Monday, October 20, 2014

CBSA Honors Industry's Best + Features Olympian/Parkinson's Survivor Davis Phinney As Keynote

CBSA will host its Annual Awards Dinner on November 6 at the Denver Marriott City Center. The announcement is made by April Giles, CBSA President and CEO, who says, “We are thrilled to again celebrate the success of Colorado’s bioscience industry and recognize those standout companies and individuals who have contributed significantly to the growth of our community this year. Further, we are fortunate to welcome Olympic medalist and cycling great Davis Phinney as our keynote speaker for the event.”

Phinney, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2000 at the age of 40, founded the Davis Phinney Foundation in 2004; a national organization, based in Boulder, CO. Today, Phinney is both a role model in the cycling community and an inspiration to the estimated 1.5 million Americans and 10 million worldwide who are currently living with the disease. Tens of thousands of people living with this disease have been directly touched by one of the Davis Phinney Foundation programs or through Davis Phinney’s inspirational message: “it is possible to live well with Parkinson’s today.” For more information, visit: http://www.davisphinneyfoundation.org.

In 2009, it was announced that Phinney’s foundation had joined forces with Medtronic, Inc. (one of the sponsors of the CBSA Awards Dinner) to raise awareness among individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers about how to improve their lives today. Together, through educational programs focused on daily victories over Parkinson’s disease, they aim to increase understanding about the importance of exercise, living a healthy lifestyle and the consideration of various treatment options. Phinney has found relief from debilitating tremors and stiff limbs and joints after receiving Medtronic Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy. For more information about Phinney’s experience with DBS, visit: http://www.medtronicdbs.com/parkinsons/personal-stories/davis-phinney/index.htm.

The Awards Dinner, emceed by 850 KOA Morning News Anchor Steffan Tubbs, will begin with a cocktail reception followed by dinner and a dynamic program. CBSA will first recognize those companies and individuals who are making a significant difference in Colorado’s vibrant bioscience industry. The Boettcher Foundation will then present the 2014 Class of Boettcher Investigators in the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program. The event closes with Phinney’s keynote.

This year’s Bioscience Industry Awards include:

* Lifetime Achievement
* Company of the Year
* Rising Star
* Institute Leadership
* Business Partner of the Year
* Educator of the Year
* Volunteer of the Year
 * Chairman’s Award

Tickets for the Awards Dinner are available for purchase at the CBSA website. Individual tickets are $150. Tables (8 seats) are available for $1,250 for CBSA members and $1,500 for non-CBSA members. Please note: the Awards Dinner was a sellout event last year, so do not delay securing arrangements. Visit: http://www.cobioscience.com/events-calendar/awards-dinner-2014

Sponsorships for the Awards Dinner are also still available. Those interested in sponsorships should contact Tracey Nilson at tnilson@cobioscience.com no later than October 24. Sponsors, as of the date of this release, include: Boettcher Foundation; Cooley, LLP; Fisher Scientific, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, Medtronic and Terumo BCT.

Link to the Business Wire Release

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

Friday, October 10, 2014

DrBicuspid: 'Sapphire Technology gets funding for filling instruments'

Quoting from the October 8th posting:

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) announced it is awarding $200,000 to Denver-based Sapphire Technology for funding and management assistance in developing its proprietary dental instruments. 

Unlike current dental filling instruments, which typically use metal for their tips, Sapphire's SGS instrument line will employ highly polished and optically clear sapphire tips instead. The use of sapphire is intended to significantly reduce composite pullback as experienced with current metal instruments, which in turn is expected to provide a reduction of voids in the composite material and improve the bond between the filling material and the patient's natural tooth, according to the company."

Link to the DrBiscuspid.com

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Coverage Overview: CID4 Awards Funding and Management Assistance to Sapphire Technology








Link to MarketWatch








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Link to Metro Denver EDC News














Link to DBJ/BizJournals Press Releases






Link to Denver Post Press

Denver Post: 'Denver-based Sapphire Technology gets funding for gemstone-tipped dental instruments'

Quoting from yesterday's posting by Laura Keeney:

"Your dental visit may soon have a lot more bling.

Denver-based Sapphire Technology LLC on Tuesday was awarded $200,000 from the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development, or CID4, for continued development of its dental instruments made with sapphires.

Sapphire, which is a gemstone variety of corundum, ranks at the top of the Mohs scale of mineral hardness — the universal standard to measure the hardness of gemstones and minerals.

The gemstone has been in the news recently amid speculation that Apple might use highly scratch-resistant glass made of sapphires for its new iPhone screens.

But what does this have to do with dental work?"

Link to the Denver Post

Bioscience: 'CID4 awards $200K to Sapphire Technology to advance development of dental instruments'

Quoting from today's posting:

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) awarded $200,000 to Denver-based Sapphire Technology LLC to develop the company’s proprietary dental instruments.

Sapphire is a development-stage dental device company advancing proprietary sapphire-tipped instruments for use in dental procedures involving photo-cured, resin composite filling and restoration materials.

'We are extremely excited about our investment and involvement in Sapphire Technology,' said Kevin Smith, CID4 president and CEO."

Link to InnovatioNews

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

CID4 Awards Funding and Management Assistance to Sapphire Technology

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), is awarding $200,000 to Denver-based Sapphire Technology, LLC, for funding and management assistance in developing its proprietary dental instruments. The announcement is made by Kevin M. Smith, CID4 President and CEO, who says, “Sapphire Technology is a development-stage dental device company, advancing its proprietary sapphire-tipped instruments for use in dental procedures involving photo-cured resin composite filling and restoration materials.”

As part of CID4’s management support, Jonathan Thorne, a member of the CID4 Board for the past two years, will join Sapphire Technology’s Founder Alan Wong, DDS, and CEO H. Steven Rosen on the Company’s Board of Managers.

“We are extremely excited about our investment and involvement in Sapphire Technology,” Smith said. “Not only will Sapphire Technology’s proprietary devices address a recognized problem in the dental instrument market as the movement toward composite filling and restoration materials continues to grow, but Sapphire Technology’s use of Colorado-based contract manufacturers should contribute significantly to the advancement of the State’s life science industry.”

Unlike current dental filling instruments, which typically utilize metal for their tips, Sapphire Technology’s SGS® instrument line will employ highly polished and optically clear sapphire tips instead. The use of sapphire is intended to significantly reduce composite pullback as experienced with current metal instruments, which in turn is expected to provide a reduction of voids in the composite material and improve the bond between the filling material and the patient’s natural tooth. Voids and poor bonds in dental fillings can trap bacteria, provide opportunity for further tooth decay, and provide micro-leakage pathways for post-filling hot and cold sensitivity issues.

Link to the PR Newswire Release

Link to the PRWeb Newswire

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release