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Biohealth Capital Region Archives - BioHealth Innovation

Aug 03 2026
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The Top 5 Reasons You Should Be Part of the 12th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Week

By News

BioHealth Capital Region Week returns September 15–17, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Maryland, bringing together leaders from across industry, academia, government, investment, research institutions, economic development, and entrepreneurship.

This year’s theme, “Growing the BioHealth Capital Region of Tomorrow,” reflects a practical question facing the region: How do we turn our scientific assets, federal presence, talent, infrastructure, and industry base into more companies, stronger partnerships, greater investment, and sustained economic growth?

BHCR Week creates three distinct opportunities to take part in that work: the BioHealth Capital Region Forum, the Crab Trap Competition, and the BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference. Each serves a different audience and purpose, but together they span the full path from ideas and research to company formation, commercialization, financing, and growth.

1. The region’s full biohealth ecosystem will be in one place

BHCR Week is one of the few events where executives, founders, researchers, investors, government leaders, economic development organizations, universities, health institutions, and professional service partners come together around the same regional agenda.

Each year, the event draws hundreds of attendees representing biotech, biopharma, medtech, digital health, academic and research institutions, investment organizations, government agencies, economic development groups, and companies that provide legal, financial, technical, real estate, consulting, and commercialization support.

That mix matters. Most companies do not grow through one relationship or one source of support. They need capital, talent, facilities, regulatory guidance, research partnerships, service providers, customers, and a network that can help them move from one milestone to the next.

BHCR Week gives attendees access to many of those relationships in one place. A founder can meet an investor, an economic development leader, a university partner, and a potential service provider during the same week. An established company can connect with emerging technologies, regional decision-makers, and potential collaborators. Investors can see both the companies seeking capital and the institutions helping create the next generation of opportunities.

2. The program is focused on the issues shaping the region’s next decade

The 2026 program looks beyond a single trend or industry challenge. It will examine the combination of technologies, resources, policies, and partnerships needed for the BioHealth Capital Region to continue growing.

The Forum will include conversations around AI and quantum applications in biohealth, commercialization, financing, economic development, infrastructure, manufacturing, standards, supply chains, workforce, dual-use technologies, company formation, and regional collaboration.

These subjects are connected. Companies need access to capital, but they also need the physical and digital infrastructure to operate. Research institutions need commercialization pathways and experienced leadership. Emerging technologies need practical use cases, trusted standards, and partners capable of moving them into the market. The region must also understand why companies choose to start, remain, expand, or relocate here.

The Forum is designed to bring those conversations together rather than treating them as separate issues. Attendees will hear from leaders who are working on these challenges from different perspectives and have opportunities to connect those ideas to their own organizations.

3. Three different events create three different ways to participate

BioHealth Capital Region Week is not a single-format conference. Its three events are designed for different stages of the innovation and company-growth process.

BioHealth Capital Region Forum

September 15–16, 2026

The Forum is the thought-leadership and regional-convening portion of BHCR Week. Across two days, attendees will hear keynotes, panel discussions, regional updates, and conversations focused on the future of the biohealth ecosystem.

The Forum is a strong fit for company leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, academic institutions, government agencies, economic development organizations, investors, professional service firms, and anyone working to strengthen the regional life sciences economy.

Attendees should register if they want to understand what is changing across the region, meet decision-makers from multiple sectors, discover potential partners, and take part in conversations about how the BioHealth Capital Region grows from here.

Registration is free thanks to sponsors, but advance registration is required:

https://eventmobi.com/website/BHCR2026

Crab Trap Competition

September 16, 2026

The Crab Trap Competition gives emerging biohealth companies an opportunity to pitch live before investors, judges, industry leaders, and regional partners.

Selected finalists gain more than stage time. They receive visibility across the regional ecosystem, direct feedback, and opportunities to build relationships with people who may be able to support their next stage of development.

The current prize package includes $15,000 in cash and more than $20,000 in professional services, with additional prizes still being added. Those services can be especially valuable for early-stage companies that need specialized support but may not yet have the budget or internal capacity to secure it.

Companies working across biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, AI-enabled health, and other areas of life sciences should apply if they are ready to raise their visibility, sharpen their story, connect with investors and partners, and compete for resources that can help them move forward.

Apply for the 2026 Crab Trap Competition here:

https://bit.ly/CrabTrap2026

BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference

September 17, 2026

The Investment Conference is a full day focused on connecting companies with capital, strategic partners, economic development leaders, and regional resources.

