BHI Weekly Newsletter Archives

Jeff Gallagher, CEO of Virginia Bio sits down with BioTalk host Rich Bendis to discuss accomplishments, challenges, and initiatives in his state and the BioHealth Capital Region.

Jeff is responsible for leading the premier statewide trade group that promotes the considerable scientific and economic impact of the life sciences industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to taking on the leadership of Virginia Bio in May 2012, Jeff was a co-founder and served as VP & General Counsel for Lyotropic Therapeutics. This small specialty pharma company used its proprietary formulation technology to create new drug products based on both NCIs and already approved API for license, further development and commercialization by mid and large pharma. Previously he practiced corporate law in Richmond, focusing on new technology company formation, international business and intellectual property transactions. He was a co-founder and longtime Chairman of the Richmond based nonprofit World Pediatric Project. He holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard, a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and an LL.M in Public International Law from the University of Virginia School of Law. He resides with his family in the Ginter Park area of Richmond, VA.

Listen now on iTunes , Google Play , and TuneIn. 

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Last week to register for BioBowl…only a few spots left…and it’s free!

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.

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BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), is a Montgomery County innovation intermediary which translates market-relevant research into commercial success by bringing together management, funding, and markets.  BHI is seeking an experienced life science professional with entrepreneurial and investment experience to join the BHI EIR team and serve as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This position will report to and work closely with our lead at the NIH Office of the Director, Office of Extramural Research (OER) at the Bethesda, MD campus. The EIR will provide product, corporate and private investment strategy for companies which have SBIR/STTR awards and are ready for the next step towards commercial success.

The NIH is the world’s largest early stage biomedical investor providing nondilutive funding for US companies in the form of grants and contracts through the SBIR/STTR program. In FY19 the Congressional funds set aside for company funding exceeds $1B USD. The EIR program supports NIH interests in commercial success of its SBIR/STTR portfolio companies. 

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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.

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BHI and Launch Workplaces are co-hosting a series informational programs on topics of interest to early stage companies in Montgomery County’s innovation network. Geared toward biohealth and technology startups, these sessions are open to all start-ups in the BioHealth Capital Region (with priority on 1:1 office hours given to Montgomery County Innovation Center tenants).

Each program begins with an overview of issues related to the day’s topic with lessons learned and best practices from experts in the field and companies which have been through the process. Attendees can sign up for 1:1 meetings with the experts after the overview session to discuss their specific scenarios more in depth. Mark your calendars (more details to follow):

10/24 – CMS Reimbursement

11/28 – Legal Issues for Early Stage Companies

1/24 – Tax Implications for Startups

1/29 – Fundraising (SBIR)

2/27 – Fundraising (nonSBIR nondilutive and dilutive)

3/27 – Successful Marketing & PR Strategies

4/24 – Selling to the Government

5/15 – Pricing Factors

6/12 – Staff Recruitment and Retention

For more information/to hold your spot for one of the dates now, email BHI.

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Are you a start-up in Maryland, DC or Virginia seeking feedback on your biohealth business idea, pitch deck, or commercialization plan?  Schedule your feedback session with BHI Entrepreneurs-in-Residence on one of the following dates: 10/31, 12/5, 2/13, 3/20, 5/22. (30 minute blocks of time beginning at 9:00 in the morning. If the morning slots are filled, more time will be allotted beginning at 1 p.m.)  Pre-registration is required; sign up here (“EIR resource”at BHI).  For questions/more information, contact BHI.

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Viral clearance is not a new challenge for the biopharmaceutical industry. However, regulatory demand for better data combined with the growing recognition of the shortcomings of current virus removal and inactivation methods are fostering innovation, according to industry experts.

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ReveraGen BioPharma, Inc. recently announced the initiation and first patient enrollment in a double-blind, placebo- and prednisone-controlled clinical trial (VBP15-004) of vamorolone, a first-in-class dissociative steroidal anti-inflammatory, in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research (OER) provides the corporate framework for NIH research administration, ensuring scientific integrity, public accountability, and effective stewardship of the NIH extramural research portfolio. The OER is seeking a Supervisory Medical Officer (Research) or Pharm.D. or Ph.D. Clinical Research Nurse to serve as the Director of a new division with oversight for human subjects research and clinical trial policy and process implementation.

