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Join us for an enlightening episode of BioTalk with Rich Bendis as we welcome Dan Berglund, President and CEO of SSTI. With nearly four decades of experience in tech-based economic development (TBED), Dan has been a pivotal figure in shaping the landscape of innovation and entrepreneurship across the nation.

In this episode, Dan shares the history and evolution of Technology Based Economic Development, discussing key initiatives in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, and at the federal level. He highlights the importance of partnerships, detailing a compendium of state and federal cooperative technology programs that have driven progress in the field.

We explore the early years of SSTI, looking into its creation, mission, and initial goals, and how it has grown to support a nationwide network dedicated to fostering tech-based economies. Dan discusses the evolution and growth of state TBED programs, and the changing role of the federal government in supporting these initiatives through agencies like STCS, OSTP, Commerce, NIST, and EDA.

Listen now via:

Apple: https://apple.co/3RwdqEJ
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RrmIlh
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Dan also emphasizes the importance of private/public TBED partnerships, sharing insights into how these collaborations have bolstered economic growth and innovation. As he prepares to step down from his role after 28 years,and assume a part time role,  Dan discusses the recruitment of a new CEO and reflects on SSTI’s achievements, his legacy, and his vision for the organization’s future.

Additionally, Dan talks about Rich Bendis’s role as an original founding board member of SSTI, and his significant help in the early development of the organization. He also highlights the presence of several SSTI members in the BioHealth Capital Region.

GERMANTOWN, MD / ACCESSWIRE / June 14, 2024 / Seraxis, Inc., a regenerative medicine company developing pancreatic islet replacement therapies to transform the lives of patients with Type 1 and insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetes, has been notified that the company is the awardee of a $400,000 Commercialization Program grant from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) that aims to foster Maryland research to enhance and propel stem cell treatments. Seraxis will use the MSCRF grant to accelerate the validation and manufacturing of Seraxis’ genetically modified pancreatic cell line (SR-03) that is designed to be a universal allogenic transplant that will not require lifelong anti-rejection immune suppression.

GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 14, 2024/PRNewswire/ — Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M™ adjuvant, today announced that it has submitted an amendment to its Emergency Use Authorization to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its updated JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine (NVX-CoV2705) for individuals aged 12 and older. The submission is in line with guidance from the U.S. FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to target the JN.1 lineage this fall.^1-3 

Novavax’s JN.1 vaccine has demonstrated broad cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple variant strains, including KP.2 and KP.3, indicating the potential to protect against forward drift variants. As discussed at the recent FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting, there is a public health benefit to target JN.1, the parent strain of the most common currently circulating variants.

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Vanda” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: VNDA) today confirmed that it has received a revised unsolicited proposal from Future Pak, LLC (“FP”) to acquire Vanda for $8.50–$9.00 per share in cash plus certain Contingent Value Rights.

Consistent with its fiduciary duties, and in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, Vanda’s Board will carefully review and evaluate the revised, non-binding proposal to determine the course of action that it believes is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

COLUMBIA, Md., (June 13, 2024) — The Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) Board of Directors announces the appointment of Abishek Kulshreshtha as the executive director of TEDCO’s MII program. In this position, Kulshreshtha will oversee all MII activities starting July 1, 2024.

As an independent unit within TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, MII was created to promote the commercialization of research conducted in five of Maryland’s academic research institutions (Johns Hopkins University; Morgan State University; University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and University of Maryland, College Park) while leveraging each institution’s strengths. This collaborative program has supported more than 170 startup companies, created 370 jobs and procured more than $737 million in follow-on funding since its inception nearly 12 years ago.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA / ACCESSWIRE / June 11, 2024 / KeViRx, Inc., an innovative, early-stage pharmaceutical company, announced today the receipt of $1.99 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. This grant funding will allow KeViRx to advance its first-in-class small molecule platform technology, KVX-053, toward IND for pulmonary microvascular leakage and inflammation during acute lung injury (ALI). In the U.S., ALI affects 200,000 patients every year and can result from viral infection, sepsis, pneumonia or inhalation of chemical toxins. The most severe form of ALI is referred to as acute respiratory distress syndrome or ARDS.

“There are very limited treatment options for patients with ALI and 40% will die of ARDS,” KeViRx Co-founder John S. Lazo said. “KVX-053 is a host-directed, insult-agnostic small molecule that targets the central pathways that are dysfunctional in ARDS. If we are successful, KVX-053 would be transformative for this disease.”

COLUMBIA, Md., (June 11, 2024) — Program Updates Unveiled for TEDCO’s Maryland Innovation Initiative TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced recent changes to the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII) program that will enhance efforts to support bringing innovative research to market. A collaboration between the State of Maryland and the five academic research institutions, MII’s goal is to foster the transition of promising technology and research developed in qualifying university labs to the commercial sector.

“With nearly 12 years of progress, research and continued support, we have witnessed several university researcher’s and faculty’s journey to commercial success,” said Renée Winsky, chair of the MII Board of Directors. “With these changes to our processes, we are confident that we will not only continue the overwhelming success but build on it.”

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — REGENXBIO Inc. (Nasdaq: RGNX) today announced that Curran Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective July 1, 2024. Co-Founder Kenneth T. Mills will step down as President and Chief Executive Officer following 15 years of leadership at the Company, and he is taking on an expanded role on the Board as Chairman. In connection with these changes, Board member Daniel Tassé has been appointed as REGENXBIO’s Lead Independent Director, a role previously held by Jerry Karabelas, Ph.D. Dr. Karabelas and Co-Founder Allan Fox, who has served as Chairman since 2020, will remain on the Board.

Biotechnology company innovates treatment for pets with lumps, bumps and cancer

COLUMBIA, Md., (June 11, 2024) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $200,000 Pre-Seed Builder Fund investment in Kubanda Cryotherapy. The Pre-Seed Builder Fund is housed under TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds, which were created to engage and invest in economically underserved founders and communities.

“Most pet tumors go untreated, and existing treatment options are inaccessible due to high costs and slow healing times,” said Bailey Surtees, CEO of Kubanda Cryotherapy. “We saw this gap in care and built an alternative, non-surgical solution, which offers less down time and better healing outcomes for pets. With TEDCO’s support, we can continue our mission of breaking down barriers to high-quality care.”

BALTIMORE, MD, US, June 10, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Linshom Medical, a start-up medical device company was selected to present at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference on June 18, 2024 in Washington DC. After a competitive evaluation of over 100 applications, Linshom Medical was chosen as 1 of 13 companies to present at the Medical Threat Reduction Challenge, to an expert panel of judges, including federal funders, Medical CBRN Defense Consortium (MCDC) representatives, investors, and private corporations for a chance to earn a portion of $50,000 in non-dilutive prize money.

Linshom Medical is first to deliver an operating room quality respiratory profile to the patient bedside for continuous, predictive respiratory monitoring (CPRM). Recent data shows that the wearable, FDA cleared sensor provides health care providers 15 minutes of advance notice of respiratory decline compared to current standard of care. Clinical care team intervention during this early notice window is typically simple and inexpensive vs. the costly later alternatives when patients experience respiratory decline and are in trouble. These include rapid response activation, rescue events (codes), ICU transfers and potentially death.