Emerging and growth-stage companies can meet investors and organizations that understand the life sciences development cycle. Investors can gain exposure to promising companies and technologies across biotech, biopharma, medtech, digital health, AI-enabled biohealth, and related fields.

The conference is also valuable for technology transfer leaders, accelerators, research institutions, service providers, and economic development organizations that help companies become more investable and connect with the resources needed to scale.

Companies should register if they are seeking funding, partnerships, strategic guidance, or greater visibility with the investment community. Investors should attend to identify new opportunities, meet company leaders, and gain a clearer view of the innovation pipeline emerging from the BioHealth Capital Region and beyond.

Investment Conference registration is separate from Forum registration:

https://eventmobi.com/website/BHCR2026/investment-conference

Attendees interested in both events must complete both registrations.

4. BHCR Week is built to create connections that can lead to action

The value of BHCR Week is not limited to what happens on stage. Much of the event’s value comes from the conversations between sessions, introductions made through regional partners, and follow-up discussions that continue after the week ends.

For an early-stage company, one introduction could lead to a future investor conversation, pilot opportunity, service relationship, or research partnership. For an established company, the week can provide access to new technologies, talent, policy perspectives, and regional resources. For an investor, it offers a chance to meet both companies and the institutions supporting their development.

The three-event structure helps create those connections across different settings. The Forum establishes shared context around regional priorities. Crab Trap puts emerging companies and technologies in front of the community. The Investment Conference creates a more direct environment for conversations around capital, company readiness, and growth.

That combination makes BHCR Week more than an annual gathering. It is a platform for turning regional relationships into tangible opportunities.

5. BHCR Week is free to attend thanks to sponsors

Many major industry events come with registration fees that can limit who is able to participate. BHCR Week takes a different approach.

Sponsor support allows the Forum and Investment Conference to remain free to attend. That removes a financial barrier for entrepreneurs, researchers, students, emerging companies, investors, public-sector partners, and others who should be part of the conversation.

Free registration also strengthens the event itself. It creates room for a wider range of organizations, career levels, and perspectives. It allows smaller companies and institutions to participate alongside major corporations, government agencies, universities, and established investors.

Sponsors make that access possible while gaining visibility across the Forum, Crab Trap Competition, Investment Conference, and VIP Leadership Dinner. Their support helps create a stronger audience, more productive connections, and a more accessible platform for the region.

Be Part of BHCR Week 2026

The BioHealth Capital Region has the research, companies, institutions, talent, federal assets, and infrastructure to remain one of the country’s leading life sciences ecosystems. Continuing that momentum requires the right people to come together, understand what is changing, and build the partnerships needed for the next stage of growth.

Register for the BioHealth Capital Region Forum:

https://eventmobi.com/website/BHCR2026

Register separately for the BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference:

https://eventmobi.com/website/BHCR2026/investment-conference

Apply for the Crab Trap Competition:

https://bit.ly/CrabTrap2026

Organizations can also support the week as sponsors. Sponsorship helps keep the Forum and Investment Conference free to attend while giving companies, institutions, and regional partners visibility across the full week. Sponsors are also invited to the VIP Leadership Dinner, which provides a more focused setting to connect with senior executives, investors, speakers, and regional leaders.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact:

Rich Bendis at rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org and Andy Eckert at aeckert@biohealthinnovation.org.

BioHealth Capital Region Week takes place September 15–17, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Maryland.

Jul 20 2026
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Don’t Miss the Region’s Flagship BioHealth Event: Register Now for BHCR Week 2026

By News

Registration is open for the 12th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Week, taking place September 15–17, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia (USP) in Rockville, Maryland.

BioHealth Capital Region Week brings together leaders from industry, academia, government, investment, economic development, research institutions, emerging companies, and regional partners for three days of programming focused on the future of the region’s biohealth ecosystem.

This year’s theme, “Growing the BioHealth Capital Region of Tomorrow,” reflects the need for stronger collaboration, commercialization, investment, infrastructure, and innovation as the region continues to build on its position as one of the nation’s leading biohealth clusters.

Attendees can register now for the BioHealth Capital Region Forum and the BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference, and emerging companies can also apply for the Crab Trap Competition, all through the event site:

Register and apply here: https://eventmobi.com/website/BHCR2026

BioHealth Capital Region Forum: September 15–16

The BioHealth Capital Region Forum will feature two days of panels, keynote conversations, regional updates, networking, and ecosystem-building discussions.

