LifeScience: 'Aurora Bioscience district gets new boss with big experience'

Quoting from the July 3 Aurora Sentinel article by Brandon Johansson:

"Steve VanNurden is excited for the new expansion wing at the Bioscience Park Center, Thursday afternoon, June 28, at the Fitzsimons Life Science District. VanNurden took over as President and CEO in late May...

...That growth and the momentum he sees being built was what drew VanNurden from Mayo Clinic Ventures in Rochester, Minn. to the FRA.

VanNurden started at Mayo 22 years ago after a career with agriculture-industry giant Cargill.

A few years prior, Mayo had launched Mayo Clinic Ventures, which aimed to take the world-class research happening at Mayo, and turn it into bioscience and biotechnology companies.

Since then, he helped start about 50 individual companies.

That ability to take the ideas that sprout from medical research and turn them into profitable companies has local officials excited about VanNurden’s arrival at the FRA.

Mark Spiecker, CEO of Sharklet Technologies, one of the 39 companies at the FRA’s Bioscience Park Center, said VanNurden is the perfect fit for the organization.

Across the health-care industry, Mayo is seen as a model for technology development and funding, Spiecker said, and Mayo Clinic Ventures is well-known as a place where breakthrough technologies become startup companies.

'Having a guy that used to run that program is a great opportunity for us,' he said.

Holli Riebel, CEO of the Colorado Bioscience Association, said landing VanNurden was a sign that Colorado’s burgeoning bioscience industry is gaining credibility around the country. 'I think it’s a real coup for us to be able to attract Steve,' she said.

His background with starting bioscience companies will be ideal at the FRA, where officials have announced an enhanced focus on building relationships with the rest of the state’s bioscience industry, she said.

'That’s really what we’re trying to do,' she said."

Link to the full article

NCBR: 'Colorado medical device companies grow'

Quoting from the June 29th posting:

"The number of Colorado medical device companies grew by nearly 20 percent in Colorado in the last decade, according to a new bioscience report.

Furthermore, the state showed a 16.1 percent employment growth in the medical device sector from 2001 to 2010, the nonprofit Colorado BioScience Association said Friday. The association cited data from a recent report compiled by global research and development group Battelle and the Biotechnology Industry Organization."

Link to the Northern Colorado Business Report

CBSA Releases 2012 Edition of Bioscience Colorado Magazine - Colorado Centers of Excellence: Elevated Thinking

The 2012 issue of Bioscience Colorado highlights centers of excellence within the state, including Cancer, Infectious Disease, Respiratory, Cardiac and Biofuels. The research the writers and experts have compiled for this issue illustrates that there are several components—infrastructure, expertise, industry connections, and patient outcomes. Each article focuses on a center and examines the elements that make it truly excellent.

The new issue also includes:

* Complete listing of every bioscience company in the state

* Annual industry financing and investment overview

* Bioscience Discovery Evaluation Grant Program (BDEGP) update

This publication is an integral part of the Association’s mission to support the Colorado bioscience community through advocacy, resources and advancement of opportunities for collaboration. It reaches thousands of bioscience, economic development, legislative, university and industry leaders.

The new magazine rolls out the industry’s new branding campaign for Bioscience in Colorado: Elevated Thinking. We have some of the top research institutions in the country and over 600 bioscience companies led by the best in the industry—creating the vision and drive to succeed. That’s why so many great ideas that impact the globe start and grow here in Colorado.

Link to the magazine pdf

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media newswire

2012 Class of 'Boettcher Investigators' Announced

The Boettcher Foundation Board of Trustees has released the names of the three early-career scientists selected for the third class of Boettcher Investigators in the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program.

Timothy W. Schultz, President and Executive Director of the Boettcher Foundation, said "Through this program, the Boettcher Foundation has been able to bring resources to an area where funds are currently lacking and where federal and private research programs provide limited support. Early-career investigators quite frequently have a difficult time securing a first opportunity at an independent research effort that will move them out of the laboratory of their mentors and onto their own new and exciting areas of discovery."

The 2012 (third) Class of Boettcher Investigators in the Webb-Waring Biomedical Research Program includes:

* Harald Junge, Ph.D. , University of Colorado at Boulder, Retinal Vascular Development and Disease

* Matthew Kennedy, Ph.D., University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus, Molecular Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Pathology

* Chad G. Pearson, Ph.D., University of Colorado – Anschutz Medical Campus, Organization of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton for Cell Division and Signaling

With the addition of the 2012 Class, there are now fourteen Boettcher Investigators conducting research in the following Colorado institutions: University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, National Jewish Health and Colorado School of Mines.

