Daily Business Report: Friday, June 17, 2022
San Diego ranks fifth in U.S. for life sciences research talent
A CBRE analysis says density of talent, influential universities and private/public
funding sustain metro among fierce competition for talent
A new analysis conducted by CBRE identifying the 25 top U.S. life sciences labor markets ranks San Diego fifth for life sciences research talent, among the flagship life sciences clusters. The metro’s density of talent, influential universities and institutions, and private and public funding play a part in its position as a key life sciences cluster.
Nationally, job growth in life sciences professions—from bioengineers and biochemists to microbiologists and data scientists—expanded by 79 percent since 2001 to roughly 500,000. In comparison, the overall U.S. job growth rate in that span was 8 percent. The surge in life sciences jobs played out similarly in San Diego, where the number of life sciences research jobs rose from 12,555 to 14,077, or 12.1 percent, between 2016 and 2021.
“Life Sciences real estate is really all about how to attract the right talent to push companies’ milestones forward,” said CBRE’s Ted Jacobs, vice chairman and regional life sciences leader. “San Diego is fortunate to have great research institutes and universities grooming the next generation of STEM grads for the industry.”
San Diego’s density of talent helped propel it to the No. 5 spot. The metro has the highest density of biochemists, biophysicists and other biological scientists than any other market in the country. Additionally, San Diego has the second-highest density of chemists in the country, behind only Raleigh-Durham.
Further reinforcing the metro’s place among flagship life sciences clusters, the percentage of San Diego’s labor force employed as life sciences researchers is the third highest, topping the San Francisco Bay Area and behind only Boston/Cambridge and Raleigh-Durham.
Top Photo: BioScience Properties’ 2019 renovation of TEN770 in Sorrento Mesa, shown here, was in response to San Diego’s growing stature as a life sciences hub. Macfarlane Architects and Carrier Johnson + Culture designed the renovation plans. BNB Builders was the general contractor. JLL handles leasing. Biotherapy company Maravai Life Sciences leased 60 percent of the building.
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State opens door to apartment buildings
over 30 feet in San Diego’s coastal zone
A few blocks west of Interstate 5, in between Garnet Avenue and Rose Creek, an affordable housing developer is proposing to build the unthinkable — a mid-rise residential tower stretching well above the 30-foot height limit that’s been enshrined in the city’s municipal code for 50 years.
San Diego Community Housing Corporation is planning a 60-unit, 60-foot-high residential building, called Rose Creek Apartments, on a 0.4-acre site at 2662 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach. The units will be deed-restricted for low- and very low-income households, with some set aside for transitional aged youth and homeless veterans.
Rady Children’s Institute partners with Inozyme
Pharma on NGS newborn screening
Genomeweb
Inozyme Pharma said on Thursday that it has partnered with the Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine (RCIGM) on whole-genome sequencing-based newborn screening for genetic diseases.
Through the BeginNGS consortium, the partners will use whole-genome sequencing-based newborn screening to identify infants affected by ENPP1 deficiency and ABCC6 deficiency. Inozyme is developing a novel therapy, INZ-701, currently in Phase I/II clinical trials, to treat the rare genetic diseases of ENPP1 and ABCC6 deficiencies, which can result in abnormal mineralization in blood vessels, soft tissues, and bones.
“With the proven clinical utility of diagnostic rapid WGS, we are using that experience to screen, diagnose, and help treat genetic conditions at or before onset of symptoms,” said Stephen Kingsmore, CEO of RCIGM.
San Diego and Tijuana business groups sign MOU
to enhance binational economic opportunities
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, Tijuana Economic Development Corporation, Smart Border Coalition, San Diego Economic Development Corporation, San Diego Tourism Authority, Tijuana Development Council AC, Tijuana Tourism and Conventions Bureau, and Business Coordinating Council of Tijuana signed a new memorandum of understanding in an effort to strengthen and advance the San Diego and Tijuana region.
“Having a strong and unified voice is critical when advocating for our binational region. Today, we join together to promote the binational business community, to boost economic development, and to attract foreign direct investment,”said Jerry Sanders, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO. “It is moments like these, and our commitment to binational collaboration, that makes the Cali-Baja region thrive.”
The MOU, signed in Tijuana, aims to promote the binational region as the main destination of foreign investment. In addition, all stakeholders involved pledged to support shared communication efforts and collective events, resolve investment restrictions, and advance public policies that boost the region’s global competitiveness.
