Medtech Central

BME student team needs your help! Spinal Cord Injury Patents need your help!

2011-12-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

Augment Medical, an NCSU/UNC BME student led spinout company has been selected as a top-20 finalist for an Intel Innovator award! The company is developing communication systems for severe spinal cord injury patients.

To move on and have a chance at up to a $100,000 award, support is needed on Facebook to vote them in the top 5 of the finalists.

Here’s what to do: On your Facebook page, open up the “Intel Innovators” application. You will have to allow it (sorry! But you can remove it as soon as you are done if you like). You are given a certain number of points to “invest.”

On the tab with the 20 finalists, find PatientLink, Augment Medical’s project. Please invest all of your points.

You can also quickly double your investment if you simply click the video links on up to 10 ideas. You don’t have to watch the whole video, but you will get additional points for doing this, which will double the amount you have to invest (up to 20,500 on the 1st day and 10,500 each successive day).

You can repeat this process daily until December 19.

Thank you for helping!

Link: www.intel-innovators.com/pitch?idea_id=2218

Using Twitter to Post Jobs & Events

2011-06-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

I recently posted a new web site called DiMeo Medtech Central, or DMC for short. As part of that endeavor, I wanted to provide an opportunity for followers of this blog to post jobs and events on their own. To do this, I set up a twitter feed called @MedtechCentral.

You'll see in the top right side of this blog, and on the "Jobs and Posts" page on DMC, a live feed of the @MedtechCentral twitter account. If you have a job or event you want to show up on this feed, just mention @MedtechCentral in a tweet with the information you are looking to disseminate. If it is a tweet fitting for the site, I'll retweet it, and it will show up in the feed.

DMC has a few other features that you may be interested in checking out, including a more organized directory of resources, an events calendar, and a service providers page.

5th Annual UNC/NCSU BME Research+Design Symposium

2011-04-14T06:28:00.001-07:00

For those of you following along, the BME Research+Design Symposium Site has been recently updated with more information about the upcoming event. We are expecting a capacity crowd again this year that the NC Biotechnology Center.

Don't miss out on this great networking opportunity and chance to see undergraduate and graduate students present research and innovations. Projects range from a device to prevent skin degradation in neonates to a targeted drug delivery system for treatment of ischemic stroke.

Register today for the event, May 3rd, NCBC, from 3:00 - 8:00
www.bme.ncsu.edu/symposium/

Thank you to the generous sponsors that helped make this event possible, including WakeMed, the NC Biotechnology Center, Hutchison Law Group, Applied Technologies, Polyzen, Olive Law Group, Flexcell, Smith Anderson, and Jenkins Wilson Taylor & Hunt. A special thank you to the Reception Sponsor, Cook Medical.

Biomedical Equipment Technician Country Coordinator - Ghana

2011-03-31T11:02:00.000-07:00

Engineering World Health is a non-profit organization that mobilizes the biomedical engineering community to improve the quality of health care in hospitals that serve resource-poor communities of the developing world. We began the biomedical equipment technician (BMET) training program in late 2009 to provide training for 45 technicians working in Rwanda. The program was funded by the GE Foundation with the goal of providing enough trained technicians to service medical equipment at every hospital in Rwanda within three years. Thanks to further funding from the GE Foundation, EWH has expanded the training program to Cambodia, Honduras and Ghana.

To learn more about an exciting opportunity to work as a Biomedical Equipment Technician Country Coordinator in Ghana, Please go to the following:
www.idealist.org/view/job/jgcmzfhhj874/

5th Annual BME Research+Design Symposium

2011-03-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

The Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering

5th Annual Research+Design Symposium

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

3:00 PM - 8:00 PM

North Carolina Biotechnology Center

The Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at UNC/NCSU is pleased to be hosting their 5th annual Research+Design Symposium to be held at the NC Biotechnology Center on May 3rd. In the past three years, the event has attracted hundreds of participants from the area’s advanced medical technology community.

The event will include poster and oral presentations and a networking reception. Each year a number of projects have commercialization potential, and some have already achieved licensing agreements. One such project from last year earned national recognition by becoming the inaugural NCIIA BMEstart Design Competition Winner. Learn more about that here:
www.ncsu.edu/features/2010/10/the-eyes-have-it/

To see the complete agenda please visit the symposium web site at:
www.bme.unc.edu/symposium/

Register today at:
www.bme.ncsu.edu/seniordesign/register.html

Thank you to our event sponsors including WakeMed Health and Hospitals, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Hutchison Law Group, Applied Technologies, Polyzen, Olive Law Group, Flexcell, and Jenkins Wilson Taylor & Hunt. A special thank you to the Reception Sponsor, Cook Medical.

NC IDEA Grants Program Info Session

2011-02-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

NC IDEA's Spring 2011 grants cycle opens on Monday, February 14th (applications will be accepted through 3/11). On Tuesday, February 15th, the organization will host an informational webinar aimed at giving potential grant applicants an overview of the grant process and eligibility criteria. Join NC IDEA officials as they discuss how to apply for a grant, what they look for in an application and what types of companies are eligible for funding.

