News Archives - Page 16 of 18 - Rockville Economic Development, Inc

State Leads Delegation to Arab Health 2022, Awards 20 ExportMD Grants

The delegation of Maryland companies include Get Real Health, Integrated Pharma Services and Inteleos from Rockville

Press Release published by Maryland Department of Commerce

BALTIMORE, Md., Jan. 24, 2022 — The Maryland Department of Commerce this week is leading a delegation of several Maryland companies to Arab Health 2022, one of the world’s largest healthcare exhibitions. Held in Dubai, this is the eighth year Maryland Commerce has exhibited at the trade show, promoting the state’s healthcare assets as well as a number of small and mid-size companies to a global audience.

Maryland is hosting a nearly 42 square-meter booth (approximately 450 square-feet) to demonstrate company products and services, located in the U.S. Pavilion in Hall 1, Aisle E Booth 39. Exhibiting companies will receive display space and meeting areas within the booth, as well as matchmaking assistance through Maryland’s global office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The department will also offer a virtual participation option for companies unable to travel due to the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, the conference attracted upwards of 50,000 attendees from more than 150 different countries around the world.

“There are several reasons why Maryland has thousands of medical and life science companies—including our educated workforce, research and development contracts, and access to federal labs and facilities,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Our attendance at Arab Health will help keep Maryland at the forefront of innovation and remind the industry’s top leaders and decision makers what our state has to offer companies interested in expanding to the United States.”

The 14 Maryland companies traveling to Arab Health as part of the delegation include Alliance Care Technologies (Easton); Bluffajo Cosmetics (Germantown); Get Real Health (Rockville); Global Alliant (Olney); Integrated Pharma Services (Rockville); Inteleos (Rockville); Man and Machine (Landover); OMM Collection (Kensington); Pevco (Baltimore); Restorative Therapies (Baltimore); Silbiotech, Inc. (virtual attendee) (North Potomac); Sisu Global (Baltimore); and Trinity Sterile/Sklar Instruments (Salisbury).

“We have always looked forward to leading our yearly delegation to Arab Health, but now more than ever, we want to continue providing a variety of resources to help our Maryland businesses expand their customer base,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Mike Gill. “The exhibiting spaces and matchmaking services provided through these trips offer countless benefits for our local companies. We encourage interested businesses to explore upcoming opportunities and other resources offered by our department.”

Trinity Sterile and Sklar Instruments, two companies that merged in the early 2000s, are co-exhibiting for the first time at Arab Health. The Eastern Shore entities are looking forward to expanding their market shares and opening new channels of distribution throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

“We are pleased to present both of our companies, as two of the premier manufacturers of sterile procedure kits and one of the top five largest instrument manufacturers in the U.S.,” said JoAnne Stephens, director of international sales at Sklar Instruments. “We not only manufacture for our own brands, but we’re also the original equipment manufacturer for some of the larger sterile kit packers in the country.”

Maryland Commerce recently awarded several rounds of ExportMD grants, and many recipients utilized the funding to travel to Arab Health and last fall’s MEDICA trade show. ExportMD grants are provided to small and mid-size companies on a monthly basis to assist with travel and marketing costs associated with international trade shows. The next application deadline for the program is February 1, 2022 and eligibility requirements can be found on our website.

August – December 2021 ExportMD grant recipients

Anne Arundel County

S&M Engineering

SpatialGIS, LLC

TRACE, Inc.

Baltimore City

Restorative Therapies

Sisu Global Health

Baltimore County

Longeviti Neuro Solutions

LuminUltra Technologies

mdlogix

Supplema, LLC

Vac Pac Inc.

Charles County

KM Williams & Associates

Harford County

Health Kiosk for All

Howard County

Global Alliant, Inc.

Hawkeye MedTech Inc.

Hudson Global Scholars

Montgomery County

Bluffajo Cosmetics

CB America Corporation

Integrated Pharma Services

Neighborhood Sun Benefit Corp.

OMM Collection

Pindox Pharma Inc.

RAZ Mobility LLC

Silbiotech Inc.

Silvec Biologics

Trax Sports, LLC

Prince George’s County

Man and Machine, Inc.

Phoebe Marketing Group

Talbot County

Alliance Care Technologies, Inc.

