Sept 10: BioWest Includes State's Top BioScience CEOs + FDA Commissioner Hamburg as Lead Keynote

Colorado BioScience Association has confirmed three of Colorado’s top CEOs for its ‘Colorado Companies: From Concept to Market’ presentation at the 2014 BioWest Conference and Expo. Participating CEOs include Bill Aldrich, EndoShape; David Brunel, Biodesix; and Byron Hewett, SomaLogic. The announcement is made by CBSA President and CEO April Giles, who says, “Bringing a product to market is becoming an increasingly difficult task. BioWest attendees will have the unique opportunity to share in the personal insights of three of our state’s most accomplished CEOs, detailing how they lead their teams to successfully cross the finish line.”

Bill Aldrich, CEO, EndoShape – Boulder -- Mr. Aldrich has held executive and engineering positions at Ampex, BioTrack, CVIS, Cartesian Data, CardioThoracic Systems, Integrated Vascular Systems and, most recently, at EndoVx, which he founded and raised $5M in venture financing. Bill brings 28 years in the medical device and magnetic recording industries to EndoShape and has 40+ issued U.S. patents and has over 40 pending applications. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the California Polytechnic State University. For more information, visit: http://www.endoshape.com.

David Brunel, CEO, Biodesix– Boulder -- Mr. Brunel has been involved in enterprise software for over 25 years and has been involved in molecular diagnostics since 2000. Mr. Brunel was a founder and CEO of Unidata, Inc. when it merged with Vmark Software to create Ardent Software, Inc., where he was President and COO. He was also a member of the Board of Ardent until it was sold to Informix in 1999. Mr. Brunel, also a co-founder and President of SomaLogic, Inc., serves on the boards of Anark Corporation and Xyleme, Inc For more information, visit: http://www.biodesix.com.

Byron Hewett, CEO, SomaLogic– Boulder -- Mr. Hewett joined SomaLogic in December, 2013, most recently serving as Chairman and CEO at BioBehavioral Diagnostics, Inc. He previously held executive positions with Immunicon Corporation, Qiagen; Bayer Diagnostics, Chiron Diagnostics and Abbott Laboratories. Mr. Hewett holds a B.S. from the McIntire School of Commerce at University of Virginia and a Masters in Management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. For more information, visit: http://www.somalogic.com.

“Colorado Companies: From Concept to Market” will be moderated by Jim Langley from The Mead Consulting Group, sponsoring the segment. For more information, visit: http://www.meadconsultinggroup.com.     Link to the full release at PitchEngine.com 

Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D.,
Commissioner
U.S. Food and Drug Administration

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg leads the Keynote Lineup for BioWest 2014 (her ‘Update on the FDA’ keynote will occur at 4:45 p.m.).

Additional keynote presenters include Jandel Allen-Davis, M.D., Vice President, Government and External Relations, Kaiser Permanente Colorado; James Hill, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Len Tacconi, President, HMR Weight Management Services Corp., a subsidiary of Merck and Co. Inc.; and Russell Slifer, Director, United States Patent and Trademark, Rocky Mountain Regional Office.

The schedule of the day’s events is found at: http://www.cobioscience.com/biowest/schedule.

Conference Registration is now open at http://www.CoBioScience.com/BioWest. Rates for members start at $325 and $375 for non-members and passes for the expo hall and reception only are $125 for members and $150 for non-members. Group rates are available for companies and organizations.

The conference also includes an Exhibit Hall with over 40 exhibitors showcasing new technologies, products and services to attendees; plus the Venture Showcase, where finalists pitch their technologies and business plans in front of a live audience to a panel of bioscience experts and venture capitalists. The winner, announced at the end of the conference day, will receive a $7,500 cash prize. The three finalists in the 2014 Venture Showcase competition include:

dBMEDx - Littleton -- dBMEDx is developing breakthrough, real-time clinical decision and patient monitoring devices using our patented, non-invasive scanning technology. Visit: http://www.dbmedx.com.