To learn more and to register, go to:
www.ncidea.org/content/spring+2011+info+session/13511

What's on Tap this week in Medtech

2010-11-29T07:23:00.000-08:00

This is a particularly busy week with great networking opportunities available for those in the Medtech and/or Entrepreneurial space.

The week kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday, with the annual Medtech Conference hosted by ibiliti. The event will include some outstanding speakers and breakout sessions including Diabetes, Oncology, and Orthopedics. The event begins at 9:30 at the Washington Duke Inn and concludes at 5:15 with a Medtech Celebration.

On Wednesday, the NCSU Biomedical Engineering Senior Design students will be hosting a design review. These design reviews are stepping stones to the annual Research+Design Symposium (save the date for Tuesday, May 3, 2011). The Design Review will take place on NCSU's Centennial Campus in the BTEC room 135 starting at 1:30.

On Thursday, you don't want to miss the Carolina Innovations Seminar. The topic is, "A Primer for University Entrepreneurs." Speakers include Merrill Mason and David Pierson. The event gets going with presentations at 5:30 at UNC's Sitterson Hall room 014 and the moves to Top of the Hill for a networking reception.

Undergrad team develops lens to treat eyelid paralysis - Technician - News

2010-10-26T13:39:00.000-07:00

Undergrad team develops lens to treat eyelid paralysis - Technician - News

Free RTP Conference on Personalized Medicine

2010-06-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Check out this free RTP conference on personalized medicine. Act fast if you want to attend.

Personalized Medicine in the 21st Century

Presented by

RTI International and

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center

June 15, 2010

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The personalized medicine field presents a new paradigm in healthcare

and the treatment of disease. North Carolina has a number of leaders in

this emerging field - represented by researchers and scientists at its preeminent universities, laboratories and research institutes, as well as its

biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Among the subjects to be explored by a field of local, national and international experts will be a concept gaining momentum called "P4," which uses treatment tools that are

"Predictive, Preventive, Personalized, and Participatory."

View Agenda

http://www.rti.org/page.cfm?obj=921E3F1A-9D0A-D2B7-848AFD67B0046C2D

http://www.rti.org/events.cfm?register=personalmed

Location:

Sheraton Imperial Hotel

4700 Emperor Blvd.

Research Triangle Park, NC

For more information, contact Alison Mendys, amendys@rti.org.

Battelle report affirms Research Triangle Region as life sciences industry leader

2010-05-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2010

New study affirms North Carolina’s Research Triangle Region
as national life sciences leader in jobs, salaries, growth potential

Chicago, IL – The Research Triangle Region of North Carolina remains among the nation’s leaders in life sciences industry jobs and salaries, according to a report issued today (May 3) at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) annual international convention in Chicago.

The study by Battelle Memorial Institute, “State Bioscience Initiatives 2010,” benchmarks how U.S. states and regions are faring in their efforts to attract companies and quality jobs in an increasingly competitive national and international environment during a challenging economic downturn. Battelle, the world’s largest, independent research-and-development organization, has conducted the national industry review every two years since 2004.

“This study again demonstrates the steady growth and diversity of the Research Triangle Region’s life sciences cluster and the high rate of return for investments made by the region and the state of North Carolina over the past 25 years,” said Peter M. Pellerito of PMP Public Affairs Consulting in Chapel Hill, a contributing editor/author for the Battelle report.

“Dozens of U.S. states and foreign nations would love to have this diverse industry cluster,” Pellerito said. “What is especially noteworthy is the diversity of the industry in healthcare, agriculture and industrial applications in biology-based research, development and manufacturing. North Carolina’s state and regional lawmakers and economic developers can use this information as evidence of strong public/private partnerships as well as a reminder of what it will take to continue to compete in today’s global marketplace.”

Among the Battelle report’s key findings:

Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) accounted for 10,816 of the state’s 18,789 drug and pharmaceutical jobs in 2008. Those jobs paid an average annual wage of $74,829 and each job generated an additional 4.6 jobs for the state and regional economy.
Raleigh-Cary and Durham-Chapel Hill 2008 MSAs accounted for 12,988 research-and-testing company jobs at an average $75,829 annual wage in 2008. Those jobs generated an additional 2.6 jobs each for the state and region.
Durham-Chapel Hill ranked first among mid-sized 2008 MSAs (those with employment of 75,000-250,000) for jobs in two core employment concentration sub-sectors of the nation’s life sciences industry: research, testing and medical laboratories jobs (8,270) and drugs and pharmaceuticals jobs (6,755).
Raleigh-Cary ranked 4th in drugs and pharmaceuticals jobs (3,331) and 11th in research, testing and medical laboratories jobs (3,718) among large MSAs with total private employment of greater than 250,000.

