Best Wishes to OBI/OTRADI’s Executive Director, Jennifer Fox, in her new position as Autodesk’s Director and Chief of Staff

“The last eleven years at OTRADI and the OBI have been the most exciting and professionally rewarding time of my career. I am immensely proud of the work that we have been able to accomplish — opening Oregon’s first bio-focused startup incubator and growing Oregon’s bioscience and digital health startup sector. While I hate to leave OTRADI/OBI, in July 2019, I accepted a position in Portland with Autodesk as a Director and Chief of Staff.

While my new role is a fantastic opportunity that promises to be exciting and challenging, it was very difficult for me to leave our outstanding team, organization and the OBI community. Autodesk is a leader in working with innovators, makers, engineers and community builders, which is why it will be a wonderful next step for me. Moving forward, I will continue to be an active member of the bio and digital health community here in Oregon. I remain incredibly excited to continue to see the phenomenal growth of bioscience startups and health and wellness innovators across Oregon.

I look forward to seeing you all again in the near future.”

-Jennifer Fox, Ph.D

OBI/OTRADI names Heather Ellis as Interim Director

OBI/OTRADI’s board of directors has named Heather Ellis as Interim Director. Heather has been with OBI/OTRADI for the past two years and has most recently served as our Assistant Director. She is well-informed, passionate about incubation and a wonderful contributor to our community. 

We are committed to supporting a smooth transition, and we have outstanding staff and board of directors that are committed and dedicated to supporting bio-entrepreneurs at the OBI and across Oregon. 

Aditi Martin to lead new OHSU Collaborations and Entrepreneurship Office

OBI’s close partner, Aditi Martin, has be crucial to the entrepreneurial community, OHSU partnerships and business development since 2015. She will now serve OHSU as Senior Director of Collaborations and Entrepreneurship, a position designed to encourage the development of OHSU innovations.

Click here to see the full story on OHSU’s Research News.

OBI Client Company Wins

• Aronora has started a phase 2 clinical trial of AB002, a novel recombinant antithrombotic and antiinflammatory enszyme. This is their third product candidate, in addition to AB012 and AB023, that had passed phase 1. Information on this trial is available here.
• Hemex Health made the first cut on the CTIP Medical Device Grant Competition.
• Madorra prepared for and kicked off the second phase of their Human Factors Study. So far so good, and this study will be complete in Q3.
• Madorra was featured in the UCSF Rosenman Health Technology podcast.

New OBI Client Company Resource

OBI Client Companies now have access to a recording of a 3 hour SBIR Workshop “All About the SBIR Grant Process: An Insider’s Perspective” with Dr. O’Halloran. This seminar provides a comprehensive overview of the small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant process, with emphasis on how to get funded. 

• Understanding the Omnibus Solicitation and Application Process
• What the Solicitation does and does not cover
• Strategic planning
• Understanding the element of “Innovation”
• Writing a competitive grant application

Note: This is a resource for internal OBI Client Companies or OBI Alumni only. If you are an OBI Client or Alumni and would like access to this webinar, email Heather Ellis at hellis@otradi.org for access.

Join us for these upcoming OBI and OBI-Partner events:

Partner Event: Oregon Bioscience Association is hosting a Finance Skills for Non-Finance People workshop on August 1 & 2. Register now. $625-$775 to attend.

Partner Event: OTBC, OEN TiE and Ater Wynne are partnering on an online series “How Early Stage Startup Funding Works.” The next topic will discuss How the Pre-Money SAFE and Post-Money SAFE Work on August 6th from 12-1pm. Register now. Free to attend this webinar.

OBI Event: Join us for a Lunch & Learn on Executive Profile Building to Build Opportunities with Eric Schudiske on August 29th from 12-1pm. Register now. Free to attend.

OBI Event: Join us for our Accelerate Biotech & Digital Health Happy Hour on September 5th from 5:30-7pm at OBI/OTRADI. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: VertueLab is hosting their Impact Summit 2019 on September 13th. They are also hosting a Funding Startups Lunch with SBIR Grants and Other Funding Options at 12pm. Register now. $10-$125 to attend.

