What an incredible night at OBI’s Annual Startup Spotlight Expo!

This event shines a spotlight on OBI client companies and their remarkable accomplishments in biotech innovation, showcasing the groundbreaking work that is driving the future of life sciences. The event was beautifully catered by Mundo Catering, creating the perfect atmosphere for an evening filled with innovation and connection. Our Executive Director, Heather Ellis, and OTRADI/OBI Board Chair Aditi Martin opened the night with inspiring remarks, celebrating the incredible growth and collaboration within our community.
The highlight of the evening was an amazing Fireside Chat moderated by Jackie Wirz, PhD, featuring an all-women panel of biotech leaders: Norah Green Verbout and Patricia B. It was a powerful moment, showing just how vital women are in shaping the future of the bioscience industry. With 25% of OBI’s client companies led by women, we’re proud to showcase the strength and diversity of the Oregon biotech community. We are so grateful to everyone who attended, making this event such a success. The energy and innovation from our local biotech community were truly inspiring, and we’re excited to see what’s next for these groundbreaking startups! Join us next year!

OBI Client Company Recent Wins

We’re thrilled to announce that OBI client companies, Trace Biosciences and Promedix Inc, have been selected as Growth Stage Semi-Finalists for the 2024 Bend Venture Conference!

Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!

Oregon State Representative Daniel Nguyen Visits OBI

We were honored to host Oregon State Representative Daniel Nguyen at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator in August! During a dynamic roundtable discussion, we delved into the biotech startup ecosystem, exploring both the advantages and challenges of building and growing in Oregon. Representative Nguyen’s insights were invaluable as we discussed the unique opportunities our state offers to innovators, as well as the hurdles our startups face. At OBI, we are committed to fostering an environment where biotech companies can thrive, and conversations like these are crucial in shaping the future of innovation in Oregon.

Oregon State Senator Chris Gorsek Visits OBI

In early September, we were delighted to host Senator Chris Gorsek at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator! We were joined by founders of OBI client companies for a lively discussion on the dynamic world of biotech startups in Oregon. Together, we explored the unique opportunities and multi-layered challenges that come with building biotech ventures in our state. Senator Gorsek’s insights and engagement highlight the importance of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in Oregon’s growing bioscience sector.

Biomentoring Program

Expert Guidance: Benefit from insights of seasoned mentors with diverse startup experience.

Tailored Support: Get personalized mentorship to tackle your unique challenges and goals.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and expand your professional network.

And the best part? It’s completely FREE! Our mentors are dedicated to nurturing the next wave of innovators.

Join us for lunch at the Bend Venture Conference

Join us for an engaging lunchtime networking event at Bend Venture Conference designed for biotech and digital health enthusiasts! Connect with fellow professionals, contribute to the conversation about advancing these thriving sectors in Oregon, and foster meaningful relationships within the health innovation community.

We’ll gather at Father Luke’s Room at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in between the BVC Pre-Conference Seminars and the BVC Keynote Presentation. This is a perfect opportunity to engage with individuals from both academia and industry. Lunch will be provided, with options available to accommodate dietary restrictions. Doors open at noon.

If you’re an investor, health innovation startup, or bioscience champion, we warmly invite you to this enriching networking experience.

A special thanks to our partners at OEN for co-hosting this event. OEN offers the annual Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience (AOBIO) program, which combines entrepreneurial education with the chance to secure equity funding of up to $300k through a competitive application process and pitch competition. To learn more about this exciting program, click here 2024 Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience – Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and don’t miss the update during our networking lunch!

Free Registration HERE

OSU Accelerate Fall 2024

Accelerate is a nine week program open to community members and OSU researchers, students and staff who intend to establish a privately held, high-growth entrepreneurial venture. This stage focuses on developing a minimal viable product and engaging in customer discovery to validate your product/market fit.

The regular Accelerate program runs three times a year (fall, winter, and spring). Through the scheduled program events, one-on-one sessions with the staff, meetings with mentors, and access to intern assistance on projects, startup teams will receive the support they need to get their concept into the marketplace.

Accelerate has both in-person and remote options that meet every week for nine weeks. Each session runs for two hours from 3pm-5pm on Tuesdays. The fall cohort will begin October 8th. Apply HERE

Matching Grant Applications Open for Recipients of Federal SBIR and STTR Program Awards

Business Oregon, through the Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC), has opened the application period for eligible businesses to apply for matching grants if they have won a federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award. Oregon companies that have received federal SBIR/STTR awards after January 1, 2023, can apply for Business Oregon’s SBIR/STTR Matching Grant awards.

The mission of the federal SBIR/STTR programs is to support science and technology innovation to build a strong economy. In 2023, Oregon companies were awarded nearly $54 million in federal SBIR/STTR awards, often referred to as “America’s Seed Fund.” The SBIR/STTR programs provide funding that doesn’t dilute ownership, preserving control and flexibility for entrepreneurs. Business Oregon’s SBIR/STTR Matching Grant program is designed to leverage this federal investment in innovation in Oregon, encouraging businesses to develop new technologies and grow their companies locally.

The Matching Grant program helps address gaps in the federal SBIR/STTR federal funding and supports companies trying to get their product into the marketplace. The Matching Grants can also help better position the companies for future fundraising and growth after the federal grants have completed. Earlier this year, Business Oregon awarded nearly $1 million in SBIR/STTR Matching Grants to 14 Oregon companies—leveraging over $10.8 million in federal grants that those companies received between 2022-2023.

Read more about the SBIR/STTR Matching Grant program and apply at www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/SBIR-STTR/. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, October 21, 2024.

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Biotech Business Bootcamp Session 2
September 24, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Other Community Events

OCTRI’s Biomedical Innovation Commercialization Readiness Program
Starts September 27, 2024 | 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Virtual
Free to attend – registration

2024 Bend Venture Conference
The largest angel conference in the Pacific Northwest!
October 17-19, 2024
Downtown Bend
Registration is Open!

Upcoming Lab and Office Space Availability at OBI!

We are excited to announce that new lab and office space will soon be available at OBI! Our state-of-the-art facilities provide an ideal environment for growing life science and bioscience startups. Whether you’re looking for lab space or an office in a dynamic and collaborative setting, we have options to meet your needs.

To learn more about the available spaces and how they can support your company’s growth, visit our facilities page and fill out the inquiry form at the bottom. Don’t miss this opportunity to become part of our thriving biotech community!

Welcome to the OBI,
SurgiVance!

SurgiVance is developing an advanced surgical pathology device to
provide pathology within a minute from biopsy at the point of care.

OBI Client Company Recent Wins

Caravel

• With the announcement of our SBIR Phase I Funding in June, Caravel has added an additional $800,000 in venture funding to our pre-seed round. This will enable us to grow our team and increase throughput via automation.
• Caravel is hiring for two PhD-level positions, one Scientist I and another Scientist II – Senior, in organism and enzyme engineering. Individuals with expertise in high-throughput directed evolution, genetic code expansion, microfluidics, or cell-free enzyme cascades are especially encouraged to apply. Interested individuals can apply through LinkedIn.

HTI

• Team heads down to release CryoFAST™ 1.0 at M&M’24, July 29-Aug1, in Cleveland, OH. M&M is the premier Microscopy international conference. CryoFAST is an autonomous platform using AI/ML model to automate the Cryo-EM workflow that provides 2X throughput at 50% cost saving.
• Issued two press releases with full support from key partners who provided venue for joint product presentations and demonstrations.
• HTI wouldn’t be able to launch CryoFAST 1.0 without the amazing support from National Science Foundation (NSF), OHSU & Business Oregon.
• Signed MSA with a major pharma for a 2nd Cryo-EM project.

Gamma Diagnostics

• Gamma Diagnostics was approved to receive a TABA Needs Assessment Report from the NIH to assist with further business development for our funded NIH STTR grant, “Development of Antisense Oligonucleotides to Regulate Gamma’ Fibrinogen Levels.”

Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!

OBI’s Annual Startup Spotlight Expo

Registration now open!

Join us for an evening of innovation and discovery at our Startup Spotlight Expo! Explore the latest advancements in biotech and life sciences as we showcase the cutting-edge work of OBI’s talented resident company startups.

Enjoy catered refreshments from Mundo Catering while mingling with industry leaders, investors, and legislators. The event will take place in our beautiful new event center, providing the perfect backdrop for networking and learning about the future of biotech.

Programming includes a welcome from Otradi and OBI’s Executive Director Heather Ellis and OTRADI and OBI Board Chair and Senior Director, OHSU Collaborations and Entrepreneurship Aditi Martin followed by a Fireside chat with panelists Patricia Beckman, CEO of Veana Therapeutics, Inc, Norah Green Verbout, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Aronora, Inc., and moderated by Jackie Wirz, PhD, Chief Operating Officer Oregon Academy of Family Physicians.

Registration Still Open!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) is designed to support early-stage life and bioscience startups based in Oregon and Southwest Washington by offering investment-readiness education, connectivity within the local bioscience community, and the opportunity to receive an equity investment from local angel investors.

The program is one in a series of Angel Oregon events facilitated by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network in collaboration with Oregon Bioscience Association, Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI, OHSU and Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.

2024 will feature a three-week investment-readiness education series for life and bioscience startups at any stage of development. Cohort 2 launches Thursdays, August 22nd – September 19th.

Biomentoring Program

Expert Guidance: Benefit from insights of seasoned mentors with diverse startup experience.

Tailored Support: Get personalized mentorship to tackle your unique challenges and goals.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and expand your professional network.

And the best part? It’s completely FREE! Our mentors are dedicated to nurturing the next wave of innovators.

Join us for lunch at the Bend Venture Conference

Join us for an engaging lunchtime networking event at Bend Venture Conference designed for biotech and digital health enthusiasts! Connect with fellow professionals, contribute to the conversation about advancing these thriving sectors in Oregon, and foster meaningful relationships within the health innovation community.

We’ll gather at Father Luke’s Room at McMenamins Old St. Francis School in between the BVC Pre-Conference Seminars and the BVC Keynote Presentation. This is a perfect opportunity to engage with individuals from both academia and industry. Lunch will be provided, with options available to accommodate dietary restrictions. Doors open at noon.

If you’re an investor, health innovation startup, or bioscience champion, we warmly invite you to this enriching networking experience.

A special thanks to our partners at OEN for co-hosting this event. OEN offers the annual Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience (AOBIO) program, which combines entrepreneurial education with the chance to secure equity funding of up to $300k through a competitive application process and pitch competition. To learn more about this exciting program, click here 2024 Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience – Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, and don’t miss the update during our networking lunch!

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Biotech Business Bootcamp Session 1
August 28, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Other Community Events

OCTRI’s Biomedical Innovation Commercialization Readiness Program
Starts September 27, 2024 | 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Virtual
Free to attend – registration

2024 Bend Venture Conference
The largest angel conference in the Pacific Northwest!
October 17-19, 2024
Downtown Bend

OBI Client Company Recent Wins

Endosound

• EndoSound®, Inc., is thrilled to announce that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted a Transitional Pass-Through (TPT) code, effective July 1, 2024, for the company’s EndoSound Vision System™, or EVS™, a revolutionary advancement in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) technology. Read the article in Business Wire.

Gamma Diagnostics

• Gamma Diagnostics presented new data at the Vascular Discovery meeting of the American Heart Association showing that high GPF levels are associated with death in COVID-19 patients.

Hemex Health

• Two Gazelle studies were presented at conferences during June. Dr. Cathy Segbefia of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana presented “Point-of-care diagnostic for foetal haemoglobin (Hb F) quantification in children undergoing hydroxyurea therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Ghana” at the 2024 Foundation for Sickle Cell Research (FSCDR) conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on June 9th. The study showed that Gazelle could be helpful for clinicians with patients on hydroxyurea – a widely used treatment for sickle cell patients.
• The second study, “Integration of point of care testing in primary health care facilities for early comprehensive management of sickle cell disease in rural Kassena Nankana Districts of Ghana,” which was led by Isaac Odame MD, Professor at the University of Toronto and Medical Director of the Global Sickle Cell Disease Network, was presented at a poster session at the European Hematology Association (eHA) Hybrid Congress on June 14 by team member Lucy Osei Ababio of the Navrongo Health Research Centre. This study showed that Gazelle could be effectively integrated into existing primary healthcare programs in remote area, which should help children in remote regions get screened and into early comprehensive care.

Learn more about OBI’s 31 startups by visiting our website!

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley Visits OBI

Fantastic visit with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and his team at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator and OTRADI. The discussions centered around the biotechnology landscape in Oregon and included engaging conversations with several OBI client companies. Notable attendees included representatives from Hemex Health, Rewire AI, ESG Brands, Madorra Inc., PDX Pharmaceuticals, and Trace Biosciences. Also participating were OBI’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and the Executive Director of OBI, Heather Ellis.

During the visit, the groups discussed both the positives and challenges faced by startup biotech companies in Oregon. They highlighted the innovative work being done and the potential for significant growth within the sector. However, they also addressed challenges such as local funding limitations, which can hinder the progress of these promising companies. This visit helps bring awareness to the biotech ecosystem in Oregon, emphasizing the need for continued support and investment in the sector.

Registration Now Open!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) is designed to support early-stage life and bioscience startups based in Oregon and Southwest Washington by offering investment-readiness education, connectivity within the local bioscience community, and the opportunity to receive an equity investment from local angel investors.

The program is one in a series of Angel Oregon events facilitated by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network in collaboration with Oregon Bioscience Association, Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI, OHSU and Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.

2024 will feature a three-week investment-readiness education series for life and bioscience startups at any stage of development. Cohort 2 launches Thursdays, August 22nd – September 19th.

Biomentoring Program

Expert Guidance: Benefit from insights of seasoned mentors with diverse startup experience.

Tailored Support: Get personalized mentorship to tackle your unique challenges and goals.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and expand your professional network.

And the best part? It’s completely FREE! Our mentors are dedicated to nurturing the next wave of innovators.

Business Oregon’s 2024 SBIR/STTR Matching Awards: A Boost for Bioscience

In 2024, Business Oregon awarded SBIR/STTR Matching Awards to several companies, with the majority of these awards going to ventures within the bioscience and biotechnology fields.

These awards are crucial for early-stage companies that are often navigating the challenging phases of research, development, and initial commercialization.

The SBIR/STTR Matching Awards by Business Oregon in 2024 highlight the state’s dedication to fostering innovation, supporting small businesses, and driving economic growth, particularly within the high-impact bioscience and biotechnology sectors.

Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
July 11, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Register Here

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Patents are Easy, Selling is Hard
July 23, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Think & Drink Trivia Night
July 30, 2024 | 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Get Tickets Here

Startup Spotlight Expo:
Featuring the Innovative Startups within OBI
September 12, 2024 | 5:00-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Tickets on sale now

Other Community Events

Party in the Pinot
July 20, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Scholls Valley Lodge, Hillsboro
Tickets on Sale Now!

2024 Bend Venture Conference
The largest angel conference in the Pacific Northwest!
October 17-19, 2024
Downtown Bend
Pitch Your Startup–Apply Now!

OBI Client Company Recent Wins

Gamma Diagnostics

• Gamma Diagnostics has been accepted to participate in the University Summer Investment Opportunity (USIO).
• Companies whose core IP comes from OSU, OHSU, UO, and PSU are able to apply for potential investment from premier investors, including: Portland Seed Fund, Elevate Capital, Oregon Venture Fund, ONAMI, Cascade Seed Fund, Willamette Valley Capital, Vital Enterprises, Industrial Technology Investment Corporation, VertueLab, Ideaship, and E8 Angels.
• Potential investments are estimated to be in the $25,000 – $250,000 range.

Caravel

• Caravel Bio has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This prestigious award will fund our pioneering efforts to develop mid and high-throughput engineering methods for heterogeneous biocatalysts.
• During Phase 1, our research will focus specifically on advancing a novel lipase product. This innovative enzyme has diverse applications, including the production of sustainable aviation fuels and the synthesis of pharmaceutical ingredients.
• Our work aims to revolutionize biocatalysis, offering environmentally friendly and efficient solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the biotechnology and chemical industries.

EndoSound

• The EndoSound team recently attended the annual Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in Washington, D.C.  The event attracts over 13,000 GI professionals from industry to physicians.  This was the product launch of the EndoSound Vision System(TM), or EVS(TM) to the community at large and we were busier than we’ve ever been fielding questions and obtaining leads.
• EndoSound has installed the EVS in several locations in the US, and we aim to substantially increase the number of locations by the end of the year.
• Lastly, we continue to expand our footprint at the Macadam facility by adding more storage and R&D space.

Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!

Registration Now Open!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) is designed to support early-stage life and bioscience startups based in Oregon and Southwest Washington by offering investment-readiness education, connectivity within the local bioscience community, and the opportunity to receive an equity investment from local angel investors.

The program is one in a series of Angel Oregon events facilitated by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network in collaboration with Oregon Bioscience Association, Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI, OHSU and Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.

2024 will feature a three-week investment-readiness education series for life and bioscience startups at any stage of development. Cohort 2 launches Thursdays, August 22nd – September 19th.

Biomentoring Program

Expert Guidance: Benefit from insights of seasoned mentors with diverse startup experience.

Tailored Support: Get personalized mentorship to tackle your unique challenges and goals.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and expand your professional network.

Sign up Now!

Are you an entrepreneur, startup enthusiast, or someone with a groundbreaking idea? This is your chance to get insider advice from top-tier investors across various industries. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and learn what it takes to secure investment and propel your business to new heights.

This event will provide a safe and welcoming environment to ask your most pressing questions to seasoned investors.

Join us for an exclusive panel discussion with leading experts in tech, consumer products, med-tech, and sports industries.

• Tech: Discover what’s hot in the tech world and how to catch the eye of tech-savvy investors.
• Consumer Product: Learn what it takes to stand out in a crowded market and bring your consumer product to the forefront.
• Med-Tech: Unveil the key factors med-tech investors look for in a startup and how to navigate the complexities of the healthcare industry.
• Sports-Related: Find out what drives investment decisions in the sports sector and how to pitch your sports-related startup effectively.

Why Attend?

• Pose your burning questions directly to a panel of seasoned investors
• Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and industry leaders
• Gain actionable advice to refine your business strategy and pitch

We are committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive atmosphere. All participants are encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue, and we ask that everyone respects diverse perspectives and experiences.

Register HERE

Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
July 11, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Register Here

Think & Drink Trivia Night
July 30, 2024 | 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Get Tickets Here

Startup Spotlight Expo:
Featuring the Innovative Startups within OBI
September 12, 2024 | 5:00-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Tickets on sale now

Other Community Events

University Lab Partners SBIR/STTR Series
June 12, 2024 | 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Virtual
Registration

Womxn in Tech
June 13 | 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Mineral, Portland
Free to attend – registration

TAO Presents:
Breaking Down Barriers to Care:
Digital Solutions for Behavioral Health Access
June 20, 2024 | 3:00-5:30 p.m.
Reperio Health, Portland
Registration

Welcome to the OBI,
EndoRel Biosciences!

EndoRel Biosciences is developing a novel endosomal release platform for targeted intracellular delivery. Their focus is on cytosolic delivery of RNA therapeutics and therapeutic antibodies or antibody fragments. They work closely with collaborators and customers to improve drug efficacy and safety through better intracellular delivery.

EndoRel is moving into the brand new lab and office in Suite 200 this month. Congratulations to them on their new space!

OBI Client Company Recent Wins

Gamma Diagnostics

• We were awarded a grant from Oregon Health & Science University’s new Oregon Clinical and Translational Institute (OCTRI) Regulatory Consultation and Assistance Program to help fund the development of an FDA 510(k) application for the use of our GPF diagnostic test in cardiovascular disease risk assessment.
• Our latest paper showing world record-high GPF levels in COVID-19 patients is now online.

HTI

• Submitted the NIH SBIR Phase1 grant proposal titled “Volume Electron Microscopy Vision Systems for Tumor Biopsy Analysis”. This is a collaboration between HTI and OHSU/KCI with strong endorsement and letter of support (LOS) from Dr. Gordon Mills, Dr. Joe Gray, Dr. Xubo Song & Jessica Riesterer. Also, received LOS from Thermo Fisher and the Business Oregon Phase 0 matching grant. Volume electron microscopy (vEM) is a rapidly developing technology that holds the promise of determining the structure of cells and their interactions at nanometer scale.
• HTI’s CryoFAST ™, an AI based Autonomous cryo-EM data collection, presented by PNCC at the NIH conference with great support from cryo-EM users.
• CryoFAST’s GTM (go-to-market) product plan being defined with two major channels, including pricing and launch timeline.
• HTI will join the Oregon BIO pavilion at the BIO24 conference on June 3-6 in San Diego, partnering planning in full swing.

Trace Biosciences

• Connor Barth, PhD and Trace Bio won the FastPitch Judge’s Award and a $5000 prize at Life Science Innovation Northwest in April!
• See Connor and his big check in OHSU Innovates’ LinkedIn post.

ESG Brands

• ESG Brands was named one of 35 U.S. Startups to Watch in the Chicago Business Journal.

Vivifi Medical

• Vivifi Medical is making great progress in BPH and early-stage prostate cancer surgery. Read their press release.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals (OBI alumnus)

• Big news for Sparrow: They recently raised $10.2 million for clinical trials for a drug therapy for treat endocrine disorders caused by excess cortisol. Congratulations!

Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!

GAFC Stage One Winners Announced

Oregon Health & Science University’s OCTRI has been named a winner in Stage One of the SBA’s 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition in the Sustainability and Biotechnology category! This prestigious award recognizes OCTRI and Ecosystem Partners’ outstanding efforts in ecosystem building, including the recruitment of new partners and strengthening of existing alliances for a Biotechnology Collective, facilitating biotechnology advances to support undercapitalized entrepreneurs in this sector.

Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI is a proud Ecosystem Partner and contributor on this Stage One submission, along with Oregon Bioscience Association. We look forward to submitting our Stage Two proposal in June with additional Ecosystem Partners and a robust network to support startups.

We also want to congratulate VertueLab for winning a GAFC Stage One award as well, for their Just Climate Tech Transition program. What a way to represent Oregon and the Pacific Northwest!

Read about OHSU’s submission on line 35. and VertueLab’s submission on line 58.

University Summer Investment Opportunity
Deadline May 10

Don’t miss your chance to apply for the University Summer Investment Opportunity by May 10 at midnight. If your startup has IP licensed from Oregon Health & Science University, University of Oregon, Portland State University, or Oregon State University, apply now!

All the details and links are here.

Pre-College Summer Institute at George Fox University

Dates: June 23 – 28

High school students are invited to experience college living and learning at George Fox this summer – and earn college credit in a week-long, immersive biotechnology institute.

Students will learn the basics of biotechnology and explore where this technology will take us. Then, they’ll head into the laboratory to test agricultural products for genetic modification and use CRISPR technology to modify the genome of E. coli to produce an effect visible to the naked eye.

All OBI-members are provided a $500 discount on registration, as thanks for the long-standing partnership between OBI and George Fox.  Use Code: OBI2024

Learn more and register for the Pre-College Summer Institute at: https://www.georgefox.edu/early-college/summer-programs/biotechnology.html

Thermo Fisher Scientific Office Hours
May 16, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Stop by to say hi!

Lunch & Learn with Moss Adams:
R&D Tax Credit – Does Your Company Qualify?
May 22, 2024 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space -OR- Virtual
Free to attend – register in advance

Workshop with Travis Rappleye:
MedTech Product Development 101
June 4, 2024 | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
OBI Suite 200 Conference Room
Details and registration

Startup Spotlight Expo:
Featuring the Innovative Startups within OBI
September 12, 2024 | 5:00-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Tickets on sale now

Other Community Events

OHSU Innovation Day
May 9 | 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Virtual for daytime sessions
Late afternoon at OHSU Auditorium, Portland
Free to attend – registration

University Lab Partners Hybrid Lunch & Learn:
How to Get a Term Sheet in Today’s Investment Climate
May 14, 2024 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Virtual -OR- In-Person in Irvine, CA
Registration

University Lab Partners SBIR/STTR Series
May 22, June 5, and June 12, 2024 | 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Virtual
Registration

OBI Client Company Recent Wins

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• PDX Pharma’s CEO, Dr. Wassana Yantasee, was among eight OHSU researchers inducted into The National Academy of Inventors for 2024.
• PDX Pharma filed a new provisional patent application on their new asset class, which is based on the nanoparticle delivery of cytokines for treating cancer and autoimmune diseases.
• PDX Pharma welcomes a new Research Assistant II, Peter Chang, who received his MS, at UC Berkeley, and worked at ReCode Therapeutics before joining the company.

ProMedix

• ProMedix is one of the Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics‘ 2024 Health Equity FlexGrant winners!
• ProMedix has developed “PeriFRL” – a noninvasive, peripheral blood flow monitor for early detection of septic shock.

Learn more about OBI’s 31 startups by visiting our website!

Life Science Innovation Northwest
April 17-18

Life Science Innovation Northwest (LSINW) is the Pacific Northwest’s largest annual life science conference. This one-and-a-half-day event will bring our life sciences community to discuss and feature some of the most compelling life science breakthroughs of our time.

Registration is open!

Webinar: Understanding How Business
Operations + FDA Regulations Overlap
May 8

In addition to starting and running a typical manufacturing business, MedTech products have additional regulatory requirements such as Quality Management systems, development phases, risk management, document control, and design controls.

OBI Startup Spotlight Expo
September 12

Join us for an evening of innovation and discovery at our inaugural OBI Startup Spotlight Expo! Explore the latest advancements in biotech and life sciences as we showcase the cutting-edge work of OBI’s talented resident company startups.

Enjoy refreshments while mingling with industry leaders, investors, and legislators. The event will take place in our beautiful new event center, providing the perfect backdrop for networking and learning about the future of biotech.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired and connect with the leaders shaping tomorrow’s world. Get your tickets now.

If your company would like to help support this event, please view available sponsorship opportunities.

VertueLab’s NSF SBIR/STTR
Proposal Preparation Series
April 10, 17, 24, and May 1, 2024 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Virtual
Free to attend – registration

OHSU Innovates Speaker Series:
Promoting Inventor Equity in Patenting
April 17, 2024 | 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Virtual
Free to attend – registration

ITHS Biomedical Innovation Fireside Chat Series
April 18, and May 2 | 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Virtual
Free to attend – registration

OBI Quizzy Business Trivia Night!
April 25, 2024 | 5:30-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Space is limited – get tickets now!

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
May 2, 2024 | 5:30-7:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Free to attend – registration required

OHSU Innovation Day
May 9 | 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. and 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Virtual for daytime sessions
Late afternoon at OHSU Auditorium, Portland
Free to attend – registration

OBI Startup Spotlight Expo:
Featuring the Innovative Startups within OBI
September 12, 2024 | 5:00-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Tickets on sale now

OTRADI is Granted $2.5M from Business Oregon as a Center of Innovation Excellence

Centers of Innovation Excellence (CIEs) are a key strategy of Business Oregon’s 10-Year Innovation Plan, and OTRADI has been working diligently over the past two years to transition from the now-dissolved Signature Research Center program into to this new CIE program.

OTRADI was created to help startup companies and researchers in Oregon find funding partners with the goal of attracting, growing, and keeping bioscience companies and jobs in Oregon. In addition to providing incubation for fledgling bioscience companies, OTRADI operates the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (“OBI”) which has also developed a collection of programs that provide essential entrepreneurial education, mentorship, and networking opportunities for both OBI client companies and other bioscience and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. These programs target the specialized needs of entrepreneurs working across a range of bioscience fields including therapeutics, diagnostics, devices, digital health, health IT, and wearables technologies.

In the 2023 – 2025 biennium, OTRADI will continue to operate the OBI as a Bioscience Center of Innovation Excellence. We are grateful to Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council for supporting the bioscience sector and OTRADI as a new Center of Innovation Excellence. This Project was funded in part by the Oregon State Lottery and administered by the Oregon Business Development Department.

OBI Startup Spotlight Expo

Join us for an evening of innovation and discovery at our inaugural OBI Startup Spotlight Expo! Explore the latest advancements in biotech and life sciences as we showcase the cutting-edge work of OBI’s talented resident company startups.

Enjoy refreshments while mingling with industry leaders, investors, and legislators. The event will take place in our beautiful new event center, providing the perfect backdrop for networking and learning about the future of biotech.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired and connect with the leaders shaping tomorrow’s world. Get your tickets now.

If your company would like to help support this event, please view available sponsorship opportunities.

OBI Client Company Wins

Veana Therapeutics

• In February, Veana closed on an additional $400,000 tranche in our Seed 2A Round.
• We also hired Dr. Patricia Beckmann as the new CEO, Dr. Emmanuel Akporiaye will remain with Veana as CSO, appointed Dr. Sandy Shotwell as Board Chair and attracted a new seasoned biotech Board member (Stephen Malaska, J.D., General Counsel at Karius).
• In January we also expanded our clinical trial from U. Washington/FHCRC to now include Providence Cancer Center, Portland, too.  We also enrolled our first Oregon patient in the trial.

Sirona Dx

• Grants received: Working on an SBIR for spatial biology.  We are also focused on applying for state funded grants.
• New hires: Retained a consultant (Eric Breuning, Ph.D.) to drive our effort in applying for government grants.
• New board members: We are excited to have Dr. Carlo Bifulco, Chief Medical Officer @ Providence Genomics, Translational Molecular Pathology, joining our Scientific Advisory Board.
• Recent contracts and partnerships: Sirona is the process of signing a master collaboration agreement with Providence Clinical Research to advance the Sirona cutting-edge technologies which allow us to provide insights and analytical capabilities that were previously unimaginable, offering our clients a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment and the immune system.

Velanidi Technologies

• Velanidi was recently awarded two patents:
• Patent 1: Molecular wire for detecting biological or chemical entities or events
• Patent 2: System, apparatus and method for sensing, detecting and effecting in a micro-to-nano environment

Hemex Health

• Progress on India’s National Health Mission to eliminate sickle cell disease: Hemex has made significant progress since winning its first tender in the Indian state of Odisha. Gazelle has been deployed across 20 districts, involving 520 sites in the state. We’ve successfully trained over 700 doctors and technicians.
• Establishment of the Coimbatore Design Center (CDC): Hemex has opened a new engineering design center, the Coimbatore Design Center, in Coimbatore, India. The CDC is now fully operational with a leadership team in place.
• Hemex awarded a Phase I grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: Hemex Health Inc. has been awarded a Phase I grant to support the development of a 2-minute test for hemoglobinopathies and a test for oxygen affinity.
• Dr. Sulatha Dwarakanath Appointed as VP of Assay Development: With over 25 years of experience in the biotech and diagnostics industry, Dr. Sulatha Dwarakanath joins Hemex and will help speed up assay development, focused on tests that cater to the needs of our growing market.