“The report shows that the Research Triangle Region continues to be well positioned to compete,” said Charles A. Hayes, president and CEO of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), which coordinates economic development for the 13-county Research Triangle Region.

“Novozymes has been part of the Research Triangle Region’s biotech community for more than 30 years,” said Adam Monroe, president of Novozymes North America, which operates major research-and-development and manufacturing operations in the region. “It is the partnership of North Carolina’s state and regional leaders, the economic development community, private companies and the world-class university and community college system that has allowed our company to thrive.”

Among the state and region’s competitive assets for life sciences investment cited in the report were:

National Institutes of Health awards of $6.49 billion to North Carolina biomedical research centers during 2004-2009.
579 U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials for the 10 largest disease categories conducted in the state during 2009.
2,308 bioscience-related patents issued in North Carolina during 2004-2009.

“Life sciences is a key driver of our region’s economy,” Hayes said. “We remain focused on taking the steps necessary to help our existing life sciences companies remain competitive and to attract new investment and jobs.”

The Battelle study may be downloaded at http://www.bio.org/news.

For more information on the Research Triangle Region’s life sciences cluster, contact the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, (919) 840-7372, rtrp@researchtriangle.org.

The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) is a public/private partnership that promotes economic development for the 13-county Research Triangle Region of North Carolina. The region comprises the north-central N.C. counties of Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Orange, Person, Vance, Wake and Warren counties. RTRP coordinates the regional competitiveness plan, called The Shape of Things to Come. For more information, visit www.researchtriangle.org.

# # #

Contact:
Charles A. Hayes, (919) 840-7372
Peter M. Pellerito, (919) 215-1490

Med Tech Gets New 'Ibiliti'

2010-04-29T08:16:00.001-07:00

See the complete story at the following:
www.ncbiotech.org/news_and_events/med_tech_gets_new_ibiliti.html

New Websites

2010-04-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

North Carolina’s life science community is debuting two new websites – a new portal for the State’s NCBioImpact workforce training partnership, and a new site hosted by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to emphasize the job-creating dimension of North Carolina’s life sciences sector.

The workforce training partnership NCBioImpact will unveil a new Internet presence in time for BIO 2010. The website will serve as a resource for worker training and related information for visitors to the North Carolina Pavilion at the BIO 2010 International Convention. “One of the goals of the training initiative is to be more visible to industry, current and future employees and government officials,” said Bruce Kaylos, who manages NCBIO Biotech Manufacturers Forum. “The NCBioImpact will start by offering top-level information on North Carolina’s biomanufacturing and related work force training capabilities. Later, the site will provide students, employees and employers tools to get the most out of our training assets.”

NCBioImpact includes the North Carolina Community College System BioNetwork program, the North Carolina State University Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, and the North Carolina Central University Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise.

Jobsfornc.com is a new website of the North Carolina Biotechnology Center featuring five video segments that highlight personal stories of a dozen people across the state. The site is designed to grow in the coming months, according to Robin Deacle, Senior Director of Corporate Communications at the Biotechnology Center. "We invite people whose lives have been improved by biotechnology - a summer training program, a better job or a life-saving medicine - to add their stories to the collection," Deacle said. "Biotechnology has made a huge impact on North Carolinians and together we can get the word out."

Reference for this post: The North Carolina Biosciences Organization

Duke receives $10 million gift for stem cell research

2010-03-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

See the complete story at:
www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/18/395409/duke-receives-10-million-gift.html

Carolina Innovations Seminar - NC BioStart

2010-02-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

Thursday, March 4, 2010 5:30-6:30pm

014 Sitterson Hall UNC-Chapel Hill

NC BioStart – Accelerating Technology Development at UNC Chapel Hill and Beyond

Speakers: Dr. Richard Boucher – Executive Director of NC BioStart & NC BioStart Entrepreneurs in Residence, Drs. Perry Genova, Joel Shaffer, and Tom Mercolino

UNC’s new NC BioStart program was established to increase the commercialization of intellectual property developed by our public universities in North Carolina, beginning in the first year at UNC and eventually including all UNC system schools. The program was started by the School of Medicine to meet the goals of its Clinical Translational Science Award, in partnership with the Office of Technology Development and the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

Dr. Richard Boucher, Executive Director of NC BioStart, Director of the UNC Cystic Fibrosis Center, and UNC entrepreneur, will be discussing the goals of the program and the resources that will be available through NC BioStart to our faculty, staff, and students which include a range of services from connecting faculty with industry experts to assisting with writing of business plans. Faculty can also be matched with an Entrepreneur in Residence (ER) to receive further consultation to explore their ideas. ERs Drs. Genova, Shaffer, and Mercolino (who have more than 75 years combined industry product development experience) will also discuss some of the exciting work that is currently ongoing at UNC through this program.

