Qiagen announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the expanded use of the company's Therascreen EGFR RGQ PCR Kit to allow its use as a companion diagnostic for Pfizer's Vizimpro (dacomitinib) for first-line treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutation.

New cases of sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise worldwide, and some strains have become resistant to the antibiotics commonly used to treat them.

With the support of a $5.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Jeff Wang a professor in the Whiting School of Engineering's Department of Mechanical Engineering and member of the school's Institute for NanoBioTechnology, is leading a team that is creating a device that not only rapidly tests for gonorrhea, but detects if a particular bacterial strain is resistant to antibiotics.

A report released this week at the annual conference of the trade association for medical device and diagnostics companies had a stark message to deliver: invest in customer-centric capabilities and digital collaborations to build personalized health solutions or die.

Summer 2018 may have brought more rain than sun, but when it comes to funding at Maryland startups, things have been hot, hot, hot. With top-notch research institutions, an unparalleled technical workforce, and a network of accelerators, Maryland is a hotbed for innovation, so it's no wonder venture capitalists want Maryland startups in their portfolio. Here’s a snapshot of companies that have recently received VC investments. 

We are pleased to announce a pitch event will be hosted by MITRE Corporation at the Tysons, VA campus in the Metro DC area on Wednesday, October 10th from 9am-6pm EST.

Join us to hear 10 new startups present their innovations to our ecosystem of industry experts. This will be Starburst's annual east coast selection committee, so don't miss out! It's a great way to make the most of your trip for those of you who plan to be in the DC area for the AUSA conference Oct 7-10.

CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (CASI), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and delivery of high quality, cost-effective pharmaceutical products and innovative therapeutics to patients in the U.S., China and throughout the world, announces the appointment of George Chi to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Dr. Wei-Wu He, Executive Chairman of CASI Pharmaceuticals, commented, “I’m very pleased to announce George’s appointment and welcome him to CASI. George joins us at an opportune time as our company prepares for the marketing and sales of our first oncology product in China. He will be integral to help transition the Company’s financial operations to commercial stage as we launch EVOMELA® and other additional products from our pipeline.”

Fina Biosolutions announces that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for expression and purification of the conjugate vaccine protein CRM197 in E. coli. CRM197 is a key component of many vaccine formulations utilized worldwide.

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization applauds the House and Senate’s bipartisan passage of the Small Business Innovation Protection Act. The bill directs increased cooperation between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to improve intellectual property protections for small businesses.

Across the state, nearly 120,000 scientists are developing biologically advanced materials with the potential to change the course of our health, environment and even the foods we eat. It’s expanding New Jersey’s reputation from the “medicine chest of the world” to a hub for the life sciences.

When: Thursday, October 11, 20184:30 - 7:30 PM EST
 
Where: UM BioPark801 West Baltimore StBaltimore, MD 21201

bwtech @UMBC Cyber Incubator and Anchor Ventures will co-host a special event celebrating the cybersecurity industry in Maryland. The first part of the event will include an Anchor Ventures Panel discussing "Cybersecurity Issues in Healthcare" from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM, immediately followed by the renowned CyberTini Networking Reception from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. This double feature event will attract C-Level Executives and cybersecurity practitioners and will include comments by the "movers and shakers" in the cybersecurity world.

Innovating medical technologies in emerging markets Medical device company with the potential to save up to 2.6M newborn lives a year

In developing countries, many hospitals are overcrowded, understaffed, and lack standard medical equipment, leading to preventable newborn deaths. Neopenda is a for-profit public benefit corporation that is developing technologies to prevent these deaths, including a wearable that captures newborn vital signs so nurses in resource-constrained hospitals can attend to babies in distress.

UM Ventures – College Park, part of the University of Maryland Division of Research, is pleased to announce the addition of new talent to its innovation and commercialization efforts: Ken Porter, director of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) and Stan Smith, venture investment manager. These new hires build on UM Ventures’ strategic goal of unleashing innovation.

The Collegiate Inventors Competition®, an annual competition that rewards innovations, discoveries and research by college and university students and their faculty advisors, announced today its 2018 Finalists.

Baltimore-based Cerecor announced the acquisition of Ichorion Therapeutics, a New York–based biopharmaceutical company.

The deal includes an all-stock transaction worth up to $26.6 million, with potential for an additional $15 million in milestones, which could be paid in cash or stock.

Montgomery County has awarded a total of $425,000 in matching grants to 12 small companies who applied for the County’s new Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching Grant Program.

In order to qualify, eligible companies must have been awarded a SBIR or STTR Phase 1 or Phase II grant during the current calendar year by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 51 percent of research and development operations must be conducted in Montgomery County.

A total of $150K was awarded to six pediatric cardiovascular innovations during the medical device pitch competition at the 6th Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium hosted by Children's National Health System.  Award winners with Children’s National Vice President Kolaleh Eskandanian (far left) and CEO Kurt Newman, MD, (far right) include:  Ken Nelson, Bardy Diagnostics; Henri Justino, MD, PolyVascular Corp.; Corin Williams, Draper; Doug Vincent, VentriFlo; Joshua Woolley, NuPulseCV; and Kurt Newman, MD, Children’s National Health System. Peca Labs, not pictured, was also an award recipient. Photo credit: Paul Loftland Photograph

Six companies presenting innovative medical devices that address significant unmet needs in pediatric healthcare were awarded a total of $150,000 in grants yesterday in Philadelphia, Penn.at the Sixth Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposiumorganized by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System.