The agenda is coming together with conversations focused on the issues shaping the next stage of growth for the region, including:

  • The BioHealth Capital Region’s national ranking and competitiveness
  • Regional standards, quality, regulatory science, and life sciences measurement leadership
  • Onshoring, domestic medicine production, and supply chain resiliency
  • Biotech company growth across the BioHealth Capital Region
  • Computational health, AI, data, and decision-making
  • Infrastructure, facilities, financing, construction, and demand
  • Quantum in biohealth and future computational capabilities
  • Universities and innovation districts as drivers of regional growth
  • Commercialization talent, fractional leadership, and company-building support
  • Market opportunities for breakthrough medical innovation
  • Public-private partnerships and investment funding to grow the biohealth economy

The Forum will also include networking breaks, receptions, and opportunities to connect with leaders from across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and beyond.

Crab Trap Competition: September 16

The Crab Trap Competition returns as part of BioHealth Capital Region Week, giving emerging biohealth companies the opportunity to pitch live in front of investors, judges, industry leaders, and regional partners.

Crab Trap is designed for companies developing promising technologies across biotech, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, AI-enabled health, and other areas of life sciences innovation. Selected finalists will gain visibility, feedback, and connections that can help support their next stage of growth.

Companies interested in competing should apply now through the BHCR Week event site.

BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference: September 17

The BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference will take place on September 17 and is designed to connect companies with investors, strategic partners, economic development leaders, and regional resources.

Companies seeking capital, visibility, and strategic connections should register early and complete as much of their profile as possible. Strong profiles help support better engagement, better visibility, and more productive company-investor connections before and during the event.

Investors are also encouraged to register now to identify promising companies, review profiles, and participate in conversations around the next generation of biohealth opportunities.

Registration for the Investment Conference is separate from Forum registration.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

BioHealth Capital Region Week remains free to attend thanks to the support of our sponsors. That is one of the things that makes this event different from many other industry conferences. Sponsor support helps ensure entrepreneurs, researchers, students, companies, investors, public-sector partners, and regional leaders can participate without cost barriers.

Every dollar raised goes toward producing the event and supporting the programming, visibility, logistics, and convening power that make BHCR Week possible.

Thank you to this year’s current sponsors and partners:

Alexandria Real Estate Equities
BioHealth Innovation, Inc.
BlackBird Labs
BrainBox, Inc.
Emmes
FNIH
George Mason University
George Washington University
Henry Jackson Foundation
Johns Hopkins University
Maryland Department of Commerce
Mirecule
Kelly Services
KPMG
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
NIH Federal Credit Union (NIHFCU)
The NIH Office of Technology Transfer (OTT)
Noble Life Sciences
PIC MC
Precigen
PWC
Rose Li Associates
Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C.
Scheer Partners
TEDCO
United Therapeutics
University of Maryland BioPark
University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC)
US Pharmacopeia (USP)
Venable
VIPC
Virginia Bio
WellDoc
Women in Bio

Organizations interested in joining this group as sponsors are encouraged to contact BioHealth Innovation.

Sponsorship provides visibility across BioHealth Capital Region Week, including recognition through event materials, signage, the registration site, BHI communications, and onsite programming. Sponsors also gain access to the invite-only VIP Leadership Dinner, a smaller and more focused setting that brings together senior executives, investors, speakers, public-sector leaders, university partners, and key opinion leaders for high-value relationship building.

If you’re interested in joining your peers as a sponsor, email Rich Bendis at rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org AND Andy Eckert at aeckert@biohealthinnovation.org.

Register Now

BioHealth Capital Region Week is one of the region’s most important annual gatherings for biohealth leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and ecosystem partners.

Register now for the Forum and Investment Conference, and apply for the Crab Trap Competition here:

https://eventmobi.com/website/BHCR2026

Jun 04 2026
Love0

Registration Now Open for the 2026 BioHealth Capital Region Forum and Investment Conference

By News

Registration is now open for the 12th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum and BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference, taking place September 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia (USP) in Rockville, Maryland.

This year’s BioHealth Capital Region Week theme, “Growing the BioHealth Capital Region of Tomorrow,” reflects the region’s continued focus on collaboration, commercialization, investment, and leadership during a time of change and opportunity across the biohealth ecosystem.

The BioHealth Capital Region Forum will be held September 15th and 16th and will bring together leaders from industry, academia, government, investment, and entrepreneurship for two days of high-level discussion, regional updates, thought leadership, and networking. The Forum continues to serve as a central gathering point for the people, companies, institutions, and public-sector partners helping shape the future of biohealth across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and beyond.

