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06.29.2007

Recent press clippings on the UMB BioPark

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06.14.2007

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Excerpts from recent articles on the UMB BioPark:

Industry, Universities Need to Collaborate to Grow Bioscience Base
Baltimore Business Journal - July 20
Collaboration between the private sector, public sector and academic research institutions in the Baltimore/Washington region has helped create a booming bioscience industry. Maryland has the fourth-largest concentration of biotech companies in the country and is growing steadily. With the development of their research parks, the two largest employers in Baltimore City, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and Johns Hopkins University, expect the location of life science companies in their facilities will add to the density of bioscience in the state

Economic Alliance Assesses Maryland’s Business Strengths
The Baltimore June 29
After years of failing to attract a big pharmaceutical presence to the state, a new report by the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore says it’s time for Maryland economic developers to shift gears in biotechnology. James Hughes, MBA, vice president of research and development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is overseeing development of the University’s BioPark, a 10-acre, 10-building business venture under construction on the city’s west side. He said he has used the regional collaboration portions of the report, taken from a draft he saw earlier, to market the area to businesspeople in Japan. “Companies already think of it as a great big region, and they’re working with sources of funding and partners all up and down the East Coast. What really has lagged behind is more the economic development focus,” Hughes said. For the full story click here.

UMB Seeks Construction Bids for Third Bio-research Building
Baltimore Business Journal - June 18
The University of Maryland, Baltimore put out requests for proposals Monday for the construction of its third building in a growing biotechnology research park adjacent to its campus.

The biopark's first building and nearby parking garage opened in October 2005. Tenants in the first building include biotech and life science companies like Alba Therapeutics, a UMB spinoff company, and FASgen, which was developed out of research from Johns Hopkins University.

The biopark's second building, at 801 W. Baltimore St., is slated to open this summer. The first two buildings were built and are managed by Wexford Science + Technology, a Baltimore-based real estate and development company.

Once complete, the biopark at UMB could have up to 10 buildings with 1.2 million square feet of lab and office space.

In addition to the UMB Biopark, a new biotechnology and life sciences office park is also under way in East Baltimore. Located near Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Life Science and Technology Park, could open its first building by May 2008. Once complete, it could include five buildings with 1.1 million square feet of lab and office space.

Stem Cell Grants Could Spur Growth in State's Bio Industry

Baltimore Business Journal- June 4
A $15 million state investment in academic stem cell research could spur the next generation of startup companies and spin-offs bringing products and treatments to market. Academic researchers at Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland, Biotechnology Institute-Medical Biotechnology Center and University of Maryland, College Park dominated the first batch of grants awarded May 18 by the Maryland Stem Cell Commission. For full article click here.

City’s Emerging Bioparks Lining Up Tenants
Baltimore Business Journal – April 27
More than a handful of life science and biotechnology companies seeking space near Johns Hopkins Hospital and University of Maryland, Baltimore are taking a greater interest in the city’s two newest biotechnology parks. The School of Public Health will move into the building along with the newly created Institute of Genome Sciences. At least six tenants are in lease negotiations with the UMB BioPark. For the full story click here.

Alba Therapeutics taps Church as CFO
Baltimore Business Journal-April 16
A senior executive with several major biotechnology companies in Maryland has been added to the management team at Alba Therapeutics Corp. The Baltimore biopharmaceutical company said Monday Jeffrey Church was hired as its chief financial officer. We are in the midst of an exciting growth phase, and Jeff's extensive financial, operational, and management experience will be a valuable addition to our team," said Dr. Blake Paterson, chief executive officer for Alba, in a statement. Church brings top-level experience and fiscal management skills to Alba from his former posts. He most recently served as vice president, CFO, treasurer, and corporate secretary at Novavax, Inc. Before that, he was CFO, treasurer and corporate secretary at GenVec Inc., helping take that company public in December 2000. He will start his new position with Alba on April 23. Alba was founded in 2004. The company's primary research centers on developing a treatment for Celiac disease, a digestive disease that damages the small intestine. People suffering the disease often eat a gluten-free diet. In October 2005, the FDA granted Alba a "fast-track" designation for research and development of a treatment for the disease. In March, the company completed its Phase II study of a treatment.

FASgen Gets Research Grant
Baltimore Business Journal – April 10
FASgen, Inc., a biotech company started by four Johns Hopkins researchers and located in the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s UMB BioPark, has received a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Cancer Institute. The grant will be used to refine a cancer-diagnostic test that could help identify patients who may respond to a treatment the biotech plans to begin clinically testing in humans later this year. Mouse studies have showed the drug could affect five cancer types, often by reducing or eradicating tumors.

Pioneering Scientist to Head New Facility at School of Medicine
Baltimore Sun – April 6
Baltimore Business Journal – April 6
Baltimore Examiner – April 6
Associated Press – April 6
Daily Record – April 6
One of the world’s leading experts on the DNA of microorganisms that harm humans will head the new School of Medicine’s Institute of Genome Sciences, an addition that promises to thrust the University to the front ranks of the movement to apply genetics to medicine. Claire Fraser-Liggett, PhD, is a pioneering geneticist known for mapping the genomes of deadly microbes such as anthrax and cholera. “I’m just extremely excited about this possibility. I have been looking for ways to expand the work I have done in comparative genomics and start doing more functional work,” Fraser-Liggett said. “We are fortunate to have recruited a world-class researcher. We believe we will, in short time, have the leading center in the nation, if not in the world,” said E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, dean of the School. The focus of the Institute will be bringing discoveries in the basic science of genomics into the clinic, particularly in the area of infectious disease. Clinical work is an area in which the School is particularly strong, said. Bruce Jarrell, MD, vice dean for research and academic affairs. “It’s a very significant event in the history of the School,” said James Kaper, PhD, professor at the School. “It gives us a tremendous amount of expertise in this field.” Fraser-Ligget’s husband, Stephen Liggett, MD, is professor at the School and studies the molecular biology of the heart. The couple are collaborating on research into human cold viruses.

Ex-Martek Exec to Lead Pharmacology Work at Alba Therapeutics
Baltimore Business Journal - March 5
Alba Therapeutics Corp. tapped a former executive at Columbia's Martek Biosciences to head its live tissue pharmacology and toxicology efforts.

Linda M. Arterburn will be the Baltimore biotech's senior director of in vivo (live tissue) pharmacology and toxicology. She previously led clinical research and scientific affairs at Martek, where she helped secure regulatory approvals that allowed the company's products to be used in infant formula.

Alba, a privately held company, is working to create treatments for celiac disease, an intestinal disorder, and other autoimmune diseases.
Arterburn, earned a doctoral degree in pharmacology and molecular sciences from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin.

University of Maryland, Baltimore, Reshapes City’s Economic Status, Intellectual Landscape
The (Baltimore) Examiner – Jan. 23
For every $1 in state funding received, the University of Maryland, Baltimore returns $16.54 in financial activity to the economy of the Baltimore region. “Over the past 10 years, we’ve had significant growth,” said Jim Hill, MPA, UMB’s vice president for administration and finance. Jane Shaab, vice president of economic development at UMB, said Baltimore’s rich history in medical research leads demand from emerging life science businesses. “The raw material that gets biotech going is research,” Shaab said. “We’ve got the raw material and will continue to have it.” For the full story click here.

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