Daily Business Report: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Nanotechnology training program
creates career paths for veterans
By Xochitl Rojas-Rocha
The UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute’s (QI) Nano3 facility recently received $437,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a nanotechnology workforce training program for veterans. The program is part of a national consortium that teaches participants fundamental skills in microelectronics and nanomanufacturing to advance their careers.
Currently, Nano3—named for its integration of nanoscience, nanoengineering and nanomedicine—is training its first cohort. All trainees were recruited through a partnership with Southwestern College in Chula Vista, California.
“This is a matter of respecting veterans and offering them a chance at a better life,” said QI Program Manager for Education and Outreach Programs Yves Theriault. “We want to help veterans become more competitive in the marketplace.”
The veterans’ program complements other workforce training programs offered by Nano3 for San Diego undergraduates and local high school and middle school teachers. QI also offers a variety of other workforce training opportunities funded by the State of California.
Top photo: Trainees with the Nano3 veterans’ workforce training program suit up with their undergraduate teaching assistant, Margish Chodvadiya (right, in green). (Credit: UC San Diego)
Illumina to appeal FTC decision to divest GRAIL
Illumina Inc. said it will appeal the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) decision ordering the company to divest cancer detection test maker GRAIL. The FTC said the deal would stifle competition and innovation in the U.S. market for life-saving cancer tests.
The opinion reverses an Administrative Law Judge’s initial decision that dismissed the antitrust charges in a complaint brought by FTC staff.
Following the FTC Chief Administrative Law Judge’s decision in favor of Illumina in September 2022, Illumina believes that it has a strong case on appeal. Illumina said it will move as quickly as possible and seeks to arrive at a resolution in the U.S. Court of Appeals by late 2023 or early 2024, at approximately the same time as the decision in the European Court of Justice jurisdictional appeal.
Winning both appeals would maximize value for shareholders. It enables Illumina to expand the availability, affordability and profitability of the groundbreaking Galleri test in the $44-plus billion multi-cancer screening market.
If Illumina does not prevail in this appeal or the jurisdictional appeal, the company said it expects to move expeditiously to divest GRAIL in a manner that serves the best interests of Illumina’s shareholders.
Lecture Today
Carolyn Cocca explores new age of
women superheroes in comics
Byy Leslie L.J. Reilly
The portrayal of women superheroes in comics has changed dramatically over the last 70 years. Carolyn Cocca, professor of politics, economics, and law at the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, is a researcher focused on representations of women in comics and has written extensively about these changes.
An Eisner Award-winning author, Cocca is visiting San Diego State University for a lecture titled “Strong, Sexy, Singular, Stereotypes: The Power (and the Problems) of Superhero Stories.” In her talk, Cocca draws on her book, “Superwomen: Gender, Power, and Representation (2016, Bloomsbury Academic),” to explore how representations of female superheroes embody empowering and inspiring images of women, as well as inequalities of gender, sexuality, race, class, religion, national origin, age, and disability.
Using examples from comics, TV shows, and films, Cocca will illustrate the ways that portrayals of female superheroes have changed — and not changed throughout history.
The National Endowment for the Humanities and Center for Comics Studies sponsors the lecture, scheduled for 3-4:30 p.m. today 4 in Gold Auditorium at the Donald P. Shiley BioScience Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Guest Commentary
How community solar could revolutionize
clean energy access in California
By Alexis Sutterman, energy equity program manager at the California Environmental Justice Alliance, and Assemblyman Chris Ward, a San Diego Democrat, the assistant Majority Leader in the Assembly
Community solar is finally about to have its moment in the sun.
Signed into law last year, Assembly Bill 2316 requires the California Public Utilities Commission to assess new community renewable energy program proposals with a focus on serving low-income customers. This will make solar power an option for all residents, not just wealthier homeowners.
Community solar allows families to subscribe to a project through a community solar provider. Customers will receive a community solar credit on their utility bill, saving them money on their energy bills. The customer’s participation in the community solar program supports the development and operation of a community solar project that provides energy to the grid. Projects are generally connected to the distribution grid and are typically located on underutilized land.
While California has the most rooftop solar installations in the country, solar energy is still out of reach for many residents. This includes the 44 percent of Californians who rent their homes, homeowners whose roofs are unable to host solar panels, or those who don’t have the resources to finance a rooftop solar system.
For these families, community solar is an important path to reducing energy bills and participating in the clean energy economy.
Heart attack study could change
the game in regenerative medicine
Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers have identified a group of proteins that could be the secret to cellular reprogramming, an emerging approach in regenerative medicine in which scientists transform cells to repair damaged or injured body tissues. The researchers were able to reprogram damaged heart cells to repair heart injuries in mice following a heart attack. The findings, which appear in the journal Nature Communications, could one day transform the way we treat a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s and neuromuscular diseases.