HTI

• CryoFast™ update and demo to two leading Cryo-EM scope vendors received strong endorsement. GTM (go-to-market) and business planning underway. CryoFast data collection architecture uses deep learning to fully automate Cryo-EM data collection and processing workflow to improve the throughput, accuracy, and cost of structure determination.
• CryoFast will be presented at the April NIH by invitation only event.
• HTI is confirmed to attend the June BIO2024 conference in Oregon Bioscience Association’s Oregon Pavilion.

EndoSound

• Our early launch continues as United Medical Doctors becomes our first, in the state of California, to adopt the EVS at two of their centers. We are honored to be on this journey with such a passionate team; they are dedicated to expanding EUS access with a more affordable EUS system for their patients across several SoCal communities.

Rewire AI

• Awarded a Business Oregon matching grant to focus on market expansion for their AI-powered biomedical image processing technology. Read the Business Oregon press release.

Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Program

Back for its third year, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network‘s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) presents its education and investment program for life and bioscience startups. OBI is a proud partner of this program, which combines:

• 3-week educational series focused on investment readiness for bio startups
• Live pitch practice
• Investment mixer
• Equity investment opportunity

The format has changed slightly from past years, with an even stronger focus on investment readiness.

Registration is open and the first session is March 21 at 8:30 a.m. Don’t miss it!

University Summer Investment Opportunity 2024

Oregon State University, Oregon Health Sciences University, University of Oregon, and Portland State University are excited to announce the University Summer Investment Opportunity 2024!

This opportunity is open to OSU, OHSU, UO, and PSU affiliated companies, defined as:

• Graduates of one of the above university’s accelerator program.
• Companies with intellectual property owned by one of the universities.

Successful applicants will go through a due diligence process and finalists will make a public presentation to the assembled group of investors. Investors will make their own investment decisions and may join with others to pool an investment.

Potential investments are estimated to be in the $25,000 – $250,000 range. Learn more and apply by May 10, 2024.

Pitch Opportunities

Pitch Oregon

Pitch Oregon in 2024 comprises of three distinct pitch competitions, each tailored to cater to the unique needs and challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Washington, Multnomah, Clackamas, and Clark counties. In addition to mentorship, and networking opportunities, entrepreneurs participating in Pitch Oregon can expect equity investments, cash prizes, and access to service providers to support their specific needs.

Entrepreneurs and investors interested in participating in Pitch Oregon can find more information, including eligibility criteria and competition details, on the Pitch Oregon website.

Pegasus Angel Accelerator

Startup Founders! Are you ready to take your startup to the next level? Pegasus Angel Accelerator is thrilled to announce the Lightning Round Pitch Competition. This hybrid event is your chance to win a $500,000 partner package, secure significant funding, and pitch at our investor-only event!

Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to accelerate your startup’s growth in 2024. Apply now and show us what makes your startup stand out!

Do you have pitch opportunities or other events to share with our
newsletter subscribers and on our events calendar?
Submit them here!

TiE Oregon: Panel at the Pub
Funding Stages and Options for Startups
March 12, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.
Golden Valley Brewery, Beaverton
Registration

USPTO Women Entrepreneur
Mentoring Program Webinar
March 13, 2024 | 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Virtual
Free to Attend – Registration

OEN March Pubtalk:
The FoundHER Panel
March 13, 2024 | 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Trova Trip, Portland
Get Tickets

OBI Virtual Lunch & Learn:
Oregon Entrepreneurial Resources Panel
April 3, 2024 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Virtual
Free to Attend – Registration

ITHS Biomedical Innovation Fireside Chat Series
April 4, April 18, and May 2 | 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Virtual
Free to Attend – Registration

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience
Investment-readiness Education Series
March 21, April 4, April 11, 2024 | 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Virtual
Registration

OBI Startup Spotlight Expo
September 12, 2024 | 5:00-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Tickets on Sale Now

OBI Client Company Wins

Sirona Dx

• Expanded headcount with 5 full time new hires in 2023
  • Monica Richmond: Quality Control Manager
  • Matthew Anstett: VP, Business Development
  • Teresa Pham: Director of Global Sales, Biopharma
  • Erik Gerdtsson, PhD: Director of Bioinformatics
  • Kristina Baker, MSc: Principal Scientist
• Sirona secured a government contract (> $500K) with the US Department of Defense to develop a custom ultra-deep immune profiling panel to accelerate the development of vaccines against viral and bacterial pathogens. Great demonstration of the depth of knowledge and dedication of our scientific team.
• Secured contracts for our specialized single cell multi omics and spatial biology capabilities with numerous leading pharma and biotech companies including a $1.4M contract to support a phase 2 clinical trial.
• Sirona is leader in profiling complex biology with single-cell resolution to reveal the next generation of precision biomarker signatures. Our team has developed multiple, propriety immune oncology profiling panels which can accelerate immunotherapy development and distinguish responders vs non-responders. Our team’s leading edge expertise in single cell biology and digital pathology has attracted 9 out of the top 20 global pharma companies (J&J, Gilead, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, AstraZeneca, and Moderna). We are initiating new contracts in 2024 that will triple revenue compared to 2023.
• In addition to maintaining our CLIA accreditation and passing the last 3 audits with Zero Deficiency, our QA team developed and implemented an advanced Quality Management System enabling us to operate under GCLP guidelines and support two Phase 2 clinical trial studies in 2024.  An important aspect of this includes the development of leading edge, validation strategies, enabling our clients to submit single cell biology readouts in FDA submissions.

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• PDX Pharmaceuticals has been selected to receive a $100,000 SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Matching Grant award from Business Oregon. The award will be used for our IP protection, marketing campaign, and fundraising activities.

Hemex Health

• Gazelle was used in an important study in Haiti, published in Blood Advances, that demonstrated that the rate of follow-up visits improved when parents received their child’s sickle cell diagnosis at the point of care.
• Last month, our founders, Patti White and Peter Galen, had the valuable opportunity to present Gazelle to the Chief Minister of Gujarat, a state in India with a high prevalence of sickle cell disease, at India’s prestigious Vibrant Global Investment Summit.
• India’s Sickle Cell Elimination Mission, aimed at screening 70 million people and eliminating sickle cell disease by 2047, has reached a significant milestone. As of now, 10 million people have been screened under the mission. Hemex Health is proud to be a part of the contribution to this achievement.

HTI

• HTI’s  CryoFast™, an ML based solution for cryo-em workflow automation, being tested at PNCC/OHSU with great progress. Getting ready for more testing at NYSBC and other sites.
• Presented HTI investment pitch to few investors with good feedback at JPM2024. Also met few CROs for potential cryo services partnership.
• Dr. Leah Frye joined HTI advisory as Senior Advisor.  Dr. Frye has 40 years of experience in drug discovery with an emphasis on medicinal and computational chemistry.
  • Currently, she is the sole owner of LLFrye Consulting.  In 2001, she co-founded the therapeutics group at Schrödinger. She led the group for 18 years and rose to the level of Vice President before returning to a focus on science as a senior drug designer and scientific advisor for the team. Under Dr. Frye’s leadership, the Schrödinger Therapeutics Group worked with collaborators to put numerous compounds into clinical trials resulting in 2 FDA-approved drugs to date.  Recently, Schrödinger has developed its own internal drug discovery pipeline and currently has 2 compounds in clinical trials.
  • Dr. Frye left Schrödinger in 2023 to form LLFrye Consulting. Prior to Schrödinger, she was a Principal Scientist at Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and before that, she was an Associate Professor of Chemistry with tenure at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
  • Dr. Frye holds a Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. Professional degree in Chemistry from the University of Idaho.  She was an Individual Research Service Award postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
  • Dr. Frye is an inventor on 20 issued US patents plus a number of recent patent applications.

Learn more about OBI’s 32 startups by visiting our website!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience

Back for its third year, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network‘s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) presents its education and investment program for life and bioscience startups. OBI is a proud partner of this program, which combines:

• 3-week educational series focused on investment readiness for bio startups
• Live pitch practice
• Investment mixer
• Equity investment opportunity

The format has changed slightly from past years, with an even stronger focus on investment readiness. More details can be found on Oregon Entrepreneurs Network website –> Registration is now open. Don’t miss it!

Startup Business Essentials

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network has brought back its popular Startup Business Essentials program for entrepreneurs. Enroll in the 5-part series to gain support, insight, and guidance from thought leaders and successful founders.

You may be wondering if your startup is a good fit for this program. All the details are available here, including who might benefit most from Startup Business Essentials.

Registration for the cohort starting March 4 is now open.

Pacific Northwest Pitch Opportunities

Life Science Innovation Northwest

Poster Presentations are an excellent opportunity for early-stage entrepreneurs, research teams, and startups to have one-on-one conversations with other experts in your industry, get feedback about your ideas, and answer questions about your research or work. It could even lead to finding your next investor, employee, or employer!

Seattle Angel Conference

The Seattle Angel Conference (SAC) is a program for growing the startup and angel investor ecosystems in the greater Seattle area. Attend workshops, register your startup in the conference, or inquire about whether Angel Investing is for you. Offers startup workshops, investor conferences, or participate with your company.

Flywheel Investment Conference

Don’t miss out as hundreds of investors, founders, and professionals come together to connect, learn, and develop resources for building companies.

Pitch Oregon

The deadline has passed to apply for the Pitch Oregon investment, but show your support and meet other entrepreneurs and investors by attending Pitch Oregon in April.

Do you have pitch opportunities or other events to share with our
newsletter subscribers and on our events calendar?
Submit them here!

NIH, OCTRI, and OBI Webinar: Entrepreneurial Support
to Advance Your Small Business Health Innovations
February 21, 2024 | 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Virtual
Free – register here

ITHS Biomedical Innovation Fireside Chat Series
February 22, March 7, April 18, May 2 | 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Virtual
Free – register here

OBI Lunch & Learn: IP Law for Scientists
March 6, 2024 | 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Virtual
Free – register here

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour Networking + 
Fireside Chat: Bioethics and Healthcare Decision-Making
March 7, 2024 | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
OBI Event Space – Portland
Space is limited – register soon!

Ringing in the New Year!

Welcome 2024! But before we leave 2023 behind, this end-of-year newsletter features a recap of some of the outstanding and innovative work that our client companies are doing, and their successes along the way. We hope you enjoy sharing in their wins as much as we do.

This end-of year edition of the OBI & OTRADI newsletter also welcomes a returning client company, delivers a special thank you, and lists some awesome upcoming events. Please feel free to share.

We hope you have a peaceful and prosperous 2024.

Client Company Wins in 2023

AirOmatix

• Joined the OBI in June, 2023.
• In September, 2023, AirOmatix was Runner-Up in the Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Pitch Competition. Their pitch focused on how their oxygen concentrating technology could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the need for transporting metal cylinders of oxygen.
• They received the Judge’s Award in the Early Stage Startup category of the Oregon Bioscience Association’s 2023 Innovation Showcase. Their pitch touted the benefits of AirOmatix’s small, quiet, high-flow oxygen concentrating technology over the larger, louder, and lower-flow products on the market.

CANX

• CANX hired Felix Cohen and Killian Anreise to their staff.
• They are developing therapeutics to address iron-related health conditions such as iron overload disease and certain forms of cancer which depend on iron for their growth.

Caravel 

• Caravel won the Tufts University $100k Startup Competition and were semi-finalists for the MIT Climate & Energy Prize in Spring 2023.
• Caravel Bio joined the OBI in August, 2023 with an office and a lab.
• They hired Arushi Kalia as an Engineering Research Associate. Arushi is working on strain engineering and bioprocess development.
• Caravel has joined the SQM Lithium Ventures Accelerator. The Caravel team will be exploring applications of their protein engineering platform in lithium mining, aided by scientists and engineers from SQM. SQM, headquartered in Chile, is a global leader in lithium mining and chemical production.
• They were one of 6 startups selected for the Greentown Go Make with Shell 2023 Program. The Caravel team is proud to announce the company was selected from over 100 applicant companies from around the world to work with Greentown Labs and Shell to develop products for CO2 capture and utilization. As a part of the program, Caravel received $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and will work with mentors and subject matter experts from the Greentown Labs community and Shell to advance Caravel’s Catalytic Biotechnology platform.
• In December, Caravel closed their pre-seed round with a total raise of $1.012M in dilutive and non-dilutive funding.

Endosound

• Received an investment from AGA’s GI Opportunity Fund. Read Business Wire press release here.
• EndoSound Inc., a privately held medical device company developing an endoscopic ultrasound platform to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, today announced the initial closing of its Series A round financing.
• The round is being led by GEO Medtech Venture Fund, a leading healthcare venture capital firm that invests in transformative medical technology, and health solutions companies seeking to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality of life, and drive efficiency of healthcare delivery.
• The financing will support EndoSound’s ongoing research and development and preparations for commercial launch. The EndoSound Vision System (EVS) is designed to eliminate the financial burden of expanding access to care for patients who require an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure.  By attaching the EVS Transducer to a standard upper endoscope found in all hospitals and GI surgery centers, this critical technology becomes available and affordable in more areas of care.
• They successfully closed their series A round of funding, raising $5M, which closed in October.
• EndoSound is now pursuing a Series B round with the goal of raising an additional $12M in funding in anticipation (pending regulatory clearance) of first sales in 1st Q 2024.
• NEW! EndoSound is proud to announce the FDA 510(k) clearance of our EndoSound Vision System® (EVS®) on December 27, 2023. This novel and innovative device enables endoscopists to convert upper GI endoscopes into an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) device. The EVS converts flexible endoscopes from any of the leading manufacturers into a fully functional EUS system providing high quality imaging consistent with today’s leading technology. Moreover, the EVS is significantly less expensive compared to conventional EUS systems.

ESG Brands

• Joined the OBI in June, 2023 and moved into a lab in OBI’s recently built-out suite.
• ESG Brands was awarded acceptance into the Germany supported Global Entrepreneurship Centre (GEC) for scaling start-ups which includes €25,000 in-kind contribution and 10 weeks of supported programming to facilitate growth. The GEC scales innovative companies with sustainable technologies, processes, and business models for impact.
• Raised $200,000 out of the $500,000 goal for 2nd round funding. Targeting to close before the end of July to support scale-up and further development.
• Accomplished successful repeatability trial for their accelerated degumming process.
• Accomplished 90/10 blended silver: a precursor to yarn spinning, and a key milestone in the development process.
• Selected for German-funded impact accelerator, Global Entrepreneurship Centre (GEC) Summer Cohort. 1 of 15 global start-ups chosen by GEC to accelerate scale and funding in order to unlock global impact.
• Successfully online and operating out of OBI Lab space kicking off local Portland IP development at the intersection of farms x chemistry x fashion.
• Ideaship has successfully completed a $100,000 patent equity investment in ESG Brands. Ideaship has been instrumental in supporting their intellectual property (IP) applications and will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping their IP strategy, thereby establishing a robust foundation to facilitate their growth backed by venture capital.
• Secured first customer within the industrial textiles space.
• Successfully consolidated the fiber supply chain to afford faster processing times and expedite the scale-up of their Tempo™ technology.
• ESG Brands was a finalist at Bend Venture Conference in the Impact Competition.
• Recognition for Revitalizing Portland’s Start-up Scene: they’ve gained recognition as a key contributor to the resurgence of the Portland start-up landscape — scaling the world’s next natural fiber to fight climate change, and enable the textile industry to meet climate targets. Check out their feature in the Business Journal: Read more.
• Cover Story and 2-Page Spread: Thrilled to share that their success has been showcased prominently in Portland Business Journal showcasing 2 out of their 5 teammates! They’ve secured a headline cover story and an extensive 2-page spread, amplifying impact and reach.
• Successful Completion of First Scale-Up Trial: Celebrating a major milestone, they have completed ESG’s first scale-up trial with a prominent factory group, demonstrating capability and confidence from within the industry.
• Innovation Highlight: Potable Water MVP from Process Waste: Thrilled to announce the successful creation of their first Minimum Viable Product (MVP): potable water derived from process waste. This breakthrough not only showcases their commitment to sustainable innovation but also highlights the circularity capabilities within their process. Additionally, it demonstrates their ability to create potable water from ESG’s natural fiber banana plant feedstock—an achievement not replicated with any other natural fiber.
• ESG Brands was featured in the “13 Startups to Watch in 2024” special report in the December 15 issue of the Portland Business Journal.
• BANEX™ Yarn! ESG Brands ended the year with their first yarn trial, and it was successful! Immediately after and in an industrial setting, further improvements were seen with impressive results. Next up: more yarn will be run and textile made. For a preview or interest in supporting the growth, please contact ESG Brands.
• Naturally Fire-Retardant Nonwovens! The team tested their most recent nonwoven product and received impressive results: with no fire retardant additives their first nonwoven product is self-extinguishing well under the FMVSS 302 test standard (FMVSS -Federal Motor Vehicle safety standard, flammability test for interior materials on vehicles).

Gamma Diagnostics

• The TAO awards committee nominated Gamma Diagnostics as a finalist for the Technology Company of the Year, Emerging category. The 2023 Oregon Technology Awards was held on May 16, 2023.
• They published a 103-patient COVID-19 study showing that their diagnostic test for gamma prime fibrinogen (GPF) can differentiate between mild/moderately ill patients, severely ill patients, and non-patients better than six other widely-used diagnostic tests. The paper is published here.
• They are thrilled to announce an exclusive distribution agreement and the SAHPRA approval of GammaCoeur™ CVD Risk ELISA Test System with Afri Grow (Pty) Ltd. For more information, see the press release.
• Gamma Diagnostics was awarded a Phase I STTR of $277,710 by the NIH to develop antisense oligonucleotides to regulate GPF levels.

Hemex Health

• Major Successes
  • Gazelle, Hemex Health’s diagnostics platform, was installed in a blood bank of Rotary Blood Bank near Delhi. This is a new application for Gazelle to test donated blood for beta thalassemia.
  • They obtained the first government tender for the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Program from the state of Odisha, one of the 17 states under the program. The Program aims to screen 70 million people and to eliminate sickle cell disease in India by 2047.
  • Gazelle made its debut in Vietnam. Their distributor in Vietnam, Biomedical Vietnam, collaborated with Nghia Lo Regional General Hospital for beta thalassemia screening. Biomedical Vietnam conducted screenings with Gazelle for 48 schoolchildren and individuals of marriage age. The debut was an exciting start for the distributor to showcase Gazelle to subject experts ahead of the nationwide rollout.

• Product Development
  • Hemex is collaborating with MUJN Diagnostics Inc., to develop a diagnostics system that can be used to support patients being treated with alternative therapies for brain health.
  • CEO, Patti White, and Gerrit van Roekel, VP of Business Development, traveled to Ghana to to get input from clinical partners at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital on their new, easy-to-use cartridge that will simplify sample preparation for their sickle cell test.

• New VP of Finance
  • Josh Cyphers has joined Hemex Health as the new VP of Finance at Hemex Health. Josh has held senior roles in both large and startup companies and brings a passion for making a positive social impact.

• Awards and Recognition
  • The company was featured on Business Oregon’s Innovation landing page, under “Oregon Business Solves Challenging Global Disease Testing Issue.”
  • Patti White, CEO of Hemex Health, received an award from Alliance Indus and Fiona Ma (CA State Treasurer) for the strong partnerships with Indian businesses that brought Gazelle, an innovative decentralized point-of-need testing solution, to the market. The award also recognizes Hemex’s significant contribution to the Make in India initiative.
  • Hemex Health won a 3-year $3M NIH grant from the NHLBI to commercialize their Hb Variant test for the US market. Read the press release to learn more about the grant.

• Conferences
  • Hemex Health participated in the 25th MTAR Labcon 2023 Conference in Alibaug, India where sickle cell disease is highly prevalent. It was a valuable chance for the company to interact with delegates from the Raigad region and to gather feedback from those delegates on Gazelle.
  • Patti White, CEO and co-founder of Hemex Health, was asked to speak at the IFC (International Finance Corporation) Global Private Health Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. White talked about the innovation that small companies can bring to global health problems and the potential market opportunities.
  • Peter Galen, Chief Innovation Officer, served as a panelist at Davos Worldwide Summer 2023, a conference focused on designing and implementing global impact initiatives. During the panel, Galen discussed the crucial role that healthcare companies play in eradicating Sickle Cell Disease.
  • Pinecrest Healthcare Ltd, Hemex Health’s distributor in Nigeria, presented Gazelle at the Nigeria Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion conference, outlining Gazelle’s role in facilitating sickle cell disease (SCD) testing in the country to subject matter experts.
  • Peter Galen, Hemex Health’s Chief Innovation Officer, was honored with an invitation to speak at the American Medical Device Summit. Galen ignited discussions on propelling innovation and prioritizing patient-centricity in the global medical device landscape.
  • Patti White, CEO of Hemex Health, participated in the 18th Annual Academy of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Conference (ASCAT) in London. Throughout the conference, Gazelle garnered significant interest from KOLs and field experts due to its capability to facilitate affordable and accessible SCD diagnosis in low-resource areas.
  • Hemex Health participated in the 64th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Haematology & Blood Transfusion, a prominent event in the field of hematology. They were invited to present Gazelle during the lecture on “Next-Generation Integrated, Affordable Point-of-Care Solution for Haemoglobinopathy.” This provided them with a valuable opportunity to engage with hematologists and demonstrate the capabilities of Gazelle.

HTI

• Intel Corp. has asked HTI to benchmark their new Xeon platform with CryoDiscovery™, HTI’s AI-based automation platform for cryo-EM image acquisition and processing.
• Dr. Gabriella Kiss joined the HTI Advisory Board as Senior Advisor. Dr. Kiss brings extensive experience in life science and Business Development to HTI.
• A leading cryo-EM instrument vendor has provided an LOI for integrating CryoDiscovery™, HTI’s AI-based automation platform for cryo-EM image acquisition and processing, with their product.
• The Pacific Northwest Computing Center (PNCC) and OHSU have approved for CryoDiscovery™ field testing.
• ADRx, a drug discovery vendor, has initiated another project for cryo-EM analysis.
• HTI is excited to announce that Dr. Santi Adavani is joining HTI Advisory Board as Senior Advisor. Dr. Adavani brings extensive experience in AI/ML and software product development to HTI.  Read full press release here.
• Attended BIO23 as a co-sponsor of the Oregon Bioscience Association‘s Oregon Pavilion. BIO2023,  BIO International Convention | BIO, is the premier international conference with over 17K attendees representing biotech, pharma and investment companies. Meetings set with over 30+ partners to advance cryo-EM service and software business.
• Successfully finished early CryoDiscovery™ testing at OHSU/PNCC.
• Successfully submitted the Phase 2 matching grant final report to Business Oregon.
• Submitted application, per NSF invitation,  for TCEP, Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships (TECP) supplemental funding.
• Signed Cryo-EM MSA with BASF.
• Advanced partnership project with ADRx toward full completion into 3D model building stage.
• Successfully delivered CryoDiscovery™ presentation at ACA23 (American Crystallographic Association) on July 9 with over 200 attendees.
• Signed MSA (master services agreement) for cryo-EM nanoparticles analysis with path.org, the non-profit funded by the Gates Foundation in Seattle.
• Had over 30 partner meetings at BIO 2023 which resulted in few good sales leads.
• Successfully presented CryoFast™ – an AI-based platform for automating cryo-EM image collection at ACA’23 and M&M’23 – two international microscopy conferences. Met with industry partners and received strong product support from the cryo-EM community.
• Received NSF Phase II supplemental funding to integrate CryoFast™ with the leading cryo-EM camera vendor’s data collection application.
• Welcome Leo Crowder and welcome back Ryan Dehart – two great additions to our development team.
• Signed MSA with a major European chemicals company for cryo-EM structure determination services for agricultural crop protection chemicals project.
• Embarked on a new project using cryo-EM to assess Lipid Nanoparticles with mRNA for a leading non-profit working on scaling Coronavirus vaccine production to developing lower-income countries.
• Due to strong demand for structure-determination services, HTI signed agreement with Kansas University Medical School as the 2nd cryo-EM imaging partner site. The first partner site is U. of Washington cryo-EM center.
• OSU selected HTI for their M.S. AI Capstone project.
• Signed agreement with Miller Nash as HTI legal counsel.
• CryoFast™ alpha testing at OHSU in its final stage with results to be shared with our industry/pharma partners.

Keliomics

• Keliomics was a finalist at the 2023 Oregon Technology Awards which was held on May 16, 2023.
• They were also a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May at Amaterra Winery.
• They kicked off their OncoScreen pilot study in partnership with Legacy Health and enrolled their first patient. This marks the first time an intact breast tumor has been cultured in breast adipose tissue from the same patient.
• Keliomics won a $100,000 investment from ONAMI and a $100,000 investment from Ideaship at the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale in May.
• Keliomics was featured in the Portland Business Journal for their novel approach to targeted cancer treatment.
• New Hire:  Shane Sweeney, Lab Technician.
• New Advisory Board Member:  Andreas Penk, Former President of Pfizer China; Pfizer Oncology EMEA.
• Capital raised in October:  $400k in seed round convertible notes.
• Projects Completed:  McDonnell Lab – Duke, Olzmann Lab – UC Berkeley, Scherer Lab – UT Southwestern.
• Keliomics was featured in the “13 Startups to Watch in 2024” special report in the December 15 issue of the Portland Business Journal.

Madorra

• Holly Rockweiler, Co-founder and CEO of Madorra, was featured on the “If We Knew Now” panel discussion at the Oregon Bioscience Association Biotech Summit.

OmnEcoil Instruments

• OmnEcoil received FDA approval to initiate a clinical trial of their device for simultaneous MRI imaging and biopsying of the prostate.
• They have also subsequently received IRB approval from OHSU for this trial and expect to initiate patient recruitment in the near future.

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• PDX Pharma received continued Phase II SBIR funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to support a novel lung cancer treatment, ARAC-02. Read more here.
• They have received a fast-track SBIR award from the National Cancer Institute, which focuses on development of a drug candidate named PETTRA (PLK1 and EGFR Targeted Therapy and Radiation sensitizer) for lung cancer treatment. The budget is about $2.4M over 3 years. Read more here.
• They have been selected as one of six semi-finalists for the 2023 AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition.
• They were granted a new US patent (11,679,082) on nanoparticle co-delivering broad ranges of mitotic kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• Their EU patent application (16765662.8) on the core Pdx-NP delivery platform received the notice of allowance.
• They received a fundable score on their pending Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) grant application at the NCI. The budget is about $250,000 over 2 years.
• Their drug candidate, ARAC-02, was selected into the Nanotechnology Characterization Lab (NCL)’s collaborative program funded by the NCI.
• They published a review article at SMALL (impact factor 13.3) on the topic of ‘Nanotechnology Applications in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy,’ in a special issue of Nanomedicine for Women’s Health.’ Read more here.

ProMedix

• ProMedix Inc. has been awarded a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant for $250,000.00 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on improving outcomes from sepsis through active digital monitoring of peripheral blood flow.
• They were selected to advance to the final round of Creative Destruction Labs.
• ProMedix was the winner of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network‘s entrepreneurial education and angel investment program Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May! They received the $185,000 AOBIO angel investment, as well as an additional $75,000 investment from ONAMI.
• They published an important paper in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, entitled Evaluation of electronic measurement of capillary refill for Sepsis screening at ED triage.
• They were invited to attend the Creative Destruction Lab Super Session in Toronto, Canada after graduating from their Vancouver, Canada accelerator program.
• ProMedix was featured on page 13 of the OHSU Innovates 2023 Impact Report. Read the report here.

Rewire AI

• Rewire Neuro is now Rewire AI. This change comes as part of a re-energized effort from Rewire to more fully embrace their position as a premier AI company with technology that has application in more markets than just
  neuroscience.
• CSciO, Kristy Lawton, was an invited speaker on OBA’s Bio On The Rocks Artificial Intelligence panel.
• CEO, John Harkness, was an invited speaker on TAO’s Generative AI in Healthcare panel.
• John Harkness was honored to meeting with Senator Ron Wyden and Business Oregon to discuss Oregon’s role in the international marketplace and how we can support trade from Oregon businesses, like Rewire AI.
• Rewire launched the next generation of their image analysis platform, called Polygon AI. This milestone marks the addition of new AI capabilities, advanced multiplex analysis, and 3D image processing.
• They were awarded a Phase I SBIR from NIH NIGMS to develop their patented “AutoML” platform for automated generation of custom AI models.
• Rewire AI was selected as a finalist to pitch in the Life Science Washington Institute “Startup Showcase” and was selected as an NIH SBIR funded startup to pitch and present in the NIH booth at the 2023 HLTH conference in Las Vegas. Additionally, they were invited to pitch at the MedInvest AI conference in Silicon Valley.
• John Harkness was invited to speak with Senator Ron Wyden in the TAO AI Town Hall executive session.
• They secured an additional contract to provide AI capabilities to their largest device partner to-date.
• John Harkness was invited to speak on the “If I Knew Now” panel about challenges faced as a startup founder at the Oregon Bioscience Association Biotech Summit.
• John was also interviewed on the Darwoft “Dare” podcast about Rewire’s efforts to innovate in the biomedical AI space.

Senju Pharmaceutical

• They welcomed Samantha Munoz to their team.
• Senju’s manuscript has been accepted but still in press. They found a cysteine protease, calpain, specific cleaved alpha-spectrin in soft and hard drusen from human donors. This suggests calpain=induced proteolysis participates photoreceptors and RPE cell degeneration during aging and AMD.

Sonivate Medical

• Sonivate Medical, Inc. was invited to SEASON Aesthetic Conference held at George Washington University, Washington, DC in April 2023. This was a gathering of key opinion leaders in dermatology and plastic surgery to discuss the application of ultrasound for cosmetic procedures e.g., facial fillers.
• Besides discussions, there was hands-on using a cadaver lab for injections and several stations for the participants to rotate through including Sonivate’s next generation product.  Sonivate was one of a very few companies invited to present at this research oriented, technical symposium.  The presentation is titled SonicEye Finger Probe Ultrasound System – Meeting Customer Needs through Disciplined Research.

StoneStable

• StoneStable was a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May.