KromaTiD, Inc. - Fort Collins -- KromaTiD is dedicated to creating new products for disease research, mutation detection and chromosome analysis. Visit: http://www.kromatid.com.

Mighty Oak Medical - Englewood -- Mighty Oak is developing a prize-winning spine technology that features an affordable and disposable option for surgical navigation. Visit: http://www.mightyoakmedical.com.

Link to the related Aug 19 Venture Showcase release on Business Wire.

BioWest 2014 Media Credentials Request form: http://www.cobioscience.com/BioWest%202014/Biowest2014_Media_Credentials_Form%20NotFillIn.pdf

InnovatioNews: CBSA partners with PrIME Health Collaborative to host Digital Venture Showcase

Quoting from the August 23 posting:

"Colorado BioScience Association is partnering with PriME Health Collaborative to host the 2014 Digital Health Venture Showcase, a pre-event to CBSA’s annual BioWest conference. The 2014 Digital Health Venture Showcase will be held Sept. 9, with BioWest 2014 following on Sept. 10. The Digital Health Showcase will be held from 1-9 p.m. at CSU Denver, 475 17th St., and will feature a curated and vetted selection of pitches from Colorado digital health companies."

Link to InnovatioNews.com

 Additionally, Metro Denver News posted this on August 21:

"Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) for the first time is hosting a Pre-Event to its BioWest Conference line-up, the 2014 Digital Health Venture Showcase, in partnership with the PrIME Health Collaborative (PrIME). The digital pre-event (the final pitch event for the Finance Track of PrIME’s Digital Health Challenge) will be held the day before BioWest, September 9 (1 to 9 p.m.) at CSU Denver, 475 17th Street, 2nd Floor Atrium. The announcement is made by CBSA President & CEO April Giles, who says, 'We're thrilled to announce this first co-hosted BioWest pre-event in partnership with PrIME, a relatively new organization representing the dynamic ecosystem of Digital Health companies in Colorado. We plan for a series of events exploring the emerging digital health segment to follow in the future.'”

Link to Metro Denver News

FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg Leads Keynote Lineup for BioWest 2014 in Denver

Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration

Colorado BioScience Association will hold its BioWest 2014 Conference and Expo, September 10, at the Marriott City Center, Denver. The conference features keynote speakers Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (her ‘Update on the FDA’ keynote will occur at 4:45 p.m.); and keynote panelists Jandel Allen-Davis, M.D., Vice President, Government and External Relations, Kaiser Permanente Colorado; James Hill, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Len Tacconi, President, HMR Weight Management Services Corp., a subsidiary of Merck and Co. Inc.; and Russell Slifer, Director, United States Patent and Trademark, Rocky Mountain Regional Office.

The full schedule of the day’s events is found at: http://www.cobioscience.com/biowest/schedule.

Conference Registration is now open at http://www.CoBioScience.com/BioWest. Rates for members start at $325 and $375 for non-members and passes for the expo hall and reception only are $125 for members and $150 for non-members. Group rates are available for companies and organizations. The conference also includes an Exhibit Hall with over 40 exhibitors showcase new technologies, products and services to attendees; plus the Venture Showcase, where finalists pitch their technologies and business plans in front of a live audience to a panel of bioscience experts and venture capitalists. The winner, announced at the end of the conference day, will receive a $7,500 cash prize.

The three finalists in the 2014 Venture Showcase competition include:

dBMEDx - Littleton dBMEDx is developing breakthrough, real-time clinical decision and patient monitoring devices using our patented, non-invasive scanning technology. Visit: http://www.dbmedx.com.

KromaTiD, Inc. - Fort Collins KromaTiD is dedicated to creating new products for disease research, mutation detection and chromosome analysis. Visit: http://www.kromatid.com.

Mighty Oak Medical - Englewood Mighty Oak is developing a prize-winning spine technology that features an affordable and disposable option for surgical navigation. Visit: http://www.mightyoakmedical.com.

Link to the related August 19th Business Wire release.

