Our fellow biotech networking group, Biobuzz

Hi folks,

I would like to mention our sister networking group, Biobuzz, which is based in Montgomery County and Baltimore, and arranges networking events in Baltimore and Rockville. Their next event will be on March 28 from 4:30 – 7 PM at Stella Restaurant, 9755 Traville Gateway Drive, Rockville, MD. It will be hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Biotechnology Education. Biobuzz is also supported by Tech USA and Johns Hopkins Montogmery County.

Bring your business card, and if you get there reasonably early, you can get a ticket for a beer or glass of wine, and you can drop your business card in to win a prize.

To keep up to date on future events, join their Linkedin group. Their leader is Chris Frew of TechUSA Scientific.  I have invited him to tell our fellow Biotech/pharma neighbors to the East about our group, and I hope to see you all at both of our networking meetups!

-Terry Brann

An early Pi Day BioBeers – Friday March 2nd at FITCI

I know, I know, seems like we just had BioBeers, but that was in January.  The date is set and the beer will be cold and the munchies adequate for those who get there in time.  The next BioBeers will be at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI) 4539 Metropolitan Court 21704 

In honor of our new sponsor, BioStat Solutions, I have decided this BioBeers needs to be in celebration of Pi Day, March 14th-> 3.14 for those nerdy enough to need to know.  Pi Day is a holiday commemorating the mathematical constant π (pi).  I realize the really *big* Pi day doesn’t happen until 2015 (At 9:26:53 on Pi Day 2015, the date will be 3/14/15 at 9:26:53, corresponding to 3.141592653), but I believe our Mission qualifies us science nerds to celebrate this day with Beer, the oldest form of Biotechnology.  We can chat statistics all night long, or at least until the beer runs out.  We hope to be outside, so dress for success, or consult your local meteorologist before heading out. 

As usual, the event runs from 4:30 PM until 7 PM.  Please RSVP via the LinkedIn event, MeetUp group or just shoot me an email.

Speaking about me, I have a new email fredcobio@gmail.com (all the others still work) and I am moving to another consulting gig in North Carolina.  Same type of consulting, but leaving my home away from home for warmer weather, proximity to home and more money.  I start on 2/27, so won’t be back until after 9 PM the night of BioBeers.  Ping me if you are curious, but I will be able to be home every other week and weekend (working 8 10′s and off 6) so you many coincidentally contact me more often.

Next BioBeers Friday January 27th

After skipping December’s edition because I was out of town and the Holidays “Occupying” everyone’s time and availability, we’re back on track for a BioBeers in January. 

The next event will be back at ImQuest Biosciences, 7340 Executive Way Suite R from 4:30 until 7 PM on Friday January 27th.

The theme (we have to have a theme now since we started it!) is Shaking the Winter Blues!  We have two new sponsors lined up: Kymanox and Noble Life Sciences.  We are also fortunate that ImQuest is letting Susan Jessee serve as the “Interim Grand Poobah” in my absence.  I’ll be in the Great White North working while you are all enjoying fermented beverages and free food.   Rumor has it that there may be Door Prizes as well!

As always, the best way to RSVP is through the LinkedIn Event or MeetUp.  My project here in Ohio is heating up.  The group i am subcontracted through is asking for as many as another 20 consultants, so if you can travel to Ohio (expenses covered) and have a background in GMP QA, RA, Validation, shoot me an email at fredcobio@gmail.com.  Otherwise, stay in Frederick and have fun without me!

Introducing new contributing members

Holiday Greetings to all of the Frederk County Biotechnology Community out there in the internets, assuming your access is not restricted by Big Brother !  As some of you may know, I started working in Cleveland first week in December on a consulting project.  I don’t want to discuss details publicly, but suffice to say it is a very important project, I’m working with a group of excellent consultants (one ‘old’ friend from LTI and one former FMC MedImmune person in the 20 on site), being in Cleveland is like my second home, money is good and I love driving on the PA Turnpike.

While I am pre-occupied in Ohio a couple of benevolent volunteers stepped forward to help keep BioBeers and the blog running.  Since we have a recurring occupancy of ImQuest Biosciences,  Susan Jessee has graciously volunteered to  take a lead role in organizing the Event and I am working with her while I am in town this week as to dump as much on her as I can.