SUTUREGARD Medical

• They released a new product this year called HEMIGARD Interlock, which allows surgical incision closure/support without sutures. A proprietary hook and loop technology from 3M has been incorporated into their existing HEMIGARD design and allows for considerable tension relief at the incision healing edge. This protects skin edge blood flow and optimizes healing and scarring outcomes.
• Their Classic HEMIGARD ASRD (Adhesive Suture Retention Device) is used now in over 230 hospitals in the USA and helps surgeons close high tension or at risk wounds. They envision HEMIGARD Interlock for gentler support in elective surgeries such as joint replacement, bunion correction, cosmetic surgery and other.
• Q1 2023 was their first profitable quarter and hope to build on this momentum and continue to their goal of being self-funding through sales revenue.

Trace Biosciences

• Trace Biosciences welcomed four new team members:
  • Nathan McMahon, Ph.D. – Clinical Project Manager
  • Bryce Timm, Ph.D. – Staff Scientist
  • Grace Hubbel, Ph.D. – Staff Scientist
  • Ge Huang, Ph.D. – Senior Research Associate
• Trace Biosciences was a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience held in May at Amaterra Winery.
• They won a $125,000 investment from ONAMI at the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale.
• Received an investment from the Elevate Innovation Gap Fund.
• Received a $4.1M SBIR award from ARPA-H covering development and clinical translation of their technology for nerve-specific imaging intraoperatively.
• Completed two pre-IND meetings with the FDA and preparing IND package for first-in-human trials spring 2024.
• Presented at Intraoperative Imaging Society meeting in Deer Valley, Utah.
• Won judge’s choice best pitch at OBA Innovation Showcase in the Later Stage category.
• Trace Biosciences was featured on page 8 of the OHSU Innovates 2023 Impact Report. Read the report here.

Vaginal Biome Science

• Joined the OBI in April, 2023 with an office in our brand new office suite. They expanded into two additional office spaces in January, 2024.
• From their website: Together with our strong alliance of partners, we are broadening and accelerating groundbreaking studies into the vaginal biome, pioneering new understanding of the role of the biome as a determinant of vaginal and overall health, and developing new products, solutions, and protocols – redefining decades-old and tired approaches to women’s health.

Veana Therapeutics

• Veana received a $50,000 competitive matching grant from Business Oregon to leverage their Phase 1 SBIR grant.
• Pleased to announce publication of a proof-of-concept study demonstrating that its oral drug, a-TEA-LS (aka VIMO) improves the anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade antibody in pre-clinical models of triple negative breast cancer.
• Veana welcomed Patricia Beckman as CEO.

VitalFlo

• They won PitchOregon’s Life Science & Healthcare category in February.
• VitalFlo was a finalist in May’s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale.

Vivifi Medical

• Vivivi Medical joined the incubator in December 2023.
• Founded in Houston, Texas, they are looking forward to making Oregon their headquarters. Vivivi Medical is developing a permanent solution that reverses Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) through a robotic/laparoscopic procedure.

OBI Alumni Updates

Absci

• Absci recently announced a collaboration with AstraZeneca to deliver an AI-designed antibody as a potential new cancer treatment. Read about it in the Portland Business Journal.
• They’ve also recently partnered with PrecisionLife to work together to discover and develop a shared pipeline of biotherapeutics.

Aronora

• Erik Tucker, PhD, founder and CEO of Aronora received a National Academy of Inventors Fellow award at the National Academy of Inventors Annual Winter Warmer: Celebrating Innovation Excellence in Oregon.
• Aronora recently raised a funding round with investment from New York Blood Center’s venture fund to support their anti-coagulant drug development.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals

• Endocrine Society announced that their Outstanding Innovation Award will recognize Sparrow’s work on a potential new medicine for patients with Cushing’s syndrome, autonomous cortisol secretion, or who rely on long-term glucocorticoid (e.g., prednisone) to control autoimmune diseases and other conditions. Read about the 2024 Laureate Recipients here.
• First patient has been dosed in Sparrow’s Phase 2 clinical trial for autonomous cortisol secretion treatment.
• Dr. David Katz, CSO, was featured on the “If We Knew Now” panel discussion at the Oregon Bioscience Association Biotech Summit.

Synergic Medical Technologies

• Synergic has initiated a clinical trial for the vibrotactile treatment they developed for people with Parkinson’s. The study is posted on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05881460) and their partners at OHSU will start enrolling people soon. They expect the data from this study to enable them to submit to FDA for market clearance.

Congratulations on your hard work and successful endeavors! You’re creating wonderful innovations for healthcare.

Captis Biotechnology Rejoins the OBI

Welcome back to Captis Biotechnology, who rejoined the OBI this month with space in our first floor north wing. Captis has created targeted biosensors and bioimaging agents for cancer and other diseases.

We are pleased to have them return to the incubator!

Thank You for Your Continued Support!

OBI is gearing up for some excellent free entrepreneurial programming this year, designed to support startups of all stages of development across the state. We have monthly Lunch & Learns on all kinds of interesting topics geared toward the life science community, regular Happy Hour networking events, and a robust BioMentoring program.

We are so pleased to be able to bring you these valuable programs and events, and we thank you for your support over the past 10 years since our incubator opened. To help support our upcoming educational offerings, each of our programs has sponsorship opportunities available. We also have Platinum, Gold, and Silver corporate sponsorship packages for a year-long impact.

To continue your support of OBI’s programming with a tax-deductible sponsorship, please take a look at our Sponsorship Kit and contact Rene Miller for sponsorship or questions.

Upcoming Events

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
January 11 | 5:30-7:00 PM
OBI Event Space, Portland
Free but nearly full! Register here

OBI Lunch & Learn: Bootstrapping Social
January 17 | 12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Free – register here

America’s Seed Fund Week
and Virtual Road Tour 2024
January 23 and 24
Virtual
More information here

OHSU Innovates Speaker Series:
Securing Non-Dilutive Funding for Innovative Businesses
January 24 | 9:00-10:00 AM
Virtual
Free – learn more and register

ITHS Biomedical Innovation Fireside Chat Series
Jan 25, Feb 8 & 22, Mar 7, Apr 4 & 18, May 2 | 2:00-3:00 PM
Virtual
Free – register here

Built Oregon Presents PitchBlack 2024
February 7 | 5:30 PM
The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton
Get tickets

Cheers to Winter Celebrations

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator & OTRADI team sends you warm holiday greetings and hopes you have fun and festive winter celebrations with your friends and family. Our offices will be closed December 25 through January 1, and we look forward to seeing you in 2024!

Welcome New Board Members

Our newest OTRADI board members are Jennifer Fox and Amanda Oborne.

Jennifer joined OTRADI as Assistant Director in 2008 and was President & Executive Director from 2013 to 2019. She is currently Director of Network & Outcomes at Autodesk Research, and we are delighted for her return to OTRADI as a board member.

We’re also very excited to welcome Ideaship’s Managing Director Amanda Oborne to our board. Prior to Ideaship, Amanda served as Executive Director for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and VP of Food & Farms at Ecotrust.

Client Company Wins

ESG Brands

• Recognition for Revitalizing Portland’s Start-up Scene: We’ve gained recognition as a key contributor to the resurgence of the Portland start-up landscape — scaling the world’s next natural fiber to fight climate change, and enable the textile industry to meet climate targets. Check out the feature on us in the Business Journal: Read more.
• Cover Story and 2-Page Spread: Thrilled to share that our success has been showcased prominently in Portland Business Journal showcasing 2 out of our 5 teammates! We’ve secured a headline cover story and an extensive 2-page spread, amplifying our impact and reach.
• Successful Completion of First Scale-Up Trial: Celebrating a major milestone, we have completed ESG’s first scale-up trial with a prominent factory group, demonstrating our capability and confidence from within the industry.
• Innovation Highlight: Potable Water MVP from Process Waste: We are thrilled to announce the successful creation of our first Minimum Viable Product (MVP): potable water derived from process waste. This breakthrough not only showcases our commitment to sustainable innovation but also highlights the circularity capabilities within our process. Additionally, it demonstrates our ability to create potable water from ESG’s natural fiber banana plant feedstock—an achievement not replicated with any other natural fiber.
• It’s been an incredible month of accomplishments, and we’re eager to build on this momentum. Stay tuned for more updates on our journey of growth and innovation!

Trace Biosciences

• Trace Biosciences was featured on page 8 of the OHSU Innovates 2023 Impact Report.
• Read the report here.

EndoSound

• We’re happy to report at EndoSound that we successfully closed our series A round of funding, raising $5M, which closed in October.
• We are now pursuing a Series B round with the goal of raising an additional $12M in funding in anticipation (pending regulatory clearance) of first sales in 1st Q 2024.

ProMedix

• ProMedix was featured on page 13 of the OHSU Innovates 2023 Impact Report.
• Read the report here.

Hemex Health

• Gazelle, Hemex Health’s diagnostics platform, was installed in a blood bank of Rotary Blood Bank near Delhi. This is a new application for Gazelle to test donated blood for beta thalassemia.
• Hemex Health obtained the first government tender for the National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Program from the state of Odisha, one of the 17 states under the program. The Elimination Program aims to eliminate sickle cell disease from India by 2047. The initial installation of Gazelle in Odisha was successfully carried out on November 22 at 20 primary healthcare sites, marking the beginning of the installment process for 500 primary healthcare sites.
• Gazelle made its debut in Vietnam. Our distributor in Vietnam, Biomedical Vietnam, collaborated with Nghia Lo Regional General Hospital for beta thalassemia screening. Biomedical Vietnam conducted screenings with Gazelle for 48 schoolchildren and individuals of marriage age. The debut was an exciting start for the distributor to showcase Gazelle to subject experts ahead of the nationwide rollout.

Absci (alumnus)

• Absci recently announced a collaboration with AstraZeneca to deliver an AI-designed antibody as a potential new cancer treatment. Read about it in the Portland Business Journal.

Congratulations on your outstanding achievements!

Vivivi Medical Joins the OBI

Vivivi Medical joined the incubator in December 2023. Founded in Houston, Texas, they are looking forward to making Oregon their headquarters. Vivivi Medical is developing a permanent solution that reverses Benign Prostate
Hyperplasia (BPH) through a robotic/laparoscopic procedure. Learn more at their website and say hello when you see them at the OBI!

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
December Pub Talk: Wrap Party
December 13, 2023
5:15-7:30 PM
Fresh Consulting – Portland
Get tickets here

PDXWIT Presents:
Winter Soiree & Awards Ceremony
December 14, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Cambia Health Solutions – Portland
Free – register here

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
January 11, 2024
5:30-7:00 PM
OBI Event Space – Portland
Free – register here

OBI Lunch & Learn: Bootstrapping Social
January 17, 2024
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Free – register here

OBI Client Company Wins

Trace Biosciences

• Received a $4.1M SBIR award from ARPA-H covering development and clinical translation of our technology for nerve-specific imaging intraoperatively.
• Presented at Intraoperative Imaging Society meeting in Deer Valley, Utah.
• Won judge’s choice best pitch at OBA Innovation Showcase in the Later Stage category.

Senju Pharmaceutical

• We welcomed Samantha Munoz to our team!
• Our manuscript has been accepted but still in press. We found a cysteine protease, calpain, specific cleaved alpha-spectrin in soft and hard drusen from human donors. This suggests calpain=induced proteolysis participates photoreceptors and RPE cell degeneration during aging and AMD.

Rewire AI

• Rewire AI’s CEO, John Harkness, was invited to speak on the “If I Knew Now” panel about challenges faced as a startup founder at the Oregon Bioscience Association Biotech Summit.
• John was also interviewed on the Darwoft “Dare” podcast about Rewire’s efforts to innovate in the biomedical AI space.

AirOmatix

• In September, 2023, AirOmatix was Runner-Up in the Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Pitch Competition. Their pitch focused on how their oxygen concentrating technology could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating the need for transporting metal cylinders of oxygen.
• AirOmatix received the Judge’s Award in the Early Stage Startup category of the Oregon Bioscience Association’s 2023 Innovation Showcase. Their pitch touted the benefits of AirOmatix’s small, quiet, high-flow oxygen concentrating technology over the larger, louder, and lower-flow products on the market.

Caravel 

• Caravel Bio was one of 6 startups selected for the Greentown Go Make with Shell 2023 Program. The Caravel team is proud to announce the company was selected from over 100 applicant companies from around the world to work with Greentown Labs and Shell to develop products for CO2 capture and utilization.
• As a part of the program, Caravel received $15,000 in non-dilutive funding and will work with mentors and subject matter experts from the Greentown Labs community and Shell to advance Caravel’s Catalytic Biotechnology platform.

Madorra

• Holly Rockweiler, Co-founder and CEO of Madorra, was featured on the “If We Knew Now” panel discussion at the Oregon Bioscience Association Biotech Summit.

Hemex Health

• Patti White, CEO of Hemex Health, recently participated in the 18th Annual Academy of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Conference (ASCAT) in London. Throughout the conference, Gazelle garnered significant interest from KOLs and field experts due to its capability to facilitate affordable and accessible SCD diagnosis in low-resource areas.
• Hemex has concluded its participation in the 64th Annual Conference of the Indian Society of Haematology & Blood Transfusion, a prominent event in the field of hematology. We were invited to present Gazelle during the lecture on “Next-Generation Integrated, Affordable Point-of-Care Solution for Haemoglobinopathy.” This provided us with a valuable opportunity to engage with hematologists and demonstrate the capabilities of Gazelle.

Keliomics

• New Hire:  Shane Sweeney, Lab Technician.
• New Advisory Board Member:  Andreas Penk, Former President of Pfizer China; Pfizer Oncology EMEA.
• Capital raised this past month:  $400k in seed round convertible notes.
• Projects Completed:  McDonnell Lab – Duke, Olzmann Lab – UC Berkeley, Scherer Lab – UT Southwestern.

HTI

• Due to strong demand for structure-determination services, HTI signed agreement with Kansas University Medical School as the 2nd cryo-EM imaging partner site. The first partner site is U. of Washington cryo-EM center.
• OSU selected HTI for their M.S. AI Capstone project.
• Signed agreement with Miller Nash as HTI legal counsel.
• CryoFast ™ alpha testing at OHSU in its final stage with results to be shared with our industry/pharma partners.

ESG Brands

• ESG Brands was a finalist at Bend Venture Conference in the Impact Competition.

Aronora (OBI Alumnus)

• Aronora recently raised a funding round with investment from New York Blood Center’s venture fund to support their anti-coagulant drug development.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals (OBI Alumnus)

• First patient has been dosed in Sparrow’s Phase 2 clinical trial for autonomous cortisol secretion treatment.
• David Katz, CSO, was featured on the “If We Knew Now” panel discussion at the Oregon Bioscience Association Biotech Summit.

Congratulations to these outstanding innovators!

CHIPS Act Designates Tech Hubs in Oregon

Congratulations to two Oregon CHIPS and Science Act Tech Hub designees! Led by Oregon State University, the Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub, and Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub were selected as two of the 31 Tech Hubs designated in the U.S.

In addition, Portland State University led a Tech Hubs proposal which received a Strategy Development Grant, so they may continue their plan development in pursuit of a future Tech Hub designation.

OBI is Now on Instagram!

We’re excited to share that we are now on Instagram! Join us on this visual journey where we’ll keep you updated with behind-the-scenes insights into cutting-edge biotechnology, stay up-to-date on engaging events like Lunch & Learns and Accelerate Happy Hour. Find us on Instagram: @OTRADIBio, and discover our state-of-the-art lab facilities, research projects, industry trends, and more.

Equalize: A Pitch Competition to Empower Academic Women Entrepreneurs

Equalize is a comprehensive program designed to take national action around the disparity of women academic inventors forming university startups. Equalize participants receive education, a field-specific mentor, and access to networks that drive new entrepreneurial connections. Equalize candidates can include faculty, postdocs, and grad students in STEM disciplines.

Applications for the 2024 program are now open – more information here.

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour – Last One for 2023!
November 9, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
OBI Event Space – Portland
Free – register now

OBI Lunch & Learn: Startup Project Management Basics
November 14, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Free – register here

PDXWIT & Prosper Portland
November Happy Hour
November 14, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Hotel Lucia – Portland
Register here

2023 Oregon Entrepreneurship Awards
November 16, 2023
5:00-9:00 PM
Portland Center Stage – The Armory
Get tickets

OBI Lunch & Learn: Unlocking the Power of Inclusive Leadership
December 7, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Free – registration now open!

Adrienne Klein Joins the OBI Team

Adrienne Klein, Programs and Operations Specialist, brings a unique blend of skills and experiences to her role at Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI, where she joined the team in October 2023.

Adrienne gained invaluable experience in her previous career in the field of accounting working with start-ups in the Portland area. In her previous role, she was instrumental in providing financial guidance and support to emerging businesses, helping them navigate the complex financial landscape of entrepreneurship. Adrienne’s passion for biotechnology runs deep. Her fascination with the potential of biotech to transform healthcare and improve lives led her to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health at Southern New Hampshire University.

As Programs and Operations Specialist, Adrienne is dedicated to creating an environment where innovation can flourish, resources are readily available, and strategic guidance is within reach for biotech start-ups. She manages day-to-day operations, facilitates networking and collaboration among biotech entrepreneurs, and coordinates essential programs and resources to propel innovative biotechnology ventures forward.

Welcome, Adrienne – we are thrilled to have you onboard!

OBI Client Company Wins

AirOmatix

• In September, 2023, AirOmatix was Runner-Up in the Cascadia CleanTech Accelerator Pitch Competition.

ESG Brands

• Ideaship has successfully completed a $100,000 patent equity investment in ESG Brands. Ideaship has been instrumental in supporting our intellectual property (IP) applications and will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping our IP strategy, thereby establishing a robust foundation to facilitate our growth backed by venture capital.
• Secured our first customer within the industrial textiles space.
• Successfully consolidated the fiber supply chain to afford faster processing times, and expedite the scale-up of our Tempo™ technology.

Rewire AI

• Rewire AI was awarded a Phase I SBIR from NIH NIGMS to develop Rewire’s patented “AutoML” platform for automated generation of custom AI models.
• Rewire AI was selected as a finalist to pitch in the Life Science Washington Institute “Startup Showcase” and was selected as an NIH SBIR funded startup to pitch and present in the NIH booth at the 2023 HLTH conference in Las Vegas. Additionally, Rewire AI was invited to pitch at the MedInvest AI conference in Silicon Valley.
• Rewire AI’s CEO, John Harkness, was invited to speak with Senator Ron Wyden in the TAO AI Town Hall executive session.
• Rewire AI secured an additional contract to provide AI capabilities to their largest device partner to-date.

Caravel 

• Caravel hired Arushi Kalia as an Engineering Research Associate. Arushi will be working on strain engineering and bioprocess development.
• Caravel has joined the SQM Lithium Ventures Accelerator. The Caravel team will be exploring applications of their protein engineering platform in lithium mining, aided by scientists and engineers from SQM. SQM, headquartered in Chile, is a global leader in lithium mining and chemical production.

Hemex Health

• Patti White, CEO of Hemex Health, received an award from Alliance Indus and Fiona Ma (CA State Treasurer) for the strong partnerships with Indian businesses that brought Gazelle sickle cell test, an innovative decentralized point-of-need testing solution, to the market. The award also recognizes Hemex’s significant contribution to the Make In India initiative.
• Peter Galen, Chief Innovation Officer of Hemex Health, was honored with an invitation to speak at the American Medical Device Summit. Peter ignited discussions on propelling innovation and prioritizing patient-centricity in the global medical device landscape.
• In Q3, HemexDx, the subsidiary of Hemex Health in India, conducted demonstrations in states like Tamil and Odisha. These demonstrations, attended by relevant government officials, showcased Gazelle’s performance and bolstered Hemex Health’s progress in pursuing government tenders in India.

Keliomics

• Keliomics was featured in the Portland Business Journal for their novel approach to targeted cancer treatment.

Congratulations on these outstanding wins!

OBI Sponsors Saturday Academy Apprenticeships

Saturday Academy offers an Apprenticeship in Science and Engineering (ASE) each year. Acceptance into the program is a competitive process for high-school students, who work with engineers, scientists, and technology professionals full-time for 8 weeks during the summer.

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator is a proud supporter of this program. We just received lovely thank you letters from the 2023 ASE interns we sponsored. These students expressed how much the ASE program meant to them and how much they gained throughout the process and will carry forward to their future endeavors.

Thank you to Saturday Academy for offering this and other career exploration programs to spark curiosity in future scientists and leaders.

OBI Lunch & Learn: Streamlining DEI with
Inclusive Hiring and Retention Tools
October 11, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Hybrid
Last chance to register!

Oregon Bio Biotech Summit 2023
October 25, 2023
1:00-7:30 PM
Twist Bioscience – Wilsonville
Get tickets

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour
November 9, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
OBI Event Space
Save the date!

OTRADI Welcomes New Board Members

We are thrilled to welcome Ramsey and Karl to OTRADI’s Board of Directors:

Karl Mundorff, Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Oregon State University

Ramsey Cox, Founder of Ramsey Cox Media Relations and Public Affairs

OBI Client Company Wins

Rewire AI

• Rewire AI’s CSciO, Kristy Lawton, was an invited speaker on OBA’s Bio On The Rocks Artificial Intelligence panel.
• Rewire AI’s CEO, John Harkness, was an invited speaker on TAO’s Generative AI in Healthcare panel.
• John Harkness was honored to meeting with Senator Ron Wyden and Business Oregon to discuss Oregon’s role in the international marketplace and how we can support trade from Oregon businesses, like Rewire AI.
• Rewire launched the next generation of their image analysis platform, called Polygon AI. This milestone marks the addition of new AI capabilities, advanced multiplex analysis, and 3D image processing.

Trace Biosciences

• Received an investment from the Elevate Innovation Gap Fund.
• Trace Biosciences is creating imaging agents for surgery that highlights nerves to eliminate surgical nerve damage.

Gamma Diagnostics

• We are thrilled to announce an exclusive distribution agreement and the SAHPRA approval of GammaCoeur™ CVD Risk ELISA Test System with Afri Grow (Pty) Ltd. For more information, see our press release.
• We were awarded a Phase I STTR of $277,710 by the NIH to develop antisense oligonucleotides to regulate Gamma Prime Fibrinogen levels.

Hemex Health

• Our CEO, Patti White, and Gerrit van Roekel, VP of Business Development, traveled to Ghana to show our new, easy-to-use cartridge that will simplify sample preparation for our sickle test to clinical partners at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
• Pinecrest Healthcare Ltd, our distributor in Nigeria, presented Gazelle at the Nigeria Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion conference, outlining Gazelle’s role in facilitating Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) testing in the country to subject matter experts.

HTI

• Successfully presented CryoFast ™ – an AI-based platform for automating cryo-EM image collection at ACA’23 and M&M’23 – two international microscopy conferences. Met with industry partners and received strong product support from the cryo-EM community.
• Received NSF Phase II supplemental funding to integrate CryoFast ™ with the leading cryo-EM camera vendor’s data collection application.
• Welcome Leo Crowder and welcome back Ryan Dehart – two great additions to our development team.
• Looking to fill an opening for a Sr. Development AI/ML Engineer (see job description here).
• Signed MSA with a major European chemicals company for cryo-EM structure determination services for agricultural crop protection chemicals project.
• Embarked on a new project using cryo-EM to assess Lipid Nanoparticles with mRNA for a leading non-profit working on scaling Coronavirus vaccine production to developing lower-income countries.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals (Alumnus)

• Endocrine Society announced that their Outstanding Innovation Award will recognize Sparrow’s work on a potential new medicine for patients with Cushing’s syndrome, autonomous cortisol secretion, or who rely on long-term glucocorticoid (e.g., prednisone) to control autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
• Read about the 2024 Laureate Recipients here.

Enroll by September 14 for the OCTRI BIP Corp

This 6-week I-Corps short course offers a new approach to accelerate the translation of discoveries from lab to clinical practice. Based on the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-CorpsTM) program, BIP Corp is an evidence-based experience that will take you out of your comfort zone to connect with potential customers and provide you with a competitive business case for future funding, partnership and translational science opportunities.

Clinicians, scientists, postdocs, graduate students, engineers and entrepreneurs with an early stage idea. Teams (2+) encouraged.

In this course, you will:

• Determine the commercial viability of your idea
• Develop a successful business case to secure funding and attract collaborators
• Meet with biomedical and business startup experts for advice and feedback
• Expand your innovation network
• Further your research idea and gain preliminary data for grant and SBIR/STTR proposals

Wednesdays, September 20-October 25
9:00-11:00 AM
Virtual format
Free for OHSU and non-OHSU participants

Course details and schedule information
Enroll by Sept 14th

OBI Virtual Lunch & Learn: FDA Submissions –
Best Practices for Early Stage Startups
September 20, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register now!

OBI Virtual Lunch & Learn:
Oregon InC’s SBIR Support Programs
September 27, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register now!

OBI Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
October 5, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
OBI Event Space, Portland
Registration now open!

OBI Lunch & Learn: Streamlining DEI with
Inclusive Hiring and Retention Tools
October 11, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
OBI Event Space, Portland
Registration now open!

Oregon Bio Biotech Summit 2023
October 25, 2023
1:00-7:30 PM
Twist Bioscience – Wilsonville
Get tickets

You’re Invited to Celebrate OTRADI’s 15th Anniversary

Join us for a celebration: 15 years of OTRADI and 10 years of the Oregon Bioscience Incubator!
September 14, 2023 from 5pm – 8pm

You are invited to attend OTRADI’s 15-Year Anniversary and OBI’s 10-Year Anniversary Celebration at the grand opening of OBI’s event space. We’re inviting the entire bio and startup entrepreneurship community, as well as legislators, partners, collaborators and supporters, to attend and celebrate 15 years of bio-research and startup accomplishments for our OTRADI/OBI community.

Come learn about the amazing work our researchers, entrepreneurs and startups have been engaged in for the past 15 years in Oregon. You’ll enjoy sparkling conversation, food, and beverages at the launch of our new event space.

Get tickets!

Premier Sponsors:

• PhRMA – Building a Better Health Care System
• HP – Here at HP we are committed to innovating and reinventing your digital life

Ambassador Sponsors:

• Absci – Creating Drugs at the Speed of AI
• Geffen Mesher – Providing financial statement audits, tax compliance and consulting services
• The Commerce Bank of Oregon – An Exceptional Business Bank

Food & Beverage Sponsors:

• JLL – Portland Commercial Real Estate Services
• George Fox University – This is Joy

Sponsorship opportunities still available. Inquire here.

OBI Client Company Wins

CANX, LLC

• CANX recently hired Felix Cohen to their staff.
• They are developing therapeutics to address iron-related health conditions such as iron overload disease and certain forms of cancer which depend on iron for their growth.
• CANX’s lab is located at OBI.

ESG Brands

• Selected for German-funded impact accelerator, Global Entrepreneurship Centre (GEC) Summer Cohort. 1 of 15 global start-ups chosen by GEC to accelerate scale and funding in order to unlock global impact.
• Proud to announce we have secured partnership and funding from GTT Group’s Ideaship Fund focused on accelerating growth through IP strategy and we invite you to contact chase.kahmann@theESGbrands.com to learn more.
• Successfully online and operating out of OBI Lab space kicking off local Portland IP development at the intersection of farms x chemistry x fashion.

Hemex Health

• Hemex Health welcomes Stacey Kuo as their new Marketing & Communications Manager.
• Peter Galen, Chief Innovation Officer, served as a panelist at Davos Worldwide Summer 2023, a conference focused on designing and implementing global impact initiatives. During the panel, Peter discussed the crucial role healthcare companies play in eradicating Sickle Cell Disease.
• We are thrilled to announce that Josh Cyphers has joined us as the new VP of Finance at Hemex Health. Josh has held senior roles in both large and startup companies, and brings a passion for making a positive social impact.

OCTRI Biomedical Innovation Commercialization Readiness Program

This 6-week I-Corps short course offers a new approach to accelerate the translation of discoveries from lab to clinical practice. Based on the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-CorpsTM) program, BIP Corp is an evidence-based experience that will take you out of your comfort zone to connect with potential customers and provide you with a competitive business case for future funding, partnership and translational science opportunities.

Clinicians, scientists, postdocs, graduate students, engineers and entrepreneurs with an early stage idea. Teams (2+) encouraged.

In this course, you will:

• Determine the commercial viability of your idea
• Develop a successful business case to secure funding and attract collaborators
• Meet with biomedical and business startup experts for advice and feedback
• Expand your innovation network
• Further your research idea and gain preliminary data for grant and SBIR/STTR proposals

Wednesdays, September 20-October 25
9:00-11:00 AM
Virtual format
Free for OHSU and non-OHSU participants

Course details and schedule information
Enroll by Sept 14th

Now Open – 2023 BVC Applications

Are you a founder who is ready to take your company to the next level? If so, Bend Venture Conference wants to hear from you! For the past 20 years, the Bend Venture Conference (BVC) has been the premier angel conference in the Pacific Northwest, making a difference in Central Oregon and beyond. In addition to funding opportunities, participants make meaningful connections with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, top fund managers, and business leaders. Applications to participate and pitch at BVC 2023 are now open!

This exceptional event offers three categories of competition: Growth Stage, Impact and Early Stage. Applicants can apply from anywhere, but must commit to attending the conference in person on October 19 and 20, 2023.

Investor Match is Seeking Founders

A message from InvestorMatch:

InvestorMatch.ai is designed to eliminate the constant noise created when searching, qualifying funders and matching them to your funding needs. Our onboarding processes is comprehensive using machine learning and natural language processing, which translates to less meetings, less time and most importantly, better quality connections that lead to successful engagements.

And …. yes it’s free to founders.

Our database of international funders, private, public and commercial, is one of the largest. We specifically make the introduction to your ideal funder using your criteria. No more wondering ”do they get us” but rather curated introductions to the right people, at the right time, with the right resources.

InvestorMatch.ai is without charge have you join our platform in exchange for your feedback. Finding the right opportunities is all about qualification, with great data, that’s our mission.

Ready to get funded by a firm that understands you, your product or service and is eager to move forward ? Log in to: app.InvestorMatch.ai and let’s find you funding.

PIE Demo Day 2023
August 10, 2023
4:00-6:00 PM
The Redd on Salmon St. – Portland
Virtual option too!
Register here

Founders Investing in Founders Happy Hour
August 16, 2023
4:00-6:00 PM
TrovaTrip – Portland
Register now

Oregon Bio Women CONNECT 2023
August 17, 2023
5:00-8:00 PM
Genentech – Portland
Get tickets

Careers in Science Communication Webinar
August 23, 2023
2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific)
Virtual
Register – free

PDXWIT Presents: Game Night Summer Soiree
August 24, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Autodesk – Portland
Free to attend – register here

OBI Client Company Wins

HTI:

• Successfully delivered CryoDiscovery™ presentation at ACA23  ( American Crystallographic Association) on July 9 with over 200 attendees.
• Signed MSA (master services agreement) for cryo-em nanoparticles analysis with path.org, the non-profit funded by the Gates Foundation in Seattle.
• Had over 30 partner meetings at BIO 2023 which resulted in few good sales leads.