BioWest 2014 Media Credentials Request form: http://www.cobioscience.com/BioWest%202014/Biowest2014_Media_Credentials_Form%20NotFillIn.pdf

InnovatioNews: 'Three finalists selected for 2014 CBSA BioWest Venture Showcase pitch competition Sept. 10'

Quoting from today's posting:

"Three finalists have been selected to pitch for $7,500 in cash during the BioWest Venture Showcase, part of the 2014 BioWest Conference set for Sept. 10 at the Marriott City Center, 1701 California St. in downtown Denver...Colorado companies chosen to pitch at the conference’s Venture Showcase are:

dBMEDx, Littleton, which is developing breakthrough, real-time clinical decision and patient monitoring devices using patented, non-invasive scanning technology

KromaTiD, Inc., Fort Collins, which is creating new products for disease research, mutation detection and chromosome analysis

Mighty Oak Medical, Englewood, which is developing a spine technology that features an affordable and disposable option for surgical navigation

The conference will also feature four other speakers, including Margaret Hamburg, U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, who will give the closing keynote.

Link to InnovatioNews

Additional coverage:

Link to BioSpace

Link to EIN News

Link to Yahoo! Finance

Link to Morningstar

Link to CNBC.com

Link to BIO.org

Link to CSU Ventures

Link to BioMedReports

CBSA Partners with PrIME Health Collaborative to Offer a BioWest 2014 Pre-Event

Colorado BioScience Association for the first time is hosting a Pre-Event to its BioWest Conference line-up, the 2014 Digital Health Venture Showcase, in partnership with the PrIME Health Collaborative (PrIME). The digital health pre-event (the final pitch event for the Finance Track of PrIME’s Digital Health Challenge) will be held the day before BioWest, September 9 (1 to 9 p.m.) at CSU Denver, 475 17th Street, 2nd Floor Atrium. The announcement is made by CBSA President and CEO April Giles, who says, “We're thrilled to announce this first co-hosted BioWest pre-event in partnership with PrIME, a relatively new organization representing the dynamic ecosystem of Digital Health companies in Colorado. We plan for a series of events exploring the emerging digital health segment to follow in the future.”

This BioWest Pre-Event features a curated, vetted selection of pitches from the best and brightest Colorado digital health companies. These finalist companies will vie for a share of $50,000 in prizes awarded by PrIME in partnership with the Colorado Health Foundation. Additionally, an evening Cocktail Reception will take place following the Venture Showcase, which will provide an opportunity for the attendees of both the Digital Health Venture Showcase and the BioWest conference. The reception is free to investors attending the Digital Health Venture Showcase. Others may attend at a nominal fee of $25, by registering online at http://cobioscience.site-ym.com/events/event_details.asp?id=487688. For a downloadable Investors Dealbook, visit: http://primehealthco.com/invest/.

About BioWest 2014 | September 10, 2014

The BioWest Conference is a one day event attended by more than 300 industry leaders, government representatives, executives, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs. The conference features speakers Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (her ‘Update on the FDA’ keynote will occur at 4:45 p.m.) and keynote panelists; Jandel Allen-Davis, M.D., Vice President, Government and External Relations, Kaiser Permanente Colorado; James Hill, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Len Tacconi, President, HMR Weight Management Services Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc.; and Russell Slifer, Director, United States Patent & Trademark, Rocky Mountain Regional Office. The full schedule of the day’s events is found at: http://www.cobioscience.com/biowest/schedule.

Conference Registration is now open at http://www.CoBioScience.com/BioWest. Rates for members start at $325 and $375 for non-members and passes for the expo hall and reception only are $125 for members and $150 for non-members. Group rates are available for companies and organizations. The conference also includes an Exhibit Hall with over 40 exhibitors showcase new technologies, products and services to attendees.

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

CBSA Announces 2014 BioWest Venture Showcase Finalists

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) will hold its BioWest Conference, September 10, 2014, at the Marriott City Center, Denver. The three finalists in the 2014 Venture Showcase competition at BioWest include: dBMEDx, Littleton; KromaTiD, Inc., Fort Collins; Mighty Oak Medical, Englewood.