Attendees can expect conversations focused on the region’s growth, the future of biohealth innovation, investment trends, commercialization pathways, infrastructure, talent, artificial intelligence, public-private collaboration, and the forces shaping the next chapter of the BioHealth Capital Region.

Register for the Forum here:
https://bit.ly/BHCRWEEK2026

Important Registration Note: Attendees who want to participate in both the BioHealth Capital Region Forum and the BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference must register for each event separately.

The Investment Conference uses a separate registration process because it is designed around company-investor engagement. Companies seeking investment and investors looking to meet with emerging biohealth companies are asked to provide additional information that helps support company visibility, investor review, partnering, and more targeted connections throughout the day.

The BioHealth Capital Region Investment Conference will take place on Thursday, September 17th. This focused program brings together investors, entrepreneurs, emerging biohealth companies, strategic partners, and ecosystem leaders for a day centered on capital formation, company presentations, networking, and meaningful business development opportunities.

Companies developing new technologies across therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, AI-enabled biohealth, research tools, and other areas of life sciences innovation are encouraged to register. Investors looking to connect with promising companies from across the region and beyond should also sign up through the Investment Conference registration page.

Register for the Investment Conference here:
https://bit.ly/BHCRIC2026

Applications are also now being accepted for the BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition, which returns as part of BioHealth Capital Region Week. The Crab Trap Competition highlights promising early-stage biohealth companies and gives selected entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch live in front of experienced investors, industry leaders, subject matter experts, and regional ecosystem partners. The BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition will take place on Wednesday, September 16th.

Five finalists will be selected to present during BioHealth Capital Region Week. Each finalist will deliver a seven-minute company presentation, followed by a three-minute question-and-answer session with the judges. Prize details, including cash and services, will be announced soon.

Apply for the Crab Trap Competition here:
https://bit.ly/CrabTrap2026

BioHealth Capital Region Week continues to be one of the region’s most important gatherings for advancing collaboration, showcasing innovation, and connecting the people and organizations building the future of biohealth. Whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, researcher, executive, public-sector leader, service provider, or ecosystem partner, this is a key opportunity to be part of the conversation and the connections that will shape what comes next.

Register now and join us September 15th, 16th, and 17th at USP in Rockville, Maryland.

Jun 03 2026
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BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition Now Accepting Applications

By News

Applications are now being accepted for the BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap Competition, returning as part of the 12th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Week, taking place September 15, 16, and 17, 2026, at US Pharmacopeia in Rockville, Maryland. Apply today at https://bit.ly/CrabTrap2026.

The Crab Trap Competition highlights promising early-stage biohealth companies developing new technologies, products, and solutions across therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, research tools, and other areas of life sciences innovation. Each year, the competition gives selected entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their companies in front of experienced investors, industry leaders, subject matter experts, and regional ecosystem partners.

Five finalists will be selected to pitch live during BioHealth Capital Region Week. Each finalist will deliver a seven-minute company presentation, followed by a three-minute question-and-answer session with the judges. The format gives entrepreneurs a focused opportunity to explain the problem they are solving, the strength of their technology, market opportunity, commercialization strategy, management team, funding progress, and key milestones.

The competition is open to companies preparing for growth, investment, strategic partnerships, or broader market engagement. Applicants should be ready to provide materials that may include a technology overview, market description, intellectual property landscape, competitive advantage, management structure and experience, funding to date, company milestones, financial plan, executive summary, and company presentation deck.

Prizes for this year’s competition are currently being finalized and will be announced soon. As in past years, the prize package is expected to include a combination of cash awards and professional services designed to support the winning company’s continued progress.

The Crab Trap has become a signature platform for showcasing emerging biohealth companies from across the region and beyond. Previous participants and winners include companies such as Perfusion Medical, Linshom Medical, Luminoah, Neuroene Therapeutics, Nanochon, BrainScope, Floreo, LifeSprout, and Sonavex. These companies reflect the range of innovation represented through the competition, from medical devices and digital health to tissue engineering, neurological technologies, respiratory monitoring, surgical tools, and therapeutic platforms.

For entrepreneurs, the Crab Trap offers more than a pitch opportunity. It provides visibility within one of the nation’s leading biohealth hubs, direct exposure to investors and strategic partners, and a chance to connect with leaders who can help advance promising companies toward their next stage of growth.

Companies interested in competing are encouraged to apply now at https://bit.ly/CrabTrap2026. Finalists will be selected in advance of BioHealth Capital Region Week and invited to present live during the Crab Trap Competition on September 16, 2026.

