Daily Business Report-March 10, 2016
Scene from a Bio, Tech and Beyond video shown to the Carlsbad City Council. (Courtesy ciy of Carlsbad)
City of Carlsbad Reports
Biotech Incubator Success
The city of Carlsbad’s life sciences incubator — Bio, Tech and Beyond — has helped launch 20 startups since its formation in 2013, resulting in the creation of more than 40 full-time jobs, the city reported. The incubator helped launch six biotech startups in 2014 alone.
“We tripled the number of companies and people working at the lab,” said Christina Vincent, economic development manager for the city of Carlsbad. “This growth not only supports our region’s life sciences industry, but creates jobs and has produced millions in investment and local spending.”
The 21-bench laboratory is operated out of a city-owned building at 2351 Faraday Ave. The city leases the 6,000-square-foot building to Bio, Tech and Beyond.
Local scientists can lease a dedicated 10-foot bench for approximately $1,000 per month. This monthly fee includes access to resources such as liquid nitrogen, sophisticated lab equipment and other community scientists and biotech start-up entrepreneurs.
A presentation to the city council included a new video showcasing the life sciences incubator, which can be seen at the city’s YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/QHaqJC5QMrE), with relevant details at the economic development website www.CarlsbadLifeInAction.com. The site also contains information about the city’s life sciences industry — including 155 life sciences companies based in Carlsbad with over 6,500 biotech jobs and over 900 patents issued since 2008.
As the video describes, ownership for all work conducted at the incubator belongs to the citizen scientists. Neither Bio, Tech and Beyond nor the city retain equity. Some current startups have raised over $1 million in venture capital, securing federal funding and winning prestigious grants, financing and prizes.
Twelve companies have grown out of the incubator and established their own space. In October 2015, Thermo Fisher hosted a Startup Showcase where some of the current startups operating in the incubator described their work for the greater life sciences industry and members of the venture capital community.
One startup, GPB Scientific, announced having secured $3.2 million in funding for its cell separation technology that can be used to treat cancer patients. Another Bio, Tech and Beyond startup, Koliber Biosciences, described winning first place as “Best Startup” in the Blue Sky Bio Synthetic competition.
The incubator’s mission is to “make it easy to start a science company” and it does this by making the tools and resources available for modern life sciences research. Bio, Tech and Beyond Executive Director Joseph Jackson said the incubator is geared to serve anyone from an academic researcher, to a retired pharma scientist working on a cure for an obscure disease, to a high school student who also wants to change the world via this “citizen science biotech garage.”
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Researchers Develop New Way to Remove
Cataracts in Infants and Regrow Lenses
Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Shiley Eye Institute, with colleagues in China, have developed a new, regenerative medicine approach to remove congenital cataracts in infants, permitting remaining stem cells to regrow functional lenses.
The treatment, which has been tested in animals and in a small, human clinical trial, produced much fewer surgical complications than the current standard-of-care and resulted in regenerated lenses with superior visual function in all 12 of the pediatric cataract patients who received the new surgery.
The findings are published in the March 9 online issue of Nature.
Congenital cataracts — lens clouding that occurs at birth or shortly thereafter — is a significant cause of blindness in children. The clouded lens obstructs the passage of light to the retina and visual information to the brain, resulting in significant visual impairment. Current treatment is limited by the age of the patient and related complications. Most pediatric patients require corrective eyewear after cataract surgery.
Former U.S. Surgeon General to Deliver
Keynote Address at Lambda Archives Event
Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders will deliver the keynote speech at the March 19 Lambda Archives Gala Brunch, “Heroines, Pioneers & Trailblazers, ” to be held at noon at the San Diego Woman’s Club, 2557 Third Ave., San Diego.
Elders was the first Afro-American and only the second woman to hold the position of U. S. Surgeon General. She has been an outspoken advocate of educating about sexual health and the positive impact that science-based public policy can have on people’s lives and society in general. She has been a champion for comprehensive sexuality education, reproductive rights and sexual rights.
A chair in Sexual Health Education at the University of Minnesota has now been funded and inaugurated in her name.
