News
10/10/2023
The Success of the 8th Women Building Bio Conference “Building Better” Promises Women Will Thrive in Life Sciences
The 8th Women Building Bio, Virginia Bio’s annual conference, held in Manassas, VA, on September 28, gathered over 100 life sciences professionals who convened to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and explore innovative approaches that help women thrive in the field. The fact that this year’s conference theme, “Building Better,” attracted everyone from life science students …
10/09/2023
CIVCO Radiotherapy and Qfix Launch CQ Medical Brand
CIVCO Radiotherapy and Qfix announced today the launch of a new brand, CQ Medical. This brand reflects the company’s vision and global leadership in high-quality, patient-centric radiotherapy solutions and more than 80 years of combined experience. CQ Medical marks a pivotal transformation for CIVCO Radiotherapy and Qfix, who joined forces in October 2022. Under its …
10/04/2023
Life Sciences Leaders, Advocates Launch New Partnership to Promote Benefits of Pro-Innovation Mergers & Acquisitions
More than thirty leading organizations from across the life sciences today launched the Partnership for the U.S. Life Science Ecosystem (PULSE), a coalition to raise awareness of the fundamental role of pro-innovation mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in advancing the next generation of treatments and cures for patients. The U.S. is home to thousands of life …
09/28/2023
Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Over $3.7 Million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia Grants
Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today more than $3.7 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards for 11 projects designed to empower workforce development, bolster startup ecosystems and promote economic growth in the Commonwealth. These initiatives will play a pivotal role in nurturing skilled talent, fostering entrepreneurial ventures and bridging the gap …
09/22/2023
State public health laboratory, Henrico County Schools launch pilot program to promote life science career
More than 50 Henrico County high school students and teachers joined scientists from Virginia’s public health and environmental laboratory Wednesday to kick off an innovative program that brings together private and government scientists and experts, business and nonprofit leaders, and public schools to explore ways to create a pipeline of talent to fuel Virginia’s growing …
09/21/2023
Climate Tech Startup ThermaGEL Innovations’ Breakthrough Aerogels Join the Challenge to Save Half-Gigaton of C02 Emissions Each Year
In the fight against climate change, properly insulating homes and buildings can significantly raise energy efficiency and indoor air quality while lowering carbon dioxide emissions. A startup company, spun out of research at Virginia Commonwealth University, is commercializing what it calls a breakthrough in low-cost insulation materials. ThermaGEL Innovations has developed insulation material using aerogels, …
09/20/2023
Charlottesville healthy sugar innovator Bonumose raises $2M
Bonumose Inc., a Charlottesville startup specializing in table sugar alternatives, has raised $2 million toward a $10 million funding round after German flavor and fragrances producer Symrise AG signed a minority investment agreement with the company. “The strategic investment from Symrise is part of a larger funding round that will be used for increasing sales, …
09/20/2023
FDA awards nearly $7.5 million to pediatric device consortium led by Children’s National Hospital
To foster the development and commercialization of medical devices designed for children, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded a nearly $7.5 million grant to the Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation (APDI), a consortium led by Children’s National Hospital. The nonprofit group, which is one of five in the FDA’s Pediatric Device Consortia (PDC) program, …
09/14/2023
Three Virginia Universities Land on Top Patents List
Three Virginia research universities have made the National Academy of Inventors’ new list ranking the nation’s universities that were granted the most patents in 2022. The University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University each made the list released Aug. 30, ranking 43rd, 86th and 91st respectively. U.Va. had 52 patents issued in …
09/14/2023
5 Excellent Finalists Chosen for the 8th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap
BioHealth Innovation, Inc. (BHI), a leading regional innovation intermediary, is thrilled to announce the five outstanding finalists for the 8th Annual BioHealth Capital Region Crab Trap competition. The Crab Trap is a competition designed to identify and showcase promising life sciences and biotechnology startups from around the world. These finalists have demonstrated exceptional innovation, vision, …
09/12/2023
Ceres Nanosciences and Ginkgo Bioworks Partner to Bring Pathogen Monitoring Capabilities to Labs Around the World
Ceres Nanosciences, a global leader in developing wastewater testing methods based on its Nanotrap® technology, and Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced that they are partnering to bring pathogen monitoring capabilities to laboratories around the world. Pathogen monitoring and analysis capabilities, including in wastewater, …
09/12/2023
Virginia Coordinated Clinical Research Network Launched to Focus on Clinical Trial Research, Developing Medical Treatments, Scientific Advancements, and Real-World Applications
From the development of new medicines and cancer treatments to gene therapy and advances in scientific understanding of serious conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, clinical research is helping drive the future of medical innovation and patient care. To further support that work, a coalition of health care systems, institutions of higher education, and other organizations …