ESG Brands

• Awarded acceptance into the Germany supported Global Entrepreneurship Centre (GEC) for scaling start-ups which includes €25,000 in-kind contribution and 10 weeks of supported programming to facilitate growth. The GEC scales innovative companies with sustainable technologies, processes, and business models for impact.
• Raised $200,000 out of the $500,000 goal for 2nd round funding. Targeting to close before the end of July to support scale-up and further development.
• Accomplished successful repeatability trial for their accelerated degumming process.
• Accomplished 90/10 blended sliver: a precursor to yarn spinning, and a key milestone in the development process.

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• We were granted a new US patent (11,679,082) on nanoparticle co-delivering broad ranges of mitotic kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors.
• We received the phase I portion ($400K/1 year) of our fast-track SBIR award from the NCI focusing development of a new radiation sensitizer based on our nanoparticle platform.

Hemex Health

• We were awarded a $3M NIH grant to bring the Gazelle Hb Variant Test for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) to the U.S. market.
• The Hb Variant Test, one of the tests supported by the Gazelle diagnostic platform, can detect SCD and beta thalassemia – genetic blood disorders that can result in debilitating pain, disability, severe complications or death.

Oregon Startups – Need Advice?

We have a network of BioMentors who are available to provide short-term pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. Our BioMentors have valuable expertise in a wide range of business topics that are integral to the success of early-stage life science companies, including:

ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS PLANS, DIGITAL HEALTH, GOVERNMENT FUNDING, HEALTH IT
LEGAL/IP, LICENSING, MACHINE LEARNING/AI, MANAGEMENT, MANUFACTURING
MARKET ANALYSIS, MARKETING, PRIVATE FUNDING, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, REGULATORY/FDA

For more information and assistance, fill out this form and we’ll match you with a BioMentor who can help.

Now Open – 2023 BVC Applications

Are you a founder who is ready to take your company to the next level? If so, Bend Venture Conference wants to hear from you! For the past 20 years, the Bend Venture Conference (BVC) has been the premier angel conference in the Pacific Northwest, making a difference in Central Oregon and beyond. In addition to funding opportunities, participants make meaningful connections with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, top fund managers, and business leaders. Applications to participate and pitch at BVC 2023 are now open!

This exceptional event offers three categories of competition: Growth Stage, Impact and Early Stage. Applicants can apply from anywhere, but must commit to attending the conference in person on October 19 and 20, 2023.

MedX@Düsseldorf!

November 13^th to 16^th 2023, the world’s largest trade show for the health industry will take place in Düsseldorf, Germany. MEDICA’s Start-up Park is the global meeting point for digital pioneers and the place where young companies can boost their business.

The office of Economic Development Düsseldorf organizes for the third year in a row the MedX@Düsseldorf competition – an incredible and unique opportunity for startups in the MedTech industry to take their success to new heights.

This is the perfect occasion for Startups to connect with new, international partners, to meet decision makers and to gain visibility on the health market. This could be the first or next big step towards internationalization.

On top of the booth, startups can look forward to a tailored MedTech workshop with insights of the European Market and the local ecosystem.

Further information as well as the application form can be found on the following website: www.duesseldorf.de/medx.

The application deadline is August 4. We look forward to receiving innovative and promising ideas from the MedTech industry.

Biomedical Entrepreneurship Fireside Chat
July 13, 2023
2:00-3:00 PM
Virtual
Free to attend – register here

PDXWIT Presents: July Happy Hour
Data & Algorithmic Justice
July 18, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Free to attend – register here

Scismic Webinar: U.S. Visa and Immigration
Options for International Scientists and Researchers
July 18, 2023
2:00-3:00 PM (Pacific)
Virtual
Free registration

Technology Association of Oregon
Party in the Pinot
July 22, 2023
5:00-9:30 PM
Scholls Valley Lodge – Hillsboro
Get tickets

Women in Science PDX
Resume Feedback Mixer
July 26, 2023
6:00-8:30 PM
Lucky Lab Beer Hall – Portland
Free to attend – register here

Oregon Bio: Bio on Tap
July 27, 2023
5:00-8:00 PM
McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse – Hillsboro
Get tickets

PIE Demo Day 2023
August 10, 2023
4:00-6:00 PM
The Redd on Salmon St. – Portland
Register here

It’s OTRADI’s 15th Anniversary!

A message from Executive Director, Heather Ellis:

We are excited to be celebrating 15 years of OTRADI and 10 years of the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI). I would like to thank all the Oregonians who have supported the work that we do at the OBI.  For those who don’t know our background, OTRADI is a non-profit institute primarily funded by the state of Oregon via grants administered by Business Oregon.

OTRADI and the OBI are 100% driven by our mission, which is to fuel the economic development of Oregon’s bio industry by translating innovative research into the next generation of products and companies that benefit health and create high-wage jobs for Oregon.

In a recent economic impact survey of the 18-year period between 2002 and 2020, total bioscience employment in Oregon increased 85% (+5,270 jobs), total wages increased 215% (+$593.4 million), and average annual wages increased 71% (+$31,340). Oregon’s 1,480 life science firms and leading academic and research institutions generated a total economic impact of almost 66,000 jobs and $15.7 billion in output in 2020. (Association, 2022)

Since OTRADI’s inception in 2008, we have done our best to listen to the needs of these startups and we have evolved and responded to these needs by building our facility and developing programs to help build and advance the bio startup community in Oregon.  OTRADI has evolved over the past fifteen years from a research institute, which was what was sorely needed at that time, into—ten years ago—building out and opening the Oregon Bioscience Incubator—the state’s first and only bio-focused startup hub.

In 2013, when we opened the doors of the OBI, we started with six startup companies. In response to overwhelming demand, we have expanded throughout the years, and we are now home to thirty-two startup companies working on innovative new drugs, medical devices, and digital health IT products.

Our goal was simple—do everything in our power to make it easier for scientists to take the plunge and launch and grow their own startup companies here in Oregon.

Bio startups are different than other startups.  Before they can bring their health and wellness products to market, they must overcome the high bar set by the FDA— which requires specialized space, highly trained personnel, a long timeline, and lots of investment. We heard this, and the OBI responded by building our incubator to be a physical home with labs and specialized equipment for startups.

Bio startups also need a robust network of mentors, advisors and investors to succeed. We heard this, and the OBI responded by creating the state’s first BioMentoring network, made up of more than 120 professionals willing to donate their valuable time to help bio-entrepreneurs across the State succeed.

Bio startups also need entrepreneurial support and a community of public and private organizations to help them grow.  We heard this, and the OBI responded by building strong partnerships and collaborations with the state’s research universities and support organizations, including Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Bioscience Association, Technology Association of Oregon, Oregon Entrepreneur Network, Portland State Business Accelerator, private venture capital funds, angel investment groups, developers, and more. We thank these key partners for their hard work and long-time support of our bio startup community.

Although I am biased, I truly believe that the OBI holds the state’s most innovative and promising startup companies. Every day at the OBI, is about showcasing and advancing our 32 startup companies’ work, so please let me take a moment to brag on their behalf.

In the past 15 years, the state’s investment in the OBI has allowed our startups to raise $685M in federal and private funding, generate $85M in revenue, and create 871 jobs. I am more than proud of our startups’ return on investment for Oregon, and we’re just getting started.

We see incredible promise on the horizon.  The OBI will be here to listen and to respond to the evolving needs of our bio startup community as they catapult Oregon into the international spotlight with their innovative work.

Please let me thank the most important people within our organization.  Thank you to OTRADI’s esteemed board of directors; to our two Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Bill Newman and Gordon Hoffman; and to OTRADI’s small but mighty staff, including Rene Miller, Susan Thompson, and Sarah Vivian.

Finally, let me thank the immensely talented companies that currently reside at the OBI:

AirOmatix

Buchanan Science

CANX LLC

Circumvent Pharmaceuticals

EndoSound

ESG Brands

Gamma Diagnostics

GenerX

Health Technology Innovations

Hemex Health

Keliomics

Madorra

NeuvaRx

OmnEcoil Instruments

PDX Pharmaceuticals

ProMedix

Qtonics

Refeyn

Rewire Neuro

RxHomeTest

Senju

Sirona Dx

Sonivate Medical

StoneStable

Suturegard Medical

Thaena

Trace Biosciences

Vaginal Biome Science

Veana Therapeutics

Velanidi Technologies

Virogenomics BioDevelopment

VitalFlo

We truly believe that Oregon entrepreneurs will drive the next generation of breakthroughs to improve lives.  Thank you for your collaboration and support over the past fifteen years, and we look forward to your continued support as partners in these exciting days to come.

References:
Oregon Bioscience Association. (2022). Oregon’s Bio Boom 2022 Economic Impact Report. https://www.oregonbio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022FinalEIR_Full.pdf

Welcome to the OBI
AirOmatix and ESG Brands

AirOmatix is developing the only portable oxygen concentrator for high-flow oxygen patients, freeing them from bulky oxygen cylinders.  Our novel, patent-pending technology will also enable us to develop low-flow oxygen concentrators that are smaller and quieter than existing options.

ESG Brands is a sustainable technology company operating in the materials science space with agricultural waste as feedstock. ESG Brands core technology is a green chemistry based degumming process for the textile industry–clothing and footwear, home textiles, and technical textiles–converting agricultural waste into cotton 10x faster than conventional processes with potable water as a byproduct. In addition, the company is active in sustainable manufacturing and the broader materials science space: food and beverage, and next-gen bio-synthetics. ESG Brands believe that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is essential for a sustainable future, and are committed to using business to make a positive impact on the planet. The first materials product from ESG will be marketed as BANEX, the world’s next natural fiber, from the daily waste streams at banana plantations.

AirOmatix and ESG Brands join the OBI on June 15, 2023. Let’s give them a warm welcome!

OBI Client Company Wins

ProMedix, Inc.:

• ProMedix was the winner of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network‘s entrepreneurial education and angel investment program Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May! They received the $185,000 AOBIO angel investment, as well as an additional $75,000 investment from ONAMI.
• They published an important paper in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, entitled Evaluation of electronic measurement of capillary refill for Sepsis screening at ED triage.
• ProMedix has been invited to attend the Creative Destruction Lab Super Session in Toronto, Canada after graduating from their Vancouver, Canada accelerator program.

VitalFlo:

• VitalFlo was a finalist in May’s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale.

SUTUREGARD Medical:

• At SUTUREGARD Medical, we released a new product this year called HEMIGARD Interlock, which allows surgical incision closure/support without sutures.  A proprietary hook and loop technology from 3M has been incorporated into our existing HEMIGARD design and allows for considerable tension relief at the incision healing edge.  This protects skin edge blood flow and optimizes healing and scarring outcomes.
• Our Classic HEMIGARD ASRD (Adhesive Suture Retention Device) is used now in over 230 hospitals in the USA and helps surgeons close high tension or at risk wounds.  We envision HEMIGARD Interlock for gentler support in elective surgeries such as joint replacement, bunion correction, cosmetic surgery and other.
• Q1 2023 was our first profitable quarter and we hope to build on this momentum and continue to our goal of being self funding through sales revenue.

Trace Biosciences:

• Trace Biosciences won a $125,000 investment from ONAMI at the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale in May.

Gamma Diagnostics:

• We published a 103-patient COVID-19 study showing that our diagnostic test for gamma prime fibrinogen (GPF) can differentiate between mild/moderately ill patients, severely ill patients, and non-patients better than six other widely-used diagnostic tests.
• The paper is at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10147444/.

Keliomics:

• Keliomics won a $100,000 investment from ONAMI and a $100,000 investment from Ideaship at the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale in May.

HTI:

• Attended BIO23 as a co-sponsor of the Oregon Bioscience Association‘s Oregon Pavilion. BIO2023,  BIO International Convention | BIO, is the premier international conference with over 17K attendees representing biotech, pharma and investment companies. Meetings set with over 30+ partners to advance cryo-em service and software business.
• Successfully finished early CryoDiscovery ™ testing at OHSU/PNCC.
• Successfully submitted the Phase2 matching grant final report to Oregon Business.
• Submitted application, per NSF invitation,  for TCEP, Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships (TECP) supplemental funding,
• Signed Cryo-EM MSA with BASF
• Advanced partnership project with ADRx toward full completion into 3D model building stage

StoneStable:

• StoneStable was a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May.

Synergic Medical Technologies (alumnus):

• Synergic has initiated a clinical trial for the vibrotactile treatment we have developed for people with Parkinson’s. The study is posted on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05881460) and our partners at OHSU will start enrolling people soon. We expect the data from this study to enable us to submit to FDA for market clearance.

OBI’s BioMentors Offer Free Help for Oregon Startups

We have a network of over 120 BioMentors who are available to provide short-term pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. Our BioMentors have valuable expertise in a wide range of business topics that are integral to the success of early-stage life science companies, including:

For more information and assistance, fill out this form and we’ll match you with a BioMentor who can help.

Office Space for Your Bioscience Startup

If you have a bioscience or health innovation startup and need office space, come talk to us! We operate the only bioscience-focused incubator in Oregon, with private offices, private labs, co-working space, and shared labs for startups in bioscience – including digital health, medical devices, AI/ML, diagnostics, therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and more! We have brand new office spaces available now.

Submit your facility inquiry here and let’s schedule a time to talk.

Health Tech Forum:
Care Beyond the Provider’s Office
June 15, 2023
3:00-5:30 PM
Google – Portland
Free to attend – register here

PDXWIT Presents:
Pride Happy Hour
June 20, 2023
5:30-7:30 PM
DAT Freight & Analytics – Portland
Free to attend – register here

2023 Invent Oregon Collegiate Challenge Finals
June 22, 2023
1:30-6:00 PM
Redd East – Portland
Free to attend – get tickets

Angel Oregon Tech Finale & Innovation Showcase
June 22, 2023
3:00-7:00 PM
Jupiter NEXT – Portland
Get tickets here

Oregon Bioscience Incubator
Happy Hour Networking
July 6, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
River Forum Outdoor Patio – Portland
Free to attend – register here

OBI Client Company Wins

Rewire AI:

• Rewire Neuro is now Rewire AI. This change comes as part of a re-energized effort from Rewire to more fully embrace their position as a premier AI company with technology that has application in more markets than just
  neuroscience.

StoneStable:

• StoneStable is a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience. Finale will be held on May 17 at Amaterra Winery.

PDX Pharmaceuticals:

• PDX Pharmaceuticals has received a Notice of intent to fund a fast-track SBIR application from the National Cancer Institute, which focuses on development of a drug candidate named PETTRA (PLK1 and EGFR Targeted Therapy and Radiation sensitizer) for lung cancer treatment. The budget is about $2.5M over 3 years.
• PDX Pharmaceuticals has been selected as one of seven semi-finalists for the 2023 AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition. The winner will receive up to $1 million investment.

VitalFlo:

• VitalFlo is a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience. Finale will be held on May 17 at Amaterra Winery.

Health Technology Innovations (HTI):

• Health Technology Innovations, Inc. (HTI) is excited to announce industry veteran Dr. J. Brad Pesavento has joined the company as its new VP Strategy & Corporate Development. In this role, Brad will head HTI’s business development for cryo-EM services with pharma/biotech customers, lead its commercial strategy and engage with the investment community.
• Health Technology Innovations, Inc. (HTI) is excited to announce that Dr. Santi Adavani is joining HTI Advisory Board as Senior Advisor. Dr. Adavani brings extensive experience in AI/ML and software product development to HTI.
• Read full press releases here.

Keliomics:

• We are a finalist at the 2023 Oregon Technology Awards which will be held on May 16, 2023.
• We are also a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience. Finale will be held on May 17 at Amaterra Winery.
• We kicked off our OncoScreen pilot study in partnership with Legacy Health and enrolled our first patient. This marks the first time an intact breast tumor has been cultured in breast adipose tissue from the same patient.

Gamma Diagnostics:

• The TAO awards committee has nominated us as a finalist for the Technology Company of the Year, Emerging category. The 2023 Oregon Technology Awards will be held on May 16, 2023.
• The results of our clinical trial, which demonstrates that our diagnostic test for gamma prime fibrinogen (GPF) measures COVID-19 respiratory disease severity, have been published in the journal “Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases.”

ProMedix, Inc.:

• ProMedix is a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience. Finale will be held on May 17 at Amaterra Winery.

EndoSound:

• EndoSound Inc., a privately held medical device company developing an endoscopic ultrasound platform to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, today announced the initial closing of its Series A round financing.
• The round is being led by GEO Medtech Venture Fund, a leading healthcare venture capital firm that invests in transformative medical technology, and health solutions companies seeking to improve clinical outcomes, enhance quality of life, and drive efficiency of healthcare delivery.
• The financing will support EndoSound’s ongoing research and development and preparations for commercial launch. The EndoSound Vision System (EVS) is designed to eliminate the financial burden of expanding access to care for patients who require an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) procedure.  By attaching the EVS Transducer to a standard upper endoscope found in all hospitals and GI surgery centers, this critical technology becomes available and affordable in more areas of care.

Trace Biosciences:

• Trace Biosciences is a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience. Finale will be held on May 17 at Amaterra Winery.
• We welcomed two new team members:
  • Nathan McMahon, Ph.D. – Clinical Project Manager
  • Bryce Timm, Ph.D. – Staff Scientist

AOBIO Finale & Innovation Showcase

It’s been an exciting three months for eighteen regional startups as they have progressed through the Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience (AOBIO) program presented by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, OTRADI and Oregon Bioscience Incubator, Oregon Health and Science University, and the Oregon Bioscience Association.

Founders from throughout the state have participated in four educational sessions spanning from funding readiness to creating a diverse team to due diligence and how to create the perfect pitch. They have participated in two pitch sessions with feedback from regional investors and industry experts, and recently the finalists were announced: five companies who will pitch for the angel investment on May 17.

Keliomics

Promedix

StoneStable, Inc

Trace Biosciences

VitalFlo

We invite you to get in on the ground floor of Oregon’s most important emerging sectors, and meet entrepreneurs literally building the future right now at the AOBIO Finale + Innovation Showcase on Wednesday, May 17th starting at 3:00 pm at Amaterra Winery. 

There we will feature the five companies vying for equity investment, the winner of non-dilutive funding through the Emerge Initiative, and a panel presentation titled What Does Success in Life Science Innovation Look Like?

All this and delicious food and wine too.

CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets today!

OBI’s BioMentor Program Offers Free Help for Oregon Startups

We have a network of over 90 BioMentors who are available to provide short-term pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. Our BioMentors have valuable expertise in a wide range of business topics that are integral to the success of early-stage life science companies, including:

For assistance, fill out this form and we’ll match you with a BioMentor who can help.

Need Space for Your Bioscience Startup?

If you have a bioscience or health innovation startup and need wet lab or office space, come talk to us! We operate the only bioscience-focused incubator in Oregon, with private offices, private labs, co-working space, and shared labs for startups in bioscience – including digital health, medical devices, AI/ML, diagnostics, therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and more!

Submit your facility inquiry here and let’s schedule a time to talk.

America’s Seed Fund Week

America’s Seed Fund Week is a series of virtual events representing a collaborative outreach effort that will connect entrepreneurs working on advanced technologies and the organizations that support them to the country’s largest source of early-stage funding.

This is a free and virtual opportunity for small businesses to learn about non-dilutive funding available through America’s Seed Fund that awards $4 billion annually to small businesses for R&D. Come meet with the federal agency representatives, attend roundtables, connect with entrepreneur support organizations, and find other helpful resources.

Find out more information and register here.

TiE Women Applications are Open Through June 15

TiE Women is dedicated to Embrace, Engage and Empower women entrepreneurs across the globe. The program is focused on women entrepreneurs, irrespective of the size of their enterprises, origins, standing or background. The program consists of a series of local and global events and culminates with one women-led business from Oregon competing in a global pitch competition for cash prizes!

CRITERIA:

• Female founded or co-founded startup
• A female founder or co-founder that owns at least 30% of the equity in the company
• Company has been in business for less than seven years (date of company registration no earlier than Jan. 1, 2016) at the time of application
• The ultimate objective is to help startups in their fundraising efforts hence preference will be given to startups raising funds.

TIMELINE:
Local / Global Events: Ongoing (apply to receive exclusive invitations to attend)
Applications Open: April 24, 2023
Deadline to Apply: June 15, 2023
State Pitch Competition: August TBD, 2023
Global Pitch Competition: Will take place at the TiE Global Summit, November TBD, 2023

Apply here by June 15th.

PDXWIT & AWS Present:
How to Prepare for a Technical Interview
May 11, 2023
4:30-7:30 PM
AWS – Portland
Register here

2023 Oregon Technology Awards:
Imagining a New Future
May 16, 2023
4:00-9:00 PM
Oregon Convention Center – Portland
Get tickets here

AOBIO Finale & Innovation Showcase
May 17, 2023
3:00-7:00 PM
Amaterra Winery – Portland
Get tickets here

Raising Capital: Debt vs. Equity
A Venture Catalyst Event
May 18, 2023
12:00-1:15 PM
Virtual
Register here

Bio in the High Desert
May 18, 2023
5:00-8:00 PM
Deschutes Brewery – Bend
Get tickets here

Legal Priorities for Startups:
Panel Discussion + Q&A
May 24, 2023
12:00-1:30 PM
Beaverton Building or Virtual
Register here

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience
Fast Pitch Event – Tonight!

Meet the founders who will pitch for a direct angel investment of up to $300K at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) with this fast-pitch event hosted by Oregon Bioscience Association, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN), Oregon Bioscience Incubator  and OHSU. You won’t want to miss the AOBIO Fast Pitch on Tuesday, April 11th online at 5:00 p.m. This is your opportunity to meet the life and bioscience startups vying for angel investment!

During the Fast Pitch session, nine AOBIO entrepreneurs (including five OBI client companies) will have a 3-5 minute pitch introducing their company to local investors. This Fast Pitch event is the next stop on the road to the AOBIO Grand Finale & Showcase, and you can expect to see four of these incredible companies make it to the main stage pitch on May 17th!

The pitch companies include:

• Ethicann Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Humarrow, Inc.
• Keliomics
• ProMedix, Inc.
• Prose Biosystems LLC
• StoneStable, Inc.
• Tonsil Tech
• Trace Biosciences
• VitalFlo

REGISTER HERE for the free FastPitch event to receive your virtual link

Welcome New Client Company
Vaginal Biome Science

In April, we welcomed Vaginal Biome Science to the incubator. They are occupying one of our brand new spaces in the Willamette Wharf building. From their website:

Together with our strong alliance of partners, we are broadening and accelerating groundbreaking studies into the vaginal biome, pioneering new understanding of the role of the biome as a determinant of vaginal and overall health, and developing new products, solutions, and protocols – redefining decades-old and tired approaches to women’s health.

We’re happy to have you on board!

Client Company Wins

PDX Pharmaceuticals:

• PDX Pharma received continued Phase II SBIR funding from the NCI to support a novel lung cancer treatment, ARAC-02. Read more here.

Veana Therapeutics:

• Veana Therapeutics is pleased to announce publication of a proof-of-concept study demonstrating that its oral drug, a-TEA-LS (aka VIMO) improves the anti-tumor efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade antibody in pre-clinical models of triple negative breast cancer.

Health Technology Innovations (HTI):

• Dr. Gabriella Kiss joins HTI Advisory Board as Sr. senior advisor. Dr. Kiss brings extensive experience in life science and Business Development to HTI.
• A leading cryo-EM instrument vendor has provided an LOI for integrating CryoDiscovery™, HTI’s AI-based automation platform for cryo-EM image acquisition and processing, with their product.
• The Pacific Northwest Computing Center (PNCC) and OHSU have approved for CryoDiscovery ™ field testing.
• ADRx, a drug discovery vendor, has initiated another project for Cryo-EM analysis.

Gamma Diagnostics:

• The TAO awards committee has nominated us as a finalist for the Technology Company of the Year, Emerging category.
• The 2023 Oregon Technology Awards will be held on May 16, 2023.

StoneStable:

• StoneStable will pitch in the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Fast Pitch event on April 11.

Sonivate Medical:

• Sonivate Medical, Inc. has been invited to SEASON Aesthetic Conference to be held at George Washington University, Washington, DC at the end of April 2023.  This will be a gathering of key opinion leaders in dermatology and plastic surgery to discuss the application of ultrasound for cosmetic procedures e.g., facial fillers.
• Besides discussions, there will be hands on using a cadaver lab for injections and several stations for the participants to rotate through including Sonivate’s next generation product.  Sonivate is one of a very few companies invited to present at this research oriented, technical symposium.  The presentation is titled SonicEyeâ Finger Probe Ultrasound System – Meeting Customer Needs through Disciplined Research.

VitalFlo:

• VitalFlo will pitch in the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Fast Pitch event on April 11.

ProMedix, Inc.:

• ProMedix Inc. has been awarded a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant for $250,000.00 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on improving outcomes from sepsis through active digital monitoring of peripheral blood flow.
• ProMedix was selected to advance to the final round of Creative Destruction Labs.
• ProMedix will pitch in the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Fast Pitch event on April 11.

EndoSound:

• EndoSound is hiring an engineering intern. Read the job description here and send your resume to hammer@endosound.com.

Trace Biosciences:

• Trace Biosciences will pitch in the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Fast Pitch event on April 11.

Hemex Health:

• Hemex won a 3-year $3M NIH grant from the NHLBI to commercialize our Hb Variant test for the US market! Read the press release.
• Hemex is collaborating with MUJN Diagnostics Inc., to develop a diagnostics system that can be used to support patients being treated with alternative therapies for brain health.

Keliomics:

• Keliomics will pitch in the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience Fast Pitch event on April 11.

Need Space for Your Bioscience Startup?

If you have a bioscience or health innovation startup and need wet lab or office space, come talk to us! We operate the only bioscience-focused incubator in Oregon, with private offices, private labs, co-working space, and shared labs for startups in bioscience – including digital health, medical devices, AI/ML, diagnostics, therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and more!

Submit your facility inquiry here and let’s schedule a time to talk!

AOBIO Fast Pitch
April 11, 2023
5:00-7:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

April PubTalk: How to Build a Business of Impact
April 12, 2023
5:15-7:30 PM
Fresh Consulting in Portland
Get tickets here

PDXWIT Presents:
April Happy Hour:
Pathways into Privacy and Security
April 18, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
RadarFirst in Portland
Register here

OBI Lunch & Learn: OHSU Innovates
April 19, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

Oregon Startup Center Educational Session:
Preparing Financials for Funding
April 26, 2023
11:30 AM-1:00 PM
Beaverton Building
Register here

OBI Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
Happy Hour
May 4, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
George Fox University Portland Center
Registration now open!

Client Company Wins

Health Technology Innovations (HTI):

• Charles Rice, a local Portland resident, has joined HTI as a Senior Machine Learning Development Engineer.
• Intel Corp. has asked HTI to benchmark their new Xeon platform with CryoDiscovery ™, HTI’s AI-based automation platform for cryo-EM image acquisition and processing.

VitalFlo:

• We won PitchOregon’s Life Science & Healthcare category last month!

OmnEcoil Instruments:

• We received FDA approval at the end of last week to initiate a clinical trial of our device for simultaneous MRI imaging and biopsying of the prostate.
• We have also subsequently received IRB approval from OHSU for this trial.
• We expect to initiate patient recruitment in the near future.

Hemex Health

• Patti White, CEO and co-founder of Hemex Health, was asked to speak at the IFC (International Finance Corporation) Global Private Health Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, about the innovation that small companies can bring to global health problems and the huge potential market opportunities.
• Hemex Health is featured on Business Oregon’s Innovation landing page, under “Oregon Business Solves Challenging Global Disease Testing Issue.“

OBI Mentor of the Month:
Matt Hollingsworth

Matt Hollingsworth is the CEO and Co-founder of Carta Healthcare. Matt’s experience focuses on AI/Data Science and HeathTech. He started his career as high energy physicist, worked at CERN, and was part of the team there that discovered the Higgs Boson. Matt co-founded his first startup as technical co-founder with a colleague, and then went to Stanford’s business school to specialize in healthcare operations. There, he joined the data-driven healthcare operations group, SURF. Matt started Carta based upon tech built while at Stanford. He has an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a BA/MS in Physics from the University of Tennessee.

When asked what his colleagues appreciate about him, Matt says, “I have a fairly deep understanding of technological capabilities (spent most of my career in technical roles) and I am very good at marrying that with product and sales strategy. I’m the person in the room that reminds the engineers that cool technology cannot always be sold and the sales people that everything that can be sold should not or cannot necessarily be built. I can help people find product/market fit faster, especially in complex industries where the whole ‘lean startup’ methodology breaks down.”

Matt joined the OBI Mentoring Program this year and has hit the ground running with his mentees. Thank you, Matt, for all you do to help our startup community!

AOBIO Seeks Investors

Get all the details about investing in the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience investment pool.

Pacific Northwest accredited investors are invited to come learn about investing with Oregon Entrepreneurs Network‘s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO). The program is designed for angel investors interested in life and bioscience innovation emerging in Oregon and Southwest Washington. New and experienced angel investors are welcome!

AOBIO Investor Information Session
Thursday, March 16th
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Zoom – REGISTER HERE

At this session we’ll cover:

• Investment goals and objectives
• How the investment program works, including details of the due diligence process
• Investment team leadership
• Key dates, fees and program details
• Educational track content and speakers
• Q&A

Need Space for Your Bioscience Startup?

If you have a bioscience or health innovation startup and need wet lab or office space, come talk to us! We operate the only bioscience-focused incubator in Oregon, with private offices, private labs, co-working space, and shared labs for startups in bioscience – including digital health, medical devices, AI/ML, diagnostics, therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and more! We currently have limited space availability, with some new spaces opening up very soon.

Submit your facility inquiry here and let’s schedule a time to talk!

OHSU is Hiring

OHSU is currently hiring two positions to share with our OBI community. Please feel free to spread the word!