Jun 02 2026
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GEN Names BioHealth Capital Region a Top 3 U.S. Biopharma Cluster for Fourth Year in a Row

By News

The BioHealth Capital Region, spanning Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., has once again been named one of the nation’s Top 3 biopharma clusters by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), marking the region’s fourth consecutive year in the Top 3.

GEN’s 2026 “Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters” ranking was authored by Alex Philippidis, Senior Business Editor at GEN, who has long tracked the growth, competition, and evolution of life sciences ecosystems across the country. Philippidis will return to the BioHealth Capital Region Forum this year to discuss GEN’s updated Top 10 list, the movement within the national rankings, and what the latest findings suggest about the future of U.S. biopharma innovation.

In the 2026 ranking, GEN places the BioHealth Capital Region at No. 3 nationally, behind only Boston/Cambridge and the San Francisco Bay Area. The full article is available here: https://www.genengnews.com/topics/drug-discovery/top-10-u-s-biopharma-clusters-2026/

The recognition reinforces the region’s standing among the country’s strongest life sciences ecosystems and reflects the depth of its research institutions, federal assets, industry base, talent, lab infrastructure, and commercialization capacity.

Recognition carries special meaning for a region that set a public goal years ago to become a Top 3 biopharma cluster. Reaching that milestone was significant. Maintaining it for four consecutive years shows that the BioHealth Capital Region has moved beyond aspiration and into sustained national leadership.

GEN’s annual ranking evaluates U.S. biopharma clusters using five core indicators: NIH funding, venture capital funding, patents, lab space, and jobs. In the 2025 ranking, the BioHealth Capital Region ranked first nationally in biotechnology-related patents and third in both NIH funding and lab space, helping secure its Top 3 position despite broader economic and industry headwinds.

For the BioHealth Capital Region, this continued recognition by GEN is a proof point for the power of regional collaboration. Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. each bring distinct strengths to the ecosystem, but the region’s national competitiveness is strongest when those assets are connected. The presence of NIH, FDA, NIST, USP, major research universities, leading health systems, established biopharma companies, emerging startups, investors, and commercialization partners gives the region a differentiated role in advancing biohealth innovation.

“Being ranked Top 3 by GEN for the fourth year in a row is a moment to celebrate across the entire BioHealth Capital Region.” Said Rich Bendis, Founder, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, Inc. “Congratulations to the many partners across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. who have helped make this possible, including our companies, universities, federal institutions, economic development organizations, investors, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders. This recognition reflects years of collaboration and a shared commitment to growing one of the nation’s leading biohealth clusters.”

The 2026 GEN ranking also comes at an important moment for the industry. Cluster development is being shaped by national trends, including renewed capital activity, increased merger and acquisition activity, a revived IPO market, and continued investment in U.S.-based biomanufacturing. Those trends are highly relevant to the BioHealth Capital Region, where research strength, proximity to federal labs, manufacturing growth, and translational support continue to define the ecosystem’s value.

GEN’s 2026 Top 10 also showed movement among several other regions compared with 2025. The Top 3 remained unchanged, with Boston/Cambridge, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the BioHealth Capital Region holding their positions. Greater Philadelphia moved from No. 7 in 2025 to No. 5 in 2026, while North Carolina moved from No. 8 to No. 7. Chicagoland moved from No. 10 to No. 9. San Diego shifted from No. 5 to No. 6, Los Angeles/Orange County moved from No. 6 to No. 8, and Seattle moved from No. 9 to No. 10.

The full GEN 2026 Top 10 includes:

  1. Boston/Cambridge, MA
  2. San Francisco Bay Area
  3. BioHealth Capital Region, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
  4. New York/New Jersey
  5. Greater Philadelphia
  6. San Diego
  7. North Carolina
  8. Los Angeles/Orange County, CA
  9. Chicagoland
  10. Seattle

For the BioHealth Capital Region, the fourth consecutive Top 3 ranking in GEN is both a recognition and a call to action. It confirms that the region has the assets, talent, and infrastructure to compete with the largest life sciences hubs in the country. It also underscores the need to keep building: more company formation, more access to capital, more lab and manufacturing capacity, more workforce development, and more collaboration.

May 13 2026
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BioHealth Innovation Welcomes Caroline Popper and Julie Wilkinson as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence

By News

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is pleased to announce the addition of Caroline Popper and Julie Wilkinson as Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs). Together, they bring decades of experience across medical technology, diagnostics, digital health, commercialization strategy, FDA pathways, manufacturing, corporate development, and venture-building.