Elders was nominated as surgeon general by President Clinton on July 1, 1993, confirmed by the Senate, and sworn in on Sept. 8. Elders served in the post until January 1995, following which she returned to the University of Arkansas Children’s Hospital until her retirement on June 30, 1998.
Trust Gifts $125,000 to UCSD
For Scholarship Honoring Sally Ride
The Alice C. Tyler Perpetual Trust has made a $125,000 gift to UCSD to establish the Alice C. Tyler Perpetual Trust Endowed Scholarship for the Advancement of Women in Science in honor of the late Dr. Sally Ride.
The scholarship will provide support for undergraduate students with financial need who are majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields, and who demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of women in science and a passion for protecting the planet through environmental or sustainability efforts.
“We are incredibly excited to create this scholarship in the name of Dr. Sally Ride,” said Anders Brown, chairman of the Tyler Perpetual Trust. “Alice Tyler and her husband, John C. Tyler, established the Trust and, along with Sally, shared a common passion to protect the environment.”
Ride became the first American woman in space when she took off aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983.
After retiring from NASA, Ride joined the faculty at UC San Diego in 1989 as professor of physics and director of the California Space Institute, an initiative under the University of California system. In 2001, she cofounded Sally Ride Science — now based at UC San Diego — with Tam O’Shaughnessy, her longtime life and business partner, and three friends to create programs and publications to engage students, parents and teachers in STEM, especially environmental science.
New Round of Tax Credits Announced
To Support State Film and TV Industry
The California Film Commission announced the allocation of tax credits for nine television projects that are expected to generate $313 million in spending in California and $121 million in wages for workers on the production crews. The new awards bring the total tax credits issued in the 2015-16 fiscal year to $230 million.
In 2014, as Assembly Speaker, Toni G. Atkins worked with other state leaders to expand the state’s Film and Television Production Tax Credit to bring productions and jobs back to California.
“The Film & Television Tax Credit Program is proving that California continues to be the epicenter of creativity and a great place to do business,” said Atkins.
The nine newly-approved TV projects are categorized as:
• Existing TV Series — 2 Projects: “American Horror Story” (Season 6) and “Westworld” (additional Season 1 episodes).
• New TV Series — 3 Projects: “Good Girls Revolt,” “Shooter” and “I’m Dying Up Here.”
• Pilots — 3 Projects: “Bunker Hill,” “Citizen” and “Four Stars.”
• Relocating TV Series — 1 Project: “Scream Queens.”
TSRI Study Could Lead to New
Approaches to Lou Gehrig’s Disease
A new study led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute suggests that cells construct protein “clumps” to protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
For the first time, researchers found that a specific enzyme can “tag” certain types of abnormal proteins to send them to join clumps, where they may be less toxic to the cell.
“We have uncovered a new molecular mechanism underlying neurodegeneration,” said Claudio Joazeiro, associate professor of cell and molecular biology at TSRI and senior author of the new study. “This could lead to new diagnostics or new therapeutic approaches, especially for ALS.”
The study, which was published recently in the journal eLife, provides a new perspective on the role of protein clumps, which have long been associated with some types of neurological diseases.
Epidemic Seen as UCLA Finds
Prediabetes in Half of California Adults
City News Service
Almost half of California adults have prediabetes –— a precursor of type 2 diabetes — or undiagnosed diabetes, according to a UCLA study released Thursday.
The study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that 33 percent of young adults aged 18 to 39 have prediabetes, a finding that researchers said was particularly of note since diabetes is generally more common among older adults.
“This is the clearest indication to date that the diabetes epidemic is out of control and getting worse,” said Dr. Harold Goldstein of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, which commissioned the study. “With limited availability of healthy food in low-income communities, a preponderance of soda and junk-food marketing and urban neighborhoods lacking safe places to play, we have created a world where diabetes is the natural consequence. “If there is any hope to keep health insurance costs from skyrocketing, health care providers from being overwhelmed and millions of Californians from suffering needlessly from amputations, blindness and kidney failure, the state of California must launch a major campaign to turn around the epidemic of type 2 diabetes.”
