Daily Business Report: April 1, 2024
Giving students a new window on genomic technologies
Illumina Genomic Discoveries helps high school students learn
about genomic sequencing with a Lab-in-a-Box
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides amazing insights into health care, agriculture, food safety, and many other disciplines, making it increasingly essential for students to have access to this technology to enhance their career options. To make that happen, the Illumina Genomic Discoveries program and Biocom California’s Generation STEAM are partnering to bring NGS education to San Diego–area high schools.
“We developed a ‘Lab-in-a-Box’ program to empower teachers and expose students to our technology and then partnered with Biocom California to roll it out and potentially scale it,” says Vanessa Light, senior manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Illumina. “We train teachers on an Illumina benchtop sequencer, and then they have the opportunity to bring the sequencer into their classrooms and put it in the hands of students.”
Lab-in-a-Box includes an iSeq 100 System and all the materials necessary to conduct powerful experiments, like those performed in biotech labs. The program also supports teacher development by sharing information about industry tools, trends, and careers.
Top Photo: Three of biotechnology teacher Elizabeth Perkoski’s high school students learn the first steps of library preparation. (Photo: Kristy Walker)
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Viasat wins contract from Northrop Grumman on
U.S. Air Force’s Commercial Space Internet experiments
Carlsbad-based Viasat, , a global leader in satellite communications, has been awarded a contract from Northrop Grumman to support the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) initiative, called the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) Call 003 program – better known by its nickname ‘Global Lightning.’
Northrop Grumman was awarded a four-year contract to test how defense contractors and commercial satcom providers could integrate space internet services into existing military systems. As part of its contract with Northrop Grumman, Viasat will provide its ViaSat-3 Satellite Communications Network to enable military users to easily access high-bandwidth satellite internet connectivity from existing USAF aircraft or ground vehicles.
Under the deal, Viasat will integrate its ViaSat-3 modem into Northrop Grumman’s open systems processors and antenna solutions to conduct experiments demonstrating its use on multiple platforms.
Photo: (Credit: Viasat)
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Lee Ann Eager appointed to California Transportation Commission
Lee Ann Eager of San Diego has been reappointed to the California Transportation Commission by Gov. Kavin Newsom. She has served on the commission since 2020. Eager was resident and chief executive officer of the Fresno County Economic Development Board from 2009 to 2023. She was an attorney at Lang, Richert & Patch from 2005 to 2009. Eager was director of the Rape Counseling Service of Fresno from 1988 to 2000. She is a member of the California Workforce Development Board, the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno State Transportation Institute and Fresno Works. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Eager is a Democrat.
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The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts
Center wins architecture award
By sdnews.com
At its annual conference, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) recognized The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla with the USITT 2024 Architecture Honor Award.
The Conrad, as the center is known, is owned and operated by La Jolla Music Society (LJMS). Opened in 2019, it was designed by architect Epstein Joslin + Picardy Architects, with theatre consultants Theatre Consultants Collaborative and acoustical consultant Nagata Acoustics.
The Conrad comprises The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, which seats 481; The JAI cabaret-style performance space, with table seating for 140; and The Wu Tsai QRT.yrd, where free events such as a community concert series and open houses are held.
The facility also houses the offices of La Jolla Music Society, offstage and backstage spaces, and a full catering kitchen. In addition to hosting more than 80 LJMS events each year, The Conrad is available for rental and saw more than 150 rental days in 2023, ranging from classical music and ballet performances to fundraising galas and high school proms.
San Diego firm JWDA was the Architect of Record and collaborated with Epstein Joslin on the design of The Conrad.
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Northrop Grumman to develop concept for lunar railroad
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – March 19, 2024 – Northrop Grumman Corporation NOC) has been selected by DARPA to further develop the concept of building a moon-based railroad network as part of the broader 10-year Lunar Architecture (LunaA-10) Capability Study. The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface – contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners.
