News

Network will analyze and improve how genomic information is integrated into patient care.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is awarding $5.4 million in first-year funding to establish a new program that supports the integration of genomics into learning health systems.

Present in many hospitals across the United States, learning health systems are a type of clinical practice that bridges research and patient care. These systems use a variety of methods to continually analyze patient data. Clinicians then use the results of those analyses to refine practices and improve future care.

The new Genomics-enabled Learning Health System (gLHS) Network aims to identify and advance approaches for integrating genomic information into existing learning health systems. As genomic testing becomes increasingly common, more and more genomic data are available in clinical settings, and learning health systems present an opportunity to translate this evidence quickly and directly into improvements in medical care.

BETHESDA, Md. and SINGAPORE, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — VerImmune Inc., (“VerImmune”), a venture-backed biotechnology company developing a groundbreaking Virus-inspired Particle (ViP™) platform technology, today announced the successful first closing of $4.5 million in its Pre-Series A financing round.

The financing was led by Beiley Biofund, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on cutting-edge technologies that address high unmet medical needs. New investors, including Dr. John Ballantyne, PhD, co-founder and former CSO at Aldevron, participated in the round, alongside returning investors Proxima Ventures, Mana Ventures, Gaingels, and others.

The 2024 Women’s Health Innovation Summit USA taking place from September 23-25, 2024, in Boston, MA. This event will serve as a leading platform for accelerating innovation, investment, and partnerships within the women’s health sector. The summit will bring together key industry players, including professionals from pharma, biotech, medical devices, femtech, and startups, as well as investors, healthcare providers, and researchers, to discuss cutting-edge advancements in women’s health care.

Day 1 Recap: A Dynamic Start to the 10^th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum

The 10^th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Forum kicked off with a strong showing of leadership from both Maryland and Virginia, setting the tone for the rest of the week. BHI President and CEO Rich Bendis opened the day by thanking Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., CEO of USP, for hosting the conference for the third year in a row. Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., introduced Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who welcomed attendees to Montgomery County, where this event has been held all ten years. Elrich highlighted the importance of Montgomery County, which is the epicenter of the BioHealth Capital Region.

BioHealth Capital Region Week 2024 welcomed Immobazyme, a biotech company from Stellenbosch, South Africa, to compete in the 9th Annual Crab Trap Competition. Specializing in precision fermentation products, Immobazyme focuses on developing treatments for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), with the goal of reducing amputation rates and improving the quality of life for diabetic patients worldwide. Ethan Hunter, Chief Operations Officer of Immobazyme, represented the company and delivered a compelling pitch to the panel of judges.

Linshom Medical, a TEDCO-backed company, located in Baltimore, MD, was named the winner of the 9th Annual Crab Trap Competition during the BioHealth Capital Region Forum. Linshom impressed the judges with their groundbreaking wearable respiratory monitoring device, the first FDA-cleared technology to deliver an operating room-quality respiratory profile to the patient bedside.

By continuously providing critical metrics such as Respiratory Rate (RR), Tidal Volume (TV), and Minute Ventilation (MV), Linshom’s device predicts respiratory decline up to 70 minutes before an emergency, reducing costly ICU transfers, rapid response activations, and potentially saving lives. Unlike bulky, expensive equipment limited to the ICU or operating rooms, Linshom’s device brings precise, predictive respiratory monitoring to the bedside, addressing a fundamental gap in patient care. Judges praised Linshom for its technological innovation, clear path to market, and the critical need it addresses in modern healthcare, particularly in post-operative and emergency settings.

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, September 23, 2024 – BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI) and Georgetown University’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) have entered into a strategic collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of innovative research and technologies developed by Georgetown University faculty, staff, and student entrepreneurs.

BHI and its experienced Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) and network of analysts will provide support, mentorship, and commercialization expertise to the recently launched Georgetown Tech Ventures (GTV). GTV is supported by the Build to Scale (B2S) program, which is led by the Economic Development Administration’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. As part of this initiative, BHI will assist GTV in strengthening its entrepreneurial ecosystem by interacting with Georgetown’s faculty, staff, and student entrepreneurs and will leverage BHI’s extensive experience in commercialization and entrepreneurship to help GTV effectively manage the development and launch of innovative ventures. This effort will include conducting seminars, offering one-on-one mentorship, and leveraging BHI’s network to increase visibility for GTV’s programs. The collaboration will also help raise the profile of Georgetown’s innovation initiatives by tapping into significant events like the BioHealth Capital Region Forum and BHI’s various communication platforms such as weekly newsletters, blogs, and the BioTalk podcast.

This biotechnology company aims to save lives through their transformative medical device.

COLUMBIA, Md., (September 23, 2024) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a recent $250,000 Builder Fund investment in CarrTech, a life sciences company working to support patients and healthcare providers. The Builder Fund is part of TEDCO’s Social Impact Funds, an umbrella of funds designed to support underserved founders and communities.

“The purpose of CarrTech and our medical device FROG®, is saving lives by mitigating the risk of preparing ampoule-based medication,” said CarrTech’s founder and CEO Sue Carr. “My team and I are incredibly optimistic about the huge impact TEDCO’s investment could bring to the healthcare community.”

WILMINGTON, Del., September 20, 2024 – FLUMIST® has been approved in the US as the only self-administered influenza vaccine. FLUMIST, a needle-free nasal spray, was approved to be self-administered by adults up to 49 years of age or administered by a parent/caregiver to individuals 2-17 years of age.1

The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was based on a comprehensive submission, which included results from a usability study demonstrating that individuals over 18 years of age could self-administer or administer FLUMIST to eligible individuals 2-49 years of age.1

U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is currently seeking Expert Volunteers from diverse professional backgrounds to contribute to its vital mission of safeguarding the quality of medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients. For over 200 years, USP has maintained trust in healthcare products through rigorous standards, and now they are calling on scientists, healthcare professionals, regulatory experts, and academicians to join them for the 2025–2030 cycle.

Volunteering with USP offers a unique opportunity to work alongside global experts from academia, industry, and regulatory bodies to help review and revise USP standards. These standards are essential for public health, legally recognized in the U.S., and used in over 150 countries. Volunteers will lend their expertise to address emerging health concerns, build awareness, and reduce the risk of substandard healthcare products. As a part of an Expert Committee, you’ll help shape global healthcare and contribute to ensuring that consumers worldwide have access to safe and reliable products.