• IT Specialist
  • This position will support work done at the OHSU Casey Reading Center related to ongoing ophthalmic clinical trials and studies. This will involve programming and maintaining code for clinical trial systems, software, data processing and quality control, as well as bioinformatics reporting. Apply here.
• Research Data Analyst 2 (Quality Assurance Manager)
  • This position will support work done at the Casey Reading Center (CRC) related to their ongoing clinical trials and studies. Requires a detail-oriented candidate who will gain experience in clinical trial FDA and international regulations. More information here.

OregonBio: Bio on the Rocks
March 14, 2023
5:00-8:00 PM
Ironlight in Lake Oswego
Get tickets here

March PubTalk: The Founder Journey
March 15, 2023
5:15-7:30 PM
Fresh Consulting in Portland
Get tickets here

AOBIO Investor Information Session
First time angel investors welcome!
March 16, 2023
9:00-10:15 AM
RSVP here

PDXWIT Presents:
March Happy Hour
March 21, 2023
5:30-7:30 PM
Viewpoint in Portland
Register here

-and-

PDXWIT Presents:
LGBTQ+ in Tech – Paths to Leadership
March 29, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register in advance

OBI Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
Happy Hour
April 6, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Casa Colima Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in Portland
Registration now open!

AOBIO is Back!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience is back for its 2nd year! What is AOBIO? It’s a four-week investment-readiness education series for life and bioscience startups at any stage of development. But wait, there’s more! It’s also an angel investment program. At the end of the education program, those companies that are indeed investment-ready can apply to go through due diligence for up to a $300,000 equity angel investment, to be presented at the AOBIO Finale + Innovation Showcase in May.

Education series starts February 22, 2023. Learn more here! Inquire with Rene Miller or Heather Ellis for a discount coupon code for this series.

Founders: there’s a free Entrepreneur Information Session on Wednesday, February 15 from 8:30-9:15 a.m. on Zoom. RSVP here.

For accredited angel investors (including first timers!), attend a free Investor Information Session on Wednesday, February 15 from 4:00-5:15 p.m. on Zoom. RSVP here.

Angel Oregon Bio is presented by OEN in partnership with Oregon Bioscience Incubator, OHSU, and OregonBio.

Client Company Wins

EndoSound

• EndoSound receives investment from AGA’s GI Opportunity Fund. Read Business Wire press release here.

Hemex Health

• Our team at HemexDx had a fantastic time at the 25th MTAR Labcon 2023 in Alibaug! We were thrilled to interact with delegates from the Raigad region and learn about their perspectives on Gazelle.

Aronora (alumnus)

• Erik Tucker, PhD, founder and CEO of Aronora received a National Academy of Inventors Fellow award last night at the National Academy of Inventors Annual Winter Warmer: Celebrating Innovation Excellence in Oregon.

New Mentoring Cohort Begins

OBI’s Winter-Spring 2023 mentoring cohort is off and running. Each mentor-mentee pairing meets for about 2 hours a month for 6 months. For more information on how to join the next cohort, please see our Mentoring page.

PSU Center for Entrepreneurship is Hiring an Assistant Director

If you’re looking for a fulfilling opportunity working with students, entrepreneurs, and the local community, Portland State University Center for Entrepreneurship has an Assistant Director position that may be perfect for you!

Learn more and apply.

Women in Science PDX Mentor/Mentee Mixer

Mentor-mentee relationships can have an incredible impact on the lives and careers of mentees and mentors alike. At this event, we aim to provide the opportunity for mentees and mentors to engage with one another to discuss their goals and career paths, and to potentially develop mentor-mentee relationships that will last beyond the scope of this event.

This all-ages mixer will take place on March 1st at Lucky Labrador Beer Hall in NW Portland and will provide an opportunity for mentees to meet with several different mentors, in addition to plenty of open networking time.

For more information and registration, click here.

I-Corps Teams Forming

The I-Corps@NCATS lead institution, University of Alabama Birmingham, is hosting a virtual all-consortium I-Corps course and is currently registering teams. The orientation is on 2/24 and it runs through 3/31, see this link for a detailed schedule and registration for the “All CTSA Site” cohort. Attached is the flyer, this course is open to all early-stage life sciences technologies (idea through SBIR stages).

AOBIO Entrepreneur Information Session
February 15, 2023
8:30-9:15 AM
RSVP here

&

AOBIO Investor Information Session
February 15, 2023
4:00-5:15 PM
RSVP here

PDXWIT Presents:
Black History Month Happy Hour
February 21, 2023
5:30-7:30 PM
Virtual
Register here

OBI Virtual Lunch & Learn:
Business Oregon’s Commercialization Gap Fund
and SBIR Overview
February 28, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

OBI Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
Happy Hour
March 2, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Marriott Courtyard City Center
Registration now open!

Tie Oregon’s Westside Pitch Competition
March 9, 2023
4:00-7:00 PM
Walters Cultural Arts Center, Hillsboro
Register here

Ringing in the New Year!

Welcome 2023! But before we leave 2022 behind, this end-of-year newsletter features a big OBI project that wrapped up in 2022, plus a recap of some of the outstanding and innovative projects that our client companies are working on. We hope you enjoy sharing in their success stories as much as we do.

This special edition of the OBI & OTRADI newsletter also includes some helpful information for our readers, including updates, opportunities, and some really great upcoming events. Please feel free to share. We hope you have a peaceful and prosperous 2023.

Our HIOP Space is Completed:
Thank you to Business Oregon! 

In 2021, OBI/OTRADI was granted High Impact Opportunity Project (HIOP) implementation funding from Business Oregon to build out new space to support growth of the bioscience sector in Oregon. We got right to work, transforming our prior administrative offices in the Willamette Wharf building into new labs and offices. Due to supply chain issues during a global pandemic, progress was not always speedy, but this project is now fully complete. Thank you, Business Oregon!

The OBI used the HIOP dollars to fund the build-out of 3,300 square feet into six labs and six offices to expand incubator space for startup bio companies. This new space funded via HIOP dollars has allowed us to bring in seven new companies from our waiting list into the OBI facility. One additional lab is still unleased and available to one of OBI’s current companies or a new company upon completion of our selection committee process. For life science startups seeking space, inquire here.

The seven companies in the new space include CANX, GenerX, Keliomics, PDX Pharmaceuticals, Qtonics, Trace Biosciences (formerly Inherent Targeting), and VitalFlo; they support 17 jobs with one company actively hiring an additional position. These companies have raised over $7,527,000 in funding, which was mainly secured via SBIR grants and seed funding.

Client Company Wins in 2022

Aronora (alumnus)

• Aronora co-founder and CEO Dr. Erik Tucker has been elected as Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).
• Aronora Announces Clinical Data to Be Presented at the 64th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. Presentation to include clinical data from a phase 2 study of Gruticibart (AB023), a factor XI-targeted antibody being developed for the treatment and prevention of thrombosis and inflammation.

CANX

• CANX, LLC joined the OBI in October 2022
• CANX is developing therapeutics to address iron-related health conditions such as iron overload disease and certain forms of cancer which depend on iron for their growth.
• Founder Kerry Masterson successfully completed the OHSU I-Corp 5-week BIP Corps program.

Caregiven (alumnus)

• In our latest product update we launched our affiliate program with 4 amazing companies who support caregivers: Grief Coach, SilverBills, eFuneral, and Pinventory. While Caregiven does not advertise to our users, we do offer referral links to our affiliate partners who offer users a discount and provide Caregiven with lead generation revenue.
• Alaska’s Dementia Action Collaborative profiled Caregiven as a valuable resource to its stakeholder community in their recent newsletter.
• Caregiven was selected to participate in the APIS Health Angel program.
• Caregiven was 1 of 4 finalists from the Australian round of the Zurich Innovation Championship. Selected from an applicant pool of over 90 insuretech solutions, Caregiven presented to Zurich’s Australian executive team including the global head of their LifeWell initiative.
• We also surpassed 1,000 sign-ups in mid-February – that’s over one thousand families going through a caregiving event globally who are benefitting from our product.
• Founder and CEO Candice Smith was a featured panelist at OBI’s February Lunch & Learn on How Accelerators Can Help Boost Your Startup.
• Caregiven was acquired by Delta Dental of Iowa and its subsidiary Veratrus Health. Candice Smith, Caregiven’s founder and CEO, has joined the Delta Dental team! Read the press release here.

CytoImage

• CytoImage was featured in the OHSU Innovates 2022 Impact Report.

Endosound

• EndoSound is pleased to announce two new full-time employees. We are thrilled to have these two join our growing team.
  • Peter Hoffman has joined as Senior Product Development Engineer.  He will help to bring new and innovative ultrasound products to market. His 10+ years engineering experience ranges from robotics to medical devices with much of his time at Olympus developing novel biopsy tools for the lungs. He has authored 6 patent applications. Peter holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship from Oregon State University.
  • Patrick Hurley has joined as the Vice President of Marketing. Patrick comes with 13 years in product and market management in medical device, as well as several years as a life sciences consultant. Patrick has documented successes in each role as he continued to grow with responsibilities. He has helped build brand identity and established strong relationships with KOLs in the GI community. He holds a Ph.D. in biology, specializing in neuroscience from Wesleyan University.
• Winner of AGA Shark Tank and Innovation of the year. We had the opportunity to compete in the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) Shark Tank for innovative technologies in early April and won!!
• We’ll be competing again with our innovative Endoscopic Ultrasound device at the end of May at the largest Gastroenterology professional conference in the world called Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
• We have also been honored with the Innovation of the Year from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). This distinction is granted to companies with products that show promise for advancing the field of GI endoscopy.
• Together, these awards demonstrate to the broader GI community that our mission to democratize EUS is taking shape. There could not be a better time to follow the EndoSound journey. View our LinkedIn page.
• We recently announced Scott Fraser as a new addition to our board.  Scott comes with a world of knowledge in startups, the Gastroenterology (GI) space, and the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) market.
• In late May, we had our first ever booth at Digestive Disease Week (DDW).  This conference is the premier conference for the GI space, attracting doctors, industry professionals, and investors from all over the world.  We had tremendous response at the booth and as a result of several meetings with physicians and strategic partners.
• Some of the Endosound team, in partnership with physicians in Ecuador, showcased the Endosound Vision System (EVS) on Endoscopy on Air (EOA) on June 3rd.  The Global Annual Live Streaming Event on EOA had physicians from around the world educate and demonstrate their techniques in various endoscopic procedures to the 11,000 virtual attendees.  We were honored to sponsor a session with partner Dr. Carlos Robles Medranda at the Ecuadorian Institute of Digestive Disease.

Gamma Diagnostics

• Our podcast with Expert Dojo was released online.
• MedRxiv published our study of gamma prime fibrinogen in COVID-19 patients.
• David Farrell, Founder and CSO participated as a featured panelist at OBI’s February Lunch & Learn on How Accelerators Can Help Boost Your Startup.
• Gamma Diagnostics recently participated in the Expert Dojo international accelerator program.
• We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Jamie Noll, Pharm.D., B.S. Nutrition to Chief Scientific Officer for Gamma Diagnostics Inc., effective immediately. Jamie joined the Gamma Dx team late last year as a scientific and clinical advisor and in a very short time has helped establish key KOL relationships in the medical and clinical research community. She has had various roles and extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry last of which was as a Medical Science Liaison for Puma Biotechnology.
• “I have known Jamie for over 14 years and our professional and personal relationship has been forged through challenging projects and arduous decisions. Not only is she extremely talented in her field but she represents the highest standard in ethics and integrity. I feel honored and privileged she has decided to join us in the CSO capacity.” Ajay Nair, CEO Gamma Diagnostics Inc.
• “Dr. Noll is a fabulous addition to the Gamma Diagnostics team! Her industry experience and scientific expertise are critical assets that will help propel Gamma Diagnostics forward.” Dr. David Farrell, Founder, Scientific Advisor, Gamma Diagnostics Inc.
• Gamma Diagnostics presented at the Expert Dojo Investor Festival on April 7 in Los Angeles. Our new CSO, Dr. Jamie Noll, and Founder Dr. David Farrell presented. See event details here.
• We filed a new provisional patent: Provisional Patent Application in United States No. 63/268,605 ‘Use of γ’ fibrinogen as a Biomarker in the Detection of Covid-19 and Prognosis of Severe Disease’
• We filed an Emergency Use Authorization to the FDA entitled: “Gamma-prime fibrinogen ELISA”
• Gamma Diagnostics Inc. and OHSU have signed a licensing agreement that seeks to further develop and commercially promote the use of Gamma Prime Fibrinogen (GPF) as an inflammatory and clotting risk biomarker.
• High GPF levels have previously shown positive correlation with peripheral artery disease, heart failure and CVD deaths in the ARIC study. Dr. David Farrell (Founder and CSO) published an abstract at AHA 2021 showing COVID-19 patients can develop extraordinarily high levels of GPF.
• Gamma Diagnostics Inc. will now continue to invest in further clinical studies, regulatory submission, and commercialization activities to bring GPF as a biomarker to market.
• Gamma Diagnostics Inc. is proud to announce that Mr. Ajay Nair, currently President and CEO, will serve as Chairman of the Executive Board and transition the Chief Executive Officer role to Mr. Chris Venter, currently CFO of the Company, effective November 18th, 2022.

GenerX

• GenerX moved its headquarters from Santa Clara, CA into one of the brand news labs in the OBI in Portland on December 1, 2022.
• GenerX is a pharmaceutical development company, has moved its headquarters from California to the OBI. GenerX is engaged in the development, manufacturing, acquisition, licensing, and partnership of sterile injectable generic drug products for the U.S. and overseas markets. Their mission is to provide affordable generic medicines to patients through innovative solutions by leveraging our expertise and partnerships with world class FDA approved manufacturing.

Hemex Health

• Hemex Health pitched to Inflect Health in January 2022.
• Whitney Wilhardt has joined Hemex as PR and Marketing Specialist.
• We sent our first Gazelles to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
• We’re scheduled to ship commercially to Bahrein, Oman, Kuwait and Algeria, and we are already selling to Lebanon and UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
• We’ve partnered with distributors in Savona, Italy, our first European location.
• Umut Gurkan, our Chief Scientist for Sickle Cell Disease, based at Case Western in Ohio, was elected into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s College of Fellows for his continuing achievements in medical and biological engineering.
• Patti White, Co-founder and CEO, recently participated as a presenter in an Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar and was be a featured panelist in two of OBI’s Lunch & Learns on Women in Leadership. View the March event here and the June event here.
• We received the 2022 West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) grant award for catalyzing pediatric innovation (CPI), which supports the development of pediatric innovation from ideation through commercialization. We plan to use this grant to help apply for US FDA clearance to bring our affordable POC sickle cell test to the US.
• We have two abstracts that were accepted for the 4th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease (June 16-18) in Paris.
  • “Point-of-care diagnostic for quantification of fetal haemoglobin (Hb F) levels in monitoring hydroxyurea therapy for children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Ghana” has been accepted for a poster presentation.
  • “Evaluation of first microchip-based point-of-care device for diagnosis of Beta-Thalassemia in India” has been accepted for a poster presentation.
• Hemex Health announced a significant enhancement to their Gazelle™ Hb Variant test, which allows for more precise measurements of Hb F, also known as fetal hemoglobin. The increased accuracy could be useful for monitoring hydroxyurea therapy in point-of-care settings. Hemex will provide “over the air” updates with the Hb F enhancement that can be downloaded directly to existing Gazelle Readers. The improvement will ship with new systems.
• We are proud to announce the official launch of the Gazelle™ PathoCatch™ COVID-19 FIA test, a diagnostic solution for point-of-care testing, made in collaboration with @MylabSolutions. Read the full press release.
• We received National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for continuing to support Hemex Health and Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University with a $1.7M Phase II STTR follow up award for our “portable, affordable, quantitative microchip electrophoresis for hemoglobin A1C (diabetes) testing.”
• We launched our COVID-19 point-of-care diagnostic, Gazelle PathoCatch, in India on July 7 and plan to launch to our other distributors worldwide later this summer.
• CEO and Co-Founder Patti White was interviewed by International Finance Corporation (IFC).
• We received Portland Business Journal’s Global Impact Award as part of their Health Care of the Future Program. Patti White, CEO and co-founder, accepted the award during their ceremony held on August 18.
• Gazelle received Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommendation for sickle cell testing in India. Gazelle was one of three diagnostic platforms selected for this highly competitive and rigorous nod of approval.
• We are proud to announce during this Sickle Cell Awareness Month (September 2022) that Hemex has shipped 210,000 SCD tests to 25 countries.
• Hemex presented two posters at the Tropical Medicine Show (ASTMH) in Seattle.
  • The first discussed research on Gazelle’s ability to detect and differentiate P. knowlesi (a malaria species indigenous to SE Asia) from other malaria species.
  • The seconds was a study conducted in Ghana on Gazelle’s ability to measure fetal hemoglobin, which has possible applications for monitoring treatment for sickle cell disease.
• NIH Seed sponsored Hemex at the Redefining Early-Stage Investments (RESI) Conference, January 10, 2023, which connects startups with early-stage investors.
• The Zambian Network for Sickle Cell Disease in conjunction with the Zambian Ministry of Health launched Gazelle SCD testing devices in several district hospitals.
• Hemex presented a poster on our beta thalassemia test at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans in December 2022.

HTI

• Health Technology Innovations, Inc. was awarded a $1 million SBIR Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation to commercialize CryoDiscovery ™, a Cryo-EM Automation and Intelligence Platform for Drug Discovery.
• HTI is hiring AI/ML software development engineers, interns & post docs.
• Health Technology Innovations, Inc. (HTI) is excited to announce that Dr. Doug Kawahara is joining HTI as Senior Advisor for AI/ML in Drug Discovery. Dr. Kawahara brings extensive experience in drug discovery and development to HTI. He is currently President & CEO of Elex Biotech (Portland, OR), a company developing novel drugs for the treatment of arrhythmia and heart failure. Read full press release.
• HTI attended the 17th Annual Drug Discovery Chemistry event in San Diego on April 18-22, presenting a Poster session on CryoDiscovery™ its machine learning platform for cryo-EM image processing, and providing information on its cryo-EM Services offerings for drug discovery.
• HTI CTO,  Narasimha Kumar, presented a poster session virtually at The Astbury Conversation 2022, on April 25-26 on CryoDiscovery™: Public Data-based AI/ML model enhancements for Cryo-EM Image Analysis. The Astbury is one of Europe’s premier conferences on macromolecular research, including a keynote by cryo-EM Nobel Laureate Richard Henderson.
• HTI has signed master service agreements with IDEAYA Biosciences and ADRx for cryo-EM structure determination services to support their drug discovery efforts. IDEAYA is a synthetic lethality-focused precision medicine oncology company and ADRx is a biotechnology company with a unique approach to halting diseases of protein aggregation.
• Received Phase II matching grant award from Business Oregon.
• In collaboration with Oregon BIO, HTI attended the Bio International 2022 with great success.
• HTI presented CryoDiscovery™ and CryoFast™ at the Microscopy & Microanalysis 2022 and American Crystallographic Association 2022 conferences on July 29 – Aug  4 in Portland, Oregon
• HTI signed a service agreement with ADRx Pharma for Cryo-EM sample optimization and image analysis.
• Signed Master Service Agreement with ADRx and a Top Tier International Pharmaceutical company for Cryo-EM services.
• HTI is now offering its Cryo-EM services via Scientist.com, a leading “science as a service” e-commerce site for Life Sciences. This adds a second e-commerce sales channel beyond ScienceExchange.com, the world’s first online R&D marketplace to accelerate scientific discovery, of which HTI became a member last year.
• Set up collaboration with Salk Institute for Cryo-EM data sets sharing.
• Filed patent of CryoFAST™ architecture (CRYOGENIC ELECTRON MICROSCOPY FULLY AUTOMATED ACQUISITION FOR SINGLE PARTICLE TOMOGRAPHY).
• Signed Master Service Agreement with AstraZeneca for Cryo-EM single particle analysis.
• Delivered Cryo-EM 3D structure model with encouraging results for ADRx.

Izon

• Jared Lynch has been made Sales Director for the United States region as of October 2022.
• Anthony McNeil is now the West Coast Sales and Applications Scientist.
• Izon will complete our Gen 2 qEV column releases with all sized columns available after January 17, 2023. This includes qEV singles, originals, 1s, 2s, 10s, and 100s.
• Izon is quite pleased with the adoption of our version 2 of the Automatic Fraction Collector which was released in February 2022.
• We have several new product releases planned for 2023.
• We are excited for ISEV2023 in Seattle in May, where Izon will be a sponsor.

Keliomics

• Joined the OBI in October 2022. They moved into two of OBI’s new offices and one of the brand-new labs.
• Keliomics offers pharmacophenotyping for patients with solid tumors including breast, prostate, and certain types of metastatic cancer.
• Keliomics was one of the five winners of the Beaverton Startup Challenge 2023, winning $25,000.

Madorra

• We were selected for the inaugural class of Series P– a collaboration accelerator sponsored by Procter & Gamble Ventures and Plug and Play.
• We participated on a FemTech panel along with Convey Capital hosted by Stanford Biodesign.
• Holly graduated from the Ferolyn Fellowship program.
• CEO Holly Rockweiler was a presenter at a recent Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar.
• In February, Holly was featured as UCSF’s Rosenman Healthtech leader of the month.
• Madorra was featured on the Medsider podcast in March.
• We were selected out of a record-setting number of applicants to present at the McKinsey Early Stage Investor Conference in June.
• We were featured on a Washington University in St. Louis panel entitled: WashU Women Changing the Way We Live and Work.
• We were selected (for the second time!) as one of the showcase companies for the NIH SBIR Investor Initiatives program. The NIH will be sponsoring us to attend the AdvaMed conference in Boston, MA this fall.

NeuvaRx

• NeuvaRx joined the OBI in March 2022. NeuvaRx is preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of therapies and diagnostic tools for neurovascular disorders, including, but not limited to ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and vascular dementia.
• NeuvaRx received an NIH phase I STTR award that started July 1.
• We also received a matching grant award from Oregon Business Development for the STTR award.

OmnEcoil Instruments

• OmnEcoil was mentioned in a May 2022 report entitled: “Global Biopsy Devices Pipeline Market Landscape Report 2021: Stage of Development, Segment, Regulatory Path, Estimated Approval Date, Ongoing Clinical Trial – ResearchAndMarkets.com.” You can read the press release here.

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• PDX Pharmaceuticals joined the OBI in February 2022. PDX Pharmaceuticals is an IND-enabling stage biopharmaceutical company bringing complementary biological pathways together to achieve synergistic clinical benefits. Their patented mesoporous silica-based nanoparticle platform (Pdx-NP) has been optimized to co-deliver multiple classes of therapeutics (e.g., siRNA, small molecule drugs, antibodies, immunostimulants) to ensure that they reach the target cells at the same time to fully realize their synergy. It can deliver cargos to both cancer and immune cells. Their current focus is to generate effective anti-tumor immune response through profound CD8+ anti-tumor T cell production.
• We have a new publication in Nature Communications.
  • Moataz Reda, Worapol Ngamcherdtrakul, Molly A Nelson, Natnaree Siriwon, Ruijie Wang, Husam Y Zaidan, Daniel S Bejan, Sherif Reda, Ngoc Ha Hoang, Noah A Crumrine, Justin PC Rehwaldt, Akash Bindal, Gordon B Mills, Joe W Gray, Wassana Yantasee. Development of a nanoparticle-based immunotherapy targeting PD-L1 and PLK1 for lung cancer treatment. Nature communications. 13(1), 1-11, 2022.
• Also we won a matching grant for phase II small business innovative research (SBIR) from Business Oregon this year. The award (USD 100,000) will be used for our IP protection, financing a new facility, and fundraising activities.
• PDX Pharma was recognized by Portland Business Journal and received two philanthropic awards on October 27.
  • 2022 Innovation in Philanthropy award (PDX Pharmaceuticals in partnership with OHSU).
  • Top 10 philanthropic small companies (below $10M in revenue).
• These awards recognized our commitment, through donation and volunteer work, to support education and training in cancer research and nanotechnology.
• PDX Pharmaceuticals expanded within the OBI to an additional lab, one of the brand-new labs recently opened in Suite 270.
• PDX Pharma’s ARAC-02 drug candidate has been selected into the Nanotechnology Characterization Lab (NCL)’s collaboration and characterization program. ARAC-02 targets PD-L1, PLK1, and TLR9 for the treatment of lung cancer. More information here.

ProMedix

• Founders Dr. David Sheridan and Dr. Matthew Hansen co-authored a journal article in Frontiers in Medicine, entitled “Point-Of-Care Capillary Refill Technology Improves Accuracy of Peripheral Perfusion Assessment.”
• We are really excited to announce that Promedix has been selected into the highly competitive Creative Destruction Labs–Healthcare/Biomed Engineering Stream based out of Vancouver BC. This brings together investors, mentors, and advisors across all aspects of the product life cycle to accelerate commercialization.
• ProMedix was named as a semi-finalist for the Bend Venture Conference.
• ProMedix currently has an open round for funding and would love to discuss further with any interested parties at OBI or beyond. Please email Scott Filer, CEO: scott_filer@promedixinc.com.
• ProMedix was recently selected from a competitive group of startups for the Creative Destruction Lab‘s healthcare cohort. This will help to solidify a go-to-market strategy for our technology as well as expand to a large network of healthcare innovators.
• ProMedix has been announced as a finalist for the Seattle Angel Conference. In addition it is being highlighted as stage presenting startup company at the large Octane MedTech Innovation Forum in Southern California.
• We also brought onboard Robert Jenks, MBA as our Acting CFO. Bob is a former Managing Director for GE Equity.
• ProMedix was featured in the OHSU Innovates 2022 Impact Report.

Qtonics

• Qtonics moved within the OBI from a co-working desk space to one of our newly built offices.

Refeyn

• Launched a new product line specifically designed for gene therapy applications, called the SamuxMP. The Refeyn SamuxMP is a mass photometer optimized for adeno-associated virus (AAV) characterization and is an essential analytical tool for laboratories working with AAVs. The SamuxMP precisely measures the empty/full capsid ratio for AAVs of any serotype. SamuxMP mass photometry measurements are rapid and require very little sample.
• Brenda Watt has been promoted to Customer Success Manager in the Portland office, and Ritu is a new member of the Portland team.
• Refeyn closed Series B funding round, led by Northpond Ventures! Read their press release here.

Rewire Neuro

• Received a Business Oregon grant award to develop a marketing strategy and hire additional staff for their AI-as-a-service platform in diagnostics and analysis.
• Rewire Neuro was a finalist in Pitch Oregon by TiE Oregon, in the Life Science category.
• John Harkness, President and CEO, was a presenter in an Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar.
• Rewire attended BIO International as part of the Oregon Pavilion and pitched at the Startup Stadium as a finalist, gaining recognition, feedback, and interest from a large group of investors and potential partners from around the world.
• Rewire Neuro, Inc., makers of Pipsqueak Pro – the revolutionary AI image analysis platform for biological researchers, announces their partner platform integration with eLabNext, part of Eppendorf Group, and premier Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) platform provider.
• Rewire will be integrating our image analysis software into eLabNext’s electronic lab notebook, which will enable users to seamlessly move between conducting their image analysis and their collaborative data organizational environment, providing deeper analysis and insights for the entire lab.
• Pipsqueak Pro was born from the lab–developed by scientists to rapidly speed up manual image analysis, cellular quantification, and multi-channel (colocalization) analysis for both image and video media. The platform uses a patented machine learning system to improve your ROI predictions with minimal user input. Our AutoML™ process will customize the AI’s detection capabilities to your needs and improve your lab’s analysis workflow.
• Rewire Neuro and Neurescence are partnering to enhance fluorescence calcium imaging of the nervous system with cutting edge neuronal segmentation and analysis capability.
  • Neurescence Inc. (Toronto, Canada), the manufacturer of the Multiscopes^TM, and Rewire Neuro, Inc. (Portland, Oregon), a provider of artificial intelligence software development services (“AI-a-a-S”) announced their strategic development partnership today. With the aim to optimize the automated analysis workflow for neuroscientists, this technology integration utilizes deep learning to rapidly improve detection and quantification of neuronal activity while reducing the processing time of data-dense brain recordings. Videos that would previously take 2 weeks to be processed now result in neuronal detection in 30 minutes with double the accuracy compared to the existing automated neuronal segmentation methods in the market.

RxHomeTest

• RxHomeTest pitched to Inflect Health in January, 2022.

Senju Pharmaceuticals

• Dr. Thomas R. Shearer discovered that the thinning of the retinal ganglion cell layer (GCL) occurs in patients with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) as well as in central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), recently published in PLosOne.
• We welcomed Takatoshi Uchida from Japan in 2022.

Sirona Dx

• In March 2022, Sirona Dx announced a co-marketing agreement with Ultivue for multiplexed tissue biomarker solutions.
• Sirona Dx announced a partnership with Scailyte for AI driven end-point specific single cell analysis in July 2022.

Sonivate Medical

• Sonivate Medical, Inc. has received funding as part of an SBIR Program from the US Air Force for a Phase I ($74,886).  It is a 90-day Phase I to be completed by January 27, 2023.  This Phase I is to develop the requirements for an Ultra-High Frequency Linear Probe for clinical applications in MSK, ophthalmology and clinical ultrasound views < 3 cm.
• In addition, Sonivate will secure an Air Force clinician to be PI for the clinical research in the Phase II application.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals (alumnus)

• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals received ethics committee and regulatory authority go-ahead for three Phase 2 clinical trials, in patients with Cushing syndrome, autonomous cortisol secretion, and polymyalgia rheumatica.
• Dr. David Katz was selected to give oral presentations on new clinical pharmacology and non-clinical study results at three prestigious conferences in May-June: European Congress of Endocrinology in Milan, European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, and Endocrine Society in Atlanta.
• Sparrow has dosed the 1st patient in a phase 2 clinical trial of SPI-62 with prednisolone for polymyalgia rheumatica. Read press release here.
• Congratulations to Sparrow CSO and Founder, David Katz, for the honor of being a PharmaVoice 100! David was recognized for his entrepreneurial spirit and pursuit of finding a treatment for disorders due to steroid excess using scientific prowess and an artist’s vision. Read Dr. Katz’ interview.

StoneStable

• CSO and Founder Ken Stedman was interviewed by a local KATU reporter about the new SARS CoV-2 subvariant, which was then picked up and shown on Good Morning America.
• StoneStable, Inc. moved in to their new lab space in Suite 130A at the OBI.
• StoneStable, Inc. was one of the finalists for the Angel Oregon Life & Bio (AOBIO) investment. See press release.
• Ken Stedman and Dan Snyder from StoneStable were at the BIO meeting in San Diego and made a number of connections with international pharmaceutical companies, large and small.
• We are proud to announce that StoneStable, Inc. has been accepted into the Creative Destruction Lab program in the International Advanced Therapies Track.

