2012 BioWest Conference & Expo Showcases 40+ New Technologies, Products and Services for the Region’s Robust Bioscience Industry

More than 40 exhibitors will be showcasing new technologies, products and services at the 2012 BioWest Conference and Expo -- the Rocky Mountain Region’s premier medical device and biotechnology conference -- organized by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), September 11, at the Marriott City Center, Denver. The announcement is made by CBSA Executive Vice President April Giles, who says: “The companies participating in the exhibit area are each playing an important role in helping advance the bioscience industry within the region. We’re very pleased to welcome them to our ninth BioWest event and look forward to yet another exciting and successful conference.”

BioWest brings together more than 500 industry leaders, government representatives, executives, researchers, investors and entrepreneurs from throughout the region. This year's national speakers for BioWest include Ginger Graham of Harvard Business School and past president of Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Mike Huckman former CNBC biopharma and medical device industry reporter-turned-PR pro.

BioWest provides the region's bioscience community opportunities to network, learn from one another and collaborate to grow the industry. Exhibitors confirmed to date include:

ARAMARK Cleanroom Services http://www.aramark-cleanroom.com  
Biomedical Systems http://www.biomedsys.com
BiOptix http://www.bioptixinc.com
BSI Group America, Inc. http://www.bsiamerica.com
CARE Research LLC http://www.careresearchllc.com
CascadeTek http://www.cascadetek.com
CBIZ MHM http://www.cbiz.com/cbizmhm-colorado
Charles River http://www.criver.com
CSU Ventures http://www.csuventures.org
Fisher Scientific http://www.fishersci.com
Fitzsimons Life Science District http://www.fitzscience.com
Flanders Investment and Trade – Belgium http://www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com
Grafik9 http://www.grafik9.com
ISEC Incorporated http://www.isecinc.com
ITW Texwipe http://www.texwipe.com
The Jackson Laboratory http://www.jax.org
Just Animate Studio http://www.justanimatestudio.com
LABS Inc. http://www.labs-inc.org
Liquidyne http://www.liquidyneusa.com
Merck and Co., Inc. http://www.merck.com
Montana BioScience Alliance http://www.montanabio.org
National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories http://www.njlabs.org
NextGen Pharma Technologies, Inc. http://www.nextgenpharma.com
PCM Trials http://www.pcmtrials.com
Phase Three Product Development http://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-three-product-development
Pozzetta Scientific http://www.pozzetta.com
Pre-Clinical Research Services http://www.preclinicalresearch.com
Reglera http://www.reglera.com
Ricerca Biosciences http://www.ricerca.com
Robin Bond Media http://www.robinbondmedia.com
Technical Safety Services, Inc. http://www.techsafety.com
Thermo Fisher http://www.thermofisher.com
Toxikon http://www.toxikon.com
Ubiquity Group http://www.ubiquitygroup.com
University of Colorado Tech Transfer Office http://www.cu.edu/techtransfer
World Courier, Inc. http://www.worldcourier.com

BioWest will also include the popular Venture Showcase competition, where five finalists come together and pitch their technologies and business plans in front of a live audience to a panel of bioscience experts and venture capitalists. The winner, announced at the end of the conference day, will receive a $7,500 cash prize. Finalists for the 2012 Venture Showcase competition are the following:

Flashback Technologies Inc. - Longmont, CO - http://www.flashbacktechnologies.com
KromaTiD - Fort Collins, CO - http://www.kromatid.com
Siva Therapeutics Inc. - Boulder, CO - http://www.sivatherapeutics.com
SuviCa Inc. - Boulder, CO - http://www.suvica.com
VetDC Inc. - Fort Collins, CO - http://www.vet-dc.com

Sponsors for the 2012 BioWest Conference and Expo include: Founders Session Sponsor, Colorado Science + Technology Park at Fitzsimons; Keynote Lunch Sponsor, Ernst and Young ; Venture Showcase Sponsors, Dorsey and Whitney LLP, EKS&H, Metro Denver EDC; Track Sponsors, NextGen, Clinipace, Lonza, Sheridan Ross PC, Emerson Consultants; Lanyard Sponsor, Cooley; Closing Reception Sponsor, Wells Fargo; Co-track Sponsors, Medical Center of the Rockies, National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories, DaVita Clinical Research; Conference Bag, CPC Clinical Research; Break Sponsor, BIO; and, General Conference Sponsors, Amgen, Fisher Scientific, Inviragen, Johnson & Johnson, PhRMA and TerumoBCT.

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

Univ of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute - Aquaculture and You: 'A Visit To Bell Aquaculture' Podcast

"Take an audio tour of Bell Aquaculture in Indiana, where the aquaculture of the future is being accomplished today. President Norman McCowan describes in detail the operations of this large-scale, vertically-integrated aquaculture farm and processing facility, where the long-term research of UW's Sea Grant has combined with private initiative to provide good jobs and a sustainable food resource for the Indiana economy." Posted 8/21/12

 

Link to the podcast

 

Link to the related article by Aaron Conklin

Denver Post: 'Four growing biotech firms move into Fitzsimons Accelerator Building'

Quoting from the August 23rd article by John Mossman:

"The Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority is celebrating the move of four startup companies from the Bioscience Park Center 'incubator' to its new wing known as the 'accelerator.'

