Thank you to BioHealth Innovation, Inc. for this incredible experience. I learned so much from these brilliant minds, and look forward to an ongoing relationship.
Applications Due September 5
The Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program is now open and accepting applications for the September 5th NIH SBIR/STTR receipt date. NHLBI will accept applications via PAR-19-333, PAR-19-334, and PAR-19-335 from small businesses that have had an active NHLBI SBIR or STTR Phase II or Phase IIB award within the last 36 months.
This opportunity provides up to $300,000 (PAR-19-334) or $500,000 (PAR-19-333, PAR-19-335) to support technical assistance and later stage research and development (R&D) not typically supported through Phase II or Phase IIB grants or contracts including:
- Independent replication of key studies
- Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies
- Clinical studies, manufacturing costs
- Regulatory assistance
Contact NHLBI Small Business Program Coordinator Mike Pieck (NHLBI_SBIR@mail.nih.gov) with questions.
Bayer said today it has agreed to acquire BlueRock Therapeutics for up to $600 million in a deal designed to catapult the buyer into leadership in cell therapies, nearly three years after joining with healthcare investment firm Versant Ventures to launch the company.
This just in: Maryland’s internet is the least likely to cut out right at the juicy scene in ‘The Bachelor’. According to web service provider assessment group Highspeedinternet.com, Maryland has the fastest internet speed in the country.
While medical device innovation is quite active—at the university level, within incubators, and even in the R&D labs of established firms—there is a substantial lack of products being developed for younger patients. Since pediatric devices have a limited patient base due to most children being relatively healthy (of course, a positive factor), it’s not a focus for a great number of companies as it does not offer the promise of a substantial financial return.
The amount of deals and dollars invested in healthcare is hitting near record highs for the first half of 2019 with $26.9 billion poured into healthcare companies over 2,258 deals around the world, according to CB Insights’ Global Healthcare Report.
That represents a slight uptick from the first half of 2018 where $26.5 billion was invested over 2,223 deals.
Everyone knows how important funding is for starting a venture, whether you are building a small business or high-growth tech startup. The capital needs of a venture change along with the venture’s stage — early-stage ventures might need help with product development costs, while established companies may need funding to expand to a new location or market segment.
RoosterBio, Inc., a Frederick, MD-based human mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (hMSC) biomanufacturing company, raised in excess of $15m in an initial Series B financing.
The round was led by Dynamk Capital, with participation from existing and new investors. The Series B final round is expected to close with additional investors by the end of August, totaling approximately $22m raised.
The growing number of private biopharma and diagnostic/therapeutic technology company financings completed in recent months masks an overall year-over-year decrease in the total value of those deals.
On Thursday, August 22nd from 4-6:00 pm there will be an open house for the fall courses in the “Advanced Studies in Technology Transfer” program at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES) Graduate School at NIH in the FAES Academic Center in NIH Building 10 in Bethesda, MD. For the semester beginning on Monday, September 9th there will be 9 courses available for the program given in either Rockville or Bethesda:
- TECH 495 – The FDA, Science, Health Policy and Regulation in an Uncertain Environment
- TECH 513A – Introduction to Technology Transfer – Issues & Processes
- TECH 521 – Tools for Technology Transfer Managers–Handling Intellectual Property, Collaborations, and Agreements
- TECH 565 – Biomedical Business Development for Scientists
- TECH 567 — International Strategic Partnering and Business Development
- TECH 575 – Accounting and IP Valuation for Non-Accountants
- TECH 583 — Patent Research for Non-Legal Practitioners
- TECH 588 – FDA Regulatory Strategy in Medical Product Development
- TECH 607 – Capstone Course in Technology Transfer
- PHAR 328 – FDA Perspective on Drug Development
More details can be found in the new 2019-20 course catalog (www.faes.org) with online registration for classes available. The Advanced Studies in Technology Transfer is an open enrollment program with class credits transferable into various graduate degree programs at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Graduate School and the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
Technology Transfer Scholarships
FAES offers a limited number of partial tuition-remission scholarships for self-funding students. For deadlines and details on how to apply visit https://faes.org/tuition-and-funding .
Also as Department Chair, I’m happy to assist with any questions you might have about the program or individual courses.