SUTUREGARD Medical

• SUTUREGARD Medical, Inc. received the honor of being chosen by MedTech Innovator for the MedTech Innovator Road Show.  In their words, ”MedTech Innovator is the largest and highest performing accelerator of medical technology in the world and the medtech industry’s premiere showcase and competition for innovative medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies.”
• We will be pitching April 14 and hope to leverage our participation into favorable business development pathways.
• We received a lot of attention at trade shows including the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons in Austin Texas where we presented our 3rd study showing ~80% reduction in postoperative wound complications after repair of ankle fractures.
• We have enjoyed record sales in Q1 2022.
• Dr Alton Johnson of University of Michigan Podiatry presented at the Society for Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) last month in Phoenix on HEMIGARD closure of Stage 4 (bone involved) heel wounds.  He won first place in the Practice Innovation category for this work.  HEMIGARD is allowing surgeons to close wounds that have not been able to be closed with normal suture materials.  Normal suture does not work well on soft heel skin which does not resist tearing when under tension.  HEMIGARD corrects this problem.
• The most recent episode (Season 4 – Episode 3 entitled “A Smell from Hell”) of “My Feet are Killing Me” featured HEMIGARD being used by “Dr. Brad” to close a very tough plantar wound.  It does have graphic content including live surgery footage.  The patient in question can hardly walk due to masses of callus on the ball of her foot – the surgical excision leaves a large wound that is difficult to close, and Dr. Brad uses HEMIGARD to help close the defect.  The patient has an excellent result and is ecstatic! “My Feet Are Killing Me” A Smell from Hell (TV Episode 2022) – IMDb.
• Our biggest recent win had almost nothing to do with us.  A general surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland got a hold of our wound closure device HEMIGARD, loved it, got it approved locally and then nationally and now we have received orders from multiple Kaiser clinical facilities. This surgeon is not an advisor or consultant to us, and just liked what HEMIGARD was doing for her wound closure results.
• We were one of 28 medical device startup companies selected from over 1000 worldwide applicants for the MedTech Innovator Accelerator 2022 program.  This is wrapping up soon at AdvaMed in Boston at the end of the month and there are several competitions in play.
• One is the one minute video competition.  Please enjoy (and “like” on LinkedIn) our story of how Dr. Brad used HEMIGARD to stop Shantell’s feet from killing her!
• SUTUREGARD wins American Diabetes Association 2022 Showcase Innovation Award.  We were recently (November 4, 2022) honored to receive this award, having successfully competed with 160 other companies from the USA and beyond.  Above we are receiving the award presented by Dr. Robert Gabbay, the Chief Medical Officer of the ADA (2^nd from L).  The ADA heard our message about how our HEMIGARD product has dramatically improved surgical outcomes for diabetic amputation patients.
• As you may know, many initial amputations do not heal on these patients who almost always have vascular disease and neuropathy, and often require more morbid above or below knee amputations with high risk of systemic complications including mortality.  HEMIGARD reduced need for further amputation by 89% by preventing healing complications with the initial amputation.  This study of 80 patients is valid real-world evidence that resonated with the ADA judges.
• We look forward to bringing HEMIGARD to all those who do provide surgical care for diabetics with the goal of improving their surgical outcomes!

Synergic Medical Technologies

• Synergic was a finalist in the 2022 Oregon Technology Awards in the Pre-Revenue category.
• Synergic is proud to announce that we have received breakthrough device designation from the FDA! This is a big day for us in our mission of bringing solutions to the Parkinson’s community. We appreciate this special recognition and support of the FDA in our on-going development of the VT Touch.

Thaena

• Thaena held its annual 2022 Thaena Microbiome Symposium in a virtual format. It focused on the rise of probiotics: the roles they play in various organ systems, our health, and clinical applications.
• View recordings from the symposium here.

Trace Biosciences

• Trace Biosciences (formerly Inherent Targeting) was selected as a finalist for the Angel Oregon Life & Bio (AOBIO) investment competition through OEN, competing for a ~$300k investment, with the winner announced at the Finale event on May 26th at Amaterra Winery in Portland. See press release.
• We were awarded an SBIR matching grant from Business Oregon for ~$50k to complete in vitro testing and regulatory planning of our lead contrast agent towards clinical translation.
• We were selected to participate in the Creative Destruction Lab Biomedical Engineering track taking place out of Vancouver WA.
• We received an SBIR matching grant from Business Oregon to complete some additional in vitro toxicology testing and regulatory work for our Phase I NSF STTR project.
• We received a phase I SBIR award from the NINDS at the NIH to develop our imaging agents for the application of intraoperative nerve damage assessment to improve nerve repair surgery.
• This fall, Trace Biosciences moved within the OBI to one of the new offices and a brand-new lab.

Veana Therapeutics

• Received a Business Oregon grant to help provide funding toward commercialization for its VT-101 oral medication for oncology patients.
• Founder and CEO Emmanuel Akporiaye, PhD, recently presented at an Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar.
• Their ongoing clinical trial for the study of Alpha-TEA and trastuzumab for the treatment of refractory HER2+ metastatic breast cancer continues at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.
• Participated in the Research in Your Back Yard panel at the OBI in May.
• Recently enrolled a third patient in their clinical trial at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and will soon be opening a second trial site at Providence Cancer Center, Portland.

VIR Biotechnology

• VIR Biotechnology graduated from the OBI February 28, 2022, after joining the incubator in 2015 as TomegaVax, an OHSU spinoff that is pursuing an HIV vaccine. VIR Biotechnology has had many successes throughout their time at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator, including initiating their Phase 1 clinical trial of VIR-1111, an investigational human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) T cell vaccine.
• Upon graduation, VIR Biotechnology has relocated their lab and office from OTRADI’s incubator in the Willamette Wharf building on Portland’s South Waterfront, to the Riverside Centre business park just down the street from the incubator.

Virogenomics BioDevelopment

• VBD was awarded its third year of funding on our SBIR Phase 2B grant focused on manufacture and toxicology of DRQ, our therapeutic for multiple sclerosis.
• After 20 years with Virogenomics and then with VBD, Jeff King has decided to step-down as CEO of VBD.  He remains part of VBD’s Board of Directors. Renee Shirley will become CEO of VBD starting in 2023.

VitalFlo

• VitalFlo officially joined the OBI in October 2022, moving into one of the newly built offices.
• VitalFlo helps leading clinicians and researchers improve patient outcomes and advance lung health by providing comprehensive respiratory data, analysis and care.
• VitalFlo Announces Public Investment Campaign to Help Doctors Measure, Monitor, and Predict Patient’s Lung Health
  • “Do you think asthma and COPD should be treated preventatively instead of with trips to the ER? So does VitalFlo,” says Luke Marshall, PhD, VitalFlo Founder and CEO.
  • The team at VitalFlo has built a spirometry platform to help patients and their primary care doctors proactively manage their asthma, COPD, and other respiratory concerns.
• VitalFlo has officially launched its Wefunder campaign. With Wefunder, everyone, regardless of background, connections, or income, will finally be able to invest in VitalFlo and be a critical part of their future success. Read More.
• VitalFlo was one of the finalists in the Impact category at Bend Venture Conference.

Congratulations to all of you on your hard work and successful endeavors! You’re doing great things for healthcare.

Business Oregon SBMA Grant

Do you have or know of a small business affected by COVID-19? Small businesses may be eligible for one of Oregon’s Small Business and Microenterprise Grant Assistance awards. This program is funded by CARES Act funding for businesses who meet eligibility requirements.

For more information, see Business Oregon’s SBMA Program page.

Note: Applications open on January 23 at 8 a.m. and are due at 5 p.m. on January 27, 2023.

Save the Date for OTRADI’s 15th Anniversary Celebration

Mark your calendars to come out and help us celebrate our 15th anniversary! More information to come, so stay tuned.

Thank You for Your Continued Support of our Programs

OBI is gearing up for some excellent free entrepreneurial programming this year. We have monthly Lunch & Learns on all kinds of interesting topics geared toward the life science community, monthly Happy Hour networking, a robust mentoring & advising program, and more. Each of these programs has sponsorship opportunities available.

To help support our programming with a tax-deductible sponsorship, please take a look at our Program Sponsorship Kit and contact Rene Miller for sponsorship or questions.

Upcoming OBI Events

OBI Virtual Lunch & Learn:
Diversity in Clinical Trials
January 18, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Register here

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health Happy Hour
February 2, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Oregon Bioscience Incubator, Portland
Tickets are limited – get yours now!

OBI Virtual Lunch & Learn:
Business Oregon’s Commercialization Gap Fund
and SBIR Overview
February 28, 2023
12:00-1:00 PM
Save the date!

Other Community Events

PDX Women in Tech Presents:
January Happy Hour & Town Hall
January 17, 2023
5:30-7:30 PM
Virtual
Register here

UW WE-REACH Biomedical Entrepreneurship
Fireside Chat Series
January 19, 26, February 2, and 9, 2023
2:00-3:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

Lunch & Learn: What Every MedTech Startup Leader
Needs to Know About Attempting a Commercial Launch
January 25, 2023
12:00-1:30 PM
Virtual
Register here

Built Oregon Presents
PitchBlack 2023
February 7, 2023
6:30 PM
The Patricia Reser Center for the Arts, Beaverton
Tickets on sale now

Happy Holidays from Oregon Bioscience Incubator!

To observe the holidays and spend time with our families, OBI/OTRADI will be closed December 23-January 2. We wish you all a joyful holiday season and a happy start to 2023!

Rene Miller Promoted to OBI Associate Director

Following the departure of Hazel Valdez, Rene Miller has been promoted to the Associate Director position. Rene first joined the Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI in January 2020. As Associate Director, Rene recruits and helps select new client companies to join the incubator, implements and markets community and client programs and events, leads DEI initiatives, and manages communications and social media outreach.

Rene holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Business from Portland State University and Clinical Laboratory Science from Oregon Health & Science University/Oregon Institute of Technology, as well as a Master of Science in Nutrition from University of Western States. Her background includes clinical laboratory experience and small business ownership. As a longtime Chamber of Commerce participant, she also brought her interest in supporting and encouraging business growth and development to the OBI.

Welcome GenerX to the OBI

GenerX, a pharmaceutical development company, has moved its headquarters from California to the OBI. GenerX is engaged in the development, manufacturing, acquisition, licensing, and partnership of sterile injectable generic drug products for the U.S. and overseas markets. Their mission is to provide affordable generic medicines to patients through innovative solutions by leveraging our expertise and partnerships with world class FDA approved manufacturing facilities.

GenerX moved into one of our brand new labs on December 1, and we are thrilled to have them join us!

Client Company Wins

Keliomics

• Keliomics was one of the five winners of the Beaverton Startup Challenge 2023, winning $25,000.

Synergic Medical Technologies

• Synergic is proud to announce that we have received breakthrough device designation from the FDA! This is a big day for us in our mission of bringing solutions to the Parkinson’s community. We appreciate this special recognition and support of the FDA in our on-going development of the VT Touch.

Gamma Diagnostics

• Gamma Diagnostics Inc. is proud to announce that Mr. Ajay Nair, currently President and CEO, will serve as Chairman of the Executive Board and transition the Chief Executive Officer role to Mr. Chris Venter, currently CFO of the Company, effective November 18th, 2022.

Suturegard Medical

• SUTUREGARD wins American Diabetes Association 2022 Showcase Innovation Award.  We were recently (November 4, 2022) honored to receive this award, having successfully competed with 160 other companies from the USA and beyond.  Above we are receiving the award presented by Dr. Robert Gabbay, the Chief Medical Officer of the ADA (2^nd from L).  The ADA heard our message about how our HEMIGARD product has dramatically improved surgical outcomes for diabetic amputation patients.
• As you may know, many initial amputations do not heal on these patients who almost always have vascular disease and neuropathy, and often require more morbid above or below knee amputations with high risk of systemic complications including mortality.  HEMIGARD reduced need for further amputation by 89% by preventing healing complications with the initial amputation.  This study of 80 patients is valid real world evidence that resonated with the ADA judges.
• We look forward to bringing HEMIGARD to all those who do provide surgical care for diabetics with the goal of improving their surgical outcomes!

GenerX

• GenerX moved its headquarters from Santa Clara, CA into the OBI in Portland on December 1.

StoneStable

• StoneStable is hiring a part-time technician. See their job description here.

Congratulations on all of your achievements!

VertueLab’s Federal Funding News

VertueLab’s December newsletter is chock full of federal funding opportunities and resources, such as:

• Department of Energy (DOE)
• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• Department of Defense (DoD)

As one of Oregon’s signature research centers (alongside OTRADI and ONAMI), VertueLab is always there to help Oregon entrepreneurs with helpful information and free advice.

Partner Spotlight: Northwest Tenant Group

Stanford Scriven is the founder and principal of Northwest Tenant Group, Portland’s only independent, conflict-free real estate firm. His approach is that of a “Chief Real Estate Officer” for Northwest companies who need to utilize real estate without the headache. He has proudly managed real estate projects for over 100 companies ranging from startups to the Fortune 150. Learn more about Northwest Tenant Group’s services at www.nwtenantgroup.com.

OBI events

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health Happy Hour
January 5, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
Marriott Courtyard City Center
Register here – tickets are going fast!

Other community partner events

OEN Pub Talk: Exit Strategies Realized… Now What?
December 14, 2022
5:15-7:30 PM
Holcene
Get tickets here

PDX Women in Tech Winter Soiree & Awards Ceremony
December 15, 2022
5:00-7:00 PM
In-person or virtual
Register here

OBI client company wins

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• PDX Pharma was recognized by Portland Business Journal and received two philanthropic awards on October 27.
  • 2022 Innovation in Philanthropy award (PDX Pharmaceuticals in partnership with OHSU)
  • Top 10 philanthropic small companies (below $10M in revenue)
• These awards recognized our commitment, through donation and volunteer work, to support education and training in cancer research and nanotechnology.

VitalFlo

• VitalFlo Announces Public Investment Campaign to Help Doctors Measure, Monitor, and Predict Patient’s Lung Health
  • “Do you think asthma and COPD should be treated preventatively instead of with trips to the ER? So does VitalFlo,” says Luke Marshall, PhD, VitalFlo Founder and CEO.
  • The team at VitalFlo has built a spirometry platform to help patients and their primary care doctors proactively manage their asthma, COPD, and other respiratory concerns.
• VitalFlo has officially launched its Wefunder campaign. With Wefunder, everyone, regardless of background, connections, or income, will finally be able to invest in VitalFlo and be a critical part of their future success. Read More
• VitalFlo was one of the finalists in the Impact category at Bend Venture Conference.

Trace Biosciences

• We were selected to participate in the Creative Destruction Lab Biomedical Engineering track taking place out of Vancouver WA.
• We received an SBIR matching grant from Business Oregon to complete some additional in vitro toxicology testing and regulatory work for our Phase I NSF STTR project.
• We received a phase I SBIR award from the NINDS at the NIH to develop our imaging agents for the application of intraoperative nerve damage assessment to improve nerve repair surgery.

ProMedix

• ProMedix currently has an open round for funding and would love to discuss further with any interested parties at OBI or beyond. Please email Scott Filer, CEO: scott_filer@promedixinc.com
• ProMedix was recently selected from a competitive group of startups for the Creative Destruction Lab‘s healthcare cohort. This will help to solidify a go-to-market strategy for our technology as well as expand to a large network of healthcare innovators.
• ProMedix has been announced as a finalist for the Seattle Angel Conference. In addition it is being highlighted as stage presenting startup company at the large Octane MedTech Innovation Forum in Southern California.
• We also brought onboard Robert Jenks, MBA as our Acting CFO. Bob is a former Managing Director for GE Equity.
• ProMedix was featured in the OHSU Innovates 2022 Impact Report.

Sonivate Medical

• Sonivate Medical, Inc. has received funding as part of an SBIR Program from the US Air Force for a Phase I ($74,886).  It is a 90-day Phase I to be completed by January 27, 2023.  This Phase I is to develop the requirements for an Ultra-High Frequency Linear Probe for clinical applications in MSK, ophthalmology and clinical ultrasound views < 3 cm.
• In addition, Sonivate will secure an Air Force clinician to be PI for the clinical research in the Phase II application.

CANX

• CANX, LLC founder Kerry Masterson successfully completed the OHSU I-Corp 5-week BIP Corps program.

Hemex Health

• Hemex presented two posters at the Tropical Medicine Show (ASTMH) in Seattle.
  • The first discussed research on Gazelle’s ability to detect and differentiate P. knowlesi (a malaria species indigenous to SE Asia) from other malaria species.
  • The seconds was a study conducted in Ghana on Gazelle’s ability to measure fetal hemoglobin, which has possible applications for monitoring treatment for sickle cell disease.

Rewire Neuro

• Rewire Neuro and Neurescence are partnering to enhance fluorescence calcium imaging of the nervous system with cutting edge neuronal segmentation and analysis capability.
  • Neurescence Inc. (Toronto, Canada), the manufacturer of the Multiscopes^TM, and Rewire Neuro, Inc. (Portland, Oregon), a provider of artificial intelligence software development services (“AI-a-a-S”) announced their strategic development partnership today. With the aim to optimize the automated analysis workflow for neuroscientists, this technology integration utilizes deep learning to rapidly improve detection and quantification of neuronal activity while reducing the processing time of data-dense brain recordings. Videos that would previously take 2 weeks to be processed now result in neuronal detection in 30 minutes with double the accuracy compared to the existing automated neuronal segmentation methods in the market.

CytoImage

• CytoImage was featured in the OHSU Innovates 2022 Impact Report.

Caregiven (alumnus)

• Caregiven was acquired by Delta Dental of Iowa and its subsidiary Veratrus Health. Candice Smith, Caregiven’s founder and CEO, has joined the Delta Dental team!
• Read the press release here.

Congratulations on all of your achievements!

Wishing Hazel Valdez the best in her new role

OBI’s Associate Director, Hazel Valdez, has accepted a position as Executive Director for PDXWIT and will be leaving OBI on November 18, 2022.

While at OBI, Hazel has worked to formalize OBI’s selection process, injected Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work into daily operations, built a job board, completed a digital health project initiative, and led the organization’s diversify funding efforts. Hazel has always communicated that she wanted to become an Executive Director herself, so we are ecstatic to see her achieve this goal.

While we are saddened to see her go, we are grateful for all the work she has done and the friendships we have formed. We wish her congratulations on this achievement and look forward to working with her as a partner in this great community.

CBRE report: Life science market normalizes in Q3 after record-setting 2021

Executive Summary

• U.S. life sciences employment increased by 5.4% year-over-year in Q3 2022. While year-over-year growth in the Biotech R&D sector remained high at 11%, it began to plateau in Q3 with little change between July and August.
• Life sciences venture capital funding decreased by 29% quarter-over-quarter to $4.1 billion in Q3, in line with pre-pandemic levels.
• The overall lab vacancy rate increased by 30 basis points (bps) quarter-over-quarter to 5.3% in Q3, largely due to new supply totaling 2.1 million sq. ft. outpacing absorption of 363,047 sq. ft.
• The average lab asking rent of the top 12 U.S. markets increased by 6.8% quarter-over-quarter to $60.28 per sq. ft. NNN.
• Under-construction lab space increased by 4.9 million sq. ft. quarter-over-quarter to 37.4 million sq. ft., 88% of which was being built on a speculative basis and 26.3% preleased.
• Download the report PDF here.

For more information, contact Ajay Malhotra, Ajay.Malhotra@cbre.com or Kristin Hammond, Kristin.Hammond@cbre.com at CBRE Portland.

Pitch Oregon applications due Nov. 15

PITCH OREGON is entering another year, showcasing the talent and innovation of Pacific Northwest founders. Each year, Pitch Oregon brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors from the region, creating a collaborative and dynamic environment for launching startups on their growth journeys.

Winners of the growth categories for Pitch Oregon 2023 will receive investment through a special purpose vehicle (SPV). A cash prize will be awarded to the Early-Stage winner.

Last year, $875K was invested in six companies and we’re expecting approximately the same again in 2023!

WHO CAN APPLY:  Pitch Oregon will have 3 Growth categories and one Early-Stage category. Applicants will self-select which category to apply for. To be eligible for one of the Growth categories, startups must have raised more than $250,000 in total investment or have more than $250,000 in revenue. Pitch Oregon categories include:

• Cleantech / Sustainability (growth)
• Life science (growth)
• Software / Technology (growth)
• Early Stage (industry agnostic)

Deadline to apply is November 15.
More information here.

OHSU Innovates 2022 Impact Report

The OHSU Innovates 2022 Impact Report provides a snapshot of the successes that come from innovative science, academic-industry collaborations and an infrastructure that stewards ideas to impact. You’ll find numbers that show the impact of funding great ideas, and you’ll see profiles of some of the OHSU innovators and start-ups that demonstrate the change that innovation can bring.  The report also shares OHSU services and resources that aim to help build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

A special shoutout to OBI client companies ProMedix, who is featured on pages 8 and 14; and CytoImage, whose profile appears on page 13 of the report.

UC Davis is hosting NIH course

NIH Course in Neurotherapeutics Discovery and Development for Academic Scientists

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 session of the Training in Neurotherapeutics Discovery and Development for Academic Scientists Course, taking place March 14 -17, 2023 at UC Davis in Davis, CA. The deadline to apply is December 5, 2022.

This NIH-sponsored short course focuses on fundamentals of drug discovery and development of novel neurotherapeutics. It offers a mix of didactic lectures, workshops, round robins, and one-on-one academic/pharma mentorship, with time for networking and in-person collaboration. Led by Course Directors Michael Rogawski, MD, PhD, and Barbara Slusher, PhD, MAS, the course is taught by a faculty of leading Pharma industry and academic drug discovery professionals. Participants will have ongoing access to senior faculty who will assist them to achieve success in their individual drug development projects.

The 2023 session will be held in person at UC Davis in Davis, CA. There is no cost to apply, and for successful applicants, tuition, travel, and lodging are fully covered.  Apply here by December 5.

OBI events

Hybrid Lunch & Learn: Financial Success
Through Accounting Best Practices
November 16, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
OBI or Virtual Option
Register here

Hybrid Lunch & Learn:
Commercial Real Estate Q&A
December 7, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
OBI or Virtual Option
SAVE THE DATE – registration coming soon

Other community partner events

Voices of Equity: Backlash & Social Movements
November 11, 2022
9:00-9:30 AM
Register here

Biotech Summit 2022 + Bio on the Vine
November 15, 2022
2:00-8:00 PM
Knight Cancer Research Building – Portland
Purchase tickets here

-and-

Bio in the Valley 2022
December 1, 2022
5:00-8:00 PM
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for
Accelerating Scientific Impact – Eugene
Purchase tickets here

Inclusion That Moves You
December 7, 2022
12:00-1:15 PM
Register here

Welcoming Another New Client Company to OBI!

CANX LLC is developing therapeutics to address iron-related health conditions such as iron overload disease and certain forms of cancer which depend on iron for their growth.

Welcome to the Willamette Wharf building and our OBI client company community!

OBI Client Company Wins

Rewire Neuro

• Rewire Neuro, Inc., makers of Pipsqueak Pro – the revolutionary AI image analysis platform for biological researchers, announces their partner platform integration with eLabNext, part of Eppendorf Group, and premier Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) platform provider.
• Rewire will be integrating our image analysis software into eLabNext’s electronic lab notebook, which will enable users to seamlessly move between conducting their image analysis and their collaborative data organizational environment, providing deeper analysis and insights for the entire lab.
• Pipsqueak Pro was born from the lab–developed by scientists to rapidly speed up manual image analysis, cellular quantification, and multi-channel (colocalization) analysis for both image and video media. The platform uses a patented machine learning system to improve your ROI predictions with minimal user input. Our AutoML™ process will customize the AI’s detection capabilities to your needs and improve your lab’s analysis workflow.

VitalFlo

• VitalFlo is one of the finalists in the Impact category at Bend Venture Conference!

PDX Pharmaceuticals

• We have a new publication in Nature Communications.
• Moataz Reda, Worapol Ngamcherdtrakul, Molly A Nelson, Natnaree Siriwon, Ruijie Wang, Husam Y Zaidan, Daniel S Bejan, Sherif Reda, Ngoc Ha Hoang, Noah A Crumrine, Justin PC Rehwaldt, Akash Bindal, Gordon B Mills, Joe W Gray, Wassana Yantasee. Development of a nanoparticle-based immunotherapy targeting PD-L1 and PLK1 for lung cancer treatment. Nature communications. 13(1), 1-11, 2022
• Also we won a matching grant for phase II small business innovative research (SBIR) from Business Oregon this year. The award (USD 100,000) will be used for our IP protection, financing a new facility, and fundraising activities.

StoneStable

• We are proud to announce that StoneStable, Inc. has been accepted into the Creative Destruction Lab program in the International Advanced Therapies Track.

HTI

• Signed Master Service Agreement with ADRx and a Top Tier International Pharmaceutical company for Cryo-EM services.
• HTI is now offering its Cryo-EM services via Scientist.com, a leading “science as a service” e-commerce site for Life Sciences. This adds a second e-commerce sales channel beyond ScienceExchange.com, the world’s first online R&D marketplace to accelerate scientific discovery, of which HTI became a member last year.
• Set up collaboration with Salk Institute for Cryo-EM data sets sharing.
• Filed patent of CryoFAST™ architecture (CRYOGENIC ELECTRON MICROSCOPY FULLY AUTOMATED ACQUISITION FOR SINGLE PARTICLE TOMOGRAPHY).

Hemex Health

• We are proud to announce during this Sickle Cell Awareness Month (September 2022) that Hemex has shipped 210,000 SCD tests to 25 countries.

SUTUREGARD Medical

• We were one of 28 medical device startup companies selected from over 1000 worldwide applicants for the MedTech Innovator Accelerator 2022 program.  This is wrapping up soon at AdvaMed in Boston at the end of the month and there are several competitions in play.
• One is the one minute video competition.  Please enjoy (and “like” on LinkedIn) our story of how Dr. Brad used HEMIGARD to stop Shantell’s feet from killing her!

Promedix

• Promedix was selected from a competitive pool of applicant companies to participate in the Creative Destruction Labs Heath Tech cohort based out of Vancouver BC. This brings together investors, mentors, and advisors across all aspects of the product life cycle to accelerate commercialization.
• ProMedix was named as a semi-finalist for both the Seattle Angel Conference and Bend Venture Conference.
• We have also been invited to pitch the stage at the Octane Conference this month in Irvine.

OBI’s Mentoring Program:
Applications Now Open

Now is your opportunity to join the Winter-Spring 2023 OBI mentoring cohort. If you have been thinking about becoming a mentor or mentee in the OBI Mentoring Program, your wait is over – applications are now open.

Applications will be open until October 31.

Read more about the OBI Mentoring Program and our year-round Advising Program here.

Mentor of the Month:
Satish Viswanatham

Satish Viswanatham is a new mentor in our OBI Mentoring Program. He brings a master’s degree in computer science, 15+ years working in startups, and previous mentoring experience to his relationship with his mentee. Satish is most experienced in cloud engineering, IT, and security. Over the years, he has mentored dozens of engineering leaders to be successful in their careers and startups.

Thank you, Satish, for your commitment to our startup community!

2022 Bend Venture Conference:
Attend • Present • Invest

The Bend Venture Conference (BVC), held on October 20 & 21, 2022 in Bend, Oregon, is the signature event for entrepreneurial activity in the Pacific Northwest. The major objectives of this event are to provide exposure and investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and build an engaged community of investors in Central Oregon.

The event attracts over 600 attendees, many of whom come from beyond Central Oregon (50% of attendees come from outside the region). Investments, awards, and prizes have totaled over $10 million in the last five years, making BVC the largest angel conference in the West.

There are three tracks for the competition: Early Stage, Growth Stage, and Impact (including VitalFlo, an OBI client company finalist in the Impact category). Don’t miss it! Get your tickets HERE.

*****

And you won’t want to miss this:
OBI is holding a free networking lunch at OSU-Cascades Innovation Co-Lab in Bend on October 20 before the BVC seminars begin.
Details and registration here!

SBIR/STTR Program: From the Sources’ Mouth

BBCetc’s SBIR/STTR Assistance Program invites everyone to join their monthly “From the Sources’ Mouth” series featuring SBIR/STTR program managers telling you what you need to know to have success with their agencies. These monthly events feature a 1-hour virtual training session conducted by a federal program manager and cover their specific agency’s mission and tips for creating a successful proposal, all sessions include time for Q&A with the agency presenter. They also host a large event every fall, featuring presenters across several agencies. This series is for technology-based entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses familiar with the SBIR/STTR programs who want to learn more about proposal submission.

September’s 7th-annual event featured 3-day SBIR/STTR training with federal program managers across all 11 agencies, with presentations from program managers, panel discussions and live Q&A. If you missed it, you can watch recordings here.

OBI Events

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
Networking Lunch in Bend
October 20, 2022
12:00-1:30 PM
OSU-Cascades Innovation Co-Lab – Bend
Register here

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health Happy Hour
November 3, 2022
5:30-7:00 PM
George Fox University Portland Center
Register here

Hybrid Lunch & Learn: Financial Success
Through Accounting Best Practices
November 16, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
OBI or Virtual Option
Register here

Other Community Partner Events

The MedTech Conference
October 24-26, 2022
Boston, Massachusetts
Information here

OEN Entrepreneurship Awards 2022:
EXPONENTIAL: THE POWER OF US
November 17, 2022
5:30-9:00 PM
Portland Art Museum
Purchase tickets here

Biotech Summit 2022 + Bio on the Vine
November 15, 2022
2:00-8:00 PM
Knight Cancer Research Building – Portland
Purchase tickets here

-and-

Bio in the Valley 2022
December 1, 2022
5:00-8:00 PM
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for
Accelerating Scientific Impact – Eugene
Purchase tickets here

Welcome New Client Companies to the OBI!

VitalFlo helps leading clinicians and researchers improve patient outcomes and advance lung health by providing comprehensive respiratory data, analysis and care.

Keliomics offers pharmacophenotyping for patients with solid tumors including breast, prostate, and certain types of metastatic cancer.

OBI Client Company Wins

Madorra

• We were selected out of a record-setting number of applicants to present at the McKinsey Early Stage Investor Conference in June.
• We were featured on a Washington University in St. Louis panel entitled: WashU Women Changing the Way We Live and Work
• We were selected (for the second time!) as one of the showcase companies for the NIH SBIR Investor Initiatives program. The NIH will be sponsoring us to attend the AdvaMed conference in Boston, MA this fall.