Partner Event: OCTRI is now accepting applications for BIP Corp, 4-week experiential course. BIP Corp runes October 4 – November 1. Applications are due September 20th. Apply now.

Partner Event: The 16th Annual Bend Venture Conference will be October 17th & 18th in Bend, OR. Register now. $135-$329 to attend.

Grant Awarded to OBI to Build Out Lab Space in Portland Innovation Quadrant

For years, one of the primary factors limiting Oregon bio companies’ growth has been the complete lack of available lab space in the Portland Metro area. OBI has been diligently working on solving this problem by collaborating with local real estate developers and by actively participating on the board of the Portland Innovation Quadrant.

We previously shared the very promising lab building developments coming soon to the central east side of Portland’s Innovation Quadrant, and now we are thrilled to announce that the OBI has received grant funding to build-out ~10,000 square feet of labs in the first building to be completed. This funding will allow us to deliver turn-key lab space to lab-based companies of up to 40 people. Please click this link for more info on our upcoming OBI Bio Bridge space.

Also, the Portland IQ and our new lab-based bio buildings have recently been featured as the cover story of the Portland Business Journal. Here is the full article. 

If you would like to learn more about our upcoming lab space available in the Portland IQ, email us ASAP at hellis@otradi.org. We are currently meeting with interested companies and anticipate space will fill up quickly. We are happy to discuss these developments and the great progress being made to develop a hub for bioscience within Portland’s Innovation Quadrant. Thank you all for being part of this vibrant and rapidly growing bio community!

OBI’s Newest Employee

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) is proud to welcome our newest employee, Alexander Coombs, as Operations Assistant.

Mr. Coombs joined the OBI in the Spring of 2019 and will aid in implementing our entrepreneurial programs, as well as provide operational support for companies within the OBI. Alex will help drive OBI’s newest initiatives and our digital and marketing presence to grow Oregon’s bioscience and digital health startup ecosystem.

Mr. Coombs graduated from Appalachian State University, receiving a B.S. in Cell biology with a minor in Chemistry.

OBI Client Company Wins

• Aronora was just awarded a new Fast Track Phase I/II SBIR grant from the NIH for $2.5 million to help support the phase 2 clinical trial of AB002 (E-WE thrombin).
• Health Technology Innovations was awarded a $99,825 Enhanced Phase 0 Grant for integrated cryogenic electron microscopy intelligence solution for large imaging datasets in life sciences.
• ProMedix was awarded a $100,000 Enhanced Phase 0 Grant for their medical device to measure dehydration.
• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals was awarded a $100,000 Enhanced Phase 0 Grant to develop new drugs that work in combination with corticosteroids while mitigating adverse effects. 
• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals completed Keiretsu Forum due diligence and has now received initial investments from Keiretsu members.
• Veana Therapeutics recently received FDA approval to conduct a first-in-human clinical trial of its lead product, VIMO-001, an oral capsule, in combination with HerceptinTM for HER2 positive breast cancer patients that have failed all previous curative therapies.
• Virogenomics BioDevelopment was awarded a $99,173 SBIR Phase II Matching Grant to work on protein therapeutic treatments for multiple sclerosis, stroke and meth addiction.

New OBI Client Company Resource

OBI Client Companies now have access to MathWorks Accelerator and Incubator Program benefits which include:

• All current OBI startups and alumni may request up to 10 Individual licenses of MathWorks desktop software
• This includes MATLAB, Simulink and over 90+ additional tools
• 50% discount on all MathWorks self-paced online training
• Full Tech Support
• Ability to purchase our software in years 2-5 under their Startup License program.

Note: This is a resource for internal OBI Client Companies or OBI Alumni only. If you are an OBI Client or Alumni and would like to utilize this resource, email Heather Ellis at hellis@otradi.org for more information.

OBI BioMentor Highlight

OBI offers an extensive BioMentor program to provide pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. This month we are highlighting Ryan Dunlap, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer at MolecularMD.
 