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BioHealth Innovation sponsors quarterly office hours in Montgomery County and at Johns Hopkins Fast Forward (Fast Forward hours are for JHU innovators only).

BioHealth Capital Region innovators not located at Fast Forward can register for SBIR office hours on the following dates.

• Tuesday – Nov 6, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Germantown Innovation Center
• Wednesday – Nov 7, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Rockville Innovation Center
• Tuesday – Feb 12, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Germantown Innovation Center
• Wednesday –Feb 13, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Rockville Innovation Cente
• Wednesday – May 8, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.- Germantown Innovation Center
• Thursday — May 9, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Rockville Innovation Center

To register for the open sessions, click here. (BHI also will be hosting a more general SBIR overview with office hours on January 29, 2019. Mark your calendar; more details to follow.)

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If you and your team are located in the BioHealth Capital Region, BHI may prepay for experts to help you improve your SBIR and other non-dilutive funding applications for biohealth related projects. Your only obligation is that if you win the award, you reimburse BHI for the consulting fees (typically $1500 or $3000) and a minimal program management fee (ten % of the prepaid consulting fee i.e. $150 or $300).

For more information contact BHI.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Swiss-based Roche announced it is buying UK-based Tusk Therapeutics in a deal that could hit $758 million (U.S.).

Under the terms of the acquisition, Roche is paying $81 million upfront with another possible $677 million in various milestone payments.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded on Monday to James P. Allison of the United States and Tasuku Honjo of Japan for their work on unleashing the immune system’s ability to attack cancer, a breakthrough in developing new cancer treatments.

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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.

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Dr. Bill Hearl is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (“ITI”).  He is an experienced and successful scientific businessman and bio-entrepreneur, having founded both ITI and formerly Capital Genomix in 2000.   Dr. Hearl has moved ITI steadily forward from an initial license agreement with the Geron Corporation in 2006 to an animal health license in 2012 and then most recently to two license deals with Astellas Pharma for the treatment of allergies, one for Japanese red cedar and a second global allergy license.  The second deal brought ITI an upfront payment of $300,000,000 and established the Company as one of the leading entities in nucleic acid research.   Dr. Hearl funded the Company by following a strategy of seeking a series of angel investment rounds which raised in aggregate over $12 million to drive the development of its allergy products.   Prior to founding ITI and Capital Genomix, he was a senior executive at Kirkegaard & Perry Labs and then held various R&D positions at Life Technologies and Pharmacia.   Dr. Hearl holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Tennessee (Oak Ridge & Knoxville) and holds multiple patents in the field of gene immunization.

Listen now on iTunes , Google Play , and TuneIn. 

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The Maryland Tech Council (MTC), the state’s largest trade association supporting the technology and life sciences sectors, today announced the appointment of Marty Rosendale as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.

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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.

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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.

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Autolus Therapeutics is a promising clinical-stage biotech that is a leader in T-cell programming and manufacturing technology. They have seen rapid growth since launching in 2014, and recently executed a successful US IPO in June that raised $160.4M at a $17 share price and landed them on the Nasdaq (AUTL).

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Samumed said it has sold North American rights to its Phase I idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) candidate SM04646 to United Therapeutics, in a deal that could generate more than $350 million for the privately-held San Diego biotech.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.”

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

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On September 23rd, Montgomery County residents will gather at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda for the Leggett Legacy Forward event celebrating County Executive Ike Leggett and his wife Catherine’s years of outstanding service and their commitment to higher education. The event is a culmination of their effort to establish a legacy gift that will serve the county in perpetuity — the Ike and Catherine Leggett Scholarship. The scholarship will benefit the county’s historically underrepresented students in higher education through the Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program.

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Monday, October 1, 2018

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

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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.

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Join one of the 24 Institutes and Centers within the NIH that awards extramural grants! Extramural grants account for approximately 80 percent of NIH’s budget and are awarded to investigators at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools, and other research organizations around the world. To learn more about the grants process, types of grant programs, and the peer review process, visit the website for the Office of Extramural Research.

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Another year, another list of the Top U.S. Cities for Global Trade. If there’s one thing that strikes us about this list over the past couple of years is that the reach of the global economy has not just stretched to other shores but into virtually every city in the United States, no matter the size.

