News Archive

While COVID-19 infections rates are on a downturn, the viral threat is expected to become an endemic concern, which means at-home testing will remain a booming sector in the industry. With its newly authorized at-home antigen test, Rockville’s MaximBio expects to carve out a significant share of the market.

At the end of January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization to MaximBio’s ClearDetect COVID-19 Antigen Home Test, which has been designed to be as user-friendly as possible. MaximBio Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Maa believes that the company’s ClearDetect test will differentiate itself from other tests on the market due to its simplicity and the strength of the company’s proven Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) technology. In an interview with BioBuzz, Maa said at-home testing is an urgent need in the United States and that need “will exist for some time.”

Image: https://biobuzz.io

The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) – with nine partner universities offering a wide range of life-changing academic programs on one convenient campus in Montgomery County – has been an innovative model for higher education delivery since its inception in 2000.

After two decades of growth, evolution and success, it’s time for the USG community to now build on the solid foundation it has established by charting a solid course for “USG 2.0.” It’s time for us to develop our first-ever Strategic Plan, to help shape the future direction of a unique University System of Maryland institution that is the largest and most comprehensive of the state’s regional higher education centers.

Image: https://shadygrove.umd.edu/about-usg/leadership-governance/office-of-the-executive-director/usg-2.0

Looking to make connections and identify partners in the life sciences industry? Use the Maryland Life Sciences Directory, a free tool for exploring more than 1,000 profiles of companies active in Maryland’s robust life science markets, including biotechnology, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, digital health, manufacturing, regulatory services, and related subsectors. Explore company profiles for an overview of business activities, products, and services, and to connect with potential partners.  

Children’s National Hospital successfully performed the first-ever high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) surgery on a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis (NF). This is the youngest patient to undergo HIFU treatment in the world. The advancement of children’s medical devices in the U.S. continues to significantly lag behind adult devices. This is why this milestone marks a significant advance in making pediatric surgery more precise and less invasive.

The hospital is offering this treatment to patients under an ongoing research clinical trial. Children’s National is one of the first pediatric hospitals in the nation to use HIFU for neuro-oncology patients. It’s also the first hospital in the world to use it to treat a pediatric patient with NF. NF is a condition that occurs in approximately 1 in 3,500 births and causes tumors to form in the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

“Using HIFU to treat our pediatric patients is a quantum leap towards non-invasive surgery for kids,” said Robert Keating, M.D., division chief of Neurosurgery and co-director of the HIFU program at Children’s National. “It’s exciting because the future is now here and it’s significantly better for our kids, in terms of non-invasive surgery with lower risk of complications and no exposure to radiation.”

Image: Children’s National Hospital successfully performed the first-ever high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) surgery on a pediatric patient with neurofibromatosis (NF). This is the youngest patient to undergo HIFU treatment in the world. Image provided by Insightec.

At some point, all of us experience moments when we must face the difficult decision to let go of something that formerly offered us purpose. But big decisions, like a career change, should be approached thoughtfully. While sometimes this can be done by reinventing your current work, there are times where the right choice is to strike out on a fresh path.

While domestic sales to American customers are typically cash in advance or on open account, did you know that companies outside of the United States are often accustomed to other methods of payment? Offering attractive and flexible payment terms is an excellent way to win business internationally, but can be risky for your business. It’s important to be well versed in the technicalities so you can prevent payment-related issues before they happen. 

As a mentor to many entrepreneurs and business owners, I find that many of you have a real fear of uncomfortable interaction situations with individuals on your team, and often delay these discussions endlessly until a crisis occurs. I am often asked for ways to reduce the stress of these impending confrontations, and build up your courage in tackling the inevitable negative conversations.

I’m sure that many of you have some good thoughts on how to deal with difficult situations, but I was very impressed with the summary of recommendations provided in the new book, “Compassionate Leadership,” by Rasmus Hougaard and Jacqueline Carter. Both of these authors come from leadership backgrounds, with much experience in management training and consulting.

Image: https://blog.startupprofessionals.com

In 2020, the failure rate of startups was around 90%. Research showed that 21.5% of startups failed in the first year, 30% in the second year, 50% in the fifth year, and 70% in their 10th year. Stats like these can make a startup founder or a venture capital investor feel like things are a bit bleak, but perhaps there is a better way.

There are ways to avoid failing like setting goals, doing accurate research, loving the work you do and not quitting at the first sign of challenges. These all sound easier said then done, but the recipe for success can be just that simple. Let’s dive into some of the main reasons startups fail.

Image: https://gritdaily.com