Category: Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA. November 1, 2009 /BUSINESS WIRE/--Integral Molecular, Inc. has been selected to receive a five year, $9.1 million contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, to elucidate novel B cell epitopes on the surface of viral pathogens.

Contact
Jeanne Mell
University City Science Center
215-966-6029
PHILADELPHIA--(October 21, 2009) – A new regional Proof-of-Concept program is pumping $600,000 into technology commercialization in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Chapin spoke to the audience along with Ushio and Bell; they explained how pharmaceutical companies commercialize novel therapeutics, and the relationship of that process to the commercialization of nanotechnology. Pfizer supports many small companies by partnering, providing funding resources, and in some cases facilities. There are many issue with the development of novel therapeutics, concerns include safety, solubility, and dosage. Pfizer is able to provide support through SRA’s and venture investment to young partnered companies that are investigating technologies with relevance to Pfizer's product catalog. Also on the panel were Ushio from Harris & Harris, and Bell from Sunstone Biosciences. Ushio reinforced the notion that successful companies with support from VC's should have specific milestone goals that are reached in coordination with further funding support. Young company’s should plan for the market that they are entering, as well as the security of their IP, and how they are going to proceed with clinical trials. Ushio also said that the in addition to preparation for funding rounds, a company should be developing a platform in addition to a product; platforms have wider applications and are more adaptable to changing entrepreneurial environments. Sunstones’ development strategy has involved supporting researchers with SRA's to develop the company’s technology, Bell said that preparation for the licensing and implementation of IP is eased by clearly stating the company’s goals and intentions in the SRA.
Spike leads the Science and Technology Organization at IBM's Almaden Research Center, his presentation focused on the recent advances in his lab and the field of nanotechnology, as well as the direction that technology is moving in the near future. Since the development of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS) the size of transistors has halved every few years following Moore's Law, however the post-CMOS age is rapidly approaching as the end point of Moore's Law gets ever closer and the energy output required to control increasingly smaller transistors becomes energetically unsustainable. The advances supported are the development of bottom-up, self-assembled polymers and predictive computational material sciences. The biggest impact of these advances will be felt in the way energy is acquired and utilized with increased efficiency in the formulation of photovoltaics for solar panels and batteries. Other contributions of nanotech will be seen in semiconductors and water treatment processes.
The Nanotechnology Institute (NTI) held the From Discovery to Commercialization Conference for nanotechnology at the Chemical Heritage Institute in Philadelphia on October 15 and 16. The event illuminated recent successes in the local community and initiatives that are accelerating the process of transferring discoveries from the labs of local researchers to the shelves of global consumers. The advances are happening in the fields of materials, energy, and biomedicine, and when managed correctly it is possible to choose the appropriate direction for sustainable technology to commercialization and innovation.
Contact
Jeanne Mell
University City Science Center
215-966-6029
PHILADELPHIA--(October 8, 2009) – The University City Science Center announced today that its newest building at 3711 Market Street in Philadelphia has been awarded LEED® Silver Level certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute. LEED is the nation’s preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.
The Philadelphia Area New Media Association (PANMA) held an event at the University City Science Center on September 24, 2009 entitled: 'You've Started a Business: Now What?' The topic being pointers and tips for early stage companies to follow in the realm of time management and workflow optimization, as well as protecting intellectual property.
PHILADELPHIA--(September 22, 2009) – C.R. “Chuck” Pennoni, interim president of Drexel University, has joined the board of directors of the University City Science Center. Pennoni is one of Drexel's most successful alumni, a 2000 inductee into the National Academy of Engineering and an instrumental figure in Drexel governance.
PHILADELPHIA--(September 14, 2009) – Graduate organizations and current residents of the University City Science Center’s business incubators have created more than 15,000 jobs that remain in the Greater Philadelphia region today and contribute more than $9 billion to the regional economy annually, according to a study measuring the economic impact of the Science Center’s business incubation services that was released September 14, 2009.