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MedTech Innovator, the premier nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry, today announced that AblaCare, CroiValve, FineHeart, Sana Health, and Spect have been selected as finalists to compete for the title of MedTech Innovator of 2018, out of over 700 applicants. The Grand Prize winner of $350,000 will be determined by the vote of the audience at the largest gathering of medtech industry leaders in North America on Sept. 25 in Philadelphia, PA at The MedTech Conference, powered by AdvaMed.

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Expanding its portfolio of innovative health solutions, the Inova Personalized Health Accelerator (IPHA) has invested in a new therapy company that is developing a solution to address a major unmet need in patients with olfactory impairment. Sense of smell can often be taken for granted, until it is lost. This occurs most commonly by sino-nasal disease and upper respiratory infection, and in many cases, by head trauma. Cyrano Therapeutics understands the profound impact these senses can have on quality of life and is developing the first safe and effective nasal spray to restore and maintain the sense of smell and its connection with the ability to detect flavor in food (often perceived as taste). According to the peer-reviewed journal BMC Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders, 14 million patients in the United States have olfactory impairment or loss of smell, yet few treatments are available.

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Biotech is one of the buzziest sectors for venture-capital funds right now.

Across the globe, venture-capital investments in biotech startups last year topped

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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.

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Johnson & Johnson Innovation’s Manhattan outpost of its startup incubator, JLabs, is the new kid on the NYC-health-tech block.

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It’s the 21st century and information is just right at the tip of our fingers – thanks to the wide, wide, internet world. However, in spite of all the availability of information and the easy access to it, many people are still under the cloak of hoaxes and myths – and the business world is no exemption.

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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.

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Galera Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of drugs targeting oxygen metabolic pathways with the potential to transform cancer radiotherapy, today announced it has secured $150 million in a joint, oversubscribed Series C financing and royalty purchase agreement. The financing was led by new investor Clarus, with participation from additional new investors Adage Capital Management, HBM Healthcare Investments, Nan Fung Life Sciences, RA Capital, Rock Springs Capital and Tekla Capital Management LLC. Existing investors Correlation Ventures, Galera Angels, New Enterprise Associates, Novartis Venture Fund, Novo Ventures and Sofinnova Ventures also participated. In addition, Emmett T. Cunningham, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., MPH, Managing Director at Clarus, will join Galera’s Board of Directors.

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Principia Biopharma Inc. (Principia or the Company) (Nasdaq: PRNB), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing transformative oral therapies to patients with significant unmet medical needs in immunology and oncology, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 7,187,500 shares of its common stock, including the exercise in full of the underwriters’ option to purchase 937,500 additional shares of common stock, at a public offering price of $17.00 per share. The gross proceeds to Principia, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, were approximately $122.2 million. All of the common stock was offered by Principia. Principia’s common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the trading symbol “PRNB.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rockville-based Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. has reached a deal to acquire Miami-based Biscayne Neurotherapeutics in a deal worth up to $185 million.

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Baltimore’s Sisu Global Health Inc. is launching overseas sales of its first medical device with the help of $1.2 million in new funding.

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ExeGi Pharma is pleased to announce two new clinical partnerships with the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia and the University of Tennessee to study the Visbiome Vet probiotic in domestic dogs. Both studies will evaluate the probiotic’s effectiveness in managing canine gastrointestinal disorders. Visbiome Vet is an 8-strain probiotic compound with an extremely high concentration of beneficial bacteria (112.5 billion bacteria per dose). The formulation in Visbiome Vet is one of the most extensively studied probiotic products for pets, as it has been the subject of four controlled clinical trials.

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World-leading innovation

Discovery crosses industries, border and boundaries in MoCo

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Creatv MicroTech, Inc. (Creatv) has received a $625,000 award from the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) to investigate their discovery of giant circulating cells found in peripheral blood for non-invasive detection of lung cancer by differentiating malignant from benign pulmonary nodules detected by low dose CT (LDCT). In the three-year study, Creatv will examine blood samples from 1,250 subjects at high risk for lung cancer based on their smoking history and occupational exposure to carcinogens. The research will be carried out in collaboration with Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) and the Philadelphia VA Hospital.

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The Sheik Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System is pleased to announce the 11 finalists who have been selected to pitch their pediatric medical device innovation at our 6th annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium on Sunday, Sept. 23rd in Philadelphia, PA.