Colorado BioScience Association announces the 2014 BioWest Conference, September 10, at the Marriott City Center, 1701 California Street, Denver. The announcement is made by CBSA President and CEO April Giles, who says, “BioWest is the Rocky Mountain region's premier medical device and biotechnology conference that brings together the industry for a one-day only conference that includes the Venture Showcase competition." 

The Venture Showcase finalists pitch their technologies and business plans in front of a live audience at BioWest to a panel of bioscience experts and venture capitalists. The winner, announced at the end of the conference day, will receive a $7,500 cash prize.

The three finalists in the 2014 Venture Showcase competition include:

dBMEDx - Littleton dBMEDx is developing breakthrough, real-time clinical decision and patient monitoring devices using our patented, non-invasive scanning technology. Visit: http://www.dbmedx.com.

KromaTiD, Inc. - Fort Collins KromaTiD is dedicated to creating new products for disease research, mutation detection and chromosome analysis. Visit: http://www.kromatid.com.

Mighty Oak Medical - Englewood Mighty Oak is developing a prize-winning spine technology that features an affordable and disposable option for surgical navigation. Visit: http://www.mightyoakmedical.com.

About BioWest 2014 | September 10, 2014

The BioWest Conference is a one day event attended by more than 300 industry leaders, government representatives, executives, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs. The conference features speakers Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (her ‘Update on the FDA’ keynote will occur at 4:45 p.m.) and keynote panelists; Jandel Allen-Davis, M.D., Vice President, Government and External Relations, Kaiser Permanente Colorado; James Hill, Ph.D. is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine; Len Tacconi, President, HMR Weight Management Services Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co. Inc.; and Russell Slifer, Director, United States Patent and Trademark, Rocky Mountain Regional Office. The full schedule of the day’s events is found at: http://www.cobioscience.com/biowest/schedule.

Conference Registration is now open at http://www.CoBioScience.com/BioWest. Rates for members start at $325 and $375 for non-members and passes for the expo hall and reception only are $125 for members and $150 for non-members. Group rates are available for companies and organizations. The conference also includes an Exhibit Hall with over 40 exhibitors showcase new technologies, products and services to attendees.

Link to the Business Wire Release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

BioWest 2014 Media Credentials Request form: http://www.cobioscience.com/BioWest%202014/Biowest2014_Media_Credentials_Form.pdf

New BioWest Pre-Event Sept 9: Digital Health Venture Showcase

In collaboration with the PrIME Health Collaborative, CBSA is co-hosting the BioWest pre-event, the 2014 Digital Health Venture Showcase on September 9 (1 to 9 p.m.) at CSU Denver, 475 17th Street, 2nd Floor Atrium (this is the final pitch event for the Finance Track of PrIME’s Digital Health Challenge). The event will feature a curated, vetted selection of pitches from the best and brightest Colorado digital health companies. These finalist companies will vie for a share of $50,000 in prizes awarded by PrIME in partnership with the Colorado Health Foundation. To register, visit: http://cobioscience.site-ym.com/events/event_details.asp?id=487688.

Note: the final pitch event for the Access Track of PrIME’s ‘Digital Health Challenge @ Denver Startup Week’ is on September 17th, where finalists will pitch live in front of a panel of health care executives and a group of more than 100 interested onlookers. For more information, visit: http://primehealthco.com/about/challenge/.

DBJ: 'Amgen [Foundation] supports STEM effort' + Other Coverage

Quoting from the August 8th Good Works column:

"The Colorado BioScience Association [Colorado BioScience Institute] received $25,000 from the Amgen Foundation, which will support its Research Experience for Teachers program. The four-week program is for teachers of STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and math — from seventh to 12th grades. Teachers will be placed in local life-science companies for real-world lab experience that can then be translated into class lessons."