Wicomico County

Trinity Sterile, Inc.

About Get Real Health

Get Real Health combines a world of new information from patients, devices and apps with existing clinical data to help individuals and healthcare professionals engage and empower each other. By giving providers and patients the information and tools they need to work together, Get Real Health helps their customers achieve a wide range of clinical and business objectives. Learn more at https://getrealhealth.com/

About Integrated Pharma Services

Integrated Pharma Services (IPS) is an Award-Winning Contract Research Organization (CRO) and Reliable Partner to potential customers. IPS engages Ph.D. level scientists and skilled technical staff to design, troubleshoot, conduct, analyze, and report the scientific data. IPS has a strong scientific reputation and track record of providing customers the supporting data needed to advance their candidate therapeutics and diagnostics. Learn more at https://www.integratedpharmaservices.com/

About Inteleos

Inteleos is an independent non-profit, mission-based certification organization that delivers rigorous assessments and cultivates a global community of professionals dedicated to the highest standards in healthcare. Inteleos is the overarching governance and management organization for the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography® (ARDMS®) the Alliance for Physician Certification & Advancement™ (APCA™), and the Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Certification Academy™ . Learn more at https://www.inteleos.org/

Biotech Firm, Tetracore, Secures Large Office Space in Rockville

This deal underscores the increased demand for life science space along the I-270 corridor

Article originally published by Costar on January 18, 2022

Biotechnology research and development organization Tetracore has signed a lease for a new location in Rockville, Maryland’s biotech hub.

The company agreed to take 93,400 square feet at 77 Upper Rock Circle, an eight-story building located just off Shady Grove Road near Interstate 270. Tetracore’s lease is for the third through fifth floors, as well as space on the lower level of the 235,210-square-foot building.

Tetracore creates innovative kits, assays, reagents and instruments for the detection of infectious diseases, biological warfare threat agents and biological markers. In 2020, the company developed and commercialized a real-time PCR test and serology multiplex test for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Th company is currently headquartered at 9901 Belward Campus Drive in Rockville, where it occupies around 50,000 square feet, according to CoStar information. Tetracore is expected to open its new office in October, Cushman & Wakefield told CoStar News in an email.

The deal underscores the increased demand for life sciences space along the I-270 technology corridor that over the last two decades has emerged as a bastion for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

In recent years, that demand has risen as companies look to increase their capabilities in part to combat the coronavirus pandemic, with vacancy rates in the life science market hitting an all-time low, Ben Powell of Cushman & Wakefield said in a release.

Powell, along with Gwen Fraker, brokered the deal for building owner, Bridge Investment Group.

77 Upper Rock was developed by The JBG Cos. near Shady Grove Hospital and the Rio shopping center. The building was originally constructed in 2005 as a build-to-suit for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to serve as a substance abuse center before the agency vacated in 2015.

DSC Partners acquired the then-vacant building in 2017 for $19.5 million and carried out a renovation program that included upgrading the conference center, gym, tenant lounge and outdoor terrace.

In early 2020, Canadian biopharmaceutical company Aurinia Pharmaceuticals selected the 77 Upper Rock Circle building to house its new U.S. commercial center of operations. The original deal was for 30,000 square feet with potential to expand to up to 120,000 square feet as the company rolled out its Maryland operations in phases.

The Aurinia deal was one of three leases signed during the contract period, when Salt Lake City’s Bridge Investment Group entered into an agreement with DSC Partners and Fortress Investment Group to buy the property for $34.3 million. Bridge completed the acquisition in March 2020.

The Tetracore lease brings the property to 96% leased, with Wilmington Trust, Nutricia North America and Cisco Systems, among others, also occupying space in the property.

About Tetracore

Tetracore is a biotechnology research and development organization that creates innovative kits, assays, reagents, and instruments for the detection of infectious diseases, biological warfare (BW) threat agents, and biological markers. Tetracore’s solutions have been used by various laboratorians, veterinarians, first responders, and clinicians. To learn more, visit www.tetracore.com

Thor Acquires Rockville Flex Space for $45M, Plans Life Sciences Conversion

The properties feature approximately 70,000 square feet of vacancy available to be transformed to a life sciences use, with the potential to convert the remaining office/flex spaces

Article originally published by Commercial Observer on January 4, 2022

Thor Equities has acquired West Gude Labs, a trio of office/flex properties in Rockville, Md., for $45 million, with plans to convert them to life sciences space, according to CBRE, who represented the undisclosed seller in the deal.

