first must visit the NY Auto Show and write a blog about it.

In our lead up to the 2014 USA Science and Engineering Festival, we at Lux are proud to present our second TouchCast interactive video. The video excerpt below comes from Forbes/Wolfe Emerging Technology Report’s recent full-length interview with Dr. Bahija Jallal, Executive Vice President of MedImmune, the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca. Dr. Jallal shares with us a bit about MedImmune, her background, and the company’s partnership with the USA Science and Engineering Festival.

Maryland has a lot of technology interests, but Baltimore tech leader Jason Hardebeck thinks there’s room for one more: health IT.

Hardebeck, the former executive director of gb.tc, is  heading up a new accelerator, DreamIt Health Baltimore. The accelerator is wrapping up its  first cycle and Hardebeck thinks the program’s early success is a sign that health IT has a big future in Baltimore.