Happy Holidays from the OBI! We hope you have a splendid 2019!

Thank you for your support of OBI/OTRADI over the past year!  One of our biggest highlights of 2018 was celebrating the 10-Year Anniversary of OTRADI and the 5-Year Anniversary of our Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) with a cruise aboard the Portland Spirit that attracted 250 celebrants. We’re proud to report that this anniversary celebration and a retrospective of our startups’ achievements was featured in a wonderful write-up in the Portland Business Journal.

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

We were proud to have PIE and Built Oregon complete the video above about the OBI and our startups in 2018.

Above you can see the host of entrepreneurial programs the OBI hosted in 2018 along with logos of our wonderful sponsors and partners. Thank you to all of our partners and sponsors for supporting our programming and helping us make 2018 the best year yet for entrepreneurial programs and outreach at the OBI!

OBI/OTRADI BIG WINS FROM 2018

Portland’s biotech community finally gets its wish: a new lab-office building in the growing Portland IQ hub. OBI is happy to be partnering with Summit Development to make this exciting new space a success.

OBI/OTRADI’s Executive Director, Jennifer Fox, represented Oregon and promoted more robust funding for scientific research and STEAM education during the national Bio Fly-In Event in Washington DC.

OBI/OTRADI’s Executive Director, Jennifer Fox, represented Oregon at Digital Health World Congress in London.

In 2018 we redesigned our OBI website to be more user-friendly and helpful. Check out our new design!

2018 OBI Client Company Wins

• Aronora’s anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic biological drug candidate, AB023 (xisomab 3G3), has completed an FDA phase 1 clinical trial.
• Aronora’s anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic biological drug candidate, AB002 (E-WE thrombin, proCase), has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the FDA.
• The FDA granted Aronora’s biological drug candidate, AB002, Fast Track designation. This Fast Track designation allows for drug candidates to qualify for accelerated (Ph I & Ph II) drug development and evaluation. See article here.

• BV Biomed was a featured company in BioInitium Advisory’s 2018 report on the worldwide market in MS.

• Hemex Health was awarded a $100,000 SBIR matching grant from Business Oregon to complement a 2017 Phase II SBIR from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for their malaria diagnostic.
• Hemex Health and partners took first place out of 122 companies to win a $300K grant from the Vodafone Foundation 2018 Wireless Innovation Project. The funds will be used to establish a mobile health system for malaria and sickle cell in Kano Nigeria.
• Hemex Health completed the final design of their diagnostic platform and is in the manufacturing handoff process.  They have signed with a major distribution partner in India.
• Hemex Health was awarded 3 NIH SBIR awards:
  1. $1.725M fast-track SBIR award from the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute for to advance their sickle cell test.
  2. $225K SBIR contract 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.
  3. $225K award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to adapt their device to identify and measure HbA1C (glycosylated hemoglobin), which is an indicator of diabetes.
• Hemex Health was featured in three articles:
  1. Hemex Health was accepted into the Novartis Biome as one of their five initial companies.
  2. Hemex Health was featured in MedGadget for their Point-of-Care Diagnostic for Sickle Cell Disease and Malaria. 
  3. Hemex Health was featured in Next Billion – Using Mobile Technology to Fight Disease: Three Tips for Social Startups in the Developing World.
• Hemex Health started a new subsidiary, HemexDx, in India, where the initial release of the product will take place.
• Hemex Health’s sickle cell diagnostic technology “microchip electrophoresis (TM)” won a USPTO Patents for Humanity Honorable Mention.
• Hemex Health presented posters of their research studies at MHSRS (Military Health System Research Symposium), ASTMH (American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene), and presented this December at ASH (American Society of Hematology).

• Madorra was awarded a $100,000 SBIR matching grant from Business Oregon.
• Madorra was awarded a $2.3M Fast-track SBIR grant from the NIH to further develop their cutting-edge women’s health medical device.
• Madorra closed the first tranche of their Series A raise. They also received IRB approval for their Human Factors study.

• OmnEcoil Instruments’ device has benefited from three grant awards; an NSF Phase I SBIR grant ($225K), an ONAMI Gap grant ($250K) and a Murdock Trust grant ($120K).