The four biotech companies — Mitomics USA, Greffex Inc., Touch of Life Technologies and Light Labs — are among 39 firms that have been housed in Bioscience Park Center. They have run out of room and are graduating to the $8 million, three-story, 37,000-square-foot expansion, taking up most of that space. The new facility already is 78 percent leased.

'It's a nice problem to have when you haven't even opened your new building yet and you could potentially now be limited in space again,' said the authority's new president and chief executive, Steve VanNurden."

Link to denverpost.com

Aurora Sentinel: 'FRA celebrates grand opening of new wing'

Quoting from the August 22nd Aurora Sentinel:

"The FRA on Wednesday unveiled the new wing at their headquarters, a state-of-the-art addition that dramatically expanded the building at 12635 E. Montview Boulevard by about 50 percent. Steve VanNurdern, the FRA’s executive director, the new space is already about 80 percent full.

The FRA’s grand opening was scheduled for July 25, but they pushed it back to Aug. 22 because of the Aurora theater shootings. The first new tenant, Greffex Inc., moved into its new space this month. Next month, the other three new tenants — Mitomics, Touch of Life Technologies and LightLabs — are scheduled to move in.

The new wing will add about 40,000 square feet to the 60,000-square-foot home to the FRA and hub of the burgeoning Life Science District. The project is an important step for the district, officials say, because it will provide space for more advanced companies that are ready to take the next step beyond the facilities the building currently offers."

Link to the Aurora Sentinel

Colorado: Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Opens New Accelerator in its Life Science District

Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) officially opens its new $8 million, 37,000 square-foot Accelerator Building today, adjacent to its original Incubator Building at the Bioscience Park Center (BCP) in the Fitzsimons Life Science District.

The announcement is made by Steve VanNurden, FRA President and CEO, who says, "The addition of this Accelerator will offer companies growing in the Incubator an opportunity to expand and continue their expansion nearby."

The FRA's original Incubator Building opened in 2000 and now houses 35 companies in different stages of development. The expansion will enable companies to move into larger, long-term space. The new space includes:

* Built-to-suit spaces with access to incubator services and amenities

* World class resources at your finger tips - university research facilities and major medical centers

* Collaborative environment with complimentary business and networking opportunities

"The Bioscience Park Center is designed to foster a collaborative environment—by having established companies in close proximity to incubator startups—further promoting an essential atmosphere that makes the Fitzsimons Life Science District an important hub in the overall growth of Colorado’s bioscience industry," VanNurden explains. "Companies relocating to the Accelerator include: Mitomics, Touch of Life Technologies, LightLabs and Greffex."

Concurrent with the Accelerator's completion, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) has been retained by the FRA to market its new facility adjacent to the Business Incubator. Speaking on behalf of the national firm, JLL Broker Lindsay Gilbert says, "Colorado's Bioscience Industry is poised for growth, particularly at the research and patient-centric life sciences district at Fitzsimons. Our firm is thrilled to be partnering with Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority at this time of explosive growth for the district."

Link to the PR Web Newswire

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

Colorado BioScience Association Begins Formal Search Process For President/CEO

The Colorado BioScience Association has formed an ad hoc Search Committee that has begun the process of finding a new President and CEO. A job description and requirements have been posted on the CBSA website and other human resource outlets (http://www.cobioscience.com/job-post/president-ceo).

The solicitation will be open until September 15th and the committee will start the interview process soon afterwards. Those interested in this position are asked to submit their application as a PDF containing a cover letter, resume and three professional references to info@cobioscience.com.

Holli Riebel resigned from the position last month when she was named chief operating officer of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. April Giles, CBSA executive vice president, is overseeing the association’s day-to-day operations following Riebel’s departure. Steve Orndorff, chairman of the CBSA board and CEO of Ariel Pharmaceuticals, said that Riebel has been a strong asset for the CBSA. "She has accomplished a number of goals and led the organization to many successes," Orndorff said. "I can say unequivocally that CBSA is stronger than ever due to Holli’s effective leadership."

Link to the job description

Denver Post: 'Tails of the Painted Cats: A purr-fect way to raise money for the Cat Care Society'

Saturday, July 28 was the second Tails of the Painted Cats gala fundraiser, and it was a great success! Thank you to everyone who attended, who bid, and who helped bring the event to fruition!

Read Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson's article here (it was also in the Sunday, August 5th printed edition of the paper): http://blogs.denverpost.com/style/2012/08/05/cat-care-societys-purrfect/

Plus check out the Denver Post photos online: http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/08/05/tails-of-the-painted-cats-a-purr-fect-event-for-the-cat-care-society/

And visit the Tails of the Painted Cats Facebook Page to see pictures from the event: http://www.facebook.com/TailsofthePaintedCats

See who the lucky winners were for each cat here: http://www.catcaresociety.org/paintedcats_results_2012.html

And, last but not least there are videos to check out: http://denvercatcare.blogspot.com/2012/08/video-highlights-tails-of-painted-cats.html