For more information on NC BioStart please visit their website at: http://tracs.unc.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=448&Itemid=427

For more detailed information please visit - http://research.unc.edu/otd/carolina_innovations_seminar.php

NC Biomedical Innovation Network Symposium RESCHEDULE

2010-02-25T08:23:00.000-08:00

The North Carolina Biomedical Innovation Network, due to the greater-than-anticipated response to tomorrow's symposium, has decided to reschedule the program to be held at a later date in a larger local venue. This will enable everyone to attend the symposium who has expressed interest in it and will also lead to a more interactive program. Additionally, they are going to evaluate conducting an industry-wide symposium at a major scientific conference that will further showcase the extensive preclinical resources in North Carolina.

Registration information for the NC Biomedical Innovation Network Symposium

2010-02-15T16:32:00.000-08:00

Registration for the N.C. Biomedical Innovation Network Symposium is open until Feb. 17 (seating is limited): http://bit.ly/bnAnae (PDF)

N.C. Biomedical Innovation Network Launches With February 26 Symposium

2010-02-15T16:30:00.001-08:00

FDA Unveils Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging

2010-02-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

Initiative to focus on 3 types of procedures with high radiation doses

SILVER SPRING, Md., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced an initiative to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure from three types of medical imaging procedures: computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine studies, and fluoroscopy. These procedures are the greatest contributors to total radiation exposure within the U.S. population and use much higher radiation doses than other radiographic procedures, such as standard X-rays, dental X-rays, and mammography.

CT, nuclear medicine, and fluoroscopic imaging have led to early diagnosis of disease, improved treatment planning, and image-guided therapies that help save lives every day. The FDA continues to support a strong dialogue between patients and physicians over the medical necessity and risk associated with these types of imaging studies.

However, like all medical procedures, CT, nuclear medicine, and fluoroscopy pose risks. These types of imaging exams expose patients to ionizing radiation, a type of radiation that can increase a person's lifetime cancer risk. Accidental exposure to very high amounts of radiation also can cause injuries, such as skin burns, hair loss and cataracts. Health care decisions made by patients and their physicians should include discussions of the medical need and associated risks for each procedure.

"The amount of radiation Americans are exposed to from medical imaging has dramatically increased over the past 20 years," said Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "The goal of FDA's initiative is to support the benefits associated with medical imaging while minimizing the risks."

While there is some disagreement over the extent of the cancer risk associated with exposure to radiation from medical imaging, there is broad agreement that steps can and should be taken to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure.

For example, the radiation dose associated with a CT abdomen scan is the same as the dose from approximately 400 chest X-rays. In comparison, a dental X-ray calls for approximately one-half the radiation dose of a chest X-ray. Both diagnostics serve important, sometimes critical, public health needs.

Through the FDA's regulatory oversight of medical imaging devices, such as CT scanners, and through collaboration with other federal agencies and health care professional groups, the FDA is advocating the adoption of two principles of radiation protection: appropriate justification of the radiation procedure and optimization of the radiation dose used during each procedure.

"Working together," said Shuren, "the FDA and other organizations hope to help patients get the right imaging exam, at the right time, with the right radiation dose."

The three-pronged initiative the FDA is announcing will promote the safe use of medical imaging devices, support informed clinical decision-making, and increase patient awareness of their own exposure.

The FDA intends to issue targeted requirements for manufacturers of CT and fluoroscopic devices to incorporate important safeguards into the design of their machines to develop safer technologies and to provide appropriate training to support safe use by practitioners. The agency intends to hold a public meeting on March 30-31, 2010, to solicit input on what requirements to establish.

Examples could include a requirement that these devices display, record, and report equipment settings and radiation dose, an alert for users when the dose exceeds a diagnostic reference level (the optimal dose for most patients), training for users, and a requirement that devices be able to capture and transmit radiation dose information to a patient's electronic medical record and to national dose registries.

In addition, the FDA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are collaborating to incorporate key quality assurance practices into the mandatory accreditation and conditions of participation survey processes for imaging facilities and hospitals. These quality assurance practices will improve the quality of oversight and promote the safe use of advanced imaging technologies in those facilities.

The FDA recommends that health care professional organizations continue to develop, in collaboration with the agency, diagnostic radiation reference levels for medical imaging procedures, and increase efforts to develop one or more national registries for radiation doses.

A dose registry would pool data from many imaging facilities nationwide, capturing dose information from a variety of imaging studies. This registry will help define diagnostic reference levels where they do not yet exist, validate levels that do exist, and provide benchmarks for health care facilities to use in individual imaging studies.

In a bid to empower patients and increase awareness, the FDA is collaborating with other organizations to develop and disseminate a patient medical imaging history card. This tool, which will be available on the FDA's Web site, will allow patients to track their own medical imaging history and share it with their physicians, especially when it may not be included in their medical records.

