BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a regional private-public partnership focusing on commercializing market-relevant biohealth innovations and increasing access to early-stage funding in Central Maryland, today announced its selection of Ken Malone, Ph.D., of Early Charm Ventures, as the first BHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) assigned to work directly with UM Ventures. Dr. Malone, a serial entrepreneur who has founded or been an officer of five biotechnology or advanced materials companies, will help advance the commercialization efforts of new start-up companies based upon innovative discoveries coming out of research programs at the University of Maryland (UMD) College Park and Baltimore.
“We’re thrilled to name Ken Malone as an EIR,” said Richard Bendis, BHI President & CEO. “Ken and I have a long history of working together, so I know first hand that he has the experience, drive and perspective to be a true asset to BHI and to the many start-ups he’ll serve from University of Maryland in support of the newly launched UM Ventures initiative.” Dr. Malone will assist any interested UM start-ups once they have been launched.
“Maryland’s future lies in unlocking the economic potential of the science and talent of our universities,” said Dr. Malone. “Through my experience as CEO of a UM BioPark-based company, I’m very familiar with the University of Maryland’s world-class research and strong commitment to commercialization. It is a privilege to be working with the new UM Ventures initiative to help create economic growth for our state.”
“Dr. Malone is an ideal EIR,” said James L. Hughes, Director of UM Ventures, and President, Research Park Corporation. “By directly engaging an experienced entrepreneur, we help foster our objective of moving research outcomes into products, services, tools and diagnostics that will benefit society.”
About Ken Malone
Dr. Ken Malone holds the title of principal at Early Charm Ventures. He has built his career on creating economic value from science. Whether it was developing new business lines for global corporations or spinning out new ventures from universities, Dr. Malone has engaged in the commercialization of hundreds of new products in advanced materials and life sciences.
Dr. Malone uses his academic training in the physical and life sciences and applies his broad life experiences in business operations, marketing, intellectual property management, M&A, finance, manufacturing and government affairs. This allows him to not just identify commercial value but also to plot and navigate the pathway to success. At last count, he had co-founded or served as an officer for five life science and advanced materials companies.
Dr. Malone believes that the best of our economy lies in the ideas, talent and vision of the would-be entrepreneur. This commitment pushes Early Charm Ventures to consistently seek to grow companies capable of changing, evolving and making things in our world different- and better. Prior to his arrival in the Charm City, he also served as Director of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship at The University of Southern Mississippi. Before that, he worked ten years in the fine chemicals industry, bringing dozens of new products to market and leading capital investment opportunities in China, India, Southeast Asia, Western Europe and the Americas. Dr. Malone holds a Ph.D. in polymer science and a B.S. in biochemistry.
About UM Ventures
UM Ventures is an ambitious joint research commercialization effort of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). UM Ventures is a central part of an initiative called University of Maryland: MPowering the State. The program has combined the entrepreneurial efforts of the two powerhouse universities that together do more than $1 billion a year in externally sponsored research. UM Ventures is bringing innovative technologies to the market and expanding collaborations with industry. Visit http://umventures.org/ to learn more.
About BioHealth Innovation, Inc.
BioHealth Innovation, Inc., is a regional innovation intermediary focused on commercializing market-relevant bio-health innovations and increasing access to early-stage funding in Maryland. Learn more at www.biohealthinnovation.org.
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Media contact:
Rich Bendis, President & CEO, 301-637-6439, rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org