In a recent visit with The Chronicle, t he director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis S. Collins, spoke of brighter days ahead for his agency and medical researchers after a decade of tough budgetary constraints.
Inova Health System has leased Exxon Mobil’s Merrifield campus and plans to develop a multimillion-dollar Inova Center for Personalized Health, a major step toward becoming one of the world’s foremost institutions in the fledgling field.
The Fairfax health system wrapped up negotiations Friday morning to lease the 117-acre campus across from its flagship hospital for the next 99 years with the right of first refusal to acquire the property. The deal comes roughly two years after Exxon Mobil retained real estate brokerage Cassidy Turley, now DTZ, to position the four-building, 1.2 million-square-foot property for a potential sale or redevelopment.
The NFL, GE, and Under Armour officials announced that they have joined with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to launch Head Health Challenge III, an open innovation competition to advance materials that better absorb or dissipate energy. These new materials could improve the performance of protective equipment for athletes, military personnel and those in dangerous occupations.
University of Maryland School of Medicine (UM SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, and Jeffrey A. Rivest, MS, President and Chief Executive Officer of University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), today announced the official launch of a new “Program in Lung Healing,” that will further the School’s position as a national leader in research, education and clinical innovation for acute ailments of the lung and respiratory system.
Johns Hopkins University led the U.S. in higher education research spending for the 35th consecutive year in fiscal 2013, with $2.2 billion for medical, science, and engineering research, according to the National Science Foundation.
The university also once again ranked first on the NSF’s separate list of federally funded research and development, spending $1.89 billion in fiscal year 2013 on research supported by NSF, NASA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Defense.
BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a public-private partnership and innovation intermediary is seeking an energetic and motivated life science professional for the role of an Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) with product development experience and subject matter expertise in the fields of neurology and neuroscience. The EIR will reside within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and will also support intramural and extramural initiatives on an as needed basis.
The EIR program was established at BioHealth Innovation to:
- Retain and bring entrepreneurial talent to the Maryland ecosystem
- Connect resources including institutions, technology assets, people and capital within Maryland that include federal institutions, labs, academic institutions, small businesses, disease foundations and the investor community
- Build/support sustainable life science startups that will add value within the healthcare system and also build upon the existing infrastructure
The EIR will work with BHI leadership to ensure that the activities and outcomes are aligned with BHIs strategic focus.
EIR PROGRAM EXPECTATION
- Identify commercially relevant life science technologies with specific focus on technologies to treat patients with Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. These technologies include small molecule drugs, biologics and biotechnology products, and diagnostic and therapeutic devices.
- Source/Identify early stage companies that require commercial and business development support.
- Advise and support early stage companies by serving as an advisor or a part of the team to support the development of technologies and value creation.
- Develop effective scientific collaborations between federal laboratories and agencies, universities, and the private sector
- Support NIH initiatives (intramural and extramural) that are focused on supporting the commercialization of technologies
- Participate in BHI strategic planning and development of entrepreneurial and educational programs
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, ANALYSIS & EVALUATION
- Serve as a scientific resource to the BHI-community on strategic technology development related to key programs, particularly in the area of CNS disorders
- Represent the BHI vision of technology development to the research, small business, and technology development communities through individual interactions, workshops, special focus meetings, and presentations at national and international meetings
- Serve as a resource for scientists and life science companies
- Evaluate and analyze the effectiveness of short and long-term development and business strategies
- Perform scientific and commercial analysis and coordination, including conducting comprehensive technical reviews of scientific studies, research, and analysis in the areas of advanced technology platform development for detection, diagnosis and treatment for a broad spectrum of therapeutic areas
- Develop briefing documents, technical reports and detailed presentations for key stakeholders
OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIPS
- Support building a community of motivated entrepreneurs and founders within the Maryland ecosystem including the federal laboratories.
- Partner with economic development organizations and business associations to educate the small business life science community about potential areas of collaboration
- Maintain contact with small business organizations, government agencies, scientists, and managers to exchange ideas
QUALIFICATIONS
- Interest in working in a fast-paced environment
- Sufficient scientific and product development skill set to analyze a breadth of innovations, with a particular focus on product development in CNS disorders
- Strong organizational, analytical, communication skills
- Ability to effectively liaise with internal and external key stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task and prioritize effectively and creatively
- Maintain flexibility in a changing environment and communicate effectively across the organization
- Excellent presentation skills and ability to lead a meeting and broker discussions
- BA or BS in a scientific, health sciences or information technology field
- Advanced degree in sciences or business (Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.) a plus
- Existing relationship with the investor community that includes angels, venture and strategic investors
- Prior experience in life science product development and product strategy
- Familiarity with the venture capital industry preferred
- Personnel management experience preferred
TERMS & COMPENSATION
Compensation for this position is competitive and negotiable. BHI is an equal opportunity employer.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested applicants should send their resume and cover letter to Amanda Wilson at awilson@biohealthinnovation.org
The Mid-Atlantic Life Sciences Showcase is the new name for the ISPE-CBA Vendor Night. ISPE is continuing to improve the event and this year will not disappoint! Table selections will be made by the order in which you register. Register early to ensure your pick of locations.
Under Armour is doubling down on a big bet it made on fitness apps a year and a half ago.
On Wednesday, the company best known as an athletic apparel brand announced it was spending $475 million to buy MyFitnessPal and $85 million on Endomondo, two apps that rivaled the offerings of Under Armour’s Connected Fitness unit.
In tracking life science investors worldwide, LSN’s research team has noticed that there are a growing number of Asia-based investors seeking global opportunities as well as investments in the U.S. and Asia.
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) set out a roadmap for a potential 2016 flotation of its HIV medicines business on Wednesday as it hired three leading banks to advise on what would be the drug industry’s largest ever initial public share sale.
Chief Executive Andrew Witty said his company would take the next two to three months to analyze the pros and cons of an initial public offering (IPO), as well as deciding how much of ViiV to sell and where to list the shares.