FDA Web site on Radiation Initiative:

http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationSafety/RadiationDoseReduction/UCM199904

Media Inquiries: Peper Long, 301-796-4671, 240-429-9205, mary.long@fda.hhs.gov,

Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Medtronic Receives FDA Approval for First Replacement Heart Valve Implanted without Surgery

2010-01-27T07:22:00.000-08:00

1/26/2010 1:36:02 AM -- Business Wire

Medtronic Receives FDA Approval for First Replacement Heart Valve Implanted without Surgery

Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Offers Non-Surgical Valve Replacement Option for Congenital Heart Disease Patients

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In a significant development for congenital heart disease patients, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced today that its Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval under a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE). This innovative medical device is the first transcatheter heart valve to receive FDA approval.

Delivered through a catheter requiring only a small incision, the Melody valve will benefit children and adults who are born with a malformation of their pulmonary valve, which is the valve between the heart and lungs. These patients often require open-heart surgery to restore effective blood flow to their lungs. Previously, the only way to repair or replace a failed pulmonary valve conduit was through additional surgeries. To date, more than 1,100 patients worldwide have received a Melody valve.

"The Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve is a significant technological breakthrough and offers a reprieve for many patients with congenital heart disease - many of whom are young and will require several heart surgeries over their lifetime," said pediatric cardiologist Dr. William E. Hellenbrand of the NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center.

"The Melody valve gives patients with congenital heart disease a new, non-surgical approach to managing their disease."

"This novel technology will improve the lives of thousands of patients in the United States," said Dr. John Liddicoat, vice president and general manager of the Structural Heart division, part of the CardioVascular business, at Medtronic. "Medtronic is leading the development of transcatheter therapies for heart valve disease. FDA approval of the Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve is evidence of that leadership."

In October 2006, the Melody valve became the first transcatheter valve to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world when it received the CE (Conformité Européenne) mark. It is now approved by the FDA for use in the United States under an HDE, a special regulatory approval for treatments intended for fewer than 4,000 U.S. patients per year. HDEs are granted for medical devices that have demonstrated reasonable safety and probable benefit, but not clinical effectiveness.

Medtronic CardioVascular is committed to advancing the treatment of coronary, peripheral, aortic and structural heart disease through collaboration with leading clinicians, researchers and scientists worldwide.

ABOUT MEDTRONIC Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 24, 2009. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

Medtronic, Inc. Public Relations: Joe McGrath, 612-819-6421 or Investor Relations: Jeff Warren, 763-505-2696

Source: Medtronic, Inc.

Global Health Links Added

2010-01-12T13:30:00.001-08:00

A new section has been added to Medtech Central in the link list on the right side of the blog that is focused on World Health. Please post responses if you are aware of specific global health resources that should be included in the list.

Hear the Story of Oriel Therapeutics tonight at the Carolina Innovations Seminar

2010-01-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

Carolina Innovations Seminar
"The Story of Oriel Therapeutics"
Thursday, January 7, 2010
5:30-6:30 p.m.
Sitterson Hall, Room 014
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Paul Atkins co-founded the UNC spin-out company Oriel Therapeutics in 2002. Dr. Atkins is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of Oriel, which was based on technology developed for dry powder inhaler devices in the lab of Dr. Anthony Hickey of the UNC School of Pharmacy. Prior to founding Oriel, Atkins spent more than ten years with GlaxoSmithKline where he established the Inhaled Product Development group and was responsible for a number of global technical development programs, including the development of HFA metered dose inhalers and novel dry powder inhalers. Oriel Therapeutics is now actively developing a portfolio of respiratory products targeted primarily at asthma and COPD. Dr. Atkins will share the journey of Oriel and their progression from the academic lab to the initiation of clinical trials.

For more information about the OTD seminars, go to:
http://research.unc.edu/otd/carolina_innovations_seminar.php

fMRI data analyst position available

2009-12-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

fMRI data analyst position available in the laboratory of Dr. Kevin LaBar at Duke University. This opportunity for a dynamic and integrative research experience combining fMRI, psychophysiology, and behavioral approaches is available immediately. State-of-the-art facilities include 2 research-dedicated 3T GE MRI scanners with concurrent autonomic psychophysiology recording. Research will focus on emotional awareness and learning in healthy and clinical populations. The applicant must have a bachelors or masters degree in cognitive neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, computer science, or any related field. Experience analyzing fMRI data using Matlab, FSL, or SPM is required. This position has been created with ARRA Stimulus funding. Send a statement of research interest and CV electronically via email to: labarlab@hotmail.com. For additional information regarding activities in the LaBar lab go to http://www.duke.edu/web/mind/level2/faculty/labar/default.htm. Duke University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Medtech Jobs: Hiring Yes, But the Market Is Tough

2009-12-03T17:46:00.000-08:00

See the complete story from Medical Devicelink.com here

Interested in knowing what you are worth? Check out the Medical Device and Diagnostic 2009 Salary Survey here

Commercialization: From R&D to the Market

2009-11-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

The seminar to be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm will be focused on commercialization for SBIR/STTR stage companies. Content will be applicable across technology sectors and agencies. Workshop will provide a review of SBIR/STTR program details and discuss technological innovation and commercial merit from an SBIR perspective.