As a BioMentor, Ryan can assist with issues around corporate and fiscal strategy development, business scale up, financial reporting, fundraising and financing preparation, budgeting, forecasting and financial modeling, investor relations, and risk management. He also has first-hand knowledge about mergers and acquisitions, business integration, decision support, deal structuring and other collaborative arrangements, out-licensing and in-licensing, business processes and internal controls, corporate governance and organizational leadership development/team building.

Also, as MolecularMD was recently acquired by ICON plc resulting in a successful shareholder exit, Ryan will be finishing up with business integration activities soon and will be available for more formal consulting and/or employment opportunities as needed. Ryan can be reached directly at ryan@dunlapadvisors.com.
 

Click here to learn more about our BioMentor program and to see our network of BioMentor contacts.

If you are an entrepreneur that would like to connect with our BioMentors, please fill out this form.

Join us for these upcoming OBI and OBI-Partner events:

Partner Event: Tonkon Torp is hosting a Tonkon Talk on How to Achieve “Second Date” Success on June 5th from 12-1pm. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: NanoString GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler Technology Day at OHSU Knight Cancer Institute on June 7th from 8:30am – 4pm. Register now. 

Partner Event: OEN is hosting their signature OEN event, Angel Oregon. This year’s event, the Angel Food Conference, is on June 19th. Register now.

Partner Event: Techstars startup weekend is in Independance, Oregon June 21-23. Register now. $0-$20 to attend.

Partner Event: Cambia Grove is hosting an Interoperability Summit: Empowering Consumers with Data, in Seattle June 20-21. Register now. $30 to attend.

OBI Event: Join us for a Lunch & Learn on Commercializing using Healthcare Claims Data with Katie Vahle, Chief Commercial Officer at Carevoyance, on June 26th from 12-1pm. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Portland State University is hosting their Invent OR Collegiate Challenge Finals on June 28th from 9am – 5pm. Register now. Free to attend.

Bioscience Growth and the Portland Innovation Quadrant

For years one of the primary limiting factors for local bioscience companies’ growth has been the complete lack of available lab space in the Portland Metro area. Many of you know that we have been diligently working on solving this problem by meeting with local real estate developers and by actively participating on the board of the Portland Innovation Quadrant (Portland IQ). The Portland IQ is a public-private partnership founded by Portland’s leading institutions (OHSU, PSU, PCC, OMSI) and expanded to include private industry, incubators, trade associations and local government (for more info, see www.portlandiq.org).

We are thrilled to report that the Portland IQ and the new lab-based, bioscience buildings are featured as the cover story of the Portland Business Journal. View the article here: https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2019/04/25/unleashing-portlands-emerging-bioscience-sector.html. 

If you are a lab-based company with up to 25 employees, and you’d like to learn more about our new lab space available in the Portland IQ, please email hellis@otradi.org to let us know. We are happy to discuss these developments and the great progress being made to develop an innovation quadrant in Portland. Thanks to you all for being part of this vibrant and rapidly growing bioscience community!

OBI’s Executive Director, Jennier Fox, was a panelist at TechfestNW discussing the Portland Innovation Quadrant (Portland IQ). She shared her excitement for the Portland IQ and how it is creating the next step in the pipeline for bioscience startups.
 

OBI proudly sponsored the following companies at PitchfestNW:

• Additive Care
• De Las Mías
• DesignMedix Inc.
• Dorsum
• Stonestable, Inc.
• Veana Therapeutics Inc.

OBI was proud to be part of such a worthy cause by actively participating in this year’s Girls Inc. Power of the Purse Gala. OBI Executive Director, Jennifer Fox, worked hard to secure all of the items the purse came with. The purse and contents were auctioned off and sold for $6,500. Thank you to McConnell’s Boxing Academy, Oregon Wine Board, RxHomeTest.com, Wildfang and Yellow Scope for donating to the cause.