The study was based on an analysis of hemoglobin A1c and plasma glucose findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
SDX Announces Winners in
American Advertising Awards
SDX, (formerly the San Diego Ad Club), presented 122 ADDY trophies to 38 companies in 41 advertising, digital and graphic design categories, culled from 335 entries, at its 2016 San Diego American Advertising Awards Gala, held Friday, March 4, at the Kona Kai Resort & Spa on Shelter Island. About 200 people attended the awards event.
The Best of Show award in the professional category was presented to i.d.e.a. for a video called “Save The Inventor — Dream Small” for Innovation Alliance, the client. Kristen Sugihara and Marty Allen, students at San Diego Portfolio Studio, won Best of Show in the student category for their project for Senz Umbrellas. A special judges’ award was presented to Wedge & Lever for “View From A Blue Moon,” a book produced for Hurley, the client.
First-place Gold award winners included: i.d.e.a. (5 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze); Callaway Golf (1 Gold, 1 Bronze); emota (2 Gold, 3 Silver, 5 Bronze); Experiences for Mankind (1 Gold, 2 Silver,1 Bronze); Magnetic Creative (1 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze); Piston (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze); Saint West Filmworks (2 Gold, 2 Silver); Tower 33 (1 Gold); Traina Design (1 Gold, 1 Bronze); Wedge & Lever (2 Gold, 2 Silver).
c3 Announces New Clients
c3 Communications, a San Diego public relations agency, has been retained by Behind The Scenes Catering to promote its contract to do the catering for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the second Olympics that c3 has promoted BTS’ catering role at the Olympic Games, the first being the Sochi, Russia games in 2014.
For the Rio games, c3 will focus on BTS’sexpanded role at the 2016 Summer Games.
c3 Communications also announced that it also is the agency of record for Sauna Sensation, San Diego Police Foundation and San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation.
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San Diego Women’s Week Events
Monday, March 14: Opening Day
California Center for The Arts Escondido
2 -7:30 p.m.
• Breakout Sessions
• Mallika Chopra, Living with Intent
• Arielle Ford, Finding the Soul in Your Mate
• Deborah Scott, Chef and Entrepreneur, A Dog and a Suitcase
• Dr. Nick Yphantides, How the Health Are You
• Pat Reno, Tackling the Last Taboo, Talk About and Managing Our Money
• Liz Goodgold, Killer First Impressions
• Make-overs
• Swag Bags
• Vendor Village
• Finance Village
Tuesday, March 15: An Evening of Girlfriends and Health!
Sharp Rees-Stealy Scripps Ranch. 0670 Wexford St. San Diego
6-8 p.m.
Join us for “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Good Health.” This two-hour evening will feature Sharp Rees-Stealy physicians, clinicians and experts who will give short, informative and entertaining talks on all the health issues women discuss with their girlfriends; from skin care to eye care, nutrition tips to keep the family healthy and contraception and sex through the stages of a woman’s life.
Attendees will also enjoy free health screenings, demonstrations, refreshments and giveaways. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will end at 8 p.m.
• Health Screenings
• Consults with the Doctor
• Demonstrations and Giveaways
Wednesday, March 16, Women and Wine
Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo del Verano Norte, San Diego
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy this hugely popular evening with women from the region while sipping wine and pairing food samples. This beautiful venue will have you feeling like you have entered Tuscany while making connections that empower and inspire you.
• Wine Tasting and Food Pairings
• Fashion Show
• Unique Shopping
Friday March 18, Inspiration Conference
Harrah’s Rincon Casino and Resort,, 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Valley Center
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Speakers include Amy Cuddy, Elizabeth McCormick, Kim Coles, Frank Shankwitz, Naomi Tutu and others
Panels:
Empowering the Next Generation of Female Leaders
Breaking Barriers
Six powerfu keynote speakers, two panels will leave you feeling like you can conquer the world.
• Beautiful Swag Bags with upscale goodies
• Complimentary copy of Amy Cuddy’s new book “Presence”
• Complimentary copy of Kim Coles’ “Gratitude Journal”