Fresh Start Surgical Gifts expands to Costa Rica
SAN DIEGO — In Central America, many children do not have access to life-changing medical care. To further their mission to improve the lives of children forever through medical procedures provided at no expense, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, a San Diego-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of disadvantaged children with physical deformities, is announcing its expansion to Costa Rica – taking their work to a global level. To help bring this vision to life, hospital partners include Hospital Metropolitano, PediaClinic and Sanford Health.
Heron Therapeutics announces
new CEO and board chairman
SAN DIEGO — Heron Therapeutics Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company, announced the appointment of Craig Collard as chief executive officer. Collard succeeds Barry Quart, who has stepped down as CEO and chairman of the board. In addition, as part of the leadership change, the oard elected Adam Morgan as chairman. Collard brings more than three decades of experience leading innovative pharmaceutical companies through periods of strategic change to deliver growth and enhanced value for stockholders.
Sony Electronics introduces truly wireless earbuds
SAN DIEGO — Sony Electronics Inc. announced the addition of the WF-C700N truly wireless earbuds, WF-C700N, which are small and lightweight for all day comfort, perfect for those looking for their first pair of truly wireless noise canceling earbuds. In addition, Sony is also announcing the WH-1000XM5 in Midnight Blue, with all of the great noise canceling features of the critically acclaimed WH-1000XM5 in a stylish blue color.
Juno Diagnostics says its new prenatal
methodology published in journal
SAN DIEGO — Juno Diagnostics, a company focused on bringing vital health information to patients by improving access, affordability, and transparency, announced that results of its novel methodology for non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) tests were published by The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The company’s novel NIPS approach offers a convenient and affordable avenue to access prenatal care for providers and patients, including those located remotely or within medical deserts.
Bespoke Partners adds Ravi Gupta as
partner in the Go-to-Market practice
SAN DIEGO — Bespoke Partners, the largest retained executive search and leadership advisory service firm for software companies, announced that Ravi Gupta has joined the firm as a partner in its Go-to-Market (GTM) Practice. With more than 20 years of experience in talent management consulting and recruiting top-tier executives, Gupta will work with software and SaaS companies to recruit chief revenue fficers, chief marketing officers, chief customer success officers, chief sales officers and other leaders.
Bev Gregory joins Alliant Insurance Services
SAN DIEGO — Bev Gregory has joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Gregory will focus on designing, implementing, and managing employee benefits solutions for a national client base. Gregory has more than three decades of industry experience, with a focus on life science, technology, and nonprofit clients with domestic and international operations. She is dual licensed in employee benefits and property and casualty insurance.
Wakeland opens Casa Anita in Chula Vista
CHULA VISTA —Elected officials, County of San Diego leaders and other dignitaries recently welcomed residents to their new homes at the grand opening ceremony for Casa Anita, which Wakeland developed to address a growing need for affordable homes in theSouth Bay region. The 96-unit property is Wakeland’s third affordable housing community in the City of Chula Vista, and one of the most unique, according to President and CEO Rebecca Louie. Designed by Rodriguez Associates Architects + Planners and constructed by Sun Country Builders, Casa Anita has a contemporary design.
Operation Thin Mint Sendoff and Family Festival
On Friday, April 14, Girl Scouts San Diego will host the Operation Thin Mint Sendoff and Family Festival aboard the USS Midway to celebrate 22 years of Operation Thin Mint — a program launched in San Diego that shares Girl Scout Cookies with U.S. military personnel. Since 2002, Girl Scout troops and their generous cookie customers have sent more than 4 million packages of America’s favorite cookies and handwritten notes of support to thousands of military veterans and deployed troops stationed abroad. The event lasts from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sharp HealthCare acquires majority
interest in Grossmont Surgery Center
SAN DIEGO — On April 1, 2023, Sharp HealthCare, through its Sharp Freestanding Surgery, LLC subsidiary, acquired a 51 percent general partner interest in Grossmont Surgery Center, LP. Grossmont Surgery Center is one of San Diego’s busiest ambulatory surgery centers, specializing in gastroenterology and ophthalmology procedures, providing patients with a low-cost, accessible option for their outpatient surgery needs. Grossmont Surgery Center, which is accredited by The Joint Commission, is located at 8881 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, and has been operational since 1997.
Kearny Real Estate Company begins
construction on Otay Mesa industrial buildings
Kearny Real Estate Company has started grading the 26-acre final phase of the 311-acre Otay Crossings Commerce Park in Otay Mesa for the development of four industrial buildings ranging in size from 45,000 square feet to 205,500 square feet. Kearny is also the master developer of the 311-acre Otay Crossings Commerce Park, one of the largest contiguous master-planned industrial developments in San Diego County.
