Daily Business Report — March 12, 2010
Illumina Sequences DNA of Actress
Glenn Close
San Diego-based Illumina Inc. reported Thursday that it has sequenced the DNA of actress Glenn Close — the co-founder of a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about mental illness — believing that it may help in discovering the genetic aspects of mental illness. “There is bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in my family, illnesses that, like other medical conditions, are thought to have genetic underpinnings,” said Close. “As human sequencing becomes increasingly routine, my hope is that researchers will unravel the genetic aspects of mental illnesses to bring greater awareness about the diseases, de-stigmatize them and pave the way for more effective treatments.” Close is affiliated with the organization called BringChange2Mind, which provides support and information to the mentally ill and their families. She also appears in the FX Network’s television series “Damages.”
Illumina said Close is the first publicly named female to have her DNA sequenced to full coverage. The sequencing was completed in Illumina’s laboratory using its Genome Analyzer technology. “Ms. Close’s DNA was sequenced to an average depth greater than 30 fold, providing information on SNP variation and allowing for the analysis of other structural characteristics of the genome such as insertions, deletions and rearrangements,” the company announced. “Specifically, over 95 percent of the known genome was reported, including over 12 million genotype calls on previously documented SNPs. In addition, 379,000 SNPs previously not reported in any public database were found.”
“We are very excited to work with Glenn Close to produce the first named female sequence,” said Jay Flatley, president and CEO of Illumina. “We are entering a new era in genomic health where information from an individual’s genome will increasingly inform lifestyle decisions and ultimately assist with health management. Ms. Close has been active in health issues, and her participation helps bring attention to the potential benefits of individuals gaining access to their genetic information. With this information, physicians will be able to make better healthcare decisions for their patients in the future.”
In addition to the sequencing service, Illumina is establishing a protocol, infrastructure, and community to enable large-scale adoption of personal genome sequencing. The company said a physician’s network is being created, since physicians will be critical to the service, to discuss the process with the consumer, order the sequencing service, collect DNA samples and deliver final sequencing data to the consumer. More information on the personal sequencing service is available online at everygenome.com.
Law Firm Leases Space in Downtown Hi-Rise
Law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith has taken a 10-year lease on 29,940 square feet of office space at 701 B St. in Downtown San Diego. The suites are 1800 and 1900. Financial terms were not disclosed. The law firm said it will relocate its San Diego office to the new location in the second quarter. The 560,311-square-foot, 24-story Class A office building is owned and managed by an affiliate of Equity Office. The lessee was represented by Clayton Hovivian of Grubb & Ellis Co. and Andrew Ewald of Cassidy Turley | BRE Commercial. The lessor, TRIZEC 701 B Street LLC, was represented by Matthew T. Carlson and J.P. Huntington of Cushman & Wakefield.
Officials Tackle Downtown Homeless Problem
Family Health Centers of San Diego will bring together San Diego political, government and business leaders on March 19 for a public discussion on ways to reduce homelessness Downtown. The Spirit of the Bario presentation, “New Paradigmss for Reducing Homelessness in Downtown San Diego in 2010,” will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Logan Heights Family Health Center, 1809 National Ave., San Diego. Panelists will include Kevin Faulconer, president pro tem of the San Diego City Council, the moderator; Fred Maas, chair of the Centre City Development Corp.; Brian Maienschein, commissioner of United Way of San Diego County’s Plan to End Chronic Homelessness; Joel Roberts, CEO of PATH Partners; and Rob Lankford, past chair of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. Admission is $25. To reserve a seat online, visit fhcsd.org/donations.cfm or e-mail barbaraf@fhcsd.org.
CORRECTION
A headline over an item in the March 11 Daily Business Report erroneously reported that Dynamik Inc. won a $22.9 million Army contract. The contract actually was for $22,913.38, as was stated in the item. The contract was from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, White Sands Missile Range, N.M., for the rental of heavy equipment. San Diego Metropolitan regrets the error.
Lawyer Bruce Beach Named to National Trial Advocates Group
Bruce Beach, a partner in the San Diego law office of Best Best & Krieger, has been named a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to attorneys who have served as lead counsel in at least 20 cases tried to a jury verdict and who demonstrate integrity and professional achievement. Prospective members also must receive approval from 75 percent of their local chapter’s executive committee and general membership, as well as 75 percent approval from the national board. Specializing in eminent domain and property litigation, Beach has tried 40 jury trials throughout his 37-year career. He was a member of the California State Bar Committee on Condemnation from 1986 to 1988 and chairman of the Eminent Domain Section of the San Diego County Bar Association from 1991 to 1993. He received his undergraduate degree from Miami University, his law degree from California Western School of Law and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University.