OBI Client Company Wins

• Aronora has announced a $9M+ deal for drug royalties from their novel stroke, clots and heart disease products. (photo above)
• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals was awarded $100K Business Oregon Enhanced Phase 0 grant to support certain regulatory, IP, and drug supply management activities. Sparrow Pharmaceuticals was also selected as a podium presenter during Life Science Innovation NW.
• Suturegard Medical has completed their seed round. Kaiser Permanente has approved their device for a 3 month product trial and surgeons from multiple specialties will be involved in this clinical trial.

• Veana Therapeutics pitched at PitchfestNW. Out of 137 companies that pitched, Veana Therapeutics made the top 10 list. (photo above)

OBI BioMentor Highlight

OBI offers an extensive BioMentor program to provide pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. This month we are highlighting Jurgen Vollrath, President of the Exponential Technology Counsel.

As a BioMentor, Jurgen can advise on, and put in place, an intellectual property strategy (on what patents to file, when to file them, where and how) that will help startups save money and will add value to the company at time of exit based on an overview of the competitive landscape.
 

Click here to learn more about our BioMentor program and to see our network of BioMentor contacts.

To connect with BioMentors, please fill out this form.

Join us for these upcoming OBI and OBI-Partner events:

OBI Event: Our Accelerate Biotech & Digital Health Happy Hour is TONIGHT, May 2nd at OBI/OTRADI. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Oregon State University Advantage is hosting an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Summit on May 9th. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: SoPE will be hosting their next meeting on May 16th. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Oregon Bioscience Association is hosting their signature event, Bio in the High Desert, on May 16th in Bend. Register now. $25-$35 to attend.

Oregon Bioscience Incubator Names Heather Ellis as Assistant Director

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) is proud to announce that our previous Community Coordinator, Heather Ellis, has been promoted to the position of Assistant Director of the OBI.  Heather joined the OBI in the Fall of 2017 and has excelled at implementing our entrepreneurial programs, including OBI’s monthly Lunch and Learn events, Accelerate Bio and Digital Health monthly happy hours, SBIR grant writing workshops, startup company outreach and promoting partner events across the State’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

In her new role as OBI Assistant Director, Heather will be spearheading OBI’s newest initiatives, developing entrepreneurial programs, growing OBI’s partnerships and collaborations, participating on the Portland Innovation Quadrant’s startup resources work group, growing OBI’s digital and marketing presence, as well as developing programs, workshops and events designed to grow Oregon’s startup bioscience and digital health ecosystem.

Ms. Ellis graduated from Portland State University, receiving a bachelor’s degree with minors in Business and Communications.

OBI Client Company Wins

• Aronora has completed a first-in-human clinical trial of their unique FXI inhibitor.
• Hemex Health was invited to Ghana to discuss therapy for sickle cell patients. They also toured Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which has been working to institute sickle cell screening for all newborns. (photo above)
• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals was named the best seed-stage company at Cascadia Venture Forum.

OBI BioMentor Highlight

OBI offers an extensive BioMentor program to provide pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. This month we are highlighting Lisa Wernli-Hunt, Owner of Hunt Accounting Services and Accountant/Controller at Acumen Financial.

As a BioMentor, Lisa can advise on basic bookkeeping services, GAAP-based financial statements and preparation for audits or tax return filings.
Click here to learn more about our BioMentor program and to see our network of BioMentor contacts.

To connect with BioMentors, please fill out this form.

New client company, Rewire Neuroscience, joined the OBI in April!

Rewire Neuroscience is a Portland startup focused on empowering the future of biomedical research by providing intelligent research tools that are powerful and affordable. They offer an array of laboratory equipment and analytics software, ranging from real-time freezer power monitoring to artificial intelligence for analyzing biomedical images.

Website: https://rewireneuro.com/

Join us for these upcoming OBI and OBI-Partner events:

Partner Event: TechfestNW will be April 4-5th. Register now. $99-$275.

Partner Event: Science Talk ’19 will be April 4-5th. Register now. $125-$300.