The “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition this year focused on pediatric cardiovascular devices, an area where new devices can make a life-changing difference, especially for younger children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 40,000 children are born annually in the U.S. with a congenital heart defect (CHD) and approximately 1 million U.S. children currently live with a CHD.

The pitch competition was originally slated to award $100,000 in grants; however, because of the judges’ response to the quality and potential of the technologies presented, Children’s National expanded the award grants to $150,000 to include six awardees.

Join us for the 5th Annual BioBowl! You and your company team will be competing against other biotech firms to win the coveted BioBowl Trophy! But first you have to RSVP to claim your spot in the competition.

The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) and the University of Maryland have teamed up to present the AURP 2018 International Conference from October 22nd to October 26th. The International Conference attracts 200+ park leaders from around the world for knowledge exchange and networking with industry expert presenters.

AURP is a not-for-profit international organization that focuses on creating communities of innovation and education for university research parks both operating and planned, innovation districts, incubators, accelerators and businesses that cater to the research park industry.

BioHealth Capital Region moves up one spot to number four, closing in on our goal to be a Top 3 by 2023.

What makes a top-tier biopharma cluster? The standard answers involve a critical mass of resources including the brightest scientific and business minds capable of attracting public and private funding; powerhouse universities and healthcare systems, with endowments reaching into the billions; research institutes, often named for billionaire benefactors; and drug and tools & technology developers that can translate investment into net income.

From “doing digital” to “being digital,” that’s where the life sciences and health care industry needs to go. To help your business navigate digital disruption, this series provides a life sciences and health care perspective on Deloitte's 2018 Tech Trends report. From blockchain to digital reality to the no-collar workforce, explore eight trends that are shaping strategic and operational transformations and redefining life sciences and health care.

The Maryland Tech Council (MTC) concluded its Bio+Tech18 Conference yesterday in Baltimore with the announcement of Remedy Plan Therapeutics as the winner of its Inaugural Start-Up Pitch Contest. Remedy Plan Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing drugs that target cancer stem cells to inhibit tumor growth and proliferation.

Put a Regulatory consultant, a lawyer, and a venture capitalist in a room together and what do you get? Come to the National Capital Chapter SoPE event on October 17th, 2018 to find out!

The Biden Cancer Summit takes place Friday, September 21st in Washingtin, D. C. The event aims to promote new solutions, bring together problem solvers, and tell stories that epitomize what it means to be cancer FIERCE. The Summit is the flagship event of more than 450 Biden Cancer Community Summits convening throughout September 21st, all focused on improving the cancer journey for patients, their families, and caregivers.

Good morning and thank you for having me here today.

One of the most critical points on a patient’s journey is the moment of diagnosis.  The moment when you find out what’s wrong.  What the options are.  The uncertainty of the unknown can be the hardest part of a grave diagnosis. And the emotional health that comes with more confidence and more certainty is inextricably linked to physical health and outcomes.

The National Disease Research Interchange (NDRI) has been awarded more than $800,000 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to supplement a current $6.5 million grant provided to NDRI that supports continued national leadership with the recovery and distribution of human organs and tissues for medical research over the course of five years. The supplemental awards provide support for NDRI to serve as a human biospecimen resource for research focused specifically on Alzheimer’s disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and HIV/AIDS. The three awards are supplements to NDRI’s Human Tissues and Organs for Research Resources (HTORR) program which has been supported by the NIH since 1987.

The second minibus package includes the fiscal year 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill, which includes funding for programs within the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and other related agencies, including the Social Security Administration.

Even under the no-holds-barred rules of biotech, it’s a particularly shrewd move, one that might prompt guffaws from knowing insiders.

An artificial intelligence start-up founded by three insiders at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center debuted with great fanfare in February, with $25 million in venture capital and the promise that it might one day transform how cancer is diagnosed.

This national conference is the cornerstone of the HHS’s congressionally mandated outreach efforts. This three-day national HHS SBIR/STTR Conference is designed to educate attendees about the America’s Largest Seed Fund and how to apply for these research and development dollars. With over $1 billion dollars of annual HHS funding, this is one of the largest sources of early-stage capital for technology commercialization in the United States. The HHS’s SBIR/STTR programs allow US-owned small businesses to forge academic partnerships and build productive businesses. With this funding, the partners can engage in research and development that has a strong potential to deliver products and services, including medical devices, diagnostics, digital health, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, to improve the health of Americans.

Learning Undefeated is a mobile education program serving Southeast Texas schools devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Using a self-contained science classroom on wheels as its home base, the program provides teaching space and scientific equipment, lab supplies, during- and after-school activities, and public outreach to communities whose classrooms and science labs were destroyed during the August 2017 hurricane.

Monday, October 1, 2018

ACGT and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., invite you to an Intimate Conversation with Crystal Mackall, MD

In its most recent look at states where innovation and entrepreneurship rank high, the U.S. Department of Commerce Foundation rated Maryland third, highlighting the state as a “national leader in bioscience, biotechnology, and health innovation.”

WellSpan Health and Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have partnered to launch a grant program to support cancer research.

The biotechnology industry in the Boston region, especially Cambridge, is a powerhouse even when compared with the innovation and development seen in the San Francisco Bay Area. These hubs function at a whole different level in biotech compared with other biotech clusters in the U.S. The healthy rivalry between San Francisco and Boston has fostered rapid growth in biotech thanks to their robust populations of small startups, large well-established pharmaceuticals, incubator sites, and large biotech-focused research institutions.

SparkLabs Group operates a network of accelerators and venture capital funds, and today it is adding to them with the creation of a new global accelerator program focused on cybersecurity and blockchain-related startups in Washington, D.C.