Save the Date and Support: Annual BME Symposium set for April 30

7th Annual Research and Design Symposium

UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering

April 30, 2013, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM 

North Carolina Biotechnology Center

This symposium is the annual showcase event for UNC/NCSU Biomedical Engineering senior design and graduate students. Participants include industry professionals alongside academic researchers. Come see oral and poster presentations followed by a networking social. Students will present projects related to rehabilitation, biological process, medical textiles, imaging, medical device engineering, and much more.

Last year the event brought in a crowd of 200+ filling the NC Biotechnology Center to its capacity.  These students have won national design competitions and have been covered on WRAL TV.  They have a consistent history of invention and innovation, including patent filings, licensing deals, and spinout companies.  None of this is possible without generous supporters.  In addition to funding this outstanding event, your gifts go directly toward project expenses, lab supplies, and design program support.

To learn more about event sponsorship, please visit:

http://www.bme.unc.edu/seniordesign/Support.html

6th Annual BME Symposium - Register Today

May 1^st, 2012, 3:00-8:00 PM at the NC Biotechnology Center


Register today for the annual showcase event for senior design and graduate students of the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.  The event attracts and industrial and academic audience and features oral and poster presentations and a networking social.  Students will present projects related to rehabilitation, biological processes, medical textiles, imaging, medical device engineering, global health, and much more.

Last year the event brought in a crowd of 200+ filling the NC Biotechnology Center to capacity.  These students have won national design competitions and have been covered on WRAL TV.  They have a 5-year history of invention and innovation, including patent filings, licensing deals, and a spinout company.

Register now at http://go.ncsu.edu/bmesymposium12

A big thank you to our event sponsors, for without them, this event would not be possible:

Headline Sponsor:
NC Biotechnology Center

Design Project Sponsor:
WakeMed Health and Hospitals

Silver Sponsor:
Cook Medical

Bronze Sponsors:
ANSYS
Applied Technologies
Flexcell
Hutchison Law Group
Jenkins Wilson Taylor & Hunt
Poyner Spruill

Save the date: 6th Annual UNC/NCSU BME Research and Design Symposium

May 1^st, 2012, 3:00-8:00 PM at the NC Biotechnology Center

Please save the date for the annual showcase event for senior design and graduate students of the UNC/NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.  The event attracts and industrial and academic audience and features oral and poster presentations and a networking social.  Students will present projects related to rehabilitation, biological processes, medical textiles, imaging, medical device engineering, global health, and much more.

Last year the event brought in a crowd of 200+ filling the NC Biotechnology Center to capacity.  These students have won national design competitions and have been covered on WRAL TV.  They have a 5-year history of invention and innovation, including patent filings, licensing deals, and a spinout company.

Please mark your calendars.  We are looking for event sponsors.  If you are interested in providing support for this event and design programs in BME, please contact Andrew DiMeo at ajdimeo@ncsu.edu.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Free RTP Conference on Personalized Medicine

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

Register to Attend (Registration is free.) Lunch is included

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

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'

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

New Websites

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

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

Carolina Innovations Seminar - NC BioStart

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

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

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