The workshop will also provide detailed information on each section of a commercialization plan required for a Phase II SBIR/STTR proposal. In addition to discussing how to write a commercialization plan, the workshop will also explore commercialization considerations from a tactical perspective.

As most SBIR/STTR stage companies typically approach things from a technology perspective the session will address the issue of commercialization and its importance early in the development of tech-based companies and explore what entrepreneurs need to consider at this early stage.

For more information and to Register, Click Here

Job Opportunity - Director of Scientific Instrumentation Engineering

2009-10-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Carlyle & Conlan is currently conducting a search for a Director of Scientific Instrumentation Engineering. Their client, located in the Oak Ridge, TN area, develops an innovative scientific platform that provides advanced analytics, excellent data quality and ease of use to academic, government, and biopharmaceutical customers engaged in clinical diagnostics, drug development, and scientific research.

To learn more about this opportunity, click on this line or you can contact Carlyle & Conlan by visiting their company web site listed in the resources on the right side of this blog.

NCBIO Medical Device Forum Meeting

2009-10-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

NCBIO Medical Device Forum Meeting
Thursday, October 29th
10:00am to 11:00am
NCBIO Offices
100 Capitola Drive
Suite 106 (CED Classroom)

Status Report on
Advanced Medical Technologies
Center of Innovation

NCBIO’s Medical Device Forum will meet on Thursday, October 29th to hear an update on creation of the new North Carolina Advanced Medical Technologies Center of Innovation. All NCBIO members are invited to attend.

The Forum program will include a welcome by AMT COI Chairman Greg Davis and brief presentation by Cindy Clark, who has been selected by NCBIO’s AMT COI Hiring Committee to lead the new entity. NCBIO President Sam Taylor will give a short update on legislative and policy matters affecting the medical technologies industry.

Light refreshments will be served.

Attendance is free, but please RSVP by Oct. 27th to Jennifer at jfong@ncbioscience.org or 919-281-8960.

University Opportunity Workshop, October 9

2009-09-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

Learn about research funding opportunities from agencies
including NSF, NIEHS American Cancer Society, Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society, NC Biotechnology Center and USDA

Agenda (October 9. 2009)
7:30 am Network
8:00 Agency presentations
12:00 pm Adjourn

Price
Free w/ pre-registration
$25 at the door

Location
David H. Murdock Core Laboratory
201 North Main St., Kannapolis, NC

Limited Registration
http://www.charlotteresearchinstitute.com/default.asp?id=157

NCSU's TechRevolution Maps the Future of Health and Well-Being

2009-09-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

NC State's Office of Technology Transfer's TechRevolution series is featuring a discussion on Health and Well-Being. To learn more and to register click here. Below is an abstract from NCSU regarding the event:

NC State has defined "Health and Well-Being" as a research focus area with real-world impact. Mapping the future of health and well-being is mission-critical to NC State's research strategy, and we're currently aligning our resources to make sure our contribution to the field is as strategic and effective as possible. Join us as Dr. Bill Atkinson, President & CEO of WakeMed Health & Hospitals, shares the strategy WakeMed implements to remain a technological leader during this moment in American healthcare history. Following, Dr. Mitzi Montoya and Dr. Liana Fryer from NC State will discuss a knowledge and resource management initiative designed to define NC State's research strengths within the vast realm of Health and Well-Being. This knowledge will help researchers build new relationships, bundle discoveries, and increase research funding and impact.

SBTDC Announces Educational Events

2009-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

The SBTDC is providing a unique variety of SBIR educational events this fall. Along with their sponsors, Focus Resources, Hughes Pittman and Gupton and Hutchison Law Group, the event series includes:

SBIR Intro Webinars
One-on-one and group sessions with experts on IP, accounting, and budget development
IP Webinar
QuickBooks training webinar and 2 group sessions
NIH Phase 1 proposal preparation, 4-part course

For more information, visit the SBIR 2009 Workshops page at:
www.sbtdc.org/events/sbir/workshops2009/

Healthcare Meeting and Nypro Tour Tomorrow

2009-09-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Date: September 15, 2009

Location:
Tour:
Nypro Carolina
1018 Corporate Park Dr
Mebane, NC 27302
Tel: +1 919-304-1400

Dinner Meeting/Speaker:
Civitan Facility
2115 S Hwy. 119
Mebane, NC, 27302

Event Details:

BOD Meeting at 4:00 pm at Nypro Carolina in Mebane - see newsletter for directions

Tour at 5:00 pm - Nypro Carolina in Mebane

Nypro Carolina provides injection molded products and services, in partnership with customers in the consumer/industrial, electronics/telecommunications, packaging and healthcare industries. Nypro is an FDA registered device manufacturer, with a primary focus of ensuring the quality and functionality of every plastic injection molded product. This Healthcare facility has full lot traceability and a Class 100,000 clean room earning Nypro Carolina their customers' confidence. With certified ship-to-stock programs and preferred supplier designations on medical and non-medical components, Nypro Carolina is prepared to meet their customers' most exacting requirements.