Partner Event: SoPE will be hosting their next meeting on April 11, 6-7:30PM. Register now. Free to attend.

OBI, OCTRI, and TTBD Workshop: All About the SBIR Grant Process – An Inside Perspective will be April 12th from 9am-1pm. Apply now.

Partner Event: Girls Inc of the Pacific Northwest is hosting their Power of the Purse Gala on April 12th. Register now. $200 and up.

Partner Event: Cambia Grove is hosting a TRAILS Competition. Apply now; applications are due by April 14th.

Partner Event: Technology Association of Oregon is hosting their 2019 Oregon Technology Awards on April 17th from 5 – 9PM. Register now. $150-$2,400.

Partner Event: Oregon Science Startup Forum is on April 20th. Register now. $30-$60.

OBI Event: Join us for a Workshop on Sales and Marketing – Sales Strategy from a Company Planning Standpoint on April 24th from 10AM – 4PM. Register now. $35 to attend.

Portland biotech firm, MolecularMD, purchased by global drug development company Icon

Click here to read the article

OBI Client Company Wins

• Hemex Health was awarded a $150,000 SBIR grant to design and automate an affordable microchip-electrophoresis for sickle cell disease using a test cartridge that can be used in Hemex Health’s portable, easy-to-use analysis equipment.
• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals has been invited to present at the following events.
  • Keiretsu Family Office Forum, 7 March in Seattle
  • Angel Capital Expo, 8 March in Seattle
  • Cascadia Venture Forum, 11 March in Vancouver BC
• StoneStable was awarded a $49,930 SBIR grant for stabilization of influenza vaccine by silica-coating. The company will conduct additional experiments to demonstrate efficacy of silica-coated flu vaccines that are much more stable than existing means.

OBI’s BioMentor Program is available throughout all of Oregon

OBI offers an extensive BioMentor program to provide pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon.

We have a network of >90 BioMentors with valuable expertise in a wide range of business topics that are integral to the success of early-stage life science companies, including:

• Accounting
• Business Plan
• Government Funding
• Legal / IP
• Licensing
• Management
• Manufacturing
• Market Analysis
• Marketing
• Private Funding
• Product Development
• Regulatory / FDA

Click here to learn more about our BioMentor program and to see our network of BioMentor contacts.

To connect with BioMentors, please fill out this form.

New client company, Bio Lab Analytics, joins the OBI in February!

Bio Lab Analytics, LLC, provides data management & analysis services for life science professionals and organizations. We assist clients with study design for research & quality improvement projects; statistics, biostatistics, and data analysis in R, SAS, Python, and Tableau; and SQL database design & development. Areas of expertise include clinical research, laboratory medicine, biotechnology, and plant biology.

Website: https://www.biolabanalytics.com/

Join us for these upcoming OBI and OBI-Partner events:

Partner Event: Tonkon Talks – The Story of Zoom is on March 6th from 12-1PM. Register now. Free to attend.

OBI Event: Our monthly Accelerate Bio & Digital Health Happy Hour is on March 7th at OBI/OTRADI Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Angel Capital Expo Northwest is on March 8th from 7:30am – 6pm. Register now. $0-$300.

OBI Event: OBI’s Life Science & Digital Health CEO Peer-Mentoring Roundtable is on March 12th from 12-1:30PM. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Oregon Bioscience Association’s signature event Bio on the Rocks is on March 19th from 5-8:30PM. Register now. $35-$75 to attend.

OBI Event: Join us for a Lunch & Learn on Designing for Privacy and Security Compliance on March 21st from 12-1PM. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: OHSU’s 2019 Commercialization Conference will be March 27-28th. Register now. $20-$125.

Partner Event: TechfestNW will be April 4-5th. Register now. $99-$275.

Partner Event: Science Talk ’19 will be April 4-5th. Register now. $125-$300.

OBI, OCTRI, and TTBD Workshop: All About the SBIR Grant Process – An Inside Perspective, will be April 12th from 9am-1pm. Apply now.