Popper is a business leader, physician, and lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in medical technology, diagnostics, and the life sciences. Her work has focused on technologies and services that improve healthcare efficiency, with a growing emphasis on the intersection of healthcare, biology, technology, and artificial intelligence.

She has held operational and strategic roles at BD and bioMérieux, served as Chief Business Officer of MDS Proteomics, founded Popper and Company, and co-founded The Sherpanis with Julie Wilkinson. She also served as Chief Commercial Officer of Johns Hopkins Precision Medicine and led commercialization activities for the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab Healthcare Mission Area. She currently serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association Healthcare Section AI Task Force.

Wilkinson is a scientist, C-level executive, and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience advancing MedTech innovations through FDA clearance and GMP manufacturing across medical devices, digital health, and in vitro diagnostics. She has led R&D efforts at major health technology companies, including Abbott, Beckman Coulter, and Agilent, and founded and grew a life science service company from zero to $10 million before a successful exit.

Her expertise spans FDA product development pathways, MedTech technology readiness, investor diligence, product-market fit, value proposition development, business model design, and commercialization strategy. She was also part of the $2 billion RADx Tech NIBIB initiative, which helped create U.S. manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 tests, and has led company teams through FDA authorization and manufacturing scale-up for new diagnostics.

“Caroline and Julie bring the kind of hands-on operating experience that is invaluable to entrepreneurs and early-stage companies,” said BHI President and CEO, Rich Bendis. “Their combined expertise in diagnostics, MedTech, FDA strategy, commercialization, manufacturing, AI, and venture-building will strengthen BHI’s ability to support innovators as they move from promising technologies to market-ready solutions.”

“Caroline and I are very excited to join the BHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence team and support our capital region entrepreneurs as they accelerate the transformation of innovative ideas into market-ready products. Turning an idea into a successful commercial product takes far more than funding and determination, it requires the collaboration of experienced experts working together as an active team. The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program led by Rich Bendis exemplifies that collaborative approach and provides entrepreneurs with the strategic support needed to move innovation forward,” said Julie Wilkinson, New Entrepreneur-in-Residence, BioHealth Innovation.

As Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Popper and Wilkinson will work with BHI and its partners to help emerging companies evaluate technology readiness, refine commercialization strategies, navigate regulatory and development milestones, assess market opportunities, and build stronger pathways toward investment, partnership, and growth.

Their addition reflects BHI’s continued commitment to expanding its EIR network with leaders who have deep technical expertise, operating experience, and a strong understanding of what it takes to move biohealth innovations from concept to commercialization.

Organizations and Institutions interested in EIR support through BHI are encouraged to contact Rich Bendis, President and CEO of BioHealth Innovation, at rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org.

About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is a nonprofit innovation intermediary that accelerates the commercialization of promising biohealth technologies. BHI works with entrepreneurs, startups, research institutions, federal laboratories, universities, investors, and industry partners to help move science from discovery to market.

Through its Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program, non-dilutive funding support, international soft-landing services, and commercialization expertise, BHI helps companies and innovators strengthen business strategies, pursue funding, connect with partners, and navigate the path toward growth. BHI is also a founding member and manager of the BioHealth Capital Region brand, supporting the continued development of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia as one of the nation’s leading life sciences clusters.

Jan 26 2026
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Thanking Jarrod Borkat and Rachel Rath for Their Service on the BioHealth Innovation Board

By News

BioHealth Innovation extends its sincere thanks to Jarrod Borkat, Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer at On Demand Pharmaceuticals, and Rachel Rath, Head of JLABS @ Washington DC, for their dedicated service on the Board of Directors.

Throughout their tenure, both leaders brought a steady, thoughtful presence to the board and helped strengthen the organization’s role within the BioHealth Capital Region. Their perspectives, grounded in deep industry experience and regional engagement, supported informed decision-making and reinforced a shared commitment to advancing innovation across the ecosystem.

Jarrod Borkat’s career spans senior commercial, strategy, and partnership roles across the biopharmaceutical sector. His experience building large-scale collaborations among industry, academia, and government brought practical insight to board discussions, particularly around commercialization pathways and cross-sector engagement. His long-standing involvement in the region reflects a consistent belief in collaboration as a foundation for sustainable growth.

During his time with MedImmune and AstraZeneca, Jarrod played a key role in advancing the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) brand and strengthening its national profile. He was also a strong advocate for BioHealth Innovation expanding its footprint into Washington, DC, and Virginia, helping foster a more integrated regional ecosystem. In addition, he served on the Board’s Executive Committee, where his strategic perspective supported organizational growth and transition.

