BHI is excited to highlight Rachel Rath’s recent LinkedIn Post, where she reflects on her first 90 days as Head of JLABS @ Washington, DC. Rachel, who recently joined the BHI Board of Directors, discusses the Mid-Atlantic’s strengths—including its talent pool, investor activity, and opportunities for deeper collaboration.
We look forward to continuing to work with Rachel and JLABS to drive growth and innovation in the BioHealth Capital Region.
90 Days In: Reflections on an Evolving Life Science Landscape in the Mid-Atlantic
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
Time flies when you’re having fun! My first 90 days as Head of JLABS @ Washington, DC (JLABS DC) have been both energizing and eye-opening. While I’ve spent nearly 20 years in the DMV (DC-Maryland-Virginia), been part of Johnson & Johnson and the JLABS team for 5 years, and been based at JLABS DC since the site opened, it’s been fulfilling to move from a global role into a role that allows me to deep-dive into the local ecosystem that I call home. The DMV region and broader Mid-Atlantic region boast incredible strengths, but these first few months in the job have underscored the work that remains to unlock the region’s full potential. Here are three reflections as I recognize the strengths of this region and look at how JLABS DC can continue to help spur the region’s trajectory:
Chevy Chase, MD, 2 December 2024 – Uncommon Cures®, a pioneering organization dedicated to accelerating the development of orphan drugs, has announced a strategic collaboration with TASK, a leading global clinical research organization specializing in various therapeutic areas. This collaboration will combine Uncommon Cures’ innovative approaches to orphan drug development with TASK’s extensive clinical trial expertise, particularly across Europe and South Africa.
Under this partnership, Uncommon Cures and TASK will work together to streamline clinical trial processes, ensuring a faster and more efficient path to regulatory approval for orphan drugs. The collaboration aims to reduce the barriers associated with rare disease drug development, facilitating access to essential treatments for underserved patient populations.
Children’s National Innovation Ventures is hosting the Symposium on Pediatric Medical Countermeasures (MCMs) and the SPARK for Innovations in Pediatrics Launch and Prize Competition—a premier event under the BARDA Accelerator Network 2.0. This exciting gathering will focus on advancing pediatric-focused MCMs, featuring insightful discussions and a live competition where finalists will pitch their groundbreaking solutions for a chance to secure non-dilutive funding from SPARK.
The event will also include a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially launch the SPARK Hub, followed by a cocktail reception to celebrate this milestone in pediatric innovation.
BioHealth Innovation (BHI) is a proud partner in this initiative, supporting efforts to drive advancements in pediatric medical countermeasures and foster impactful innovation.
Event Details:
- Location: Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus, 7144 13th Pl NW, Washington, DC 20012
- Date and Time: Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM
For more information, visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/2p7f9t5.
Join us in celebrating this important step toward transforming the future of pediatric healthcare!
Italy, December 23, 2024. PQE Group is proud to announce its most recently-received official recognitions: ISO/IEC 27001 and A Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) Certifications, which provide additional reasons to recognize PQE Group’s extensive capabilities; the ISO/IEC 27001 provides clients assurance that their information management systems are risk-aware and that PQE Group’s solutions can proactively identify and address weaknesses; the WBE Certification ensures that PQE Group has met the stringent eligibility criteria to be classified as a women-owned enterprise.
Monday, December 16, 2024(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser launched the DC Venture Capital Program, a new $26 million fund designed to make equity investments for early-stage, DC-based tech companies, prioritizing underrepresented founders.
“Washington, DC is the best place in the nation to launch and grow a business. We know, however, that sometimes talent alone isn’t enough to succeed – and that is why the city has stepped in with a suite of innovative grants to help more entrepreneurs get their fair shot,” said Mayor Bowser. “This DC Venture Capital Program is about investing in people, jobs, and the future of DC’s tech economy.”
The DC Venture Capital Fund represents a transformative commitment to DC-based businesses by leveraging public dollars to attract private investment. For every dollar the District invests, private investors are required to contribute at least an equal amount, effectively doubling the total funding available to DC startups to a minimum of $52 million.
SILVER SPRING, Md. & RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–United Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: UTHR), a public benefit corporation, today announced the world’s first transplant of a UKidney, which it produced, into a living person on November 25, 2024.
The transplant is the fourth xenotransplant using United Therapeutics’ xeno organs into living humans, following two successful UHeart transplants at the University of Maryland Medicine in 2022 and 2023 and a successful UThymoKidney transplant at NYU Langone Health earlier this year.
Guillermo Flor –
How to pitch to investors
The basics:
1. Venture Capitalists have an investment thesis they have to follow. If your startup doesn’t fit the investor’s thesis don’t bother pitching
2. Most times you’ll start pitching to associates. Then the associates will have to share the opportunity with the rest of their investment team. The easier you make their job the more chances you have.
3. How you pitch your startup gives out a lot of information about you to investors. Make sure your investment materials are organized, your pitch is concise and to the point and you are likeable.
GAITHERSBURG, Md., Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) today announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a $50 million option to Emergent’s existing contract (HHSO100201600030C) for the acquisition of CYFENDUS® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed, Adjuvanted).
By Ana Lucía Murillo – Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal Connected DMV has tapped a new chief executive to lead the regionally focused nonprofit.
George Thomas, who has been with Connected DMV since its inception in 2019, is now president and CEO. The group’s founder and only CEO in its history, Stu Solomon, is now listed as executive chairman on the organization’s website. It’s unclear when the transition took place; Solomon was president and CEO as recently as May.
RICHMOND, VA, UNITED STATES, December 11, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Liquet Medical Inc., a pioneering medical device company committed to advancing patient care through innovative technologies, today announced it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Versus™ Catheter.
This innovative medical device is set to enhance the treatment of pulmonary artery blood clots by offering real-time pulmonary artery pressure measurements, empowering clinicians to optimize treatment based on individual patient responses. This novel technology enables a new treatment category called “Hemodynamics-Led Thrombolysis (HLT).”