Partner Event: Oregon Science Startup Forum is on April 20th. Register now. $30-$60.

Genentech to open Portland office, brings 300 jobs

“When we were looking for locations we took into account what would be a great location in terms of connectivity with the organization and patients and community,” said Claire Scott, Vice President of Access Solutions. “We love the mission driven culture we found in Oregon and Portland.”

NOTE: If you do not have access to the Portland Business Journal, click here for a PDF of this article.

Summit Development Group is excited to announce that the Eastside Innovation life science laboratory building at 808 SE Alder is under construction and open for pre-leasing, with estimated Summer 2019 move-in dates. The Eastside Innovation building features BSL-2 lab spaces and robust lab-specific mechanical systems never before offered in the Portland for-lease market.

To learn more, click here for a packet of information.

OBI Client Company Wins

• Hemex Health was featured in three articles:
  • Hemex accepted into the Novartis Biome as one of their four initial companies. See the PDF version of this article here.
  • Hemex featured in MedGadget for their Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Sickle Cell Disease and Malaria.
  • Hemex featured in Next Billion – Using Mobile Technology to Fight Disease: Three Tips for Social Startups in the Developing World.
• Sirona Dx launched novel urine-based bladder cancer assay with PD-L1 Quantification Based on IncellDx’s single cell Immuno-oncology/PD-L1 technology.
• VIR Biotechnology was featured in FierceBiotech announcing collaborations with RNAi biotech Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and infectious disease company Visterra, as well as four academic research labs, including groups at Stanford and Harvard.

Nature article by OHSU team, including OTRADI scientist Dylan Nelson, details

New Leukemia Research Harnessing the Power of Big Data

NOTE: Click here for a PDF of the Portland Business Journal

November BioMentor Highlight

OBI offers an extensive BioMentor program to provide pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. This month we are highlighting Michael Phillips, Partner at Davis Wright Tremaine.

As a BioMentor, Michael can bring not only the required legal expertise to help a company and its founders achieve their goals and succeed, he offers the experience of having been through complete histories of startups, from earliest stage through initial public offerings and acquisitions.

Click here to learn more about our BioMentor program and to see our network of BioMentor contacts.

Now Announcing New Funding Opportunities for Oregon Startups!

SBIR/STTR Matching Grants from Business Oregon

Please note this grant DOES require a startup to have SBIR/STTR funding.

Business Oregon is looking for entrepreneurs and startups who would like to apply for this supplemental funding to match a portion of their SBIR/STTR grant/s. Business Oregon is accepting applications on a rolling basis, so you can apply as soon as you get all the materials together. All information is available on Business Oregon’s web page: www.oregon4biz.com/sbir

The application form and guidelines are in the resources box on the right side of the page.

Willamette Valley Capital

Now offering $100,000 capital investments for entrepreneurs and early stage businesses.

Oregon Venture Fund

Now offering up to $2M for startups and growth stage companies. OVP investors will contribute their expertise and leverage their network to help businesses succeed.

Join us for these OBI and OBI-Partner events in November:

Partner Event: OHSU’s Technology Transfer and Business Development is hosting their MedTech Alliance Showcase on November 1st. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Tonkon Torp is hosting a Tonkon Talks on Business Immigration for Startups on November 7th. Register now. Free to attend.

OBI Event: Accelerate Bio & Digital Health Happy Hour is on November 8th at OBI/OTRADI and will be featuring our sponsor, Summit Development. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Technology Association of Oregon is hosting their Ignite TAO: Health on November 9th. Register now. $3-$5 to attend.

OBI Event: OBI is hosting a Life Science & Digital Health CEO Peer-Mentoring Roundtable on November 15th at 12PM. Register now. Free to attend but limited to CEOs only.

Partner Event: SOPE is hosting a Portland Chapter Meeting the evening of November 15th. Register now. Free to attend.

LAST CHANCE to join us at our upcoming OTRADI & OBI 10-Year Anniversary Celebration on September 11, 2018.