Rachel Rath provided a complementary lens shaped by her leadership at one of the region’s most active innovation platforms. Her work evaluating and accelerating early-stage companies, along with prior experience supporting national health security and clinical research initiatives, informed the board’s understanding of emerging technologies and the needs of founders navigating complex development environments.

“Jarrod and Rachel have been exceptional board members and trusted partners,” said Rich Bendis, Founder, President, and CEO of BioHealth Innovation. “Their leadership, insight, and commitment to the BioHealth Capital Region have made a lasting impact. We are grateful for their service and for the time and expertise they so generously shared.”

BioHealth Innovation wishes both leaders continued success and looks forward to their ongoing contributions to the region’s innovation community.

Dec 22 2025
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Building a Life Sciences Innovation District in Manassas, Virginia on BioTalk

By BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast, News

This episode of the BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast brings together leaders from industry, academia, and economic development to unpack the vision behind a new life sciences Innovation District anchored in Prince William County. With introductions to NAUGEN, George Mason University’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation, and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, setting the stage for how each organization contributes to the district’s foundation. The guests discuss the life science assets, research strengths, and translational capabilities that define the district and explain why it is well-positioned to support biotechnology and advanced R&D companies.

The podcast explores how the partnership between Prince William County, George Mason University, and the City of Manassas came together, outlining the distinct roles each plays in advancing a shared strategy. The episode also introduces the NISA program, detailing how it supports companies seeking a soft-landing pathway into the district, the types of organizations best suited for the program, and the facilities, talent, and collaborative resources participants can access both immediately and over time.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform:
Apple: https://apple.co/4p94Dqe
Spotify: https://bit.ly/3Y7dJZw
iHeart Podcasts: https://ihr.fm/3KLV7v4
Amazon Music Podcasts: https://amzn.to/4pajS1P
YouTube Music Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4phRV8I
TuneIn: https://bit.ly/44GoG7Y

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).

Jaehan Park is Founder and CEO of NAUGEN, a global innovation accelerator advancing novel technologies across life sciences and deep tech. With more than 25 years of experience in strategy and business development, he has led collaborations spanning cancer immunotherapy, vaccines, and biologics with global pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions. He leads the NISA Program in partnership with George Mason University and serves as a Mentor-in-Residence at KIC DC, supporting international startups entering U.S. markets.

Amy Adams is Executive Director of George Mason University’s Institute for Biohealth Innovation, where she advances biohealth research and innovation across more than 300 faculty and thousands of students. Her work focuses on partnerships, shared research infrastructure, and building hubs that connect academia with industry. She is co-leading the development of the Innovation District anchored at Mason’s SciTech campus and serves on the boards of BioHealth Innovation and the Association of University Research Parks.

Christina Winn leads the Prince William County Department of Economic Development, guiding investment, business growth, and redevelopment efforts across one of Virginia’s largest counties. She is overseeing the development of a research-driven Innovation District in partnership with George Mason University and the City of Manassas, supported by a GO Virginia grant. Her career includes leading large-scale economic development initiatives that have driven significant capital investment, job creation, and national visibility for the region.

Aug 11 2025
Love0

Inside FNIH: Dr. Stacey Adam on Smarter, Human-Based Research on BioTalk

By BioTalk with Rich Bendis Podcast, News

In this episode of BioTalk, Rich Bendis welcomes Dr. Stacey Adam, Vice President of Science Partnerships, Translational Science at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), to discuss how public-private partnerships are advancing scientific innovation. Dr. Adam introduces the mission of FNIH and its unique role in bridging government, industry, and academia to accelerate biomedical progress. She highlights the Validation and Qualification Network (VQN), a new initiative working to overcome barriers to the adoption of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and explains how cross-sector collaboration is driving its early success. The conversation explores the long-term vision of the VQN, the global perspectives shaping its approach, and how it fits into the broader NIH Complement-ARIE initiative. Dr. Adam also reflects on the significance of being headquartered in the BioHealth Capital Region and how it supports the Foundation’s mission.

Listen now via your favorite podcast platform:
Apple – https://apple.co/3UngVhK
Spotify – https://bit.ly/411Mdym
YouTube Podcasts – https://bit.ly/4m3tY3Y
iHeart – https://ihr.fm/4locw9o
Amazon Podcast – https://amzn.to/3JaSO3l

Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.