Grant Thornton Moving to Larger Offices
The Grant Thornton accounting firm will move to larger quarters at 12220 El Camino Real, Suite 300, in Carmel Valley, a space that is more than 50 percent larger than its existing office space. The new office is less than a mile from the current office. “Expanding into a larger office will benefit our employees, who currently share limited office space,” said Don Williams, Grant Thornton’s partner-in-charge. “Also, the larger location will accommodate more professionals at all levels for serving our ever expanding client base in San Diego.” The new office has 9,200 square feet of space.
Forum on Election Reform Set for March 24
The San Diego League of Women Voters will hold a March 24 forum on election reform in association with Californians for Fair Elections, Common Cause, Empower San Diego and Neighborhoods for Clean Elections. The event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse Restaurant, 2150 Harbor Drive, on Harbor Island. Speakers will include Ric Bainter and Simon Mayeski of Common Cause and Trent Lange, chair of Californians for Fair Elections. Reservations for the luncheon must be received by March 18. League members are $28, nonmembers $30.
Federal Contract Awards
• Science Applications Technology Services Co. in San Diego was awarded a $50,841,636 federal contract by the U.S. Air Force’s Global Positioning Systems Wing, El Segundo, for a system engineering and integration contract.
• Barnhart Inc. in San Diego won a $120,762.36 federal contract modification from the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Camp Pendleton, for the repair of the Bachelor Enlisted Quarters under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
• Axsys Technologies Inc. of San Diego won a $32,235 federal contract from the Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Supply Center, Columbus, Ohio, for control motors.
Business Datebook
March 12
CAREER FAIR: More than 15 employers will be seeking workers in a variety of positions from 1 to 4 p.m. at the South Metro Career Center, 4389 Imperial Ave., San Diego. Positions available include administrative assistants, assistant engineers, certified nurse assistants, cooks, electronic technicians, graphic designers, machinists, research technicians, security guards and maintenance mechanics, among others. To register, call (619) 462-7878.
March 17
BREAKFAST MEETING: Influenza experts will discuss lessons learned from the swine flu pandemic at BIOCOM’s monthly breakfast meeting, 7 to 9 a.m., Hyatt Regency La Jolla, 3777 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego. Speakers: Brian Plew, head of public health, Life Technologies; Larry R. Smith, v.p., vaccine research, Vical Inc.; John D. Tamerius, senior v.p., clinical and regulatory affairs, Quidel Corp. For information, call Valerie Sanderson (858) 455-0300, Ext. 112.
MEETING: The March meeting of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) San Diego will feature Jo Dee Jacob presenting “Building and Nurturing a Winning Team.” 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sheraton La Jolla, 3299 Holiday Court, La Jolla. Jacob is CEO of The San Diego-Imperial Council of Girl Scouts. $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers. For more information, visit nawbo-sd.org.
LUNCHEON: “Retrofitting Buildings Green” is topic for presenters Sarah Friedman, Southern California sustainability director for Jones Lang LaSalle, and Dawn McFadyen, associate partner with Syska Hennessey Group, at Urban Land Institute luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 10300 Campus Point Drive, first floor conference room. Members $20, nonmembers $40. To register, call (800) 321-5011 or visit ulisd.org.
March 18
MEETING: Web content strategist Shelly Bowen, principal of Pybop LLC, will speak on “Virtual Story Telling: How to Grow Your Business with Social Media,” at the meeting of the San Diego Professional Editors Network (SD/PEN), 6:30 p.m., Joyce Beers Community Center, Uptown Shopping Center, Hillcrest. Free and open to nonmembers. For more information, call (619) 281-6951 or visit sdpen.com. $45 for BIOCOM members, $90 for nonmembers.
March 23
LUNCHEON: Asian Business Association holds its March Rice Club Luncheon with guest speaker Ron Roberts, member of the county Board of Supervisors. noon to 1:30 p.m., San Diego Hall of Champions, Balboa park. Cost is $25 for ABA members, $30 for nonmembers, $35 at the door. To reserve, visit abasd.org.
March 24
EMPLOYMENT LAW: Brown Law Group will present an update on 2010 employment law, including latest court decisions, legislative amendments and proposed bills employers must be aware of to properly manage their businesses. 7:45 to 9 a.m., University Club, 750 B St., Downtown San Diego. To reserve space, e-mail Valeina: jack@brownlawgroup.com. Or call (619) 330-1700.
The Daily Business Report is produced by REP Publishing Inc., publisher of San Diego Metropolitan Magazine, the North Park News, Kensington News and the West Coast Craftsman. (619) 906-4104.