• Sirona Dx launched a novel urine-based bladder cancer assay with PD-L1 quantification based on IncellDx’s single cell immuno-oncology/PD-L1 technology. Press release article.

• Sonivate finalized product design including Dual-Array Probe, Graphical User Interface (GUI) and all board electronics.
• System (Microsoft tablet) demonstration for military medical leadership in August 2018.
• Two provisional patents filed; final GUI Design Patent filed.
• Units for safety testing and verification & validation produced and assembled.
• Biocompatibility testing initiated.
• Safety testing planned (i.e. 60601, EMI, EMC, acoustic output, water/dust ingress).
• Raised $1.2 million.

• StoneStable, Inc. successfully completed their first mouse experiments.
• StoneStable, Inc. was awarded a $50,000 grant from Business Oregon.

• SUTUREGARD Medical completed a successful human use clinical trial and was issued a key patent (US patent # 10,064,616 – Variable Stiffness Suture Bridges Compatible with Various Suture Patterns”) for their device.
• SUTUREGARD Medical won the FoundersLive Pitch competition in October.
• SUTUREGARD Medical registered with the FDA.
• SUTUREGARD Medical launched sales in November at the Fundamentals of Mohs Surgery conference. They sold 70 devices in their first week of sales alone.

• Veana Therapeutics has been awarded an SBIR Phase 1 grant from NIH to further develop their immunotherapeutics.

• VIR Biotechnology was featured in a Portland Business Journal article entitled “How a $600M jolt could get OHSU’s promising AIDS vaccine to market”.
• VIR Biotechnology announced collaborations with RNAi biotech Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and infectious disease company Visterra, as well as four academic research labs, including groups at Stanford and Harvard. Press release article.
• VIR Biotechnology and Alnylam Pharma Initiated Phase 1/2 Study of a Novel, Investigational RNA interference (RNAi) Therapeutic for the treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

OBI WELCOMED SEVEN NEW STARTUPS TO OUR INCUBATOR IN 2018

Click here to learn more about our new companies.

OBI has opened a new Digital Health IT Annex co-working space with dedicated desks available for startups on a month-by-month basis. This new shared space is a great way to collaborate with other Digital Health IT companies while still having a place to call your own.

AMENITIES INCLUDED:

• Specialized Mentoring: Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and unique BioMentoring program to assess company needs, identify and reach milestones and accelerate companies’ growth. Entrepreneurial training via workshops, peer-mentoring, etc.
• Collaborations: Share resources, ideas, and space with regional incubators, accelerators, networking events, Life Science and Digital Health Startup CEO Roundtable Lunches, Lunch & Learns, and entrepreneurial training opportunities.
• Space: 
  • Private kitchenette and server room
  • Access to conference rooms, meeting and networking spaces
  • Free parking
  • Key code access to building and OBI 24-hours/day
  • WiFi included
  • Utilities included
  • Janitorial services included

Contact Heather Ellis at hellis@otradi.org for more information or to schedule a tour of this space.

The Portland Business Journal selected DesignMedix as one of the winners of this year’s Makers and Manufacturing Award.

Each year the Portland Business Journal honors the region’s top manufacturing companies who drive our economy with innovation, excellence and productivity. These companies shape the future and build what is needed for our next generation.

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

OBI Client Company Wins

• Madorra has engaged 2 new employees:
  • Darlene Dreon – VP of Clinical Affairs
  • Robert Blante – Senior Director of Manufacturing and Operations
• SUTUREGARD is now registered with the FDA.
• SUTUREGARD launched sales in San Diego in early November at the Fundamentals of Mohs Surgery conference. They sold 70 devices in their first week of sales alone.
• VIR Biotechnology and Alnylam Pharma Initiated Phase 1/2 Study of a Novel, Investigational RNA interference (RNAi) Therapeutic for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Gamma Therapeutics launched a crowdfunding campaign for “A New Way to Predict Heart Attacks and Strokes”

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 December:

Partner Event: Oregon Bioscience Association is hosting their signature event Bio in the Valley on December 6th in Eugene. Register now. $15-$35 to attend.