Guest Bio
Dr. Stacey Adam is Vice President of Science Partnerships at the Foundation for the NIH (FNIH), where she leads major public-private partnerships including the RECOVER-Treating Long COVID initiative, multiple Biomarkers Consortium projects, the Accelerating Medicines Partnerships (AMPs), and the Lung-MAP clinical trial. She also leads efforts to design new public-private partnerships focused on pediatric medical devices, cancer systems biology, and the advancement of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) through the Validation and Qualification Network. Previously, Dr. Adam worked at Deloitte Consulting and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Pharmacology with a Certificate in Mammalian Toxicology from Duke University.

Aug 08 2025
Love0

NIH Grant Changes Spark Concern Across the BioHealth Capital Region and Beyond

By News

For decades, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been the cornerstone of the United States’ biomedical research enterprise. But new policies introduced by the current administration, alongside a proposed 40% cut to the NIH’s FY 2026 budget, are sending shockwaves through the research community. The impacts are already visible, and deeply concerning for institutions, researchers, and innovative ecosystems across the country, including the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR).

As first reported in Science by Jocelyn Kaiser, NIH has begun implementing a major shift in how it funds research grants: 50% of multiyear awards must now be funded in full, up front, rather than distributed year by year over the life of the grant. This policy was initiated without Congressional approval, though the 2026 budget proposal may expand this to a larger number of grants, with the percentage expected to rise to 100% by FY27. The impact of this is already reshaping funding outcomes for FY 2025.

In practice, this means that instead of spreading the cost of a three-year grant across three annual appropriations, NIH must now allocate the full amount from the current year’s budget. As a result, far fewer grants can be awarded.

According to Kaiser’s reporting in Science, the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) grant payline has dropped from 10% to 4%. A reduction so sharp means that many investigators will no longer consider applying. Other NIH institutes are facing similar cuts:

  • The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) payline is projected to drop from 12% to 5–8%.
  • The National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are each expected to fund only one-quarter to one-third as many grants as last year, reducing paylines from 15% to 4–5%.

Adding to these concerns, the NIH is reported to be conducting additional assessments of grants that have already undergone and passed scientific peer review, introducing uncertainty into a system once governed by rigor, transparency, and merit.

Full article via Science:
https://www.science.org/content/article/odds-winning-nih-grants-plummet-new-funding-policy-and-spending-delays-bite

As public policy expert Don Moynihan writes in his Substack piece, this new multi-year funding policy was imposed not by NIH leadership, but by political appointees at the Department of Health and Human Services or the White House. NIH employees are not in favor of this requirement and have been working to mitigate its damage internally. However, the rapid pace of implementation, amid an already complex fiscal year, is compounding the disruption.

Moynihan notes that the percentage of awarded applications across NIH is expected to drop by a factor of 2 to 4, leading to widespread lab closures, layoffs, and stalled medical research. The article also warns that this policy may be used to free up future NIH budgets for politically driven initiatives that bypass traditional scientific vetting.

Full article via Substack:
https://donmoynihan.substack.com/p/alert-the-trump-administration-is

The BioHealth Capital Region is home to the NIH, the FDA, over 1,800 life sciences companies, and hundreds of academic and clinical research institutions. The region’s strength, and its #3 ranking for the third consecutive year in the GEN Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters list, rests in part on sustained federal support for biomedical research and commercialization.

A significant disruption in NIH grantmaking could disproportionately affect this region, where many companies and academic centers rely on NIH funding to support R&D, build talent pipelines, and bring new innovations to market.

As a public-private innovation intermediary, BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) is working closely with startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers across the region to navigate the changing landscape. BHI’s support for non-dilutive funding strategy and commercialization services has never been more critical.

Despite these challenges, well-crafted grant applications may still succeed. BioHealth Innovation’s Manager of Client Engagement, Jon Nelson, points out: “We’re certainly in the midst of one of the most difficult funding environments that the BioHealth sector has seen in a long time. However, experienced grant writers will be able to employ carefully crafted aims, thoughtful research approaches, and strategic key phrasing to continue to secure the desperately needed funding.”

Congressional leaders from both parties have expressed concern about the administration’s actions, including the possibility of rescinding unspent NIH funds at the end of the fiscal year. But time is short: the federal fiscal year ends on September 30, and decisions made in the next few weeks will shape the future of U.S. biomedical research for years to come.

BHI will continue monitoring these developments and advocating for policies that preserve America’s leadership in biomedical innovation. We urge stakeholders across the region to stay informed, connect with their Congressional representatives, and elevate the voices of scientists, innovators, and patients who depend on stable, merit-based research funding.

Please contact Jon Nelson, Ph.D., Manager of Client Engagement,

JNelson@BioHealthInnovation.org, if your organization is looking for assistance in this space.

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