New this year, the competition focused on pediatric cardiovascular devices as they are critically needed. From a field of 45 submissions, the finalists are:

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has awarded five grants totaling up to $6 million per year over the next five years to Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) across the country that will provide advice and support services to innovators of children’s medical devices. The program aims to enhance the development, production and distribution of pediatric medical devices and has awarded $37 million to various consortia since 2009.

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It’s no secret that choosing the right college can have a big impact on where you end up later in life.

If you’re hoping to launch a startup, chances are you’ll need some funding down the road — and, according to the data, the university you attend can be one factor that impacts the amount of funding you’ll receive after graduating.

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There’s still no official word on where Amazon is planning to build its second headquarters, but a trail of clues may be leading to the Washington, D.C. area.

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None of the four companies with Hopkins-licensed tech that have done IPOs to day are still in Baltimore.

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Event date: November 07, 2018 SAVE THE DATE!

Please mark your calendar to join us at the Fall 2018 Inova Discovery Series: The Impact of Changing Consumer Expectations on Healthcare Delivery.

Consumer expectations related to healthcare delivery continue to rapidly evolve, forcing health systems and health technology innovators to continually rethink how consumers view the traditional patient-provider-payor relationship.

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A Chinese scientist has pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal biopharmaceutical trade secrets from GlaxoSmithKline in what prosecutors said was a scheme to set up companies in China to market them.

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Technologies such as cloud, bigdata, nosql databases, mobile apps, wearable sensors, and healthcare data interoperability are buzz words to many, but they are technologies that are propelling the healthcare-IT field forward into new frontiers. The possibilities these technologies bring can aide in patient engagement, data aggregation, integration and analytics for precision medicine. This is the cutting-edge space that Jeeva Informatics, a local company, operates in. It’s also a very attractive field for students who are eager to get work experience in the emerging technologies of the future.

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Enjoy an evening with food, fun and lively conversation at Biotech and Beer. Meet old friends and new colleagues in the life science community. Complimentary admission for any bioscience company employees, and university students and researchers with advanced registration. All others may purchase tickets.

When: Thursday, Septmember 27, 2018 4:00-7:00 PM

Where: Farm Brew Live 9901 Discovery Blvd. Manassas, Virginia 20109 United States

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For small businesses currently participating in the federal government’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, understanding intellectual property (IP)—including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights—is necessary to protect your ideas, products, and product names in today’s knowledge economy. This series of seven 90-minute webinars, organized by the USPTO and the U.S. Small Business Administration, has been designed to specifically address the most common IP issues facing small businesses funded by the SBIR and STTR programs. They not only cover all aspects of IP protection, but will also help you understand your IP data rights under the SBIR/STTR grant or contract.

Space is limited to 200 people per webinar, so early registration is advised. Please note these webinars are open only to small businesses currently engaged in either Phase 1 or Phase 2 of the SBIR/STTR programs (link is external).

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Part 1 considered Dr. Kelvin Stott’s characterization of the innovation crisis in the pharmaceutical industry (here, here) and found his technology-based solution wanting. Improved productivity will require a new business model, one with transformative potential.

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What you get

Participants selected for cohort three will receive: *

• A two-year fellowship – Includes a personal living stipend of up to $90,000/year depending on education and experience, along with health insurance and travel allowance
• Lab access and research funding – In addition to unparalleled access to facilities, equipment, and expertise at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, fellows receive $200,000 of R&D funding to support collaboration opportunities with researchers across the lab.
• Business mentors, entrepreneurial training, and networking – Participants receive access to experienced business mentors, entrepreneurial training programs, and exclusive networking opportunities. Innovators are also exposed to a wide range of leaders from academia, industry, government, and finance that can serve as advisors and partners.

*All support is subject to performance and availability of funds.

Eligibility criteria

For acceptance into the program, applicants:

• Must have PhD or equivalent experience
• Must be focused on energy or manufacturing innovation
• Must leverage ORNL R&D capabilities and have an impact on the Department of Energy (DOE) or Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) mission
• Must be willing to relocate to the Knoxville-Oak Ridge area
• Must be a US citizen or lawful permanent resident at time of application

To learn more or to apply, please visit: https://innovationcrossroads.ornl.gov/.