Hemex Health

• We received Portland Business Journal’s Global Impact Award as part of their Health Care of the Future Program. Patti White, CEO and co-founder, accepted the award during their ceremony held on August 18.
• Gazelle received Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommendation for sickle cell testing in India. Gazelle was one of three diagnostic platforms selected for this highly competitive and rigorous nod of approval.

SUTUREGARD Medical

• Our biggest recent win had almost nothing to do with us.  A general surgeon at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland got a hold of our wound closure device HEMIGARD, loved it, got it approved locally and then nationally and now we have received orders from multiple Kaiser clinical facilities.
• This surgeon is not an advisor or consultant to us, and just liked what HEMIGARD was doing for her wound closure results.

Promedix

• We are really excited to announce that Promedix has been selected into the highly competitive Creative Destruction Labs–Healthcare/Biomed Engineering Stream.

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals (OBI alumus)

• Sparrow has dosed the 1st patient in a phase 2 clinical trial of SPI-62 with prednisolone for polymyalgia rheumatica. Read press release here.
• Congratulations to Sparrow CSO and Founder, David Katz, for the honor of being a PharmaVoice 100! David was recognized for his entrepreneurial spirit and pursuit of finding a treatment for disorders due to steroid excess using scientific prowess and an artist’s vision. Read Dr. Katz’ interview.

Business Oregon Announces Two Grant Opportunities

Business Oregon announces the opening of matching grant applications. Applicants who have received recent Phase I or Phase II SBIR or STTR grants may be eligible for an Oregon matching grant of $50,000 or $100,000. Applications are due by October 7. Read the details and find the application here.

Business Oregon has also opened a Request for Grant Applications for High Impact Opportunity Projects (HIOP). Grant applications must be received by 8:00 am on October 10, 2022. More information on the eligibility for the grant program and the application materials are available on the Business Oregon HIOP website.

Mentor of the Month:
Claire Celeste Carnes

Claire Celeste Carnes (CC) is a Curriculum Designer and Adjunct Instructor at the New York University Wagner School. She has a strong 20+ year career in marketing and communications, especially in technology and health. Her educational background includes an MBA from Northwestern University with a marketing focus. As a PDX-WIT mentor for multiple years, a prior OBI Biomentor, and member and board member for Women’s Leadership Council in Portland, CC shows her dedication to helping others. She brings a passion and enthusiasm for her work, plus a structured, analytical approach combined with metrics.

Thank you, CC, for your commitment to our startup community!

OBI’s Mentoring Program:
Applications open October 1

And just like that, Fall is here. With it comes preparations to select the Winter-Spring 2023 OBI mentoring cohort. If you have been thinking about joining the OBI’s Mentoring Program, save the date – applications open on October 1 and remain open until October 31.

Read more about the OBI Mentoring Program and our year-round Advising Program here.

Biomedical Innovation: Commercialization Readiness Program

Have an idea for an innovative technology but don’t know where to start? BIP Corp is a 5-week experiential course designed to help you and your team assess and validate your biomedical technology. Gain the knowledge and tools to initiate innovation and commercialization of your technology, and develop a competitive business case to secure funding, partnerships, and further research opportunities.

Sept 21 – Oct 26, 2022 entirely virtual.

View full course schedule and details.
ENROLL here.
Offered at no-cost by OHSU’s Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute (OCTRI) and I-Corps@NCATS.

This course is appropriate for faculty, researchers, students, and industry scientists with an early-stage idea or team with an idea. Non-OHSU participants welcome. BIP Corp instructors are experts from across the bioscience industry and academia with experience bringing healthcare technologies and therapeutics to market.

Contact Melissa Mudd, muddm@ohsu.edu, with questions.

2022 Bend Venture Conference:
Attend • Present • Invest

The Bend Venture Conference (BVC), held on October 20 & 21, 2022 in Bend, Oregon, is the signature event for entrepreneurial activity in the Pacific Northwest. The major objectives of this event are to provide exposure and investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and build an engaged community of investors in Central Oregon.

The event attracts over 600 attendees, many of whom come from beyond Central Oregon (50% of attendees come from outside the region). Investments, awards, and prizes have totaled over $10 million in the last five years, making BVC the largest angel conference in the West.

There are three tracks for the competition: Early Stage, Growth Stage, and Impact. Don’t miss it! Get your tickets HERE.

2023 Beaverton Startup Challenge

The Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC) recently changed our name to the Oregon Startup Center. We want to help serve all entrepreneurs and the various sectors they represent with our 8th Beaverton Startup Challenge.

2023 Beaverton Startup Challenge Funding Competition FAQ

• On-line application will run August 24 – October 5, 2022
  Go to oregonstartupcenter.org for the application link
• 10-12 semi finalists will be chosen in late October. Semi finalists
  will then pitch to our angel investors.
• Five finalists will be selected by late November.
• Checks given and celebration will be held in early December.
• How much funding do I receive from OSC if I am one of the five
  finalists?

• • $25,000 in cash and services to each winning company
  • $4,800 charged for mentoring, advising, business contacts,
    connections and other community partner introductions AND office
    space.
  • $20,200 net cash paid to each finalist.
  • The winning companies sign a 2-year convertible note at 8% annual
    interest payable to Westside Startup Fund 8.
• The Beaverton Challenge started in 2016. For the 2022 Challenge
  $50K from the City of Beaverton was matched with $102,863 from
  18 angel investors for a total fund size of $152,863.
• Of the 35 Challenge winners so far, 26 of them (75%) are still in
  business.
• Cumulatively, the Challenge companies have gone on to raise over
  $95 million in additional funding!

OBI Events

Lunch & Learn: Public Relations &
Thought Leadership for Life Science Startups
September 22, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Oregon Bioscience Incubator & virtual option
Register here

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health Happy Hour
October 13, 2022
5:30-7:00 PM
Field Office Courtyard & Living Room
Register here

Other Community Partner Events

Women in Science PDX:
Finding and Using Your Voice
September 14, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

TiE Oregon Westside Pub Talk:
Equity Financing at all Stages
September 20, 2022
5:15-7:00 PM
Golden Valley Brewery – Bethany
Register here

Zapproved & TechTown PDX Lunch & Learn:
Accountability in Action
September 21, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

Pitch Latinx 2022
October 5, 2022
5:30-8:00 PM
The Redd East – Portland
Get tickets here

Oregon Bioengineering Symposium
October 6, 2022
LaSells Stewart Center at Oregon State University
Details here

The MedTech Conference
October 24-26, 2022
Boston, Massachusetts
Information here

Bio in the Valley 2022
December 1, 2022
5:00-8:00 PM
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for
Accelerating Scientific Impact – Eugene
Purchase tickets here

OBI Client Company Wins

Hemex Health

• We received National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for continuing to support Hemex Health and Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University with a $1.7M Phase II STTR follow up award for our “portable, affordable, quantitative microchip electrophoresis for hemoglobin A1C (diabetes) testing.”
• We launched our COVID-19 point-of-care diagnostic, Gazelle PathoCatch, in India on July 7 and plan to launch to our other distributors worldwide later this summer.
• CEO and Co-Founder Patti White was interviewed by International Finance Corporation (IFC).

ProMedix

• Founders Dr. David Sheridan and Dr. Matthew Hansen co-authored a journal article in Frontiers in Medicine, entitled “Point-Of-Care Capillary Refill Technology Improves Accuracy of Peripheral Perfusion Assessment.”

NeuvaRx

• NeuvaRx received an NIH phase I STTR award that started July 1.
• We also received a matching grant award from Oregon Business Development for the STTR award.

Gamma Diagnostics

• Gamma Diagnostics Inc. and OHSU have signed a licensing agreement that seeks to further develop and commercially promote the use of Gamma Prime Fibrinogen (GPF) as an inflammatory and clotting risk biomarker.
• High GPF levels have previously shown positive correlation with peripheral artery disease, heart failure and CVD deaths in the ARIC study. Dr. David Farrell (Founder and CSO) published an abstract at AHA 2021 showing COVID-19 patients can develop extraordinarily high levels of GPF.
• Gamma Diagnostics Inc. will now continue to invest in further clinical studies, regulatory submission, and commercialization activities to bring GPF as a biomarker to market.

Inherent Targeting

• We were awarded an SBIR matching grant from Business Oregon for ~$50k to complete in vitro testing and regulatory planning of our lead contrast agent towards clinical translation.

Outstanding wins!

Wanted: Digital Health Feedback

OBI is looking for feedback from the community about accelerating the growth of digital health. Digital health is a fast-growing segment in Oregon’s healthcare ecosystem. We’re looking for community feedback about your views on digital health and the resources that companies need to grow. Click here to take the 12-question survey.

Thank you for your participation!

Mentor of the Month:
Mary Phillips

Mary Phillips joined the OBI Mentoring Program as a Mentor after going through the program as a Mentee in her role as Chief Strategic Officer for Thaena, Inc.

With a B.Sc. Chemistry from Durham University, a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Imperial College in London, and her background as a USPTO Registered Patent Agent – combined with many years of experience in startups and university tech transfer, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge to her role as an OBI Mentor.

Mary says, “My passion is solving puzzles – and all the pieces of how startups come together are great puzzles! The most complicated puzzle pieces of startups are the founders. Working with the founder to overcome the hurdles and obstacles and confidently lead using their style to achieve their goals is, for me, very fulfilling work. And then there is the joy of seeing a founder take an idea and turn it into an innovation that people will buy – knowing that I helped in some way in making that possible.” Mary is a connector, coach, mentor, and strategist for STEMMbridge in Corvallis, Oregon.

Thank you, Mary, for all you do for our Oregon startups!

Think BIG: Bend Innovation Group

Introducing Bend Innovation Group (BIG), founded in beautiful Bend, Oregon:

“A common conception among members of the Bend Innovation Group (BIG) is that the enormous beauty of our region inspires dreamers and innovators. This is evidenced by the successful and expansive growth in Bend and throughout the Central Oregon region over the past two decades. Our members also share the vision that Bend is well positioned to prosper in our future growth if supported by a historically successful, highly experienced, and knowledgeable team of professionals, public and industry partners, and a channel of entrepreneurs who are ready to establish their footprint and lay their stake in our wonderful town.

It’s on this premise that BIG has been conceived and is taking form to foster conscientious, generational development in our region leveraging the strengths of our founding members’ decades of success in the health sciences. We’re a group of med-tech innovators and entrepreneurs, practicing physicians, professors and researchers, and successful financial professionals who have come together to pool our life experiences, share our knowledge, our time, and our passion with like minded entrepreneurs.

In addition to contributing to regional growth and development our goal is to improve the lives of others, both locally and well beyond.

By supporting healthcare innovation with our mentoring, private and public partnerships, and funding resources we’re able to foster early phase, pre-revenue startups from concept, through launch, and onto seed funding stages of growth.”

For more information about BIG, visit their website and check out their team, portfolio companies, and fellowship program.

Oregon’s Bio Boom:
2022 Economic Impact Report

Our friends at Oregon Bioscience Association recently released a comprehensive 2022 economic impact report, measuring the economic, fiscal, and demographic impacts of Oregon’s Bioscience industry. This report also includes Clark County, Washington. Our industry is doing great things in Oregon and SW Washington.

You can download the full report or the summary in PDF format here. Read it and celebrate Oregon’s Bio Boom!

2022 Bend Venture Conference:
Attend • Present • Invest

The Bend Venture Conference (BVC), held on October 20 & 21, 2022 in Bend, Oregon, is the signature event for entrepreneurial activity in the Pacific Northwest. The major objectives of this event are to provide exposure and investment opportunities for entrepreneurs and build an engaged community of investors in Central Oregon.

The event attracts over 600 attendees, many of whom come from beyond Central Oregon (50% of attendees come from outside the region). Investments, awards, and prizes have totaled over $10 million in the last five years, making BVC the largest angel conference in the West.

There are three tracks for the competition: Early Stage, Growth Stage, and Impact. Applications are due by August 16, 2022. For more information and application, click here.

Hiring or Job Searching?

OBI has launched a free Job Board where you can easily list your organization’s open positions. Click here to post your open positions. We’ll approve it on our end, and it will be posted for 30 days (and it’s renewable too).

And, if you’re a job seeker and would like to have your resume reviewed by recruiters in the community, please upload your resume to the “submit resume” section of our job board.

OBI Events

Lunch & Learn: Creating Equity Every Day
August 25, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Oregon Bioscience Incubator & virtual option
Register here

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health Happy Hour
September 1, 2022
5:30-7:00 PM
Oregon Bioscience Incubator
Register here

Other Community Partner Events

Women in Science PDX:
Women in Biotech Panel
August 17, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Virtual
Register here

Partners in Diversity: Say Hey!
August 17, 2022
5:30-8:00 PM
World Trade Center Building Two Plaza
Register here

2023 Beaverton Challenge Information Session
August 24, 2022
4:00-6:00 PM
OTBC Office – Beaverton
Register here

Bio in the Valley 2022
December 1, 2022
5:00-8:00 PM
Phil and Penny Knight Campus for
Accelerating Scientific Impact – Eugene
Purchase tickets here

Business Oregon Awards Matching
Grants to Five OBI Client Companies

Just announced! Business Oregon and Oregon InC have awarded Phase I matching grants of up to $50,000 to OBI client companies Inherent Targeting, NeuvaRx, and OmnEcoil Instruments.

• Inherent Targeting will use their award for analysis of a lead compound and in preparation for FDA approval of their fluorescent compound used in surgeries to prevent nerve damage.
• NeuvaRX will use their grant for IP protection and product testing in their compound to improve treatment of hemorrhagic stroke.
• OmnEcoil’s award will provide regulatory support services for their prostate cancer diagnostics.

Business Oregon and Oregon InC have also awarded Phase II matching grants of up to $100,000 to OBI client companies Health Technology Innovation (HTI) and PDX Pharmaceuticals.

• HTI’s grant award will help commercialize and accelerate its CryoDiscovery™ product launch.
• PDX Pharmaceuticals will utilize their grant for IP protection, in financing a new facility, and for fundraising support.

Congratulations to these five companies and the 14 others who received these Phase I and Phase II matching grants to to enhance their federal SBIR and STTR grant awards. Read the full press release for more details.

More OBI Client Company Wins

Endosound

• We recently announced Scott Fraser as a new addition to our board.  Scott comes with a world of knowledge in startups, the Gastroenterology (GI) space, and the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) market.
• In late May, we had our first ever booth at Digestive Disease Week (DDW).  This conference is the premier conference for the GI space, attracting doctors, industry professionals, and investors from all over the world.  We had tremendous response at the booth and as a result of several meetings with physicians and strategic partners.
• Some of the Endosound team, in partnership with physicians in Ecuador, showcased the Endosound Vision System (EVS) on Endoscopy on Air (EOA) on June 3rd.  The Global Annual Live Streaming Event on EOA had physicians from around the world educate and demonstrate their techniques in various endoscopic procedures to the 11,000 virtual attendees.  We were honored to sponsor a session with partner Dr. Carlos Robles Medranda at the Ecuadorian Institute of Digestive Disease.

HTI

• Received Phase II matching grant award from Business Oregon (see above)!
• In collaboration with Oregon BIO, HTI attended the Bio International 2022 with great success.
• HTI will present CryoDiscovery™ and CryoFast™ at the Microscopy & Microanalysis 2022 and American Crystallographic Association 2022 conferences on July 29 – Aug  4 in Portland, Oregon
• HTI signed a service agreement with ADRx Pharma for Cryo-EM sample optimization and image analysis.

Hemex Health

• We are proud to announce the official launch of the Gazelle™ PathoCatch™ COVID-19 FIA test, a diagnostic solution for point-of-care testing, made in collaboration with @MylabSolutions. Read the full press release.

Rewire Neuro

• Rewire attended BIO International as part of the Oregon Pavilion and pitched at the Startup Stadium as a finalist, gaining recognition, feedback, and interest from a large group of investors and potential partners from around the world.

StoneStable, Inc.

• Ken Stedman and Dan Snyder from StoneStable were at the BIO meeting in San Diego and made a number of connections with international pharmaceutical companies, large and small.

Wanted: Digital Health Feedback

OBI is looking for feedback from the community about accelerating the growth of digital health. Digital health is a fast-growing segment in Oregon’s healthcare ecosystem. We’re looking for community feedback about your views on digital health and the resources that companies need to grow. Click here to take the 12-question survey.

Thank you for your participation!

Summer-Fall Mentoring Cohort Begins

We are thrilled to welcome 13 mentees and 16 mentors to our Summer-Fall 2022 mentoring cohort. They began working together on July 1 for the 6-month program which runs through the end of the year.

Mentees (L to R for each row): Eduardo Ceballos, Kim Hutchison, Reva Barewal, Alexander Honkala, Jeremy Hammer, Sandhiprakash Bhide, Alison Carrigg, Cory Szybala, Elie Traer, Sydney Quinton-Cox Forbes, Melissa Belli, Jason Scott, and Jean Summerton.

Mentors (L to R for each row): Josh Ellison, Satish Viswanatham, Mary Phillips, Katie Rubino, Jacquie Murray, Shannon Heizenrader, Philbert Lee, Michael Phillips, Aaron Daugherty, Alex Reed, Claire Celeste Carnes, Kabir Bhatia, Shelly Sweeney, Mel Ellis, Lynn Sheehan, and Daren Connor.

To learn more about OBI’s mentoring program, please see our Mentoring page. Applications will open in October for the next cohort.

Hiring or Seeking?
Post it on OBI’s Job Board!

OBI has launched a FREE Job Board where you can easily list your organization’s open positions. Click here to post your open positions. We’ll approve it on our end, and it will be posted for 30 days (and it’s renewable too).

And, if you’re a job seeker and would like to have your resume reviewed by recruiters in the community, please upload your resume to the “submit resume” section of our job board.

Oregon Bioscience Association:
OBW CONNECT Live
July 7, 2022
5:00-8:00 PM
Ironlight in Lake Oswego
Purchase tickets here

OBI Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
July Happy Hour
July 14, 2022
5:30-7:00 PM
Canvas at Press Blocks Penthouse & Rooftop
Portland, Oregon
Free to attend – register here!

Biomedical Entrepreneurship Fireside Chat
July 14 & 21, 2022
2:00-3:00 PM
Virtual program
Register here

Bio in the High Desert: What’s Brewing
July 19, 2022
5:00-7:30 PM
OSU-Cascades Campus
Bend, Oregon
Purchase tickets here

OBI Hybrid Lunch & Learn:
Biotech Funding Strategies
July 20, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
OSU-Cascades Graduate Research Center
Bend, Oregon
Free to attend – register here

TAO: Party in the Pinot
July 23, 2022
5:00-10:00 PM
Scholls Valley Lodge
Hillsboro, OR
Purchase tickets here

Welcome NeuvaRx to the OBI!

NeuvaRx is preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of therapies and diagnostic tools for neurovascular disorders, including, but not limited to ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and vascular dementia.

We are happy to have you onboard!

OBI Client Company Wins

Veana Therapeutics

• Participated in the Research in Your Back Yard panel at the OBI in May.
• Recently enrolled a third patient in their clinical trial at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle and will soon be opening a second trial site at Providence Cancer Center, Portland.

StoneStable, Inc.

• StoneStable founder and CSO Ken Stedman received the 2022 ARIS Impact Goals Award! Read press release for details.
• StoneStable, Inc. was one of the finalists for the Angel Oregon Life & Bio (AOBIO) investment!

Gamma Diagnostics, Inc.

• We filed a Provisional Patent Application in United States No. 63/268,605: “Use of γ’ fibrinogen as a Biomarker in the Detection of Covid-19 and Prognosis of Severe Disease.”
• And we filed a pre-Emergency Use Authorization to the FDA entitled: “Gamma-prime fibrinogen ELISA.”

Hemex Health

• Hemex Health announced a significant enhancement to their Gazelle™ Hb Variant test, which allows for more precise measurements of Hb F, also known as fetal hemoglobin. The increased accuracy could be useful for monitoring hydroxyurea therapy in point-of-care settings. Hemex will provide “over the air” updates with the Hb F enhancement that can be downloaded directly to existing Gazelle Readers. The improvement will ship with new systems. Read press release here.

SUTUREGARD

• The most recent episode (Season 4 – Episode 3 entitled “A Smell from Hell”) of “My Feet are Killing Me” featured HEMIGARD being used by “Dr. Brad” to close a very tough plantar wound.  It does have graphic content including live surgery footage.  The patient in question can hardly walk due to masses of callus on the ball of her foot – the surgical excision leaves a large wound that is difficult to close, and Dr. Brad uses HEMIGARD to help close the defect.  The patient has an excellent result and is ecstatic! View it on Amazon Prime or other streaming platforms.

Inherent Targeting

• Congratulations to Inherent Targeting, one of the finalists for Angel Oregon Life & Bio (AOBIO).

Sparrow Pharmaceuticals (an OBI alumnus)

• Sparrow Pharmaceuticals received ethics committee and regulatory authority go-ahead for three Phase 2 clinical trials, in patients with Cushing syndrome, autonomous cortisol secretion, and polymyalgia rheumatica.
• Dr. David Katz was selected to give oral presentations on new clinical pharmacology and non-clinical study results at three prestigious conferences in May-June: European Congress of Endocrinology in Milan, European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, and Endocrine Society in Atlanta. Read press release here.

AOBIO Congratulations!

A fabulous afternoon at the inaugural Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) Grand Finale & Innovation Showcase, an in-person celebration on May 26th, 2022, 3-7 p.m. at Amaterra Winery in Portland.

OBI & OTRADI Executive Director Heather Ellis (pictured below, left) and Amanda Oborne from OEN (right) presented the Big Check to Ray Browning, co-founder of Biomotum, winner of the ~$300,000 AOBIO Investors’ angel investment!

Congratulations to all of the 2022 AOBIO finalists: Inherent Targeting, Savorease Therapeutic Foods, and StoneStable!

Also big congratulations to High Peak Medical Systems, who won the EMERGE award, sponsored by Black Founders Matter Fund.

AOBIO is a collaborative effort by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, OHSU, Oregon Bioscience Association, and OBI/OTRADI. Thanks to everyone who participated in making this program a success!

OBI Mentor of the Month:
Shelly Sweeney

Shelly Sweeney is the Founder and Solopreneur Business Coach of Beeline Coaching. She joined the OBI Mentoring Program in January, 2022 and receives high praise from her mentee each month. Her past experience with startups include working with entrepreneurs and startups, as well as surgical device startups.

Shelly says, “I have always been a leader out-performing goals wherever I have worked and someone managers described as someone they wish ‘they had nine more of.’  My coworkers describe me as someone who they can call to listen to them, share ideas and be a positive influence.” We agree! Thank you, Shelly, for all you do for the OBI community!

Hiring or Seeking?
Post it on OBI’s Job Board!

OBI has launched a Job Board where you can easily list your organization’s open positions. Click here to post your open positions. We’ll approve it on our end, and it will be posted for 30 days (and it’s renewable too).

And, if you’re a job seeker and would like to have your resume reviewed by recruiters in the community, please upload your resume to the “submit resume” section of our job board.

OBI’s New Shared Lab
Sponsored by PhRMA

On May 20, to celebrate International Clinical Trials Day, we held a Research in Your Back Yard panel discussion program, followed by a ribbon cutting for our newest shared equipment lab for OBI client companies. Thanks to a generous donation by PhRMA, we outfitted our new shared lab with a biosafety cabinet, CO2 incubators, centrifuge, rocker platform, and vortex mixer.

Thank you to PhRMA for your support!

Zapproved & Cinder:
Voices of Equity
Gender Identity & Pronouns
One Non-Binary Story
June 10, 2022
9:00-9:30 AM
Register here

OBI Hybrid Lunch & Learn
Women in Leadership Part 2:
Continuing the Conversation
June 22, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Register here

Oregon Bioscience Association:
OBW CONNECT Live
with Emily Leproust of Twist Bioscience
July 7, 2022
5:00-8:00 PM
Tickets here

Save the Date!
OBI Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
July Happy Hour
July 14, 2022
5:30-7:00 PM
Canvas Rooftop
Save the Date

OBI Client Company Wins

Inherent Targeting

• Inherent Targeting was selected as a finalist for the Angel Oregon Life & Bio (AOBIO) investment competition through OEN! We will be competing for a ~$300k investment, with the winner announced at the Finale event on May 26th at Amaterra Winery in Portland. See press release.

StoneStable, Inc.

• StoneStable, Inc. moved in to their new lab space in Suite 130A at the OBI.
• StoneStable, Inc. is one of the finalists for the Angel Oregon Life & Bio (AOBIO) investment! See press release.

EndoSound

• EndoSound is pleased to announce two new full-time employees. We are thrilled to have these two join our growing team.
  • Peter Hoffman has joined as Senior Product Development Engineer.  He will help to bring new and innovative ultrasound products to market. His 10+ years engineering experience ranges from robotics to medical devices with much of his time at Olympus developing novel biopsy tools for the lungs. He has authored 6 patent applications. Peter holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship from Oregon State University.
  • Patrick Hurley has joined as the Vice President of Marketing. Patrick comes with 13 years in product and market management in medical device, as well as several years as a life sciences consultant. Patrick has documented successes in each role as he continued to grow with responsibilities. He has helped build brand identity and established strong relationships with KOLs in the GI community. He holds a Ph.D. in biology, specializing in neuroscience from Wesleyan University.
• Winner of AGA Shark Tank and Innovation of the year. We had the opportunity to compete in the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) Shark Tank for innovative technologies in early April and won!!
• We’ll be competing again with our innovative Endoscopic Ultrasound device at the end of May at the largest Gastroenterology professional conference in the world called Digestive Disease Week (DDW).
• We have also been honored with the Innovation of the Year from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). This distinction is granted to companies with products that show promise for advancing the field of GI endoscopy.
• Together, these awards demonstrate to the broader GI community that our mission to democratize EUS is taking shape. There could not be a better time to follow the EndoSound journey. View our LinkedIn page.

Gamma Diagnostics, Inc.

• Gamma Diagnostics presented at the Expert Dojo Investor Festival on April 7 in Los Angeles. Our new CSO, Dr. Jamie Noll, and Founder Dr. David Farrell presented. See event details here.

HTI

• HTI has signed master service agreements with IDEAYA Biosciences and ADRx for cryo-EM structure determination services to support their drug discovery efforts. IDEAYA is a synthetic lethality-focused precision medicine oncology company and ADRx is a biotechnology company with a unique approach to halting diseases of protein aggregation.
• HTI presented poster sessions on CryoDiscovery, its AI platform for cryo-EM image processing, at the 17th Annual Drug Discovery Chemistry conference in San Diego and at the 2022 Astbury Conversation, a leading macromolecular conference held at the University of Leeds in the UK. HTI has also been selected for a session presentation at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2022, the microscopy industry’s premier conference to be held in Portland, Oregon from July 31st to August 4th.

Hemex Health

• We have two abstracts that were accepted for the 4th Global Congress on Sickle Cell Disease (June 16-18) in Paris.
  • “Point-of-care diagnostic for quantification of fetal haemoglobin (Hb F) levels in monitoring hydroxyurea therapy for children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Ghana” has been accepted for a poster presentation.
  • “Evaluation of first microchip-based point-of-care device for diagnosis of Beta-Thalassemia in India” has been accepted for a poster presentation.

SUTUREGARD

• Dr Alton Johnson of University of Michigan Podiatry presented at the Society for Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) last month in Phoenix on HEMIGARD closure of Stage 4 (bone involved) heel wounds.  He won first place in the Practice Innovation category for this work.  HEMIGARD is allowing surgeons to close wounds that have not been able to be closed with normal suture materials.  Normal suture does not work well on soft heel skin which does not resist tearing when under tension.  HEMIGARD corrects this problem.

Synergic Medical Technologies

• Synergic Medical Technologies was a finalist in the 2022 Oregon Technology Awards in the Pre-Revenue category.

Madorra

• In February, Holly was featured as UCSF’s Rosenman Healthtech leader of the month
• Madorra was featured on the Medsider podcast in March
• We also gave a talk at the Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience investment program

Refeyn

• Refeyn closed Series B funding round, led by Northpond Ventures! Read their press release here.

Research in Your Back Yard
May 20 at 10 a.m.

Celebrate International Clinical Trials Day on May 20, by streaming an OBI/OTRADI panel titled, “Research in Our Backyard: Developing Cures, Creating Jobs in Oregon,” in partnership with the Oregon Alliance of Clinical Researchers.

In our panel discussion, we’ll be bringing together the perspectives of an Oregon Bioscience Incubator researcher, clinical researcher, patient, and the biopharmaceutical industry to explain everything that goes into developing treatments and cures for local patients and the important work happening here in our state.

Panelists: Emmanuel Akporiaye, Veana Therapeutics, an OBI resident company; Searcy Craighead, Oregon patient and member of Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus; Curt A. Heiting, B.B.A., President of Cyn3rgy Research and Development and member of the Oregon Alliance of Clinical Researchers; and Reid Porter, Senior Director of State Public Affairs at the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Register here!

Hiring or Seeking?
Post it on OBI’s Job Board 

OBI has launched a Job Board where you can easily list your organization’s open positions. Click here to post your open positions. We’ll approve it on our end, and it will be posted for 30 days (and it’s renewable too).

And, if you’re a job seeker and would like to have your resume reviewed by recruiters in the community, please upload your resume to the “submit resume” section of our job board.

Don’t Miss the AOBIO Finale!

Join us for the inaugural Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) Grand Finale & Innovation Showcase, an in-person celebration on May 26th, 2022, 3-7pm at Amaterra Winery in Portland.

You won’t want to miss the Big Check Moment, sponsored by OBI/OTRADI, when AOBIO Investors announce which of the four finalists have earned the angel investment, up to $300,000!

Finalists for AOBIO 2022 are:

• Biomotum
• Inherent Targeting
• Savorease Therapeutic Foods
• StoneStable

All this and Amaterra wine and views! Join us for this special celebration of entrepreneurship in Oregon.

Purchase Tickets Here

Final Call to Complete
Bioscience Ecosystem Inventory Survey

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) is the state’s first and only bioscience-focused incubator. The multi-client company bioscience complex provides startups and scientists access to entrepreneurial mentoring, state-of-the-art bioscience facilities, meeting space, and shared equipment. While OBI currently provides free resources to the full community, we understand there are still some unmet needs and would like to learn more about how OBI can help fill resource gaps.

