Daily Business Report-Aug. 25, 2020
Conceptual rendering, courtesy of Carrier Johnson + CULTURE, of STAY OPEN’s proposed shared accommodations hotel near San Diego Bay.
Port of San Diego advances plans
for future shared accomodations
hotel near San Diego Bay
The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has given staff the go ahead to begin environmental review for a proposed shared accommodations hotel featuring PODS and private/family rooms.
Officials said the action is a significant step forward for the Port in providing lower-cost overnight accommodations near San Diego Bay.
The developer, STAY OPEN, was selected by the board in May 2019 after a public, competitive process.
The STAY OPEN team is an international hospitality team that proposes to develop and operate a shared accommodations experience located on Pacific Highway between the Port’s Administration Building and Palm Street with:
- Shared rooms with eight to 12 POD beds per room (for a total of up to 226 PODS);
- Up to 17 private and family rooms with and without private bathrooms;
- Shared bathrooms;
- Lobby bar and café; and a
- Rooftop restaurant and bar.
The PODs will be designed for shared accommodation rooms, but each individual POD can be completely closed for privacy. Each POD will contain a large single bed, light, mirror, temperature control, charging station, free Wi-Fi and secure luggage storage. The private/family rooms will consist of a mix of twin and/or queen beds with some having private bathrooms. The hotel would also include a well-appointed shared bathroom space, comparable to a bathroom facility in a high-end fitness center.
Port staff is expected to return to the board in August 2021 for consideration of an environmental report and to submit a master plan amendment to the California Coastal Commission.
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First immune-evading cells created
to treat type 1 diabetes
Salk Institute scientists have made a major advance in the pursuit of a safe and effective treatment for type 1 diabetes, an illness that impacts an estimated 1.6 million Americans with a cost of $14.4 billion annually.
Using stem cell technology, Salk researchers generated the first human insulin-producing pancreatic cell clusters able to evade the immune system, as detailed in the journal Nature on Aug. 19, 2020. These “immune shielded” cell clusters controlled blood glucose without immunosuppressive drugs in mice, once transplanted in the body.
“Most type 1 diabetics are children and teenagers,” says Salk Professor Ronald Evans, senior author and holder of the March of Dimes Chair in Molecular and Developmental Biology. “This is a disease that is historically hard to manage with drugs. We hope that regenerative medicine in combination with immune shielding can make a real difference in the field by replacing damaged cells with lab-generated human islet-like cell clusters that produce normal amounts of insulin on demand.”
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San Diego State University launches 5-year strategic plan
San Diego State University has formally closed its strategic planning process and introduced its new strategic plan, “We Rise We Defy: Transcending Borders, Transforming Lives.”
SDSU President Adela de la Torre shared elements of the plan during the Aug. 19 virtual All-University Convocation, which drew nearly 800 viewers via the YouTube stream.
The strategic planning process officially launched in September 2019, generating input from thousands of community members and resulting in five strategic priorities: Students at our Core: Equity and Inclusion in Everything We Do; Resilience. Designed to Thrive; Becoming a Premier Public Research Institution: A New Kind of HSI; “We Are SDSU.”
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Diomics announces development
of Diocheck Antibody Indicator
Diomics, a San Diego-based biotech company, announced that it is currently developing the Diocheck Antibody Indicator, which provides a simple way for individuals to monitor for the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 over an extended period of time.
Based on Diomics’ proprietary usage of an FDA-approved material, Diomat bioresorbable polymer, Diocheck will be able to detect and report within 24 to 36 hours whether a person has developed a circulating level of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Currently in the pre-clinical testing phase, a positive response causes a visible change to the Diocheck skin patch, which resembles a nicotine patch and is expected to be effective for up to 14 days.
To learn more, visit diomics.com.
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Port of San Diego to bring
Louisiana Charlie’s to Seaport Village
As part of the Port of San Diego’s ongoing revitalization of Seaport Village, the Board of Port Commissioners has approved a lease for Louisiana Charlie’s, a southern style restaurant offering barbecue and Cajun-style food with a Mardi Gras-themed atmosphere.
Louisiana Charlie’s has built a successful brand and following since launching in 2014 with its location within the Shoreline Village along the Long Beach waterfront. Seaport Village will be the second Louisiana Charlie’s location.
Louisiana Charlie’s will provide indoor and outdoor dining in the center’s Carousel District. Construction is anticipated to begin as early as the end of 2020, with the opening anticipated for spring/summer of 2021.
“Louisiana Charlie’s is excited to bring its flavorful melting pot of food along with a little bit of flair to Seaport Village. San Diegans will now be able to experience authentic Creole and Cajun cuisines such as Jambalaya, Gumbo, and PoBoy Sandwiches. Our seafood consists of oysters, crab legs, jumbo shrimp, clams and much more. The aromas of our smoked low and slow BBQ will be a delightful addition for beach patrons,” said Eric and Shanda Laurent, Louisiana Charlie’s.
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USD awarded $1 million grant to recruit
and mentor local rising stars in STEM
The University of San Diego (USD) was awarded a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support a five-year project that will recruit and support students from underrepresented communities interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.
The project, known as AnchorSTEM: Engaging with Community for Undergraduate Student Success in Mathematics, Engineering and Science, will serve as a pilot and guide for USD and other schools by creating and assessing the effectiveness of infrastructure and how it affects the students’ persistence and success in STEM. Findings will be disseminated in appropriate journals and conferences and through an online presence.