Also on the rolls is Terrence Brann, a former LTI, GTI, ONCOR & SAIC-Frederick worker “between jobs,” as we say in this day and age.

So, I encourage you all to be as supportive and useful as always and help us keep the momentum rolling while I spend a few quality months-years in the Great White North.

I want to personally thank you all for being there for me and making Frederick County Biotech better than the rest.  We are “leading the way” and our quest is spreading through the “other” counties in the State that seem to get all of the attention.

I wish you all good health, happiness and prosperity in 2012 and beyond.

Happy Holidays!

Happy holidays to everyone! Jim Hardy has graciously allowed me to post to his blog. There are plans in the works for the next Biobeers meetup in January 2012, and there will be more information about that as it becomes available.

I would like to start a brainstorming session here about a favor-exchange network for the biotech/pharma community here in Maryland. I am thinking about a web-based forum in which training or services could be exchanged.

I came up with this idea due to my own situation. I have an MS in Applied Molecular Biology, and over a dozen years of experience in cell and molecular biology. I have accumulated a wide range of skills, but I don’t have hands-on experience in flow cytometry.  This has caused me to lose job opportunities. I would gladly exchange a few hours of work to someone in exchange for FACS training.  And then I realized that I am certainly not the only person with this sort of problem. 

 Even those of us who have been in research for years may have been frustrated by one small gap in our repertoire of skills.  Rather than pay thousands of dollars and hours of time to go to a formal class, wouldn’t we sometimes prefer to just get some training in one particular technique from a colleague, in exchange for a few hours of our own time or expertise? Or maybe you need a microarray analysis done, but you don’t have the equipment. So you locate a colleague who has the equipment, and agree to perform some other task or analysis for them.  Recent graduates without much money or resources could spend a few hours counting plaques or colonies, defrosting freezers, or decontaminating hoods in exchange for training in a particular technique. How interested would you be in a formal website that allowed these connections to be made?

Halloween BioBeers Friday

I find it hard to believe that it’s almost Halloween!  This year is flying by.

First things first. The next BioBeers is happening at ImQuest (7340 Executive Way Suite R 21704) this Friday October 28th. And it’s a costume party.  Costumes are not mandatory, but encouraged.  The ImQuest guys are going to go all out, from what I have been told.

I also find it hard to believe that people continue to step up to the plate to sponsor BioBeers.  We have two new sponsors, aside from The Scale People (also 1st time sponsors) and the wonderful folks with the iWIN group at LifeTech.

I have two additional sponsors: Hagerstown Community College and Federal Allies Institute.  I am very glad to share this space with our neighbors to the north in Hagerstown.  We may all end up moving there in another 25 years!

As usual, it’s best to RSVP via LinkedIn, MeetUp, by leaving a reply here or sending me an email to gahaga@gmail.com  We can talk about what costumes we’re wearing because it will be awkward if we both wear the same thing. Yeah.

Jobs and the Next BioBeers

A quick Sunday post with a couple twists.

First, the next BioBeers is happening at ImQuest on Friday October 28th. And it’s a costume party, so dress like something other than a nerd scientists. Come on. You can do it.

I have two sponsors thus far: Life Tech and The Scale People

I still need more sponsors, so if you’re intested let me know.

I was also contacted by someone looking to fill various positions in Frederick:

Manager Quality Assurance / Quality control – Individual who can provide leadership to QA/QC/Analytical groups and has proven track record in pharmaceutical industry. Experience in pre and post inspections, product approval submissions (ANDA, NDA) to FDA, interaction with global clients, familiarity with regulations and participate in management decisions. Ph.D. or MS in Pharmaceutical sciences or related field with ten years of Pharmaceutical industry experience.

Manager Operations Manager Operations – Experience in cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) Pharmaceutical operations, preferably in solid dosage forms, process development, maintenance of utilities and facilities, and planning. Interact with clients. Must have regulatory knowledge in cGMP, equipment, scale-up and production. BS or MS in Chemistry or engineering or related sciences with a minimum of seven years of experience in a reputable pharmaceutical company.

Two other positions in a new Lab:  Post Doc and Technician 

 The effort will include engineering proteins and biomaterials for regenerative medical applications using human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Other projects will include developing methods to characterize cell growth and differentiation of MSCs in 3-D tissue culture; applying protein engineering methods to discover sequences that enhance protein affinity, stability, or expression; designing and fabricating bioactive scaffolds; and, in vivo

characterization of candidate scaffolds. A Ph.D. in Bioengineering, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, or related field with lab or industry experience in molecular biology and cloning; protein engineering,

expression and purification; biomaterials engineering; and MSC biology is preferred.

if you’re interested, let me know aqnd I will route you apopropriately:  gahaga@gmail.com

BioBeers on Friday

I’ve been waiting until the last minute to remind everyone BioBeers is this Friday, August 19th starting at 4:30 PM at The Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI), 4539 Metropolitan Court 21704. 

I was waiting because I had a couple people fighting over the last sponsorship spot.  The Lucky winners this month are The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, FITCI and Meridian Biogroup.

Don’t forget, we’re going rain or shine (never know what the weather will bring but I think it’s supposed to be a nice day with only a slight chance of T-storms) and we’re outside, so wear something fun and flashy and Hawaiian or Tie-Dyed.

Beer is coming in a few more flavors this time via Barley & Hops and we’re getting *fancy* food from Olives.  There’s also a rumor circulating that ImQuest, the unofficial Chicken Wing Sponsor of BioBeers, is going to bring some wings to round things (like my fat belly) out.

RSVP by leaving a comment, reply to my email, through the MeetUp group or the LinkedIn Group.  See you all on Friday!

Frederick Company Empowering Citizen Scientists to Do It Themselves in Chile

Just passing along a great write up via LavaAmp partner Guido, who just moved to Chile to start work on a 6-month grant we won from StartUp Chile. Read the original article HERE. The rest speaks for itself……..

Home → News → DIYBio →

Empowering Citizen Scientists to Do It Themselves

Posted by Justin Bourke 20pc on July 22, 2011 · Flag

DIY Bio Activists Seek to Improve Health in the Developing World

Chances are you’ve never heard of Chagas disease, unless of course you’re among the 40,000 people infected every year. It usually starts with a visit from The Kissing Bug, a blood-sucker named for it’s odd habit of “kissing” its hosts on the face during the night. The disease can be countered with antiparasitic treatments if caught early, but once it reaches the chronic phase the best you can do is delay or prevent its symptoms. These can include potentially fatal heart weakness or failure, malnourishment, or even dementia and motor impairment. There is no cure.

Diseases like Chagas are common and can have devastating effects in the developing world. There are a number of institutions that work to eliminate these and other health risks in the public interest – governments, inter-governmental agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), and non-governmental organizations and charities. Many of their efforts have been successful and well known (thank you, WHO, for eradicating Small Pox), but their scale is limited by the amount of funding and political will they can muster. In an attempt to reach some of the more neglected areas of the world, some scientific progressives have begun advocating a less orthodox approach – do it yourself.

The DIY method, now a full-fledged underground movement, is based upon the belief that the average person can not only become equipped to solve their own challenges, but also contribute to the greater scientific community through open data sharing. This requires access to three things that most don’t have – proper equipment, training and opportunities for engagement. While there have been success stories in the States, providing these amenities in the developing world is a greater challenge. To find out whether or not DIYbio can help solve health issues abroad, several pioneers have begun the task of breaking down these barriers.

Equipment and Training

Any biologist will tell you that having the right equipment is essential to their work, but costs can be prohibitive in the developing world. According to Guido Núñez-Mujica, equipment that is already expensive in Western countries is even more so in developing communities due to high shipping and distribution costs. Núñez-Mujica intends to not only bring affordable equipment into remote areas, but make it easy to use as well. He is the co-developer of theLavaAmp, a handheld PCR device based on a concept originally proposed by Nitin Agrawal and colleagues at Texas A&M. PCR, an acronym for Polymerase Chain Reaction, is a method of copying DNA sequences. Until recently, the process required hefty machinery costing several thousands of dollars. Núñez-Mujica’s prototype, built by engineering firm Biodesic, will be no bigger than a cantaloupe, cost only $300-500 and be able to perform a DNA diagnostic in a matter of hours. That means if you get bitten by a Kissing Bug, you can find out if it was carrying Chagas on the spot. In fact, Núñez-Mujica was recently in Venezuela helping people do just that. He hopes that a teenager or hobbyist will be able to use the LavaAmp for everything from diagnosing Chagas to studying crop famine. “Rather than wait for solutions to come to them, [these communities] must be able to take steps themselves, even if those steps seem small.”

Nina Dudnik, meanwhile, seeks to not only bring affordable equipment to developing countries, but also provide much needed training. The difference is that her focus is on universities. Dudnik is the founder of the non-profit Seeding Labs, which collects unused equipment from labs in America and sends it to universities in Africa, Latin America and Asia at affordable prices. They also provide training both abroad and through intensive fellowship programs here in the States. According to Dudnik, their equipment has already been used by thousands of students and has directly lead to over 125 new publications, two new patents and a tool for diagnosing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis – a disease impacting one-third of the world population and an even greater percentage in poor communities.

Engagement

Having affordable equipment and training is essential, but it doesn’t guarantee engagement. Few in their lifetimes are able to get hands-onexperience with the wonders of science, and even fewer get the chance to create real results. This is where companies likeKeegoTech come in. Their business is built on a microbial fuel cell (MFC) known as the MudWatt. In simple language, it’s a battery that runs on dirt. The technology is still too young to create enough power for practical use, so instead they sell the MudWatt to schools  as an educational tool to engage children in science. In doing so, they have discovered that scientific advancement can come from anyone. Says their co-founder, Keegan Cooke, “MFC technology has the potential to become a cheap and reliable way of charging small electronics, but we’re not quite there yet.  Scientists don’t yet know the best arrangements of electrode material or organic components to create enough power. So we invite students to experiment with our kit and post their findings on our community site. This has led to some very interesting ideas we never would have thought of.” Cooke’s favorite example is an eighth grader in California named Ricky, who alongside his father was able to double the output of the MudWatt from dirt in a local riverbed – a sample that KeegoTech is now working to analyze. But while they see this approach working in the developing world, their ability to successfully focus their efforts there is still uncertain.

The Future of DIY BioOrganizations like LavaAmp, Seeding Labs and KeegoTech have begun to demonstrate what can be done when we make it possible for the average person to engage in science. And they are already getting investors. Seeding Labs’ fellowship program in the U.S. is underwritten by Novartis. LavaAmp was recently awarded a $40,000 grant from Start-Up Chile, a program run by the Chilean Ministry of Economy. But the movement is young and unproven, and the likelihood of continued funding remains unsure.

Still Joseph Jackson, one of the premier authorities on citizen science, is undeterred. A key partner in bringing Núñez-Mujica’s LavaAmp to life, he sees potential for the DIY movement to take off in the developing world. “These countries generally have fewer restrictions compared to the U.S., and enough demand for solutions. If we can get past the infrastructure barriers, some of them could become ideal breeding grounds for open innovation.”

Next BioBeers is Set

I should have realized that having the June BioBeers in July (which was a fabulous event in case you missed it) would mean the regularly-scheduled August BioBeers would creep up on me like streptavidin to biotin and I was ready for it.

I just wasn’t ready to blog it, yet.

{drum roll, please}

The next BioBeers will start promptly at 4:30 PM on Friday August 19th.  The Venue is the Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI) at 4539 Metropolitan Court, Frederick 21704.

Put that in your GPS and search it if you don’t know where it is already.

Sponsors thus far are the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce and Moore Wealth and one more that’s not ready to be outed.

Since we’re going to be outdoors in August, let’s have a theme?  How about a Hawaiian or Tie-Dye shirt theme?  Sounds informal and festive, right?

On another note, the contractor I am working under, Raland Technologies, is looking for a couple more people with Scientific, Training facilitation and Instructional Design backgrounds.  If you are interested, please get in touch.

RSVP by leaving a comment, reply to my email, through the MeetUp group or the LinkedIn Group