Located at 20, 30 and 50 West Gude Drive in the Shady Grove neighborhood of Rockville, the properties total 231,582 square feet.

“The properties in Shady Grove presented a rare opportunity to acquire well-located assets with the potential to renovate and add value,” Jack J. Sitt, Thor Equities’ executive vice president, told Commercial Observer. “The Washington D.C., submarket has performed strongly, and we believe that trend will continue.”

The three properties, situated within Montgomery County’s growing life sciences corridor, are ripe for being converted into first-class lab buildings, according to CBRE.

“Our team worked extensively with the seller over the past year, creatively managing the rent roll to unlock vacancy and provide a clear path to life sciences conversion,” Tommy Cleaver, an executive vice president at CBRE, said in a prepared statement. “There is an insatiable appetite within the investment community for well-located projects of scale that can deliver inventory to this market quickly. Owners that can provide that will be rewarded.”

Combined, the properties feature approximately 70,000 square feet of vacancy available to be transformed to a life sciences use, with the potential to convert the remaining office/flex spaces to more life sciences space over time, according to Cleaver, as the site’s mixed-use employment, or MXE, zoning allows for additional development by right.

Notable tenants in the portfolio include Comcast and Seco.

The most recent industrial report from CBRE revealed that the U.S. vacancy rate for existing lab and research space was at a record low of 4.9 percent, and at 1.9 percent in the Baltimore/Washington market. That has caused rents to jump 7.5 percent as of September compared to March 2021.

Thor Equities has been on a life sciences tear in the last few years, buying up properties in key markets like New Jersey and the Research Triangle in North Carolina, as well as beefing up its team to continue the expansion.

Joining Cleaver on the recent deal were CBRE’sDan Grimes and Stuart Kenny. The same team facilitated the sale of Shady Grove Bio & Tech Campus, a 435,000-square-foot life sciences property to Boston Properties in August.

The buyer’s broker was not disclosed.

Emmes Acquires Institut Dr. Schauerte, Entering Real World Evidence Market

Emmes’ third major acquisition expands its European presence in Germany, adding a new electronic data capture tool to enhance real world evidence research

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

That’s a wrap! Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) 2021 Year in Review

As businesses continued weathering the pandemic, REDI bolstered its support and services to businesses and entrepreneurs, developed new programs that help Rockville’s most vulnerable industries recover, and engaged with regional organizations and institutions to prepare for the future economy.

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:

Next Level Rentals	MOVE	$10,837	40 W. Gude Drive	8 FTE in Rockville with projected 7 new with move	3,136 sf
Smathers and Branson	MOVE	$34,557	1570 E. Jefferson Street	29 FTE in Rockville increase of 12+ new within 3 years	22,500 sf
Kim Engineering	MOVE	$14,245	1390 Piccard Drive	10 FTE in Rockville with 10 new in 3 years	4,122 sf
Twinbrook Dental	SBIF	$16,000	12300 Twinbrook Parkway	5 FTE with 7 new in 3 years	2,771 sf
Dawson’s Market	SBIF	$400,000	225 N. Washington Street	26 FT/33 PT employees	25,029 sf

Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC)/Small Business Support:

Supported 329 Montgomery County home-based childcare programs through one-on-one counseling and the development of a workshop series designed to strengthen financial practices
Launched the 14-week new program VetBizLady Grow program utilizing the GrowthWheel program with 15 Maryland participants through a partnership that includes the DC WBC, the ODU WBC, and the US Department of Veteran Affairs
Expanded MWBC’s Retail Incubator, ShopHer, to Union Station with a partnership with the DC WBC
Assisted 11 vendors receive funds from the Maryland RELIEF Act Online Sales and Telework Grant Assistance through MCEDC
Presented a three-part series of workshops on leadership development in the food and beverage industry to over 70 attendees

Workforce/Talent Alignment:

Continued producing the Workforce Development Roundtable Discussions on topics including Cybersecurity, Mental Health, and Workforce Education and Employer Needs drawing over 300 in key industry sectors
Continued talent alignment conversations with Montgomery College, Universities of Shady Grove, the Montgomery County Public School System, and WorkSource Montgomery to better facilitate conversations with the business community about current/future hiring needs

Marketing/Tourism Development:

Introduced commercial districts concept and received City approval for the creation of the Rock East District as a pilot, focusing on the opportunity to highlight local tourism and business attraction and local business support
- Launched the Rock East District with a brand guideline, branded items, partnerships with local businesses, a media familiarization tour, a ribbon cutting and three days of events to highlight the new District
Entered a MOU with Visit Montgomery to create a Rockville tourism site
Increased social media reach and curated highlights of Rockville’s economy and companies including;

Governor Hogan announces new Maryland Supply Chain Resiliency initiative

The initiative will provide funding, training and educational programs to address supply chain issues

BALTIMORE, Md. (December 14, 2021)—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce, in coordination with the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MD MEP) is launching the Maryland Supply Chain Resiliency Program, a new initiative aimed at supporting resilience building activities for Maryland manufacturers.

“Maryland continues to be a national leader in helping to address the supply chain crisis that is affecting families, businesses, and industries,” said Governor Hogan. “This new program is an innovative way to help manufacturers deal with these challenges and boost the resiliency of our supply base.”

This initiative will provide opportunities for Maryland manufacturers to learn and share best practices for improving their supply chains, helping to manage through the current supply chain crisis, improve outcomes, and reduce risk. Additionally, it will help manufacturers connect with local suppliers, customers, and partners.

Grants will be available for technical assistance to manufacturers in the state that lost sales, revenue, contracts, customers, or suppliers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those whose workforce or supply chain was disrupted. Assistance can range from helping a business identify new markets and supply chain solutions, to export activities, executive coaching, and adopting and implementing new technologies.

“We recognize that many of Maryland’s manufacturers have been hurt by COVID-19, and we are so pleased to have received this grant, which will enable us to give them the support and expert guidance they need,” said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. “With COVID-19 still having a significant impact on our global supply chain, we are hopeful this program will offer short-term and long-term solutions for our manufacturers.”

“We are excited for the opportunity to partner with the Maryland Department of Commerce to create and deliver new programs to support companies that have been impacted by COVID-19,” said Maryland MEP’s Executive Director Mike Kelleher. “Manufacturers across the state are struggling with supply chain challenges and we are confident that this funding will help make Maryland’s supply base more resilient and stronger in the future.”

In addition, the Port of Baltimore continues to be on the front lines of the response to the supply chain crisis, recently welcoming two new container services totaling 21 new ships on weekly schedules due to congestion at other ports. In addition to regularly scheduled ship calls, the Port has served dozens of “ad hoc” ships—vessels diverted to Baltimore that were not on a regularly scheduled service call. The Port’s high number of local distribution, fulfillment, and sorting centers—totaling millions of square feet of space—combined with its outstanding truck and rail networks, and its highly skilled longshore workforce are all contributing factors.

Eligibility and Application Guidelines:

To be eligible for this new program, manufacturers must be located in Maryland and qualify as a manufacturer as defined by NAICS codes 31-33 The business also needs to have at least 10 employees and $1 million in annual revenues, and demonstrate that one or more of their business operations have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. Once an application is received, a business assessment and review of a company’s business practices will be done to better understand the impacts on the business, which will enable the assessment team to identify potential growth strategies. Applications for the program are now being accepted at mdmep.org/md-scrp/.

Press Release Link: https://commerce.maryland.gov/media/governor-hogan-announces-new-maryland-supply-chain-resiliency-initiative

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) issues Request for Proposal for Marketing Campaign

The selected consultant will develop messaging that promotes Montgomery County as an ideal place to start or grow a business

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.