Link to the DBJ

Other coverage of Amgen's donation:

Link to the MarketWatch posting

Link to the BioSpace posting

Link to the Bloomberg/BusinessWeek posting

Link to InnovatioNews

Video Overview: CBSA 2014 Women In Bioscience Symposium

The CBSA Women in Bioscience Symposium 2014 was held Wednesday, July 23, 2014, at the University of Colorado BioFrontiers Institute, Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building. The keynote was presented by Kathy Glaub, former President, Plexxikon and a FireceBiotech's 2011 Women in Biotech: Video recap:

Women In Bioscience 2014: April Giles, CBSA Pres/CEO Opening Remarks
http://youtu.be/iNDbK-mNOkg

Kathy Glaub: Challenges From Big Pharma
http://youtu.be/g7HKsxuyW7w

Kathy Glaub: Lessons Learned At Plexxikon
http://youtu.be/_cV19yVu2sE

Kathy Glaub: Personal Advice to Women In Bioscience
http://youtu.be/6eOiiWWPSbw

Women In Bioscience 2014 HR Professionals Panel: Terumo BCT Strategies For Growth
http://youtu.be/i4xVZVcrn9w - Laura Roybal, Talent Acquisition Manager, Terumo BCT

Women In Bioscience 2014 HR Professionals Panel: About Array BioPharma
http://youtu.be/MpTl6y0NXD0 - Sherri Norland, Array BioPharma 

Women In Bioscience 2014 HR Professionals Panel: 
About Tolmar
http://youtu.be/V9fdI0ZfwnQ - Gayvaughn Marnich, TOLMAR

Women In Bioscience 2014 HR Professionals Panel: Advice For Job Seekers
http://youtu.be/yuzXetJwQAg -Laura Roybal, Talent Acquisition Manager, Terumo BCT

Women In Bioscience 2014 HR Professionals Panel: Work Your Network
http://youtu.be/r0GTRvQgwd8 - Sherri Norland, Array BioPharma 

Women In Bioscience 2014 HR Professionals Panel: Personal Networking Example
http://youtu.be/JTZOFeiQIuQ - Gayvaughn Marnich, TOLMAR

Dr Leslie Leinwand, CSO, BioFrontiers Institute: Her Story
http://youtu.be/5RDEfVGcr6U

Speed Mentoring

The symposium concluded with a speed mentoring session: a fast, fun, facilitated session for attendees to connect to women leaders in bioscience. Participating Mentors included:

* Eliana Rivera Burke, Senior Director of Business Development, BARC USA

* Nicole Garneau, PhD, Curator and Chair of the Health Sciences Department, Denver Museum of Nature & Science

* April Giles, President and CEO, Colorado BioScience Association

* Kathy Glaub, Former President, Plexxikon

* Clara Li (her table is pictured in the foreground above), VP Regulatory Affairs, Clinipace Worldwide

* Jeannine Looney, SWQA Manager, Covidien Surgical Solutions

* Heather Potters, Global Business Development Officer, Co-Chairman, PharmaJet, Inc.

After ten minutes, attendees circulated to another mentor's table.


Jeannine Looney, far right:

Heather Potters, center:

Eliana Rivera Burke, center:

 Kathy Glaub, center:  

Nicole Garneau, PhD, left,center:

Denver Post: "Tails of the Painted Cats comes together purr-fectly for Cat Care Society"

Quoting from Joanne Davidson's August 6th column about Cat Care Society's 2014 Tails of the Painted Cats Gala Dinner & Art Auction:

"Those on hand to hear the good news included artists Jane McFadden Dorsey, who has been the event’s program coordinator since Year One, and Carla Pawlewicz, whose 'Cat-Tails and Dogwood' won the People’s Choice Award.

Dorsey’s painted cat, 'Richard Parker,' elicited spirited live auction bidding. When two bidders each held their ground at $5,000, Dorsey, with Bidder No. 1′s blessing, agreed to make a second that would sell for the same price.