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When Nichelle Obar learned she was pregnant with her second child last year, she never expected that her pregnancy, or her baby, would make history.

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Cybersecurity influencers believe that a new wave of system-embedded devices present a formidable challenge to their field. The Internet of Things (IoT) will introduce a vast amount of small computers, with inadequate security designs, that use high-speed internet, and that combination has all the ingredients for a cyberspace disaster.

Bob Stratton, a security entrepreneur and consultant, states that not every device has to have the high-level security of desktop computers, but manufactures of small computers should include a built-in level of resistance and system integrity.

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Biopharmaceutical, biotech and medical technology companies comprise one of the state’s strongest sectors. They’re crucial to generating new jobs, products and services

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Five universities yesterday said they would establish a biotech business incubator at the Shilin-Beitou Technology Park in New Taipei City.

The incubator would the biggest of its kind in northern Taiwan and provide the park, which is still under development, with skilled workers, they said.

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Matt holds a Ph.D. in Virology from Ian Mohr’s lab at NYU Langone Medical Center.  He is also an inventor on all BeneVir patents protecting T-StealthTM, the first oncolytic virus to resist both innate and adaptive immunity. Prior to BeneVir, Matt spent 8 years at Sequella, Inc., a clinical stage anti-infectives company. At Sequella, he patented and developed a molecular diagnostic and licensed it to a major clinical diagnostics company. In addition, he designed and executed clinical trials and was involved in the development of Sequella’s antibiotic pipeline from pre-clinical to clinical.

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SERAXIS Inc., a privately held regenerative medicine company today announced the successful production of stem cell derived pancreatic cells capable of regulating blood glucose in rodent models of insulin dependent diabetes.

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In growing a health-focused startup, Sebastian Seiguer sees the need to keep using technology in new places, as well as validate the results of the work that’s already being done.

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Insect larvae-based feed additive/vaccine maker shifts focus to farmed shrimp These trays show R&D scale growth conditions for the insect larvae VakSea uses to produce its immune-boosting proteins.

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Industrial IoT solutions innovator Machfu announced today that it is moving its corporate headquarters from the Germantown Innovation Center’s award- winning incubator program to commercial Class A office space in Rockville, Maryland. Machfu’s new headquarters will encompass 5,000 square feet of The Grove 270, a LEED Gold certified and Energy Star-awarded office complex.

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Jeeva Informatics Solutions (Jeeva), a premier healthcare and life sciences informatics company with the vision to democratize precision medicine at community level, is participating this week in the inaugural Total Exposure Health 2018 conference at Bethesda, MD. The conference aims to bridge exposure health with precision medicine.

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Register now for our 6th Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium on Sunday, Sept. 23, in Philadelphia– one day before The MedTech Conference powered by AdvaMed as we co-locate again this year.

Join the conversation as our experts dive deep into the topic “Using Real World Evidence to Drive Pediatric Innovation”

Program highlights include a live podcast of “BioTalk with Rich Bendis” featuring Vasum Peiris, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Pediatrics and Special Populations, Food & Drug Administration.

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The Montgomery College Germantown Campus is celebrating its 40th Anniversary on Tuesday, October 16th at 12:30 PM in Globe Hall. The Germantown community day will be on March 30th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

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Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology scientists have received grants from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program to support new technology product development projects in Maryland. The projects, averaging $90,000 in value, each feature a collaboration between University System of Maryland faculty members and Maryland companies. Projects are jointly funded by both MIPS and participating companies. All funding goes to the university research.

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Ben Young and Greg Coleman had their 15 minutes of fame when they shook hands with Mark Cuban on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Then they had another moment in the spotlight, when that deal fell through.

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Four new grants will help to move scientific discoveries and technologies out of the lab and into commercial products that improve patient care and enhance human health. Awards for Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hubs for Institutional Development Award (IDeA) states will total almost $2 million in the first year and potentially more than $13 million over three years, pending the availability of funds. The grants are managed by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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After a pair of key milestones this year, a startup working on a new way to treat cancer is opening an office in Baltimore city.

ImmuCision BioTherapeutics is taking office and lab space in the space at the University of Maryland BioPark at 801 Baltimore St.