ACTIVITY

RFP Published

Deadline to submit questions

Answers to questions posted on website

Monitoring the MCEDC Careers webpage for all communications regarding the RFP submissions

Deadline to submit proposal

Selection of Successful Bidder

Contract Awarded

RESPONSIBILITY

Potential Bidders

Issuing Office

Potential Bidders

Issuing Office

Successful Bidder

DATE

December 1, 2021

Ongoing

As received

Ongoing

January 31, 2022

February 18, 2022

February 25, 2022

For full RFP details, please visit:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5873c778e6f2e14a3529e892/t/61a7e1e6e62dd403fd7b3094/1638392295126/RFP+for+Marketing+MoCo_120121.pdf

Rockville selected as Connected DMV’s Global Pandemic Prevention and Biodefense Center Headquarters

US Pharmacopeia provides premier office and conference space in Rockville for the Center to prevent the next pandemic, benefitting the region and nation

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

Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) Maryland program now accepting Implementation Grant Proposals

The Department of Labor is seeking applications to grow its nationally-recognized workforce development initiative

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/

HSR.health announces issuance of U.S. patent to identify population at-risk of opioid addiction

The patent covers the firm's novel approach of leveraging geospatial tech, advanced AI models, and broad sets of social determinants of health data to stratify patients at risk of opioid addiction

ROCKVILLE, Md., Nov. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — HSR.health, a leading provider of health-focused geospatial data analytics, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued U.S. Patent No. 11,177,040. The patent covers the firm’s novel approach of leveraging geospatial tech, advanced AI models, and broad sets of social determinants of health data to stratify patients at risk of opioid addiction, diversion, and having an overdose in the next 12 months. The data can be used to provide guidance on mitigating such risks.

“This first filed patent marks an important milestone for our GeoHealth Platform and is an acknowledgement of the uniqueness of our health-focused spatial data infrastructure,” says Ajay Gupta, CEO of HSR.health. “This patent solidifies our approach to identifying the at-risk population for early intervention and necessary care or counseling, so they do not fall victim to an overdose, addiction, or contribute to diversion.”

The patented approach is also extensible to other health conditions. For instance, the data can be used to identify those at high-risk of diabetic complications. A focus on the social factors that impact health outcomes, can also help identify medium-risk individuals who may be pre-diabetic. For such individuals, lifestyle changes can reduce their risks of contracting the disease entirely or reduce its severity.

“This patent is further evidence that our product strategy is gaining momentum,” says Ram Peruvemba, M.D. and CMO of HSR.health. “It establishes our proprietary concept of using a spatial data infrastructure as a central platform that serves multiple purposes and is core to everything we do, from helping health systems address readmissions to aiding countries in pandemic response.”

Additionally, the company’s platform provides:

A repository for merged and curated sets of geocoded health and social data.
A workbench, enabling analysis by machine learning, artificial intelligence, and statistical and epidemiological processes.
Open data-standards based communication channels to share data.
An interface with clinical systems (e.g., electronic health record systems), as well as emergency response management systems.
Guidance on health mitigation and preparedness efforts.

The company has filed six additional U.S. patents. All patents involve leveraging geospatial tech, the company’s proprietary geospatial platform, geocoded health and social data, and AI models as well as direct support for mitigation actions.

These patents include, but are not limited to:

Addressing the risk of adverse health events such as maternal and child health complications during gestation, labor, delivery, and postpartum.
Identifying the risk of spread of infectious disease.
Identifying those at risk of mortality and severe complications from disease.
Identify the medical supplies, devices, testing, etc., needed to respond to disease (e.g., such as an endemic or pandemic-level disease).
Identifying the risk of disease spread within a community or within an enclosed space.

Collectively, these patents and the company’s planned future patent filings provide IP protection for its novel approach to provide digital disease surveillance and intervention solutions for the world. The company recently received non-dilutive Phase 1 funding to pilot this Pandemic Early Warning and Response Platform.

Co-founders Gupta and Peruvemba are the named inventors of this patent, which has an official issue date of Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

About HSR.health

HSR.health is an emerging health tech firm based in Rockville, MD that delivers the only cloud-based analytics and visualization platform that merges data on social determinants of health with social media data, health outcomes, and costs to extract clinical insights. Their GeoHealth Platform is designed to offer point-of-care decision support, anticipate future healthcare delivery needs, and serve the diverse needs of health systems, health plans, regulators and insurers. Most recently, HSR.health pivoted and developed products to aid and improve global pandemic response. To learn more, visit HSR.health.

Link to Press Release: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hsrhealth-announces-issuance-of-us-patent-to-identify-population-at-risk-of-opioid-addiction-301433527.html

Header

Category: News