News

ROCKVILLE, Md., Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Montgomery County companies had a record year of investment in 2022, with more than $29.9 billion in combined initial public offering (IPO), merger and acquisition, private investment and venture capital deals. That is an increase from $4 billion in 2020 and more than $18 billion in 2021. In all, Montgomery County had 144 deals across 126 companies in 2022.

“The record investment in Montgomery County companies is a testament to the region’s remarkable climate of business growth and innovation,” said Bill Tompkins, President and CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. “We are a premier destination with a powerful network of existing businesses across a wide range of industries. Our deep talent pool, diverse and vibrant communities, and proximity to the federal agencies including the Departments of Transportation and Energy, FDA, and NIH position the County’s companies for success.”

QuartzBio, a Part of Precision for Medicine, Acquires SolveBio and Expands Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Data Management Solutions for Clinical Research & Development (R&D)

QuartzBio’s suite of end-to-end SaaS solutions provides pharmaceutical and biotech clients with a fully connected data ecosystem linking sample, biomarker, and clinical data to improve collaboration, planning, and R&D productivity.

Frederick, MD – January 24, 2023 – Precision for Medicine, the first global, precision medicine clinical research services organization, today announced the strategic acquisition of SolveBio by QuartzBio.

SolveBio’s intelligent technologies and enterprise data management platform has integrated into QuartzBio’s suite of SaaS solutions, providing a single, scalable solution supporting clinical sample inventory management and biomarker data management for the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.

By Alex Keown
January 24, 2023

BioHealth Innovation’s lofty goal of the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) achievement of “Top 3 by 2023” is not likely to be reached this year due to inflation and uncertain economic conditions.

That’s the assessment of Rich Bendis, President and Chief Executive Officer of BHI, who has championed the region’s transition into a top four biopharma hub in the United States. However, given the state of the economy and the amount of money being invested, Bendis said it is unrealistic to expect the region to move up the ranking of the top 10 life sciences regions compiled by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN).

The Bear Institute, a pediatric health IT collaboration between Washington, D.C.-based Children’s National Hospital and Oracle Health, has named four startup companies as the winners of its second annual pediatric digital health innovation competition.

The competition, dubbed the Bear Institute Pediatric Accelerator Challenge for Kids, allows startups to share their innovations and receive feedback from judges while competing for a chance to win an on-site pilot and software development support, according to a Jan. 17 release from Children’s National.

TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, unveiled a legislatively mandated Maryland Innovation Competitiveness Study—one that could lead to a 5-year, $250 million down payment for an Equitech Growth Fund and the establishment of a major Kirwan-type commission. The new commission would map out an in-depth strategic plan focused on ensuring Maryland becomes a national model for a thriving, inclusive tech sector and innovation economy.

Luis Gutiérrez and John K. Hsu join the growing collaboration being BHI and NIH in 2023

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, January 23, 2021 – BioHealth Innovation Inc. (BHI) announces the addition of Luis Gutiérrez and John K. Hsu, Ph.D., J.D., to the growing Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) team. Luis will work with the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER), while John will work with The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

The OER manages the NIH’s extramural research program, providing guidance and support to staff, grantees, and the public on funding opportunities, policies, and regulations. It also oversees the review, award, and administration of grants and contracts for biomedical and behavioral research conducted outside of the NIH. In addition, the NHLBI conducts and supports research on the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases. It also works to improve the health of individuals and populations through education and public health initiatives.

BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) and Montgomery County are pleased to announce the selection of Kevin Heller, MD as a part-time “Executive in Residence”—a position dedicated to providing 1:1 technical assistance to Montgomery County-based biotech and medtech startups.

Heller will join two previously announced “MoCo” Executives in Residence, Jen Butler and Luis Guitierrez, who have been working closely with local entrepreneurs since November.

“​I am eager to join Jen and Luis as we strengthen our community’s biohealth cluster,” said Heller. “Starting and growing a successful biotech company takes patience, perseverance, and resources. Supporting the next generation of life sciences entrepreneurs is critical from a long-term public health perspective and from a local economic development standpoint.”

BioHealth Innovation (BHI) is an innovation intermediary that facilitates the commercialization of emerging technologies in the BioHealth Capital Region (Maryland, DC and Virginia).  We are seeking a Life Sciences Business Strategist to join our team remotely.

The right candidate will be an energetic and continuous learner who is passionate about accelerating the adoption of new technologies to improve lives. The position is geared toward an early-career scientist who wants to engage with the biohealth industry in new ways.

Our Strategists support selected growth-stage businesses beyond commercialization plans and federal grant proposals—they cultivate important relationships with client entrepreneurs and innovators. The Strategists’ work also includes collaborating with expert Entrepreneurs-In-Residence from around the country and other professionals in BHI’s network who have built careers at the intersection of business and science.