OBI Event: Our monthly Accelerate Bio & Digital Health Happy Hour is on December 6th at OBI/OTRADI. Register now. Free to attend.

Opportunities in the community:

Position: OHSU Program Manager – Innovation

OHSU’s Department of Surgery is looking for a full time Program Manager.

Apply now

Internship Grant Opportunity: Applications open Monday, December 3 for Prosper Portland’s first Small Business Internship Grants, available for up to 12 eligible small businesses in the Portland metro area.

Thank you to those who were able to join us for our OBI/OTRADI 10-Year Anniversary Celebration!

We’re proud to report that our OBI Anniversary Celebration and a retrospective of our startups’ achievements was featured in a wonderful write up in the Portland Business Journal.

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

More than 250 people attended our anniversary celebration, including Oregon legislators, OTRADI partners from research universities, incubators and accelerators across the state, entrepreneurial and startup leaders from OBI and beyond, Business Oregon, Oregon Bioscience Association, Technology Association of Oregon, Oregon Entrepreneur Networks, angel investors, venture capital investors, and bio and digital health leaders from across Oregon, to support OBI/OTRADI and our amazing startups. We could not ask for better partners and supporters or a more robust community of bio-entrepreneurs!

Check out the wonderful video about OBI and OTRADI startups that our partners at Built Oregon and PIE created for our 10-Year Anniversary Celebration!

OBI Client Company Wins

Aronora was granted FastTrack Designation for their proCase, an enzyme intended to reverse blood clot formation without increasing the risk of bleeding. This FastTrack designation allows for drug candidates to qualify for accelerated FDA approval.

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

October BioMentor Highlight

OBI has an extensive BioMentor program available 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 OBI BioMentor Kevin Clark.

As a BioMentor, Dr. Clark mentors in areas of partnership development, venture capital investment, and grant/endowment financing for business growth and sustainability. He also advises on product trends, basic and clinical neuroscience/microbiology protocols, and IP management strategies.

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

To connect with BioMentors, please fill out this form. You are welcome to choose your preference of BioMentors or we are happy to choose who best to connect you with.

Portland’s own DesignMedix may be the startup that cures malaria some day soon.

OTRADI is proud to have contributed scientific work years ago, testing these potential drugs for DesignMedix.

Congratulations to DesignMedix and the thriving bioscience entrepreneurial community!

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

Partner Event: Tonkon Torp is hosting a Tonkon Talks – How to Accelerate Growth on a Shoestring Budget on October 3rd. Register now. Free to attend.

Partner Event: OSU is hosting The Promise and the Peril of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics on October 23rd. Register now.

OBI Event: Join us for a Lunch & Learn on Best Practices in Medical Device Design on October 25th from 12pm – 1pm. Register now. Free to attend.

OBI Event: Join us for our monthly Accelerate Biotech & Digital Health Happy Hour on October 4th. Register now. Free to attend.

We have redesigned our OBI Website to be more user-friendly and helpful. Come check out our new design!

The amazing work of OBI client company, Vir Biotechnology, was featured in a Portland Business Journal article entitled “How a $600M jolt could get OHSU’s promising AIDS vaccine to market.”

OBI Client Company Wins

• BV Biomed was a featured company in BioInitium Advisory’s 2018 report on the worldwide market in MS.
• Hemex Health and Partners Win Vodafone Foundation 2018 Wireless Innovation Project.
• Hemex Health successfully produced a run of “Alpha II” diagnostic units.

NOTE: If you would like PDF versions of these articled, email us at info@otradi.org.

Join us! Registration is open for our upcoming OTRADI & OBI 10-Year Anniversary Party 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.

Great articles about developments in the Portland Innovation Quadrant (Portland IQ). Click the photos for the full stories.

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 Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Gordon Hoffman.

As a BioMentor, Mr. Hoffman can provide advice and assistance in the areas of business creation, investment strategies and capital sources, market-entry and growth strategies, corporate governance and advisory boards, 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.