09/12/2023
VT Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Receives $50M Gift
A foundation established by the estate of Richmond philanthropist Bill Goodwin‘s late son, Hunter, has made a $50 million commitment to support cancer and neuroscience research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, Virginia Tech announced Tuesday. The gift is one of three record $50 million donations Virginia Tech has received, including the 2018 …
09/08/2023
BEAM receives $1.84 million NIH grant to improve preventative screening for opioid use disorder in partnership with UVA Health
BEAM Diagnostics, Inc. (BEAM), a behavioral health company delivering digital assessments to improve patient-centered healthcare – has been awarded a $1.84 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to commercialize its pioneering technology, improving and increasing proactive assessment of opioid use disorder in outpatient medical clinics. BEAM’s proprietary technology, Beacon-OUD, is a digital …
09/06/2023
Probiotic Study Shows Promise on Improving Innate Immunity
BIO-CAT, Inc, | BIO-CAT announced that a newly published study on the probiotic Bacillus subtilis MB40 revealed promising results leading to the reduction of Listeria. The study was designed to determine the effects of Bacillus subtilis MB40 supplementation on innate immunity and Listeria. This study was completed in partnership with the School of Animal Sciences at …
09/05/2023
AgroSpheres Novel Encapsulation Platform Now Listed by Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for Use in Organic Crop Production
AgroSpheres, Inc., an agricultural biobased solutions developer, is pleased to announce that its proprietary encapsulation technology, AgroSpheres® Microbially-Derived Minicells (also known as the AgriCell), was recently reviewed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), which has determined that it meets the criteria for use under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). AgroSpheres® Microbially-Derived Minicells is …
08/31/2023
VIPC’s Robert Stolle Announces Plans to Step Down From His Role as President and CEO
The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) announced that Robert Stolle plans to step down from his role as President and CEO. Stolle has been with VIPC and its predecessor – The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) – for 13 years, including serving the last 3 as CEO. Prior to his current role, he was Senior …
08/15/2023
VIPC Regional Innovation Fund Grant Awarded to CvilleBioHub to Strengthen the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Region
CvilleBioHub, an industry-led 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating Charlottesville’s biotechnology industry sector, today announced that it has again received a $200,000 Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) grant from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation. RIF is state-funded program that provides competitive grants to leading Virginia-based entrepreneur support organizations. CvilleBioHub sits at the center of a thriving …
08/10/2023
Activation Capital seeking anchor tenant for forthcoming downtown Richmond innovation center
Activation Capital is seeking an anchor tenant for its planned 102,000-square-foot, $53 million innovation center and is looking to Under Armour’s corporate campus in Baltimore and Capital One’s 1717 Michael Wassmer Innovation Center in Richmond for inspiration. The building, to be located in Activation Capital’s VA Bio+Tech Park in Richmond, has been planned for 20 …
08/09/2023
Virginia Tech joins with universities, bioscience companies to address health care needs
With funding from Virginia Catalyst, also known as the Virginia Biosciences Health Research Corp., Virginia Tech is engaged in three collaborative bioscience projects to address unmet health care needs in Virginia, according to Michael Friedlander, vice president for health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech. The Catalyst awards, which range from $350,000 to $800,000, support joint research projects between industry and Virginia universities …
08/01/2023
ReAlta Doses First Patient in Phase 2 STAR Study of RLS-0071 for HIE in Newborns
ReAlta Life Sciences (“ReAlta”), Inc., a clinical mid-stage biotech company dedicated to addressing life-threatening rare diseases by harnessing the power of the immune system, announced dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of RLS-0071 for the treatment of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns. RLS-0071, an …
07/27/2023
RIVANNA receives $30.5 million from BARDA to advance the Accuro XV musculoskeletal imaging system
RIVANNA®, developers of imaging-based medical solutions, announced that they have received funding totaling $30.5 million over 39 months from early execution of an option by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding …
07/27/2023
Virginia Bio Recognized as Top Intern Employer
Virginia Bio and its member companies Ampel BioSolution, Canon Virginia Inc., City of Virginia Beach, CytoRicovery, LifeNet Health, Marsh McLennan Agency, PAK Biosolutions, and ReAlta Life Sciences, are recognized as the 2023 Top Virginia Employers for Interns! Read more about this award that recognizes companies and organizations that foster talent development in Virginia in the article below. …
07/25/2023
Tympanogen awarded $3.23 million grant from National Institutes of Health to accelerate clinical study
Tympanogen, a medical device company based in the Biotech Park of Richmond, VA, was awarded a $3.23 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). This Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program grant, a continuation of a prior Direct-to-Phase II grant, will support the pivotal clinical …