Others supporting the cause were former Tails chair Marsha Crest; Warren and Helen Hanks, whose guest, Angela Alexis, won the 16 GB iPad that was the prize in the evening’s Heads & Tails drawing; Dave Barnes of Scenographics, who created the palette centerpieces; pianist Barbara Dawson, whose husband, Clyde, is on the CCS board; Richard and Kathy Swanson; Greg and Cheryl Chamberlain; Stephanie DeGraff Bender, a national expert in women’s health issues; Don and Arlene Johnson; independent film producer Darla Rae; Harold and Ada Anderson (he is a member of the Lone Tree city council and chairs the Centennial Airport Noise Roundtable); radio personality and Leadership Douglas County ambassador Amy Smith; Velocity Radio owner Michael Cotsworth; Mark and Lee Ann Van Loucks; Donita Scholtz; Linda Robinson; and Donna Colm."

Link to the Denver Post Mile High Style

Cat Care Society photos included in Joanne Davidson's column:

CompanyWeek Profiles Colorado's Sharklet Technologies, the 2010 Venture Showcase Winner at BioWest

Quoting from the August 5th CompanyWeek:

"Sharkskin-like texture is proving a formidable foe to bacteria in applications as varied as medical devices and iPhone cases for Mark Spieckers’ growth-minded company.

A bacteria thwarting, shark inspired iPhone case might sound appealing to parents with ice cream and chocolate smeared iPhones but that’s just a foot in the door for second-stage Sharklet Technologies. The company, which moved to Aurora’s Anschutz Medical Campus from Florida in 2010, uses the unique properties of shark’s skin as an inspiration to reduce bacteria-related infections in medical devices.

Really? From medical devices to iPhone cases? 'There’s a significant market for iPhone cases,' explains Sharklet CEO Mark Spiecker. 'Everybody knows what an iPhone case is, and when I walk into a meeting and show him or her our technology it’s a very tangible thing,' he says. He shows the data on how the case repels bacteria based on Sharklet’s patented technologies. Hence a company focused on medical devices and planning to debut its first products this year is starting out with an iPhone case under $30."

Link to the full CompanyWeek profile

Sharklet CEO Mark Spiecker presenting at the 2010 Venture Showcase competition held at the CBSA BioWest Conference and Expo. 

Link to the announcement of Sharklet's winning 2010 Venture Showcase presentation

Link to an interview with Mark Spiecker at last year's Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference

Venture Showcase is back in 2014 - Sept 10th at BioWest

Quoting from the CBSA website:

"Four emerging life science companies will be selected to present at the 2014 BioWest Venture Showcase to pitch their technology and business plan to a panel of bioscience experts and investors. One outstanding company will be selected for $7,500 cash award, announced at the BioWest Closing Reception."

Link for more information about BioWest 2014

Read about Pet Cancer Drugs, including CBSA 2012 Venture Showcase winner VetDC, in the NY Times

Quoting from the August 1 article by Andrew Pollack about pet cancer drugs, including Fort Collins-based Vet DC:

"VetDC was founded to take advantage of another trend: Pharmaceutical companies increasingly are testing their drugs on pets to get an early read on how the drug might work in people.

For instance, Gilead Sciences stopped work on a drug it was developing to treat lymphoma in people. But studies had already shown “beautiful data in people’s pets,” said Steven Roy, a former Amgen executive who runs VetDC. So VetDC is now developing that drug for lymphoma in dogs."

Link to The New York Times

Steven Roy (center) receives the cash prize for VetDC's 2012 win in the Colorado BioScience Association Venture Showcase competition. 

Link to the overview of VetDC's 2012 winning Venture Showcase presentation

Venture Showcase is back in 2014 - Sept 10th at BioWest

Quoting from the CBSA website:

"Four emerging life science companies will be selected to present at the 2014 BioWest Venture Showcase to pitch their technology and business plan to a panel of bioscience experts and investors. One outstanding company will be selected for $7,500 cash award, announced at the BioWest Closing Reception."

Link for more information about BioWest 2014