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When: Thursday, September 20, 2018 4:00 – 7:00 PM EST

Where: Columbus Center 701 E Pratt St Baltimore, MD 21202

Join us in envisioning a future that weaves together big data scientists with makers, medical doctors with apparel designers, cut & sew craftsman with artificial intelligence coders. An evening of looking back on the textile mills that once built our city and seeing the new mills of tomorrow filled with smart garments, technical textiles and wearables. Visit the displays of Baltimore companies with athletic apparel, high fashion and medical devices made with functional textiles. Most importantly, see how this new fabric of Baltimore engages you.

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You can’t walk around Washington D.C. for long without meeting somebody who is involved in politics. The same is true for STEM jobs in the D.C. suburb of Gaithersburg, where one in every five employees in the city works in a STEM-related profession. The median salary for those employees is nearly $90,000, which is approximately $37,000 greater than the median income for the city overall.

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For Dr. Carol Nacy, co-founder and CEO of Rockville, Maryland’s clinical-stage antibiotics developer Sequella, it all started with a fascination for things unseen.

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Class has just begun, but U.S. News & World Report has already issued its report card for the nation’s best colleges.

And some familiar local names are up near the head of the class.

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A company started by former executives from Kite Pharma has raised $120 million to develop the next generation of CAR-T therapies.

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A critical stage for most first-time entrepreneurs is getting their idea developed into at least a prototype to validate their technology. This process costs money, which professional investors are not willing to contribute, since their interest is in scaling a proven product and business model into a growth business. Investors want potential for a large and timely return, with reduced risk.

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The Frederick Innovative Technology Center Inc., a technology incubator in Frederick, received the most money in fiscal year 2019 grant awards from the Rural Maryland Council’s Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund.

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University Startups are invited to apply to present at the next Global Corporate Venturing / Global University Venturing event in Houston, TX on November 8-9, 2018. Five startups will pitch to a room of approximately 50 corporate venture groups at this event. University Startups looking for their first investment or later rounds can apply. Startups presenting receive a one-day complimentary pass to attend the conference.

If you are a university with an active startup creation program, this is a must attend event to learn from international thought leaders about best practices in Global University Venturing. See below for the discount code to register.

Startups applying to the NCET2/GCV Showcase will also be considered for investments from the National Angels. The National Angels was specifically created by NCET2 to invest in the Best University Startups. The National Angels invests in companies in the following technical areas: Pharma/Med, Chemicals & Clean Tech, Advanced Manufacturing, and Information & Communication Technology. Investments range from $150,000 to $2 million.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Send your non-confidential pitch deck to submissions@ncet2.org. Submissions reviewed weekly. Final deadline for NCET2/GCV Houston Showcase is September 30, 2018.

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Federal funding for S&E R&D grew by $7.2 billion from 2002 to 2016, reaching more than $31.6 billion. This represents a 29.4 percent increase during the period, or approximately 2.0 percent per year, according to an SSTI analysis of data from the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. Among states, California ($4.3 billion), New York ($2.4 billion), and Maryland ($2.3 billion) received the most in federal funds for S&E R&D in 2016, while Baltimore ($2.0 billion), New York City ($1.7 billion), and Boston ($1.3 billion) led among metropolitan areas.

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MIT has been selected by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as an Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Node, and awarded $4.2 million in order to develop programs and resources that will accelerate the translation of fundamental research to practical applications.

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Brian joined the MdBio Foundation in November 2012 after serving as Executive Director of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation. He has spent most of his professional career creating and working for several entrepreneurial endeavors at the intersection of the for-profit and nonprofit worlds.Brian joined the MdBio Foundation in November 2012 after serving as Executive Director of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation. He has spent most of his professional career creating and working for several entrepreneurial endeavors at the intersection of the for-profit and nonprofit worlds. 

In previous roles, Brian has held leadership positions with two of America’s most effective social change organizations: College Summit and KaBOOM! Brian also was the Founding Executive Director of the Joshua Venture, a national venture philanthropy fund working to launch and support innovative nonprofits. In his business career, he was the CEO and Managing Partner of a chain of Ben & Jerry’s retail outlets in the San Francisco Bay Area and served as the Western Regional Business Manager for Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. He has also helped to found several other nonprofit organizations and served as the President of the San Francisco Human Services Commission.