David Cumpston joins (W)right On Communications
(W)right On Communications has hired long-time San Francisco PR counselor David Cumpston as director of its B2B and Tech practice.
Cumpston brings more than 20 years of public relations experience to his role with WOC.
Most recently, he represented Wholly Guacamole, Daiya plant-based foods, QDOBA Mexican Eats, Solaray health supplements and West Marine as AVP and division manager for one of the largest PR agencies in the country.
He spent most of his career in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he developed and managed award-winning communications programs.
Cumpston graduated cum laude from Texas State University with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications.
He’s a two-time winner of Bulldog Media’s “Best Response to Breaking News” award and he’s led multiple campaigns recognized by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), IABC Gold Quill, Forbes and others in categories like “Agency of the Year,” “Campaign of the Year,” “Product Launch of the Year” and more.
Community college district receives $975,000
grant to expand use of free online textbooks
A $975,000 federal grant has been awarded to the San Diego Community College District to expand a program that provides free online textbooks and resources to students, saving them the cost of buying expensive books for their classes.
The Community Funding Project grant came through the support of Rep. Scott Peters, who sought the funds.
The grant money will be used to develop more low-cost print options or zero-textbook-cost courses, which use digital materials that are free to students. Textbook prices, which have risen more than 800 percent since 1978, can be a prohibitive cost for many students, who on average spend about $1,200 a year for textbooks.
The grant will expand previous projects from faculty, staff, and the bookstore to create free and low-cost options for classes. In 2022-23 alone, SDCCD students were able to save over $3 million in educational costs.
The SDCCD has submitted three new requests for fiscal year 2023 funding to Peters, Rep. Juan Vargas and Rep. Sarah Jacobs. The requests range from $1.2 million to $1.5 million and all have been advanced to the House Appropriations Committee.
Lenire Biosciences completes license
agreement with University College London
Lenire Biosciences Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments for Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) and related disorders, announced that it has agreed to a license from UCL (University College London) for VSN16R, a small molecule positive modulator of large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels, as a novel therapy for FXS. The development of this technology was supported by UCL Business (UCLB), the commercialization company of UCL.
FXS is a rare, inherited condition that can cause issues including developmental delays, learning and behavioural difficulties, physical abnormalities, anxiety, attention or hyperactivity disorders and autism spectrum disorder. FXS has been detected in all populations and ethnic groups and recent estimates suggest a prevalence of approximately 1 in 4,000 males and 1 in 8,000 females have FXS.
Balboa Park Carousel extends hours for summer
The Balboa Park Carousel is extending its operating hours for the summer season starting June 15. Throughout the summer, the carousel will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. until school resumes on August 26, offering more opportunities to grasp the brass ring. The Balboa Park Carousel follows the San Diego Unified School District calendar and will remain open on weekends and school holidays once school resumes.
The carousel is located at 1889 Zoo Place, and tickets are available for purchase at the carousel ticket booth, $3 per ride or 4 rides for $10. The ticket booth accepts cash and debit, credit, and touchless payments.
The historic Balboa Park Carousel is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Balboa Park this year. On July 25, 2022, the carousel will mark the anniversary on National Carousel Day with free rides and commemorative activities for families.
Biosero Inc. obtains $3.8 million lease
for Kearny Mesa industrial warehouse
Biosero Inc., a San Diego company, has secured a $3.8 million lease for a 37,512-square-foot industrial warehouse in Kearny Mesa, which it will use for product development and distribution. The property is at 4770 Ruffner St. Todd Holley, senior vice president and partner of Voit Real Estate Services’ San Diego office, obtained the lease for Biosero Inc.
Jill Epstein named CEO of the Independent
Insurance Agents & Brokers of California
Jill Epstein of San Diego has been named the new chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California (IIABC), becoming the first female executive of the trade association. Epstein was selected for the CEO position following an extensive search to replace long-time CEO Clark Payan.
An attorney and experienced association executive, Epstein comes to IIABCal from the San Diego County Bar Association, where she served as the executive director and skillfully led a member-focused professional team through the pandemic.
Epstein spent nearly seven years as the executive director of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, an independent professional organization representing the interests of 32,000 licensed marriage and family therapists. She also served as the first chief operating officer of the California Massage Therapy Council, an organization created by the California Legislature to develop and implement statewide voluntary certification for massage therapists.