You are invited to attend OTRADI’s 10-Year Anniversary and OBI’s 5-Year Anniversary Celebration and Cruise aboard the Portland Spirit. We’re inviting the entire bio and startup entrepreneurship community, as well as legislators, partners, collaborators and supporters, to attend and celebrate 10 years of bio-research and startup accomplishments for our OTRADI/OBI community.

SPEAKERS:

• Federal Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici
• State Representative David Gomberg
• Dr. Robert Guldberg, Executive Director of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact at the University of Oregon
• Dr. Erin Flynn, board chair of the Oregon Innovation Council and the Founding Board Chair of the Portland Innovation Quadrant (IQ)
• Dr. Jennifer Fox, Executive Director of OTRADI and the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI)

OBI Client Company Wins

• Hemex Health was awarded 3 NIH grants:
  • $1.725M fast-track SBIR award from the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute to advance their sickle cell test.
  • $225K award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to enable their malaria diagnostic to distinguish between the two most common forms of malaria and to further lower their limit of malaria detection.
  • $225K award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to adapt their device to identify and measure HbA1C (flycosylated hemoglobin), which is an indicator of diabetes.
• Madorra closed the first tranche of their Series A raise. They also received IRB approval for their Human Factors study.

September BioMentor Highlight

OBI has an extensive BioMentor program available to provide pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. This month we are highlighting OBI BioMentor, and OBI Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Dr. William Newman.

As a BioMentor, Dr. Newman provides advice and assistance in the areas of business creation, investment strategies and capital sources, market-entry and growth strategies, and, for companies with origins in the academic/research sector, advice and assistance in working with institutions and researchers.

Click here to learn more about our BioMentor program and to see our network of BioMentor contacts.

Now Announcing Two New Grant Programs for Oregon Startups!

SBIR/STTR Matching Grants from Business Oregon:

Please note this grant DOES require a startup to have SBIR/STTR funding.

Business Oregon is looking for entrepreneurs and startups who would like to apply for this supplemental funding to match a portion of their SBIR/STTR grant/s. Business Oregon is accepting applications on a rolling basis, so you can apply as soon as you get all the materials together. All information is available on Business Oregon’s website. The application form and guidelines are in the resources box on the right side of the page.

Enhanced Phase 0 Grants from Business Oregon:

Please note this grant does NOT require a startup to have SBIR/STTR funding.

Grants of up to $100,000 will be provided to Oregon startups commercializing promising science and research that aligns with Oregon InC’s targeted industry sectors: active lifestyle, advanced manufacturing, natural resources, life science applications, advanced materials, and clean tech/impact investing. This program will focus on companies that are not yet ready for commercial or institutional investment. Funds are meant to support proof of concept for innovations – development of a commercially viable product, market validation and other relevant expenditures. To be eligible, companies should have existing relationships with OTRADI/OBI, University Tech Transfer Offices and related Business Oregon innovation partner organizations.

Proposals will be accepted in September of 2018, December of 2018 and March of 2019 pending available funding. September applications are due September 28th.

Join us for these OBI events and OBI’s Partner Events in September:

Partner Event: Tonkon Torp is hosting a Tonkon Talks on Cybersecurity for Startups on September 5th. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: Oregon Bioscience Association is hosting Bio on the Vine on September 5th. Register now. $20 – $60 per person to attend.

OBI Event: OBI/OTRADI 10-Year Anniversary Celebration aboard the Portland Spirit on September 11, 2018. Register now. $35 per person to attend.

OBI Event: Join us for a Lunch & Learn on Financial Forecasting and What Data To Present on September 19 from 12pm – 1pm. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: WIS is hosting their 1st Annual Women in Science Portland Fundraising Gala on September 20th. Register now. $75 – $100 per person to attend.

Partner Event: Life Science Washing Institute is hosting a Best of the Northwest Showcase on September 21st. Investors can register now and startups can apply now.

Partner Event: OCTRI is hosting the Biomedical Innovation Program fastPACE, a 4-week biomedical commercialization course. Register by September 20th to attend. Free to participate.