Dinner and Meeting 6:00 pm at the Civitan facility 2115 S Hwy. 119, Mebane, NC, 27302 - just travel south on highway 119 (5th St) on the other side of highway 40/85 - Dinner will be brought in from Smithfields BBQ by Tim Earley

Speaker: Wayne Thornton, medical market business development manager in elastomers for GLS, a PolyOne Company, will be speaking at the September meeting. Wayne is a 30 year veteran of our industry working in areas of injection molding, extrusion and blow molding. His disciplines include R&D, product design/development, manufacturing and sales & marketing. He will be discussing the ever-changing healthcare and medical market segments as it pertains to the plastics industry. He has a vast knowledge of the chemical make up and regulatory requirements involved in this very interesting technology space. Please come prepared for a very engaging talk.

Cost:
Tour Free
Speaker Free
Dinner $20 SPE Members, $25 SPE Non-Members

RSVP:
Tim Earley - Section President, House Chair Pasticwolf ,LLC Independent Representative
PO Box 70
Mebane, NC 27302
plasticwolf@plasticwolf.com
www.plasticwolf.com
tel: +1 336-578-2589
mobile: +1 336-693-6466

RSVP Form

FDA Adds New Twitter Topics

2009-09-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has added three new Twitter pages including FDA_Drug_Info for the latest drug information, FDArecalls for recalls, market withdrawals and safety alerts, and FDAWomen for women's health information.

See the latest posts from each of these new FDA feeds by scrolling to the bottom of this blog.

FDA/CDRH starts using Twitter

2009-09-02T20:15:00.000-07:00

FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health is adding the social media site Twitter to its communication and outreach program. CDRH's main goal for Twitter is to reach regulated industry and others interested in the business of the center in a way convenient to them. Messages on Twitter will include notices of upcoming meetings, releases of new and updated guidances documents, new web postings, and highlights of the web site and the many tools available to help users comply with regulations and understand and respond to health issues.

You can find the 5 most recent FDA tweets along with several other live feeds by scrolling to the bottom of this blog site.

NCTERM Conference Announced

2009-08-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

The 11^th North Carolina Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (NCTERM) Conference will be held at Salem College, in Winston-Salem, on November 13^th 2009.

NCTERM conference offers an extensive review on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine-related research topics in North Carolina, while still maintaining a “small conference” feel and mentality. The focus of this years’ conference will be on integrating new scientists from universities and academic institutions across the state, which are new to the field.

Details regarding the conference, registration and abstract submission can be found at http://www.ncterm.org/. The deadline for abstract submission will be October 5^th 2009 and the submission guidelines are provided on the web site. Please distribute this information to others in your organization/field that will be interested in participating in the meeting.

CDC, NIH Health Related SBIR Solicitation

2009-08-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

Link to Solicitation:
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Contract Solicitation (PHS 2010-1)

Eligibility: Small business

Overview: to conduct R&D in any of the health related topic areas below and to commercialize the results of that R&D. Please note: Contract proposals are accepted only if they respond specifically to a research topic within this contract solicitation – these are much more focused and specific than those found in a grant solicitation.

Specific areas to NIH: National Cancer Institute p. 46; National Center for Research Resources p. 81; National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute p. 84; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism p. 90; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease p. 94; National Institute on Drug Abuse p. 97; National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences p. 103

Specific areas to CDC: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion p. 107; National Center for HIV/AIDs, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention p.108; National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases p.112; National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne & Enteric Diseases p.113; Coordinating Center for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response p.115

Deadline: November 9, 2009

Budget: Varies. Normally phase I contracts may not exceed $100,000 and phase II may not exceed $750,000. Cost sharing is permitted but not required.

Carolina Innovations Seminar

2009-08-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

The first Carolina Innovations Seminar will be Thursday,
September 3, 2009, 5:30-6:30 pm in 014 Sitterson Hall
At the University of North Carolina

Topic
“A Nobel Laureate’s Perspective on the Global Impact of Evolving Research Methodologies”

Speaker – Nobel Prize Winner Oliver Smithies

For more detailed information please visit their website:

http://research.unc.edu/otd/carolina_innovations_seminar.php

2009-2010 Carolina Innovations Seminar Series
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

September 3, 2009
October 1, 2009
November 5, 2009
December 3, 2009
January 7, 2010
February 4, 2010
March 4, 2010
March 25, 2010
April 29, 2010

NSF Small Business Technology Transfer Program

2009-08-18T10:47:00.000-07:00

NSF Small Business Technology Transfer Program - FY 2010 (collaborative effort)

Eligibility: For-profit organizations: U.S. commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education.

