I’ve reached the stage of my career where I’ve been invited to give “career retrospective talks” to grad students and post-docs at academic institutions. It’s been an interesting and enjoyable experience meeting a new generation of young scientists and hearing what’s on their minds. After delivering my seminar and sharing lots of stories and advice, the discussion quickly turns to jobs: what’s available out there, and how do you get one?
Gaithersburg-based MedImmune says it has received fast-track designation from the Food and Drug Administration for its MEDI8897, a drug being developed to prevent respiratory infections in infants and young children caused by respiratory syncytial virus. “We are working with a sense of urgency to develop a next-generation RSV [treatment] that we believe has the potential to benefit hundreds of thousands more infants, both in the U.S. and around the world,” said Steve Projan, senior vice president of research and development and infectious diseases and vaccines at MedImmune. “If successful, the fast-track designation will enable us to more quickly deliver a preventative solution.”
FastForward, the catalyst for the advancement and commercialization of Johns Hopkins innovations, will help drive business development. There will be some available space outfitted as a core lab facility with shared equipment. Approximately 115,000 SF of the building is already committed. An additional 53,000 SF of lab and office space is available. Additionally, there will be 2,000 SF of retail space that will open directly to the lobby and serve as the social hub for innovation activities in the building. This space will have 180 degree exposure to Ashland Avenue and Eager Park. The retail tenant can extend its outdoor operation onto the ground floor building terrace and into Eager Park.
The stage has been set for a disruptive return of the “Small IPO” to the private equity marketplace (Seed, Series A, B etc.). This go-around, the liquidity boom will not be the exclusive provenance of the Four Horsemen (Alex Brown Inc., Hambrecht & Quist, Robertson Stephens & Co., and Montgomery Securities), the four boutique investment banks that drove liquidity for Silicon Valley during the boom. The new incarnation of the Four Horsemen will be in the form of crowdfunding marketplaces, not investment banks.
WASHINGTON DC—AARP today announced the launch of a new program to give developers of popular and emerging products insight into how Americans 50-plus use technology in order to identify ways to improve the devices for mature consumers. The initiative is called Project Catalyst and its first study is focused on popular activity and sleep trackers. In conjunction with UnitedHealthcare and Pfizer Inc., this is the first of several technology studies that AARP will conduct with the goal of accelerating innovation for aging Americans. “Technology that is designed well – designed for all – can be used by a 5-year-old and a 95-year-old, alike. We are thrilled about starting this study and commencing the launch of the Project Catalyst program, said Jody Holtzman, AARP senior vice president of Thought Leadership. “The goals of Project Catalyst are in direct alignment with the mission of AARP – to identify challenges and determine solutions to improve the quality of life for people as they age.”
For University of Maryland researchers, the last year has marked a series of new discoveries and innovations: a revolutionary nanopore battery with high storage capabilities, a language aptitude measuring system, and a national food safety database to improve safety measures in retail establishments, just to name a few. UMD will honor nine nominees for the most promising new inventions at the Celebration of Innovation and Partnerships event on April 29, held as part of the University of Maryland’s ’30 Days of EnTERPreneurship,’ a month-long celebration and exhibition of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Establishes centralized vaccines research and development center in Rockville
GSK, one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, announced today that they are expanding their operations in Rockville with the establishment of a centralized vaccines R&D facility.
The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (DBED) named today 12 finalists in the InvestMaryland Challenge (IMC), the State’s international business competition. The Challenge brings together startup companies from a variety of industries with investors, advisors, successful entrepreneurs and other established members of Maryland’s entrepreneurial community. There are three finalists in each of four categories — Life Sciences, IT, Defense & Security, and Sustainability & Exploration. The winner of each will win a $100,000 top prize from the State’s Maryland Venture Fund. InvestMaryland Challenge partners have contributed another $300,000 in prizes that will be awarded to others in the field of 214 applicants. Winners of all awards will be announced April 28 at an event at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore.
Health and Human Services chief technology officer Bryan Sivak announced that he will step down from the job this month.
In so doing, Sivak is not just leaving the CTO position but also the entrepreneur-in-residence post he held simultaneously. Healthcare IT News Executive Editor Tom Sullivan spoke with Sivak in 2013 about disrupting government culture with both technology and modern business practices.
Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an orphan drug designation for the Company’s investigational compound, STP-206 (lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis), a live biotherapeutic being developed for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in premature infants with very low birth weight less than or equal to 1,500 grams. The Company is currently conducting a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1b/2a clinical trial for STP-206 at a number of different sites in the United States.