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emocha Mobile Health, a Baltimore-based company whose video-based technology helps people take their medications as directed, has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities (NIMHD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award gives emocha an additional $1 million over two years to evaluate its medication adherence platform for patients with tuberculosis (TB) in several sites throughout the United States. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine will conduct the evaluation.

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Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (EBS) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Adapt Pharma and its flagship product NARCAN® (naloxone HCl) Nasal Spray, the first and only needle-free formulation of naloxone approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada, for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose as manifested by respiratory and/or central nervous system depression. Total consideration for the transaction is up to $735 million consisting of an upfront payment of $635 million and up to $100 million in cash for potential sales-based milestones through 2022. The upfront payment of $635 million consists of $575 million in cash and $60 million in Emergent common stock, all of which are subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the agreement.

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Silver Spring-based United Therapeutics Corp. announced Tuesday that it will pay a California company $95 million to develop a new form and delivery method of its flagship Remodulin drug to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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BrainScope today announced that it has been awarded a research contract by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) valued at $4.5 million to create and integrate ocular capabilities into its handheld, multi-parameter mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and concussion products.

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BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), is a Montgomery County innovation intermediary which translates market-relevant research into commercial success by bringing together management, funding, and markets.  BHI is seeking an experienced life science professional with entrepreneurial and investment experience to join the BHI EIR team and serve as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This position will report to and work closely with our lead at the NIH Office of the Director, Office of Extramural Research (OER) at the Bethesda, MD campus. The EIR will provide product, corporate and private investment strategy for companies which have SBIR/STTR awards and are ready for the next step towards commercial success.

The NIH is the world’s largest early stage biomedical investor providing nondilutive funding for US companies in the form of grants and contracts through the SBIR/STTR program. In FY19 the Congressional funds set aside for company funding exceeds $1B USD. The EIR program supports NIH interests in commercial success of its SBIR/STTR portfolio companies. 

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Industrial IoT solutions innovator Machfu announced today that it is moving its corporate headquarters from the Germantown Innovation Center’s award- winning incubator program to commercial Class A office space in Rockville, Maryland. Machfu’s new headquarters will encompass 5,000 square feet of The Grove 270, a LEED Gold certified and Energy Star-awarded office complex.

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The Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) has entered into two separate collaborations involving its polyphosphazene (PPZ) polymer platform. PPZs are synthetic, biofunctional macromolecules with the potential to advance a wide range of biomedical capabilities. IBBR Fellow, Dr. Alexander Andrianov, is working with collaborators to develop new PPZs for use as coatings for medical devices and as carriers of medical imaging agents.

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Rare blood disorders are on VERALOX Therapeutics Inc.’s “hit” list. The company, a small molecule drug discovery and development firm based in the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), launched in September 2017 with a mission to develop a first-in-class therapeutic targeting rare immune-mediated blood disorders, beginning with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and HIT with thrombosis (HITT). These life-threatening diseases have a high mortality rate and often require limb amputations due to complications. The drug, VLX-1005, is the only therapeutic in development that strikes at the source of HITT and has performed impressively in clinically relevant animal models. Additionally, it has demonstrated preservation of insulin secretion and promotion of beta cell survival in newly-diagnosed type I diabetes patient samples, providing significant opportunities for market expansion into diabetes.

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You have one week left to submit your proposal for our $100K pediatric pitch competition focused on pediatric cardiovascular devices that meet a significant unmet need. The submission deadline is Sept. 10.

If chosen as a finalist, you will have an opportunity to pitch your device to our distinguished panel of judges on Sept. 23 as part of our annual pediatric device symposium.

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A new space designed to promote student entrepreneurship is open near Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood campus as the school welcomes students back to campus this week.

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A George Mason University researcher is heading a scientific team that has received a sizable Department of Defense grant to combat the threat of a South American disease that can cause long-term neurological problems and even death.

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The state of Maryland has matched a donation from the family of Google co-founder Sergey Brin to endow two professorships in computer science at the University of Maryland, College Park, the university announced Wednesday. The $1 million from the state will match a private donation to endow the Brin Family Endowed Professorships in Theoretical Computer Science.

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The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has granted 24 awards for $125,000 in FY 2018 under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program. Recipients include state and local economic development entities, Small Business Technology Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, incubators, accelerators, colleges, and universities that provide support to small businesses developing and commercializing high risk technologies.

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