If you haven’t already, please take 15 minutes to fill out this survey to help assess the needs of the community by identifying additional resources needed. The survey will close at the end of May. Thank you!

Research in Your Back Yard
Panel Discussion
May 20, 2022
10:00-11:00 AM
Register here

AOBIO 2022 Grand Finale &
Innovation Showcase
May 26, 2022
3:00-7:00 PM
Amaterra Winery
Get tickets here

Business Oregon has
Matching Grants Available

Business Oregon has just announced a Request for Grant Applications. Applicants who have recently received federal Phase I SBIR/STTR awards, or Phase II awards, may be eligible for a state matching grant.

More information is available at the Business Oregon website. Applications are due by May 8, 2022.

OBI Client Company Wins

Gamma Diagnostics, Inc.

• We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Jamie Noll, Pharm.D., B.S. Nutrition to Chief Scientific Officer for Gamma Diagnostics Inc., effective immediately. Jamie joined the Gamma Dx team late last year as a scientific and clinical advisor and in a very short time has helped establish key KOL relationships in the medical and clinical research community. She has had various roles and extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry last of which was as a Medical Science Liaison for Puma Biotechnology.
• “I have known Jamie for over 14 years and our professional and personal relationship has been forged through challenging projects and arduous decisions. Not only is she extremely talented in her field but she represents the highest standard in ethics and integrity. I feel honored and privileged she has decided to join us in the CSO capacity.” Ajay Nair, CEO Gamma Diagnostics Inc.
• “Dr. Noll is a fabulous addition to the Gamma Diagnostics team! Her industry experience and scientific expertise are critical assets that will help propel Gamma Diagnostics forward.” Dr. David Farrell, Founder, Scientific Advisor, Gamma Diagnostics Inc.

HTI

• Health Technology Innovations, Inc. (HTI) is excited to announce that Dr. Doug Kawahara is joining HTI as Senior Advisor for AI/ML in Drug Discovery. Dr. Kawahara brings extensive experience in drug discovery and development to HTI. He is currently President & CEO of Elex Biotech (Portland, OR), a company developing novel drugs for the treatment of arrhythmia and heart failure. Read full press release.
• HTI will be attending the 17th Annual Drug Discovery Chemistry event in San Diego on April 18-22, presenting a Poster session on CryoDiscovery™ its machine learning platform for cryo-EM image processing, and providing information on its cryo-EM Services offerings for drug discovery. If you would like to connect with us at the event, please reach out to Kennedy Brown, VP Business Development, via email kennedy@hti.ai or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennedy-brown/
• HTI CTO,  Narasimha Kumar, will be presenting a poster session virtually at The Astbury Conversation 2022, on April 25-26 on CryoDiscovery™: Public Data-based AI/ML model enhancements for Cryo-EM Image Analysis. The Astbury is one of Europe’s premier conferences on macromolecular research, including a keynote by cryo-EM Nobel Laureate Richard Henderson. If you would like to connect with Kumar to learn more about CryoDiscovery and his presentation please contact him via email at kumar@hti.ai.

Hemex Health

• We received the 2022 West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) grant award for catalyzing pediatric innovation (CPI), which supports the development of pediatric innovation from ideation through commercialization. We plan to use this grant to help apply for US FDA clearance to bring our affordable POC sickle cell test to the US.

SUTUREGARD

• SUTUREGARD Medical, Inc. received the honor of being chosen by MedTech Innovator for the MedTech Innovator Road Show.  In their words,”MedTech Innovator is the largest and highest performing accelerator of medical technology in the world and the medtech industry’s premiere showcase and competition for innovative medical device, digital health and diagnostic companies.”
• We will be pitching April 14 and hope to leverage our participation into favorable business development pathways.
• We received a lot of attention at trade shows including the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons in Austin Texas where we presented our 3rd study showing ~80% reduction in postoperative wound complications after repair of ankle fractures.
• We have enjoyed record sales in Q1 2022.

Synergic Medical Technologies

• Great news! They are a finalist in the 2022 Oregon Technology Awards in the Pre-Revenue category.

Congratulations on your successes. Keep up the good work!

Applications Now Open for
OBI Mentoring Program

Mentor and mentee applications opened on April 1 or this structured, 6-month mentoring program, so now is your opportunity to get involved!

Would You Like to be a Mentor?
If you have experience working with startups in health innovations/life science, consider applying to become a mentor. Benefits of mentoring include:

• Free mentor training
• Exclusive access to handpicked startups
• Exclusive network of mentors
• Give back to your community
• OBI highlights its mentors in the monthly newsletter

Growing Your Business? Become a Mentee!
We are looking for entrepreneurs who are already in business but would like guidance, accountability, and support from a mentor to help set and reach business goals. Benefits and time commitments for mentees include:

• Mentoring helps you grow your business! A recent survey from Kabbage found that 92% of businesses who have a mentor say mentoring has directly impacted their business growth and survival
• Mentee meets with mentor 2 hours a month for 6 months
• Mentee checks in with OBI once per month and completes a survey at the end of the program

Applications will be accepted from April 1-30.
For more important dates, details, and a link to the applications, visit www.otradi.org/mentoring.

Mentor of the Month: Michael Phillips

Michael Phillips, JD has been an OBI Mentor for many years. He has been advising startups for 39 years on all aspects of business – formation, capital raising, employment, governance and is always available to lend a hand to entrepreneurs. Michael is a partner at Davis, Wright, Tremaine, LLP. He listens well and offers practical strategic advice, and not just to his OBI mentees – he also currently acts as general counsel on a pro bono bias for the OBA, The Conservations Alliance and 1% for the Planet. He has served as a director for Portland Social ventures, Soul River, Susan B Komen, Portland Center for the Performing arts, the Software Association of Oregon.

Thank you Michael, for your tireless work for our community!

2022 Oregon Technology Awards

Don’t miss the 38th annual Oregon Technology Awards, Tuesday, May 3 at the Oregon Convention Center.

Celebrate 2022 Lifetime Achievement award recipient Craig Reinhart, Managing Director of Occupier Services at JLL; 2022 Sam Blackman award winner Henry Schuck, CEO & Chairman of Zoominfo; and 2022 Tech Champion award winner, The Lemelson Foundation.

In addition, there will be 2022 Company Awards in 10 categories, including our own Synergic Medical Technologies as a finalist in the Pre-Revenue category. Regional tech and tech-enabled companies are recognized for their accomplishments, leadership, and commitment to the industry and community.

OBI & OTRADI is pleased to be a sponsor for this event. Tickets are on sale now – don’t miss it!

Please Complete OBI’s
Bioscience Ecosystem Inventory Survey

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) is the state’s first and only bioscience-focused incubator. The multi-client company bioscience complex provides startups and scientists access to entrepreneurial mentoring, state-of-the-art bioscience facilities, meeting space, and shared equipment. While OBI currently provides free resources to the full community, we understand there are still some unmet needs and would like to learn more about how OBI can help fill resource gaps.

If you haven’t already, please take 15 minutes to fill out this survey to help assess the needs of the community by identifying additional resources needed. Thank you!

OHSU Research Week
May 2-5

OHSU Research Week is an annual university-wide event that celebrates research performed by students, faculty, postdocs, and staff across all schools, centers, institutes and education programs.

Don’t miss keynote speakers, career development and negotiation workshops, poster presentations, and Innovation Day!

It’s all virtual this year. Learn more at the OHSU Research Week website.

Join OSU Iterate

Hybrid Lunch & Learn:
Demystifying Commercial Real Estate Leasing
April 26, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Limited attendees in-person at CBRE
Also livestreamed on Zoom
Register now!

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health Happy Hour
May 5, 2022
5:30-7:00 PM
In-person! Location TBA
Save the date

Other Great Community Events

TAO Pride Community Kick-Off
April 14, 2022
4:00-6:00 PM
Mississippi Studios
Register here

OregonBio Zoomcast:
Inherent Targeting – Seeing the Nerve for What it is
April 20, 2022
9:00-9:30 AM
Register here

Zapproved Lunch & Learn:
Create Your Personal Racial Equity Roadmap
April 28, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Register here

Congratulations to VIR Biotechnology on their Graduation from OBI!

VIR Biotechnology graduated from the OBI February 28, 2022, after joining the incubator in 2015 as TomegaVax, an OHSU spinoff that is pursuing an HIV vaccine. VIR Biotechnology has had many successes throughout their time at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator, including initiating their Phase 1 clinical trial of VIR-1111, an investigational human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) T cell vaccine.

Upon graduation, VIR Biotechnology has relocated their lab and office from OTRADI’s incubator in the Willamette Wharf building on Portland’s South Waterfront, to the Riverside Centre business park just down the street from the incubator.

OTRADI Board of Directors Welcomes Carl Anderson

Carl Anderson was recently elected to OBI/OTRADI’s Board of Directors. Carl has retired from a more than three-decades long career as an Occupational Medicine physician, most recently at Northwest Permanente.

Carl brings a decade of private equity investing experience with minority owned Midwest manufacturer, TAG-Holding LLC. He is also a Venture Partner with Oregon Venture Fund.  In addition, he sits on the OHSU-PSU Philanthropic Advisory Board as well as the Alumni Council of National Medical Fellowships; a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the number of minority healthcare professionals.

The Oregon Translational Research and Development Institute’s (OTRADI) mission is dedicated to transforming scientific research developed in the state of Oregon’s research laboratories into commercial ventures.

Major Win for HTI!

Health Technology Innovations, Inc. was awarded a $1M SBIR Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation to commercialize CryoDiscovery ™, a Cryo-EM Automation and Intelligence Platform for Drug Discovery.

HTI has made great progress developing a prototype during Phase I and will be using this Phase II award, along with revenue from its growing cryo-EM services business, to fund its next stage of growth. HTI is hiring AI/ML software development engineers, interns & postdocs. For more information on these job openings, please inquire with VP Research & Development kumar@hti.ai.

More OBI Client Company Wins

Hemex Health

• We sent our first Gazelles to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
• This month we’re scheduled to ship commercially to Bahrein, Oman, Kuwait and Algeria, and we are already selling to Lebanon and UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi).
• We’ve partnered with distributors in Savona, Italy, our first European location.
• Umut Gurkan, our Chief Scientist for Sickle Cell Disease, based at Case Western in Ohio, was elected into the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering’s College of Fellows for his continuing achievements in medical and biological engineering.
• Patti White, Co-founder and CEO, recently participated as a presenter in an Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar and will be a featured panelist at OBI’s upcoming Lunch & Learn on Women in Leadership.

Veana Therapeutics, Inc.

• Founder and CEO Emmanuel Akporiaye, PhD, recently presented at an Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar.
• Their ongoing clinical trial for the study of Alpha-TEA and trastuzumab for the treatment of refractory HER2+ metastatic breast cancer continues at the University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

Madorra

• We were selected for the inaugural class of Series P– a collaboration accelerator sponsored by Procter & Gamble Ventures and Plug and Play
• We participated on a FemTech panel along with Convey Capital hosted by Stanford Biodesign
• Holly graduated from the Ferolyn Fellowship program
• CEO Holly Rockweiler was a presenter at a recent Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar.

Caregiven

• Caregiven was 1 of 4 finalists from the Australian round of the Zurich Innovation Championship. Selected from an applicant pool of over 90 insuretech solutions, Caregiven presented to Zurich’s Australian executive team including the global head of their LifeWell initiative.
  • The Zurich Innovation Championship is a worldwide challenge sponsored by the Zurich Insurance Group, one of the top insurance companies in the world, focused on identifying new and innovative solutions that meet the changing needs of their customers and help the industry face the future in an efficient and sustainable way. Selection of Caregiven as a country finalist was further recognition of the importance of recognizing the caregiver market and serving the unique needs of those needing care and those providing it.
• We also surpassed 1,000 sign-ups in mid-February – that’s over one thousand families going through a caregiving event globally who are benefitting from our product.
• Founder and CEO Candice Smith was a featured panelist at OBI’s February Lunch & Learn on How Accelerators Can Help Boost Your Startup.

Rewire Neuro

• Rewire Neuro was a finalist in Pitch Oregon by TiE Oregon, in the Life Science category.
• John Harkness, President and CEO, was a presenter in this week’s Angel Oregon Bio educational seminar.

Gamma Diagnostics, Inc.

• David Farrell, Founder and CSO participated as a featured panelist at OBI’s February Lunch & Learn on How Accelerators Can Help Boost Your Startup.
• Gamma Diagnostics recently participated in the Expert Dojo international accelerator program.

PDX Pharmaceuticals has Joined OBI

Please give a warm welcome to OBI’s newest residential company, PDX Pharmaceuticals.

PDX Pharmaceuticals is an IND-enabling stage biopharmaceutical company bringing complementary biological pathways together to achieve synergistic clinical benefits. Their patented mesoporous silica-based nanoparticle platform (Pdx-NP) has been optimized to co-deliver multiple classes of therapeutics (e.g., siRNA, small molecule drugs, antibodies, immunostimulants) to ensure that they reach the target cells at the same time to fully realize their synergy. It can deliver cargos to both cancer and immune cells. Their current focus is to generate effective anti-tumor immune response through profound CD8+ anti-tumor T cell production.

We are delighted to have you onboard!

Gearing up for Summer-Fall 2022
Mentoring Program

Mentor and mentee applications will open on April 1 for this structured, 6-month mentoring program, so save the date for your opportunity to get involved!

Would You Like to be a Mentor?
If you have experience working with startups in the bioscience or digital health industry, consider applying to become a mentor. Benefits of mentoring include:

• Free mentor training
• Exclusive access to handpicked startups
• Exclusive network of mentors
• Give back to your community
• OBI highlights its mentors in the monthly newsletter

Growing Your Business? Become a Mentee!
We are looking for entrepreneurs who are already in business but would like guidance, accountability, and support from a mentor to help set and reach business goals. Benefits and time commitments for mentees include:

• Mentoring helps you grow your business! A recent survey from Kabbage found that 92% of businesses who have a mentor say mentoring has directly impacted their business growth and survival
• Mentee meets with mentor 2 hours a month for 6 months
• Mentee checks in with OBI once per month and completes a survey at the end of the program

Applications will be accepted from April 1-30.
For more important dates, details, and a link to the applications, visit www.otradi.org/mentoring.

Angel Investors Participate in AOBIO

Calling all angel investors and the investor-curious! Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) is an education and investment program designed to grow investment in local bio startups while helping new investors learn the sector. Units in a pooled investment fund start at $5K/each, and include the opportunity to join the startup education series, participate in due diligence, learn the ropes from experienced bioscience angel investors, get exposed to cutting edge innovation, and get networked in the bioscience entrepreneurial community. Investor commit date is March 18. More information here.

Your Input Needed on OBI’s
Bioscience Ecosystem Inventory Survey

The Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI) is the state’s first and only bioscience-focused incubator. The multi-client company bioscience complex provides startups and scientists access to entrepreneurial mentoring, state-of-the-art bioscience facilities, meeting space, and shared equipment. While OBI currently provides free resources to the full community, we understand there are still some unmet needs and would like to learn more about how OBI can help fill resource gaps.

If you haven’t already, please take 15 minutes to fill out this survey to help assess the needs of the community by identifying additional resources needed. Thank you!

Life Science Innovation Northwest 2022

Life Science Innovation Northwest (LSINW) is the Pacific Northwest’s largest annual life science conference. This one-and-a-half day event held April 20-21 at the Washington State Convention Center will bring together investors, public and private life science organizations, research institutions, scientists, entrepreneurs, and the global health community to discuss and feature some of the most compelling life science breakthroughs of our time.

Apply to present at the Life Science Innovation Northwest 2022. Fast pitch, poster presentations, and, new this year, device showcase opportunities. Deadline to apply is March 15. More information here.

Breakout Ventures

Virtual Lunch & Learn Panel
Women in Leadership: Mind the Gap
March 15, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Register now!

Other Great Community Events

TiE Westside Pitch Competition 2022
March 10, 2022
4:00-7:00 PM
Hillsboro Cultural Arts Center
527 E Main St., Hillsboro
Ticket information

Science Talk ’22
March 23-25, 2022
Starts 9:00 AM
Tiffany Center and online
Get tickets here

TECHLANDIA Smart + Connected Series
Starts March 28, 2022
12:30-2:00 PM
Register here

Big News for Veana Therapeutics and Rewire Neuro!

OBI client companies Veana Therapeutics and Rewire Neuro each received one of 11 state grants from Business Oregon, designed to leverage their federal SBIR and STTR grant awards.

Veana Therapeutics‘ grant helps provide funding toward commercialization for its VT-101 oral medication for oncology patients.

Rewire Neuro received a grant award to develop a marketing strategy and hire additional staff for their AI-as-a-service platform in diagnostics and analysis.

See Business Oregon’s press release for more information.

More Exciting OBI Client Company Wins

Caregiven

• As of today we have 865 users signed on to our platform!  We have decreased our customer acquisition costs and churn significantly in recent months.
• In our latest product update we launched our affiliate program with 4 amazing companies who support caregivers:  Grief Coach, SilverBills, eFuneral, and Pinventory.  While Caregiven does not advertise to our users, we do offer referral links to our affiliate partners who offer users a discount and provide Caregiven with lead generation revenue.
• Alaska’s Dementia Action Collaborative profiled Caregiven as a valuable resource to its stakeholder community in their recent newsletter.
• Caregiven was selected to participate in the APIS Health Angel program.

Gamma Diagnostics, Inc.

• Our podcast with Expert Dojo was released online.
• MedRxiv published our study of gamma prime fibrinogen in COVID-19 patients.

Hemex Health

• Whitney Wilhardt has joined Hemex as PR and Marketing Specialist.

HTI

• Health Technology Innovations, Inc. was awarded an SBIR Phase II grant from the National Science Foundation to commercialize CryoDiscovery ™, a Cryo-EM Automation and Intelligence Platform for Drug Discovery.
• HTI is hiring AI/ML software development engineers, interns & post doc. Inquire to kumar@hti.ai.

Refeyn

• Launched a new product line specifically designed for gene therapy applications, called the SamuxMP. The Refeyn SamuxMP is a mass photometer optimized for adeno-associated virus (AAV) characterization and is an essential analytical tool for laboratories working with AAVs. The SamuxMP precisely measures the empty/full capsid ratio for AAVs of any serotype. SamuxMP mass photometry measurements are rapid and require very little sample.
• Brenda Watt has been promoted to Customer Success Manager in the Portland office, and Ritu is a new member of the Portland team.

Rewire Neuro

• Rewire Neuro is a finalist in the upcoming Pitch Oregon by TiE Oregon, in the Life Science category.
• Pitch Oregon will take place February 11, 2022.

StoneStable

• CSO and Founder Ken Stedman was interviewed by a local KATU reporter about the new SARS CoV-2 subvariant, which was then picked up and shown on Good Morning America.

Congratulations on all of your achievements!

OBI’s Mentor of the Month:
Mel Ellis

Mel Ellis joined the  OBI Mentoring Program in 2021 and quickly became a valuable member of our mentoring team. He has a BA from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard. His background includes ten years in professional venture capital in NYC and Boston. Mel was also the owner/operator of a small manufacturing business for 23 years, which he sold in 2014. He brings this valuable experience plus his positive, make-it-happen attitude to his role as a mentor, working with multiple mentees at a time. Thank you, Mel, for all you do!

NEW! Introducing AOBIO

Registration is now open for Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO). Open to bio startups at any stage of development, this program offers a four-week education series focused on investment-readiness led by successful local founders, and includes the opportunity to be considered for an angel investment of up to $300,000 at the end of the program. Presented by OEN in partnership with OHSU, Oregon Bioscience Incubator, and Oregon Bioscience Association, we highly recommend this program for the education and networking opportunities! Series kicks off February 23 at 8:30 a.m. Learn more and register here by February 22.

Calling all angel investors and the investor-curious! Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) is an education and investment program designed to grow investment in local bio startups while helping new investors learn the sector. Units in a pooled investment fund start at $5K/each, and include the opportunity to join the startup education series, participate in due diligence, learn the ropes from experienced bioscience angel investors, get exposed to cutting edge innovation, and get networked in the bioscience entrepreneurial community. Investor info session to be held February 17th, 4:00 p.m., via Zoom. Sign up for more info here.

University Lab Partners Presents 4-Part SBIR Series

February 10 – Introduction to the NIH SBIR program
Learn about the SBIR program background, eligibility requirements, advantages of SBIR, programmatic structure, deciding whether to apply, challenges for first time applicants, and funding trends.

February 17 – How to Create a Competitive NIH SBIR Grant Application Part 1
Review prerequisites, high level planning, the importance of writing style, aligning an application with division priorities, engaging reviewers, application structure, the importance of advisory committees and academic collaborators, and a detailed approach to creating the Summary and Specific Aims sections, with examples.

February 24 – How to Create a Competitive NIH SBIR Application Part 2
Review the Research Strategy sections: Significance, Innovation and Approach. Budgeting will be discussed in detail. We will also review the importance of advisory committees, academic collaborators and the value of Preliminary Data. We will wrap up with the structure and requirements for the Commercialization section.

March 3 – Understanding the SBIR Review Process
Understanding the review process will enable you to: better understand your target audience, inform your grant creation process and interpret and respond to Summary Statements. We will also discuss what reviewers especially look for in your grant application.

More information and registration for these virtual programs here.

FDA’s New Approvals Offer Greater Treatment Options for Patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a total of 60 new drugs in 2021. A new report from the FDA catalogs 50 new approvals by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). These novel medicines offer to transform many debilitating diseases, resulting in improved survival, better health outcomes, enhanced quality of life for patients with lupus nephritis, lung cancer, endometrial cancer, migraines and HIV.

Key takeaways from the report here.

Pitch Oregon

“In its 6th year, Pitch Oregon is TiE Oregon’s marquee event, attracting hundreds of entrepreneurs, mentors and investors each year. New this year, we are welcoming companies from around the Pacific Northwest to apply and applicants will compete for an equitable investment!

Applicants in the following categories will have the opportunity to receive an equitable investment. These applicants generate TTM of at least $250,000 or have raised external capital of at least $250,000:

Software / Tech Enabled:  Companies with services or products related to electronics, software, hardware, artificial intelligence, cloud services, etc.
Life Science:  Companies with services or products related to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, biomedical, telehealth, etc. OBI client company Rewire Neuro is a finalist in the Life Science category.
Clean Technology:  Companies that aim to improve environmental sustainability with products or services related to renewable energy, recycling, green transportation, sustainable manufacturing, etc.”

Additionally, Pitch Oregon has an Early-Stage category. OBI mentee Tonsil Tech is a finalist in this category.

You won’t want to miss these fun events – pitches take place on February 11, 2022 from 1:00-4:00, and the winners will be announced at the TiE Oregon Annual Awards Dinner that evening.

More information and registration at TiE Oregon.

Virtual Lunch & Learn: How Accelerators Can Help
Boost Your Startup – Founders’ Perspectives
February 16, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Register now

AOBIO Investment-Readiness Virtual
4-Week Education Series Begins
February 23, 2022
8:30-10 AM
Registration open through February 22

Accelerate Biotech + Digital Health
Virtual Happy Hour
March 3, 2022
5:00-6:30 PM
Register here

Virtual Lunch & Learn Panel:
Women in Leadership – Mind the Gap
March 15, 2022
12:00-1:00 PM
Save the date

Other Great Community Events

TAO Leadership Exchange:
A Conversation with Women Leaders in Tech
February 24, 2022
9:00-10:30 AM
Register here

OTBC Social Media Marketing
Virtual Workshop with Allison Tivnon
February 24, 2022
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Register here

TiE Westside Pitch Competition 2022
March 10, 2022
4:00-7:00 PM
Hillsboro Cultural Arts Center
527 E Main St., Hillsboro
Ticket information

Happy New Year!

Thank you for your support of OBI & OTRADI over the past year.
We wish you an abundance of health, happiness, and success in 2022.

2021 OBI Client Company Recap

• OBI & OTRADI alumnus Absci was listed at #8 by the Portland Business Journal ofthe largest bioscience and health tech companies in Oregon and SW Washington.
• Announced completion of $125 million crossover financing to advance AI-powered synthetic biology drug creation platform. Read press release. 
• Absci made its debut on the NASDAQ (ticker symbol ABSI) on Thursday, July 22, and founder Sean McClain and his team rang the closing bell. 
• Announced new and expanded collaboration with Merck, with payments and fees of up to $610 million.

• OBI & OTRADI alumnus Aronora was listed #31 by the Portland Business Journal on their list of the top 37 largest bioscience and health technology companies in Oregon and SW Washington.
• In March upon graduation from the OBI, Aronora relocated their lab and office from OTRADI’s incubator in the Willamette Wharf building, to a brand-new high rise downtown where they have double the office space, a private wet lab, and conference room. 
• Aronora reports positive topline data from their phase 2 clinical trial of recombinant antibody therapeutic AB023 in hemodialysis patients. This data was presented at the XXIX Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasias in July. See Aronora’s press release here.

• Buchanan Science joined the OBI as a client company in 2021.
• Buchanan Science is now in the process of testing approximately 100 blinded serum samples from persons who received vaccination against COVID-19. The sera were previously tested with a CLIA-approved instrumented assay from ProMega that quantitatively measured the antibody levels to SARS-CoV-2 spike.
• The Buchanan Science BeSure Double Check Rapid test is designed to enable home users to check their antibody levels to RBD, the portion of the viral spike that attaches to human ace2 receptors as an initial step in infection. Persons with high antibody levels to RBD are able to avoid infection due to SARS-CoV-2, or if infected have only minimal symptoms and avoid hospitalization or death.
• Preliminary indications are that the rapid test is correlating well with protective antibody levels to RBD, and they are currently seeking increased numbers of sera from non-vaccinated individuals who have also not had COVID-19 infections to quantitate test specificity.

• Caregiven participated in Australian CareFactor Pitch Day 2021 on March 22, part of the Information Technology Across Care virtual summit.
• First public release launched in app stores April 15th.
• Closed pre-seed with a total of $700K raised from Rogue Venture Partners.
• Was a 2021 Oregon Technology Awards finalist.
• Semi-finalist for Aging 2.0’s Global Innovation Search.
• Candice Smith was interviewed by the HITLab for their Women’s Health Tech Wednesday forum.
• Highlighted in an article titled “Looking to the Future of Insurance.”
• Presented “Shark Tank” style to attendees at the ISCPA conference.
• Finalist in Aging 2.0’s Global Innovation Search.
• Finalist in the ACORD InsurTech Innovation Challenge.
• Selected to participate in the American Heart Association of OR/SW Washington’s EmPOWERED to Serve program.
• Awarded the TAO Start-Up of the Year award in the pre-revenue category.
• Candice Smith was a guest on the Aging in Portland podcast.
• Chief Revenue Officer, Anthony Mitchell and Candice had the opportunity to present at the ACORD InsurTech Innovation Challenge NY.
• Anthony also co-hosted a webinar on The Future of Value Adds in Insurance with an insurance luminary, Jason Gross.
• Presented at CareTech presented by the Louisville Healthcare CEO’s Council and Aging 2.0, a global search for innovations that improve the patient or member experience.
• Awarded the second place grant from the American Heart Association’s EmPOWERED to Serve program ($30K), sponsored by the American Heart Association of Oregon & SW Washington.
• Kicked off the first phase of their first pilot with a national palliative care provider. They will be using Caregiven to expedite the health outcomes their nurses already accomplish, and are including Caregiven as a differentiator for their company in proposals to major health systems nationally.
• Had over a dozen calls with insurance carriers about Q1 pilots and are under NDA and working on LOIs with several.
• Attended InsureTech Connect in Las Vegas, sponsored by the Global Insurance Accelerator, and had many wonderful calls with customers and investors alike. Notable conversations occurred with Unum, Northwestern Mutual, MS&AD, Ethos Life, Assurity, and more.  
• Networking at the event resulted in Candice Smith being asked to speak at the Society of Actuaries ElderTech Summit in December and to be interviewed for an upcoming book focused on the future of insurance.  Additionally, 2 podcasts featuring Caregiven were recently released:  Woman to Woman Podcast and The Heart of Hospice.
• Successfully completed Session #1 of the Creative Destruction Lab – an invite only program with the goal of helping start-ups “build something massive.”  Of the 20 initial companies, Caregiven was 1 of 14 asked to return for Session #2 in December. Again were successful in Round #2 of the Creative Destruction Lab and have been invited to participate again in February.  Their lead mentor this round comes from Healthy Minds Innovations.  Candice said is amazing to be selected to collaborate with a team that has a direct connection with the Dalai Lama and is committed to using digital tools and modern neuroscience to improve the human experience.
• Successfully launched their first co-branded experience with Spivey Insurance.

• Circumvent Pharmaceuticals are co-Principle Investigators on a NIH SBIR grant for the study of “Development of N-tert-(Butyl)hydroxylamine (NtBuHA) as a therapeutic agent for treating infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL).” INCL is a form of Batten Disease.

• CytoImage founder Tania Vu presented at the international Innovation Stage at BIO Digital 2021.
• Pitched at an Oregon Venture Fund pitch event at the OBI in October.

• Gamma Therapeutics is now Gamma Diagnostics, Inc.
• David Eastman retired as CEO, they hired Ajay Nair from Perth, Australia as their new CEO, and he hired Chris Venter, also from Perth, as their Chief Finance Officer.
• Discovered that their GammaCoeur diagnostic blood test for cardiovascular disease is extremely elevated in COVID-19 patients and predicts the need for hospitalized patients to need extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in order not to suffocate, and it predicts death from COVID-19. They now have a provisional patent on this I.P. that also protects the use of the test as a companion diagnostic for the administration of dexamethasone in COVID-19 patients.
• Accepted into California’s Expert Dojo accelerator cohort. For companies accepted into the program, Expert Dojo invests $100,000, provides an 8-week training program that trains the members of the company in all aspects of business, and introduces them to investors and mentors.
• The Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program has a Technology/Therapeutic Development Award, and invited Gamma Diagnostics to submit a full proposal to develop GammaCoeur as a companion diagnostic to track COVID-19 disease severity. They submitted the grant on Sept. 2.
• One of 8 semi-finalists for the Bend Venture Conference in the Impact category.
• What is Gamma Prime Fibrinogen (GFP)? Dr. David Farrell, Professor of Surgery at OHSU and founder and CSO at Gamma Diagnostics, shared his poster and abstract at the American Heart Association meeting. The results show that their ELISA for GFP shows significantly higher levels in COVID-19 patients who died or required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which has several important clinical implications relative to administration of anticoagulants and steroids. Read more here in the American Heart Association