Join us for these OBI events in July:

Join us on July 5th for our monthly Accelerate Biotech & Digital Health Happy Hour at the CLSB and sponsored by OHSU’s OCTRI. Register now to attend.

The OBI and Aliat are hosting a Lunch & Learn entitled The Benefits of Outsourcing HR, Benefits, and Payroll on July 17th. Register now to attend.

Carol Pratt will be leading a Lunch & Learn entitled FDA Regulation of Digital Health Products on August 15th. Register now to attend.

Save the Date for our upcoming OTRADI & OBI 10th Anniversary Party on September 11, 2018

OBI Client Company Wins

• Aronora’s potential anti-clotting biological drug, Xisomab, has cleared FDA Phase I clinical trials.
• Aronora’s second biological drug, E-WE-Thrombin, has received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval with fast-track status from the FDA.
• Hemex Health was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered for their cutting-edge malaria detection device.
• Both Madorra and Hemex Health won $100,000 SBIR matching grants from Business Oregon.

AbSci, the first company to graduate from our Oregon Bioscience Incubator, has just raised an incredibly impressive $12M Series C investment!

Jennifer Fox, Executive Director of OTRADI/OBI, and Denise McCarty, Executive Director of the Oregon Bioscience Association, represented Oregon at Digital Health World Congress in London where they met Pilar Hermida, Head of Globilasation at i-Expand.com and Michelle Zimmerman, Director of Digital Marketing at Fitscript.com. #DigitalHealth

Accelerate Bio & Digital Health Happy Hour

Our monthly happy hour brings together creative and driven professionals who are passionate about promoting the growth of Portland’s Biotech and Digital Health sectors. Register now to attend our July 5th happy hour.

The OBI welcomed new client company, SUTUREGARD Medical, in May 2018.

SBIR Road Tour Oregon on July 17, 2018

The SBIR/STTR Road Tour – Oregon will be a 1-day live event on July 17, 2018 located at Portland State University. It will provide an exceptional opportunity for small businesses and those supporting them to meet directly with over 25 program managers from the 12 Federal agencies with SBIR/STTR Programs, as well as USPTO and SBA. Register now!

The Portland Innovation Quadrant (Portland IQ), which leverages science, health, technology, and talent to create economic growth and opportunity for the entire Portland metro region, was officially launched at TechfestNW in April 2018. OTRADI and the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) have been working with public and private partners over the past year to make the Portland IQ vision a reality. The Portland IQ not only serves as the center of gravity for Portland’s innovation ecosystem, but will also become home to Portland’s newest bio building.

Portland’s biotech community finally gets its wish: a new lab-office building in the growing Portland IQ hub.

Jennifer Fox, Executive Director of OTRADI/OBI, and Denise McCarty, Executive Director of the Oregon Bioscience Association, represented Oregon and promoted more robust funding for scientific research and STEAM education, during the national Bio Fly-In Event in Washington DC. Ten meetings with 10 Senators and Representatives in 8 hous = 5 miles of walking and 1 ride on the Senate subway. #BioFlyIn #PortlandIQ #OTRADIBio

Join us for these OBI events in May:

 OBI, OCTRI, and OHSU’s TTBD are collaborating to host a Peer Entrepreneur Forum on May 8th where our distinguished panelists will discuss their transition from scientist/clinician to entrepreneur. Register now.

The OBI, in partnership with FutureBrand Speck, will be hosting a Lunch & Learn entitled Forget Me Not – Why Customer Research Matters on May 24th. Register now to attend.

As part of our Ater Wynne Lunch & Learn Series, the OBI will be hosting a discussion of Going Global for Technology Companies on May 30th, led by Akana Ma. Register now to attend.

SAVE THE DATE – SBIR Road Tour Oregon on July 17, 2018

The SBIR/STTR Road Tour – Oregon will be a 1-day live event on July 17, 2018 located at Portland State University. It will provide an exceptional opportunity for small businesses and those supporting them to meet directly with over 25 program managers from the 12 Federal agencies with SBIR/STTR Programs, as well as USPTO and SBA. Stay tuned for more information.

The OBI welcomed two new client companies in the past quarter: