Emmes’ Chief Human Resource Officer, Jennifer Hester, serves as Vice Chair on Rockville Economic Development, Inc’s (REDI) Board of Directors. REDI congratulates Emmes on their growth, and are grateful for the continued involvement and guidance of Ms. Hester.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Emmes, a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization (CRO) dedicated to supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation, today announced that it has acquired Institut Dr. Schauerte, a CRO headquartered in Munich, Germany.  Founded in 1990, Institut Dr. Schauerte is a full-service, technology-oriented CRO that specializes in late-phase, non-interventional, and post-market clinical follow-up studies.  It has conducted more than 400 studies across a range of therapeutic areas. 

This is the third acquisition for Emmes in the last year, having previously purchased Neox, headquartered in the Czech Republic, in December 2020 and UK-based Orphan Reach in May 2021.  The acquisition of Institut Dr. Schauerte augments Emmes’ global reach by expanding the company’s presence in Germany and adding new long-term strategic relationships with global biopharma companies.  With Institut Dr. Schauerte, Emmes now has more than 1,200 employees.

Emmes Chief Executive Officer Dr. Christine Dingivan said, “This is another positive step in our growth and diversification strategy.  Institut Dr. Schauerte has a 30-year history and deep expertise in the growing field of Real World Evidence (RWE) research. Its agile, technology-enabled approach is a perfect fit with Emmes and will enhance our digital capabilities.”

She added, “Emmes Europe is growing quickly, and Institut Dr. Schauerte will be joining an integrated team across the UK and EU that is successfully collaborating with colleagues in Canada, India and the U.S. to conduct global clinical trials.”

Institut Dr. Schauerte’s clinical trial operations have been conducted in more than 20 countries, and the company has seen accelerating revenues from post-approval non-interventional studies.  RWE and Real World Data have become increasingly important in improving patient care and influencing product development and lifecycle management decisions for drug, device and diagnostic manufacturers.

Institut Dr. Schauerte also expands Emmes’ technology product line with its ClinDoc tool, a secure, intuitive CFR21 Part 11 compliant Electronic Data Capture (EDC) solution.  It includes multi-language capabilities and interfaces for clinical trial management systems, electronic health records, and mobile health data from apps and wearables.  ClinDoc complements Emmes’ Advantage e-Clinical EDC system, giving the company even greater flexibility to meet diverse customer needs.

Institut Dr. Schauerte CEO and Founder Dr. Wulfram Schauerte said, “Our deep expertise in RWE and a thriving set of offices in Munich and Cottbus, Germany, will be strong assets in Emmes’ global growth plans.  We are excited about joining the company and working with our new colleagues in Emmes Europe.  We share much in common; in addition to our dedication to high research standards, we place great value on employee engagement and long-term client relationships.” 

Dr. Schauerte and Institut Dr. Schauerte’s leaders and staff will continue in their current roles. 

“Emmes and Institut Dr. Schauerte have a combined legacy of over 70 years in business,” noted Dr. Dingivan.  “Our team is looking forward to collaborating to improve the care and treatment of patients throughout the world, leveraging RWE to enhance studies ranging from Phase I to Phase IV, and using our EDC solutions to achieve greater data quality and efficiency for clients.”

About Institut Dr. Schauerte
Headquartered in Munich, Germany, and founded in 1990, Institut Dr. Schauerte is a technology-oriented full-service Clinical Research Organization that specializes in late-phase, non-interventional, and post-market clinical follow-up studies. Committed to providing high quality, bespoke RWE services and solutions, Institut Dr. Schauerte serves pharmaceutical and medical device companies across Europe in a broad range of therapeutic areas.

About Emmes
Founded in 1977, Emmes is a global, full-service Clinical Research Organization dedicated to excellence in supporting the advancement of public health and biopharmaceutical innovation. The company’s clients include numerous agencies and institutes of the U.S. federal government and a wide range of biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies throughout the world.  To learn more, visit www.emmes.com

Link to Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emmes-acquires-institut-dr-schauerte-entering-real-world-evidence-market-301449163.html

Here’s a review of REDI’s impact in 2021:

Business Attraction, Retention and Expansion; Business Incentives:

• Worked with the City of Rockville to reposition the Shady Grove Bio+Tech Campus on Choke Cherry Road as an adaptive reuse project with new Class A lab space, attracting life science businesses to the campus, including supporting changes to the City’s codes to allow for more streamlined processes for adaptive reuse projects
• Consulted on and assisted with permit services for Duball’s Phase II of Rockville Town Center (the Ansel) multifamily project, including 400 apartment units
• Developed a rapport with Connected DMV to provide input and support on a number of their initiatives including a Global Pandemic Prevention & Biodefense Center that located in Rockville, a center for Quantum, development of strategies to provide equal access for minorities and underserved populations to education and work opportunities, and regional economic development initiatives
• Refined and streamlined the MOVE/Expansion and Small Business Impact Incentive Funds requirements and application process to make the programs more accessible to Rockville businesses and surveyed recipients of REDI’s MOVE/Expansion and Small Business Impact Incentive Funds to gauge the added economic impact to the City that these programs provide, as well as to provide support for REDI’s requests for additional funding for these programs
  • Provided $475,639 incentives to 5 businesses resulting in 100+ full and part time jobs retained and the creation of 35+ full-time jobs over 3 years:

About Maryland Department of Commerce

The Maryland Department of Commerce stimulates private investment and creates jobs by attracting new businesses, encouraging the expansion and retention of existing companies, and providing financial assistance to Maryland companies. The Department promotes the State’s many economic advantages and markets local products and services at home and abroad to spur economic development and international investment, trade and tourism. Because they are major economic generators, the Department also supports the Arts, film production, sports and other special events. For more information, visit commerce.maryland.gov.

Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization established in July 2016 to foster business growth and
expansion in Montgomery County, MD. Overseen by a Board of Directors, MCEDC is committed to growing the county’s vibrant business community and leveraging its strengths assets to build an even stronger, more stable and diverse economy.

(MCEDC) is requesting proposals from local marketing firms (Consultants) to develop messaging that promote Montgomery County as an ideal place to start or grow a business. The messaging would be aimed primarily at the local business community, with the goal of encouraging new business creation and expansion projects—and changing the perception that Montgomery County is not business–friendly. Local policymakers and residents could also be an audience for this campaign.

The campaign may extend beyond local audiences to include national businesses in target industries, with the goal of encouraging businesses to move or expand to Montgomery County, MD. The Consultant would also share recommendations for paid media placements as part of the proposal.

The deadline to submit proposals is January 31, 2022.

RFP Overview

From the issue date of this RFP until selection and award, the designated contracting officer is the sole point of contact concerning the RFP. The primary mode of communication between MCEDC and potential Bidders will occur on the MCEDC Careers Webpage.

Interested parties can download the RFP and additional documents from the MCEDC Careers webpage beginning December 1, 2021. The RFP is being made available electronically. If Bidder electronically accepts the RFP, Bidder acknowledges and accepts full responsibility to ensure that no changes are made to the RFP. In the event of a conflict between a version of the RFP in Bidder’s possession and the contracting officer’s version, the contracting officer’s version shall govern.

It is the responsibility of respondents to check MCEDC’s Careers webpage for any addenda or modifications to a RFP to which they intend to respond. MCEDC accepts no liability and will provide no accommodation to Respondents who submit a response based on an out–of–date RFP document.

With the exception of the proposal submission deadline, MCEDC reserves the right to make changes to the timeline below. Each Bidder responding to this RFP must supply all required documentation. Failure to comply with this RFP will result in the disqualification of Bidder’s proposal.

ROCKVILLE, Md. (December 8, 2021) – Montgomery County is home to the new Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center launched by Connected DMV. The Center will be co-located in Rockville at the US Pharmacopeia offices at 12601 Twinbrook Pkwy, Rockville, MD 20852. 

Connected DMV, a leading Greater Washington organization that seeks to help solve complex regional challenges, spearheaded efforts to establish the Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Center’s goal is to help prevent future outbreaks from becoming pandemics by developing a stockpile of human monoclonal antibodies in advance for emerging infectious diseases and by integrating antibody distribution and delivery across the global health and pandemic prevention ecosystem. Montgomery County is uniquely positioned to be the host location for the Center, which aims to harness the rich talent and critical health research, biotech, defense, and government assets required to deliver a full-scale response.

Connected DMV represents a regional effort toward a shared vision for new, transformational approaches and initiatives that span jurisdictional boundaries. Connected DMV regional initiatives include pandemic prevention and preparedness, infrastructure resilience, quantum innovation, clean energy, economic mobility, economic renewal, and social equity. Montgomery County representatives, including the County Executive and the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC), serve on the steering committee of several Connected DMV initiatives. 

“Montgomery County is uniquely positioned to be the host location for the Center, which aims to harness the rich talent and critical health research, biotech, defense, and government assets required to deliver a full-scale response,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This Center is not only critical to the health, safety, and security of our nation and world, but also this is an important economic development and job creating concept that we want to see come to fruition.”

Rockville’s US Pharmacopeia, an independent, scientific nonprofit organization focused on building trust in the global medicine supply chain, welcomes the Center to co-locate at its Twinbrook Parkway campus. “We are honored and privileged to host the groundbreaking work Connected DMV is doing,” said Ronald T. Piervincenzi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, US Pharmacopeia. “Montgomery County is one of the leading life sciences hubs in the world, so it makes perfect sense for the Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center to be here.” 

“We appreciate the leadership and sponsorship from Montgomery County, MCEDC, and US Pharmacopeia in support of the strategy and now the physical location for the Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center,” said Stu Solomon, President & CEO of Connected DMV. “Working together, the Center will deliver an ambitious, medical countermeasures program (AHEAD100) that aims to develop and stockpile monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the world’s top 100 pathogens across the 25 pathogen families most likely to cause future pandemics while also driving equitable economic growth in the DMV.”

“Locating the Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center in Montgomery County represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts both regionally and across sectors – government, industry, academia, community, and philanthropy – to prevent the next pandemic and drive equitable economic growth,” said Benjamin H. Wu, President and CEO of MCEDC. “The initiatives such as the Pandemic Prevention Center that Connected DMV is advancing for our region are among the most visionary, transformational, and innovative efforts that our region has pursued together.”

Press Release Link: https://thinkmoco.com/press-releases/cdmv

About Connected DMV and the Global Pandemic Prevention & Biodefense Center

Connected DMV is an initiatives-based, charitable 501(c)(3) organization that works with regional organizations across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia – the DMV – to help drive ongoing improvements to social, digital, and physical infrastructure. Connected DMV focuses on initiatives that span local jurisdictions and require public-private-academia-community collaboration to best achieve the dual objectives of enduring economic health and social equity.

Connected DMV has a vision to create the world’s only comprehensive center to coordinate a global pandemic prevention and response program. Called the Global Pandemic Prevention & Biodefense Center, this Center aims to harness all of the rich talent and critical health research, biotech, defense, and government assets that the world has to offer to deliver a full-scale response. The flagship lead initiative of the Center will be AHEAD100. This ambitious, medical countermeasures program aims to develop and stockpile monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for the world’s top 100 pathogens across 25 pathogen families most likely to cause pandemics.

For more information about Connected DMV, visit connecteddmv.org

For more information about the Global Pandemic Prevention & Biodefense Center, visit: https://www.connecteddmv.org/pandemic-center

About US Pharmacopeia (USP)

USP is an independent, nonprofit, scientific organization that sets quality standards for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients worldwide. USP’s quality standards are enforceable in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration and legally recognized in more than 50 countries. These standards, which are continuously developed and revised by more than 750 volunteer experts in science, industry, healthcare, and academia, are also used in more than 150 countries. Learn more at usp.org

About Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) is the official public-private economic development organization representing Montgomery County, Maryland. Created in 2016, MCEDC is led by a Board of Directors of business executives. Its mission is to help businesses start, grow and relocate in Montgomery County by helping them gain access to top talent, business and market intelligence and prime locations. For more information, visit www.thinkmoco.com

BALTIMORE, Md. (December 6, 2021) – Maryland Department of Labor, Today, the the Maryland Department of Labor (Labor) announced that the Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland program, the industry-led, competitive workforce and economic development grant initiative, is now accepting Implementation Grant Proposals. Proposals will be due on March 4, 2022, and awards will be made in May of 2022.

Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, the funding for EARN Maryland has doubled, with an added $3 million annually for cyber and IT training, investments in clean and green jobs training, and funding for opportunity zones. Encouraging collaboration, EARN Maryland funds Strategic Industry Partnerships comprised of five or more employers, and a wide array of other organizations, including non-profits, higher education, local workforce development boards, and local governments.

“As Maryland businesses continue to rebound from the economic impacts of COVID-19, it is important to ensure we are providing a wide array of resources,” said Secretary Robinson. “Investing in and expanding this nationally-recognized initiative is a common sense way to add another tool for employers to have the talent necessary to continue to thrive, while providing meaningful career pathways to the middle class for all Marylanders.”

Partnerships funded through EARN provide in-demand, relevant training to unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers based upon industry identified needs. Successful applicants to Labor’s solicitation will develop a comprehensive plan to bridge employer-identified skills gaps in a given industry, while demonstrating the ability to address the holistic needs of workers and eliminate barriers to employment.

EARN Maryland currently funds more than 60 Strategic Industry Partnerships across the state in diverse, high-growth industries, such as information technology, healthcare, transportation and logistics, and biotechnology. As a result of its industry-led model, nearly 7,000 individuals have obtained employment, and more than 9,500 incumbent workers have obtained new skills, certifications, or credentials. EARN has been identified as a national best practice for its innovation in sector strategies by organizations like the National Skills Coalition and the Urban Institute. The program was also named one of the Top 25 programs in the 2018 Innovations in American Government Award competition by The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, a leading research center at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Labor will hold a virtual Pre-Proposal Conference on December 15 at 10:00 a.m.

For more information about EARN Maryland and for a link to the Solicitation for Implementation Grant Proposals, please visit: https://www.labor.maryland.gov/earn/

The City of Rockville is seeking a qualified firm with experience in quantitative and qualitative marketing research, message/positioning development, and municipal identity/branding including development of a brand value statement; logo development and associated graphic standards; and recommendations for brand rollout with an implementation plan that outlines budget and timeline.

The City brand will energize current residents and position the municipality as a desirable place to live, work and play. Key audiences include residents, people who work in the city, visitors and tourists. The brand will enhance general perception, as well as highlight the high–quality City services that are provided to residents. The brand will ideally connect residents to City government and promote an atmosphere of open dialogue, inclusivity, and community engagement.

The City of Rockville anticipates this project to be complete within eight months of the award being made. Brand implementation and execution is a separate project that will require proposals to be submitted under a separate competitive bidding process.

Projected Project Timeline