With the help of pre-college serving community partners, AnchorSTEM will recruit and support two cohorts of eight students interested in STEM. Entering first-year scholars will receive up to four years of scholarship support, individualized mentoring, opportunities to engage in research, and/or paid internships, community-building, career-readiness training and financial support to attend conferences.
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Heart repair factor boosted
by RNA-targeting compound
A heart attack can leave parts of the heart permanently scarred and stiff, resulting in prolonged disability and potential progression toward heart failure. Scientists have studied various ways to repair or regenerate such damaged heart tissue, with limited success. A new study from Scripps Research Chemist Matthew Disney, shows that by targeting an essential biomolecule that surges in failing heart muscle, it may be possible to one day heal damaged heart tissue with medication.
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Extra unemployment benefits coming to California
CalMatters
Some unemployed Californians will receive an additional $300 weekly benefit following the federal government’s Saturday approval of the Golden State’s application to a program Trump launched in the absence of a Congressional plan — but it’s unclear when the money will be made available to claimants. Earlier this month, California’s unemployment department said it could take up to 20 weeks to process new federal benefits as it grapples with a backlog of 1 million claims. Around 375,000 Californians filed initial claims the week ending Aug. 15, pushing the state’s total to nearly 10 million since the onset of the pandemic, according to the California Center for Jobs and the Economy.
California will receive $4.5 billion from the federal government, with the potential to draw down more in the future. The agreement comes soon after Newsom said California would not be able to afford Trump’s plan for a $400 weekly benefit to which states would contribute $100.
More California news:
Postmaster sued:California on Friday sued Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over recent changes at the U.S. Postal Service, arguing they could hamper the November vote-by-mail election in what marks Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s 89th lawsuit against the Trump administration. The changes, which include limiting overtime for mail carriers and removing some sorting machines, have resulted in piles of backlogged packages — and gnats swarming around those containing rotted meat and dead baby chicks — at California postal facilities, the Los Angeles Times reports
Democrats Divided:As lawmakers head into the final week of the legislative session, expect a bitter fight between progressive and moderate Democrats over a key piece of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s agenda: guaranteeing more workers can return to their jobs after taking family leave to care for a new baby or sick family member. The pandemic has complicated the bill’s seemingly clear path to victory. Though Newsom and lawmakers reached an agreement months ago to increase job protections, business-friendly Democrats are now working to block or dilute the plan, while progressives argue workers need the ability to take care of their family more than ever.
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Lisa Glatch named president and chief
operations officer of Sempra LNG
Lisa Glatch has been promoted to president and chief operating officer for Sempra LNG, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, from her previous position of chief operating officer.
Glatch will continue to report to Justin Bird, chief executive officer of Sempra LNG. She also will continue to serve as the board chair for Cameron LNG and lead Sempra LNG’s sustainability initiatives.
With more than 30 years of experience, Glatch joined Sempra Energy in 2018 as strategic initiatives officer and then joined Sempra LNG as chief operating officer, applying best practices in completing Cameron LNG construction and progressing Sempra LNG’s proposed Energía Costa Azul LNG and Port Arthur LNG projects under development. Previously, Glatch held board and senior executive positions in business development, operations, and project management at CH2M, Jacobs and Fluor, global engineering, construction and technical services firms serving the energy market.
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Connect Biopharma completes
$115 million Series C financing
Connect Biopharma, a San Diego clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced the completion of a $115 million Series C financing led by new investor RA Capital Management. Additional new investors Lilly Asia Ventures, Boxer Capital, and HBM Healthcare Investments joined existing investor Qiming Venture Partners in the financing. The company also announced that, in conjunction with the financing, Derek DiRocco, principal at RA Capital Management, is joining the Connect Biopharma Board of Directors.
The company plans to use the proceeds of the Series C financing to support the ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial for CBP-201 in adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis and the ongoing Phase 2 trials of CBP-307 in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.
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San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
receives Environmental Achievement Award
Airports Council International-North America awarded San Diego County Regional Airport Authority with an Environmental Achievement Award in the area of outreach, education, and communication for the organization’s Airport Development Plan (ADP) outreach efforts.
The ADP envisions the replacement of Terminal 1 with a more modern facility and other improvements that enhance the airport experience for everyone. The Airport Authority’s ADP Draft Environmental Impact Report was originally released in July 2018 and then revised and recirculated in September 2019. For more than a year, the Airport Authority worked with regional stakeholders to refine the ADP. The Airport Authority Board certified the Final EIR on Jan. 9, 2020.
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S.D. Women’s Week Leadership Conference Goes Global
New virtual format with no boundaries features Daymond John, Linda Cureton, Ed Smart, Amy Trask
San Diego Women’s Week, celebrating 11 years of inspiring, empowering and connecting women is now virtual with leadership events for all ages and professions. Attendees enjoy virtual networking, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and more, all wrapped around creative solutions to everyday issues affecting leaders in the workplace and in their daily lives.
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 26 – Friday, Aug. 28, 2020
WHO: Keynotes for 2020 Leadership conference include:
- Daymond John from Shark Tank: Powershift, Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal, and Achieve Any Outcome.
- Linda Cureton, Former CIO – NASA: Managing and Leading in a Tough Environment.
- Ed Smart, Father of Elizabeth Smart: Two Miracles, and Standing up for Yourself.
- Amy Trask, Former NFL Team Executive – Los Angeles Raiders: Leadership Vulnerabilities.
WHERE: Wednesday – Virtual Women and Wine 6-7:30 p.m.
Friday – Virtual Leadership Conference 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Click here for complete list of speakers and additional details.