Deadline: November 17, 2009

Overview: to increase the incentive and opportunity for small firms to undertake cutting-edge, high risk, high quality scientific, engineering, or science and engineering education research that would have a high potential economic payoff if the research is successful. The STTR program expands the public and private partnership to include collaborative opportunities for small businesses and non-profit research institutions. A team approach is required in an STTR project where at least one research investigator is employed by the small business concern and at least one investigator is employed by a collaborating research institution.

Award: STTR Phase I proposals may be submitted for funding up to $150,000. STTR Phase I projects are for 12 months. The program expects to make approximately 35 fixed amount awards. Anticipated funding amount is approximately $5,000,000 (subject to the availability of funds and the quality of proposals). Award notification is typically within five months from the proposal submission deadline date.

Diagnostic Devices to create 100 jobs in Charlotte, North Carolina

2009-08-06T05:31:00.001-07:00

Diagnostic Devices, Maker of Prodigy Diabetes Monitoring Systems, to Relocate Jobs to United States from Southeast Asia; More Than 100 Jobs Created in Charlotte, North Carolina

Shared via AddThis

3 Essential Interviewing Secrets You Must Know to Quickly Land Your Next Job

2009-07-30T05:53:00.001-07:00

3 Essential Interviewing Secrets You Must Know to Quickly Land Your Next Job

Shared via AddThis

Job Interview Tips: How to Ace the Job Interview and Get Hired -- Even in a Recession

2009-07-24T04:31:00.001-07:00

Job Interview Tips: How to Ace the Job Interview and Get Hired -- Even in a Recession

Shared via AddThis

Realistic Simulation Probes Biomechanics of Knees

2009-07-24T04:21:00.001-07:00

Realistic Simulation Probes Biomechanics of Knees

Posted using ShareThis

Job Links Posted

2009-07-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Medtech and health care related job links have been added to the blog to help job seekers conduct a targeted search. See the Job Links in the right-side bar. If you know of a link that you find useful that is not represented here, please feel free to comment and I'll add it to the list.

Welcome

2009-07-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Medtech Central, a new blog dedicated to connecting people and resources in the Advanced Medical Care industry, including Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Pharmaceuticals, Biologics, and Biomedical Engineering.

Come to this blog for updated feeds, links, and news related to the Advanced Medical Technology Industry.

Medtech Central

BME student team needs your help! Spinal Cord Injury Patents need your help!

Using Twitter to Post Jobs & Events

5th Annual UNC/NCSU BME Research+Design Symposium

Biomedical Equipment Technician Country Coordinator - Ghana

5th Annual BME Research+Design Symposium

NC IDEA Grants Program Info Session

What's on Tap this week in Medtech

Undergrad team develops lens to treat eyelid paralysis - Technician - News

Free RTP Conference on Personalized Medicine

Battelle report affirms Research Triangle Region as life sciences industry leader

Med Tech Gets New 'Ibiliti'

New Websites

Duke receives $10 million gift for stem cell research

Carolina Innovations Seminar - NC BioStart

NC Biomedical Innovation Network Symposium RESCHEDULE

Registration information for the NC Biomedical Innovation Network Symposium

N.C. Biomedical Innovation Network Launches With February 26 Symposium

FDA Unveils Initiative to Reduce Unnecessary Radiation Exposure from Medical Imaging

Medtronic Receives FDA Approval for First Replacement Heart Valve Implanted without Surgery

Global Health Links Added

Hear the Story of Oriel Therapeutics tonight at the Carolina Innovations Seminar

fMRI data analyst position available

Medtech Jobs: Hiring Yes, But the Market Is Tough

Commercialization: From R&D to the Market

Job Opportunity - Director of Scientific Instrumentation Engineering

NCBIO Medical Device Forum Meeting

University Opportunity Workshop, October 9

NCSU's TechRevolution Maps the Future of Health and Well-Being

SBTDC Announces Educational Events

Healthcare Meeting and Nypro Tour Tomorrow

FDA Adds New Twitter Topics

FDA/CDRH starts using Twitter

NCTERM Conference Announced

CDC, NIH Health Related SBIR Solicitation

Carolina Innovations Seminar

The first Carolina Innovations Seminar will be Thursday, September 3, 2009, 5:30-6:30 pm in 014 Sitterson HallAt the University of North Carolina

2009-2010 Carolina Innovations Seminar Series ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NSF Small Business Technology Transfer Program

Diagnostic Devices to create 100 jobs in Charlotte, North Carolina

3 Essential Interviewing Secrets You Must Know to Quickly Land Your Next Job

Job Interview Tips: How to Ace the Job Interview and Get Hired -- Even in a Recession

Realistic Simulation Probes Biomechanics of Knees

Job Links Posted

Welcome

The first Carolina Innovations Seminar will be Thursday,
September 3, 2009, 5:30-6:30 pm in 014 Sitterson Hall
At the University of North Carolina

2009-2010 Carolina Innovations Seminar Series
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~