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

Grow: 'FISH FERTILIZER - American Indian planting wisdom'

Quoting from the Denver Post Garden Center - 5/18/12:

"Feed your plants with an organic fertilizer inspired by generations who have lived off the land. The new Fish Rich Organic 2-2-2 Fertilizer is made from processing remains at one of the country's largest yellow perch farms — Bell Aquaculture in Indiana — and approved for organic crop production under the USDA National Organic Program. $8.95 for a quart or $25.95 for a gallon at bellaquaculture.com."

Link to the Product Spotlight

CBSA Applauds Dr. Larry Gold & Team for Organizing Gold Labs Symposium 2012

Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) applauds organizers of the third annual Gold Lab Symposium that will take place on the University of Colorado campus with over 400 attendees, on Friday and Saturday, May 18 - 19, 2012. The two-day event titled “Time: Tempus Fugit” brings 16 renown national and international scientists and healthcare experts together to discuss progress and issues in personalized medicine.

The announcement is made by Holli Riebel, CBSA President & CEO, who says, “We are honored to assist the Gold Lab Symposium—the speakers are incredible visionaries from an array of diverse fields. Every year I am personally inspired and amazed by the groundbreaking thought leaders Dr. Gold is able to bring together in one room.”

The Gold Lab Symposia were initiated in 2010 to bring together an intelligent community of scientists, industry leaders and policy experts to foster discussion about biological innovations and the improvement of health care. “Each year our Colorado bioscience community looks forward to the Symposium. We have some of the top research institutions in the country and 600 bioscience companies—creating the vision and drive to tackle these huge global issues,” explains Riebel.

This year the sessions will cover the expanding scientific basis of personalized medicine; explore drug targets and development, and consider the impact of education, aging, chronic conditions, and immunology on the evolution of healthcare. Presentations on healthcare economics and efficiency and reflections on the future also are included. Visit to review the 2012 itinerary: http://www.cobioscience.com/Events/Symposium_flyer2012_4-5.pdf

Link to the Business Wire release

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

Cat Care Society Hosts a Benefit Brew, Thursday Evening, May 10th, at Wystone’s World Teas in Belmar

Cat Care Society (CCS) will receive 25% of the proceeds from a Benefit Brew at Wystone's World Teas, 7323 W. Alaska Dr. in the Belmar Shopping District, on Thursday, May 10, 5 – 9 p.m. The announcement is made by CCS President Diane Stoner, who says: "Our Society's supporters will learn about and celebrate the health benefits of black, green, white, and oolong teas, plus enjoy Wystone's delicious entree items, while benefiting our shelter cats and programs. Plus, 2% of online sales for the next year will also benefit Cat Care Society." Link here so your online purchases from Wystone's World Teas can benefit Cat Care Society: http://wystonestea.com?afid=22

Wystone’s offers a full menu, such as pitzas, pulled pork and salmon sliders, soups, paninis, wraps, sandwiches and quiche for an evening meal (gluten-free items are available). Plus, there are the traditional scones with Devonshire cream and fresh fruit preserves, cucumber tea sandwiches and egg salad expected at a tea cafe. Don’t forget dessert – for instance, try the African Rooibos tea-infused carrot cake, cherry cheese cake, pudding cake or the gelato bar. To make reservations or view Wystone's World Teas' menus, visit: http://www.wystonestea.com/Cafe.aspx

Claudia Monette - one of Cat Care Society's 2012 Painted Cats will be at the Wystone World Teas Benefit Brew on May 10th. Claudia is part of the CCS Tails of the Painted Cats fundraiser currently going on through July 28th. Local artist Jane McFadden Dorsey has again created the project's official 'drawing kitty' this year, Claudia Monette. For a $10.00 donation per ticket, names are entered in a drawing to take her home the evening of the Gala Dinner Auction at Lakewood Country Club in July. To view all of the 2012 Painted Cats, visit: http://www.catcaresociety.org/paintedcatsgallery.html

Link to the PR Newswire

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

The Wystone's World Teas Story http://youtu.be/N8s3vwwDEA4

Cat Care Society's Public Service Announcement http://youtu.be/2mX8IFi6wMM