Grove Capital announces expansion into commercial markets
In the fast-paced realm of financial services, adaptability is the name of the game for sustained success. Recognized as a beacon of reliability and trust in lending, San Diego-based Groves Capital is making headlines with its strategic pivot. With a keen eye on market trends and a commitment to innovation, the company is charting new territory to meet the evolving needs of clients. In that sense, Groves Capital announces major expansion into commercial markets, both domestically and internationally. Including New York, the Bahamas Cabo, Belize and the Middle East.
Shield AI conducts AI-piloted flights on sixth aircraft
Shield AI Inc., a defense technology company building the world’s best AI pilot, and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc., a defense technology company, announced the successful completion of the first phase of Shield’s AI-piloted flight-testing on-board Kratos platforms as the two companies move toward productizing Shield AI’s pilot for the XQ-58 Valkyrie. Shield AI’s Hivemind AI pilot has now successfully flown on and controlled the Kratos MQM-178 Firejet.
PassPort Technologies announces positive
results from treatment of acute migraine
San Diego-based PassPort Technologies Inc., a clinical-stage drug and medical device development company, announced positive interim results from the Phase 1 (Part A) clinical trial of Zolmitriptan PassPort utilizing its proprietary transdermal microporation system for the treatment of acute migraine. Zolmitriptan is an FDA-approved prescription medication used for treating migraine symptoms. It is a needle-free combination system consisting of a microporation device and zolmitriptan patch.
ConTemporay Locums ushes in a new era
ConTemporary Locums, a physician-focused medical staffing company, is ushering in a new era with a bold rebrand — Era Locums. “We’re thrilled to share this milestone – the transformation of ConTemporary Locums to Era Locums,” says Sigrid Boring, CEO at Era Locums. “This strategic shift reflects our unwavering dedication to progress and aligns perfectly with our vision of being the next-generation locums company.”
NASA awards San Diego Air & Space Museum
NASA is awarding approximately $3.7 million to 17 museums, science centers, and other informal education institutions as part of an initiative to ignite STEM excitement. This includes the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park. The money will go toward projects that inspire students and their learning support systems to take an active role in the wonder of science, technology, engineering, and math. The title of the San Diego project is “Imagine the future of Space.”
Heron Therapeutics to present at Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference
Heron Therapeutics Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company in San Diego, announced that Craig Collard, CEO of Heron, will participate in a fireside chat on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 8 a.m. at the 23rd Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference. The conference is being held in a virtual format, April 8-11, 2024. A live webcast of the fireside chat will be available on the company’s website at www.herontx.com in the Investor Resources section.
Athletic Brewing Company releases new documentary, ‘Inches to Miles’
Athletic Brewing Company, one of the nation’s largest non-alcoholic brewery, announced ther launch of its second documentary film, “Inches to Miles.” It will debut April 5 at Regal Cinema in Oceanside. The film follows three athletes as they prepare for and compete in the 2023 Athletic Brewing Ironman at Lake Placid. Faced with a variety of challenges, these athletes must find the courage to reach their goals through the power of community.
One With the Ocean announces new president
One With the Ocean (OWO) introduces Danielle Dattilio as its new president, taking the baton from founder Bryan Mineo. In 12 years, Mineo steered OWO from a humble band of three swimmers to a nationwide community with weekly workout sessions at multiple locations around the U.S. Since the beginning, the mission has remained the same: introducing people to the joys of ocean swimming, emphasizing friendship, water safety, and marine stewardship.
Five UBS financial advisors named
Top Women Wealth Advisors by Forbes
UBS Wealth Management USA announced that five financial advisors have been named to the Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors and Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-In-State lists for 2024. One of the women, Courtney Liddy, of Downtown San Diego, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Women Wealth Advisors nationwide by Forbes, ranking #21. The other four are Lori Hamano, Honolulu, Panfang Fu and Lynne Sebastian, Newport Beach, and Candice Gleeson, Downtown San Diego.
County announces transition plan for
Emergency Temporary Lodging Program
More than 800 households will be transitioning from the county’s Emergency Temporary Lodging program on or before May 11. The Emergency Temporary Lodging Program was created as a bridge to provide temporary lodging for those displaced by the January floods. The county and partners from the City of San Diego and National City have been calling more than 400 program participants who have not yet applied for FEMA assistance to encourage them to apply for the federal aid as soon as possible.
