IN FOCUS FEATURE
The BT Catalyst Interview with Anton Zuiker
FROM OUR WEB SITE
From Our Web Site
Biotechnology Center Funds Advanced Medical Technologies Program
The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has awarded a $100,000 grant to a consortium coordinated by NCBIO for Phase I planning for a Centers of Innovation in Advanced Medical Technologies.
New Biofuels Center of North Carolina Begins Work
The Biofuels Center of North Carolina, a non-profit organization created by the General Assembly to catalyze the state's biofuels industry, has hired a president and five key personnel.
HyperBranch Receives CE Mark for OcuSeal
Durham-based HyperBranch Medical Technology has received regulatory approval to market its OcuSeal liquid ocular bandage in Europe and other countries outside the United States.
Chelsea Therapeutics Begins Phase II Trial
Chelsea Therapeutics International of Charlotte began a Phase II trial of Droxidopa, a drug used to treat patients with intradialytic hypotension.
Frontier Capital Puts $10M in Inclinix Expansion Funding
Inclinix, a Wilmington-based enrollment contract research organization has closed $10 million in expansion funding from Frontier Capital, a Charlotte private equity firm providing growth equity to business services companies.
Tengion Continues Regenerated Human Bladder Clinical Trial
Tengion, a tissue-engineering company associated with the Wake Forest University Institute for Regenerative Medicine, will begin its third Phase II clinical trial of its Neo-Bladder Augment derived from a patient's own (autologous) cells.
N.C. Pavilion Sponsors Sought for BIO 2008
The N.C. Department of Commerce is accepting sponsorships for the pavilion-style exhibit at this year's BIO International Convention in San Diego, Calif.
FDA Webcast: Orphan Drugs, Humanitarian Use Devices
A top orphan drugs official from the federal Food and Drug Administration will discuss his office's recent regulatory developments in a 90-minute Webcast that can be viewed free Jan. 16, from 10:30 a.m. until noon at the Biotechnology Center.
In Focus
The BT Catalyst Interview with Anton Zuiker
Anton Zuiker is a journalist. Editor. A former Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Vanuatu in the South Pacific.
And since the summer of 2000, he blogs at mistersugar.com.
Zuiker, who is the manager of internal communications at Duke University Health System, is also one of the organizers for the upcoming Jan. 18-19 North Carolina Science Blogging Conference in Research Triangle Park. The second annual conference unites science bloggers from around the world to move away from their computers to explore online communication and personal expression.
In an e-mail interview with Boris Hartl, Zuiker discusses the feasibility of a blogger's code of ethics, the value of blogs to bioscience companies and how North Carolina is branding itself as a virtual center for science.
News from Other Sites
UNC-Greensboro Adding Medicinal Biochemistry Doctorate
"UNC-Greensboro will offer a new PhD program in medicinal biochemistry beginning in the fall of 2008, the school has announced."
From the Triad Business Journal
Drug Marketing can Help Physicians Make Medical Decisions
"When it comes to giving samples and writing prescriptions, doctors are swayed by science — not by cozy relationships between themselves and pharmaceutical marketing reps or by advertising aimed at patients, new research shows."
From the (Greensboro) News-Record
Startup's Device May Change Surgery
"A Durham company has raised $21 million in venture capital to chase every surgeon's dream: to cure without cutting. TransEnterix is a brain child of Synecor, a business incubator that spun out of Duke University seven years ago to turn medical device ideas into money makers.
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From the (Raleigh) News and Observer
Community Watch
- Dr. Neil Frazer has been named chief medical officer of Research Triangle Park-based biotechnology firm Chimerix. Before joining the firm, which develops orally available antiviral therapeutics, Frazer was chief medical officer and chief operating officer of Erimos Pharmaceuticals (previously Biocure Medical). More.
- PPD appointed Dr. Sebastian Pacios as senior vice president of clinical operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Dr. Pacios brings extensive clinical research experience in national and international settings. More.
- Dr. Dipti Amin has been named by Research Triangle Park-based Quintiles Transnational as senior vice president of Strategic Research and Safety Services and Medical and Regulatory Services. Most recently, Amin served as senior vice president, Global Medical Services, Regulatory Affairs and Medical Writing and Strategic Drug Development Unit. More.
- Dr. Kelly McKee, senior director of Medical and Scientific Services (Infectious Diseases) for Quintlies, has been promoted to executive director of operations for the company's Public Health and Government Services unit. More.
Please send Community Watch items to Jim Shamp.
Save the Date
Mar. 6
MedTech 2008
(Durham)
May 19-20
Biotech 2008
(Winston-Salem)
June 17-20
BIO 2008 Conference
(San Diego)
View our complete listing of events across North Carolina.
This newsletter was sent Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. For the latest North Carolina biotechnology industry headlines, please visit the news section of our Web site.
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