Daily Business Report: Wednesday, April 3, 2024
UC San Diego receives $6.7 million
to develop whole-body inflammation imaging
By Miles Martin | UC San Diego
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have been awarded two new grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling $6.7 million, to develop and clinically test technologies that can noninvasively examine and quantify immune cells found in tumors. These immune cells, called macrophages, are involved in the body’s normal inflammatory responses, but they also make up a significant portion of solid tumors. The density of macrophages in a tumor can affect how it responds to treatment, so the ability to count them noninvasively could help doctors decide which therapies will be most effective.
The technology works by feeding macrophages tiny drops of a dye that can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The researchers will test the technology, called TAM-Sense, in patients with recurrent head and neck tumors. The new phase I clinical study will be the first time TAM-Sense is being tested in patients. The team will also adapt the technology to be used with positron emission tomography (PET) to enable whole-body imaging.
Top photo: TAM-Sense is a new technology that makes it possible to see inflammation on an MRI scan. By feeding immune cells droplets of a special dye, it can make those immune cells detectable by an MRI machine, shown here. (Photo Credit: Jarmoluk/Pixabay)
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Which fast food workers will get paid more in California?
By Jeanne Kuang | CalMatters
Say you work at a fast food restaurant or coffee shop that bears the name of a national chain. Under California law, you’re entitled to be paid at least $20 an hour starting April 1.
Say you work at one of those stores, inside a grocery store. The grocery store, your employer, is exempt under the law. You’ll keep getting your current wages.
But say you assemble burgers, scoop ice cream or prepare Frappuccinos at one of those stores, and it’s inside another store, but the bigger store isn’t a “grocery” because less than half of its revenues are made off groceries. What then?
According to the state of California, the store should be paying you at least $20 an hour, but only for the hours you work in the fast food portion of the store. If you spend part of your shift checking out customers or stocking the shelves in the rest of the store, you’re only entitled to the regular minimum wage of $16 for those hours.
That’s according to an 18-item FAQ the Department of Industrial Relations published in March as California businesses prepare for the fast food minimum wage to kick in on April 1.
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Topping out the Sharp Rees-Stealy Otay Ranch Medical Center
A topping out ceremony was held recently for the Sharp Rees-Stealy Otay Ranch Medical Center, a two-story medical office building.
The existing medical center first opened its doors to patients in 2001. The $86 million expansion will nearly double the facility’s size. The new construction will be attached to the current building and connected by interior lobbies. The lower level will feature a state-of-the-art urgent care center, advanced radiology services and new lab. The second level will house specialty departments, including oncology, dermatology, audiology, and physical therapy for adults and children. The project is being completed by HGW Architecture and DPR Construction.
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Cal State San Marcos building housing, dining complex
By Donald Bloodworth
California State University San Marcos has started construction of $126.3 million student housing and dining complex. Known as the University Village Student Success Housing, the new housing is meant to give low-income freshmen an option to live on campus.
“Cal State San Marcos envisions this project as a model for on-campus housing access and equity, aiming to increase access for underserved, low-income students and support their social mobility and success in their journey toward a higher education degree,” said Jason Schreiber, associate vice president and dean of students.
The project covers 2.5 acres in a former parking lot at the corner of Campus View Drive and Campus Way and will include a five-story residence hall of about 127,000 square feet adjacent to a two-story dining hall of about 10,000 square feet.
Designed by Gensler with McCarthy Building Companies as the general contractor, the residence hall will have 555 beds in three wings.
Of those, 390 will be classified as affordable for low-income students, 150 will be available to the general student population, and 15 will be for resident advisers.
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Lauren Stovern joins TW2 Marketing as a marketing coordinator
TW2 Marketing, a leading San Diego-based marketing and public relations firm, announced that Lauren Stovern has joined the firm as a marketing coordinator. In her role, Stovern will broaden client relations through news release development and distribution, social media management, marketing research, media and account coordination and more.
Stovern brings over a decade of experience to her role, showcasing her versatility and expertise in marketing. With a career spanning 12 years, she has successfully managed her own marketing agency, Northern Pines Marketing, and has held positions such as marketing strategist at Cuno365, marketing coordinator at Evolving Solutions & Keyva and digital communications specialist at Eastern Carver County Schools.
Stovern holds an associate degree from Lake Superior College.
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Sharp Memorial Hospital is first in county to receive
and use the da Vinci 5 robot from Intuitive Surgical
To enhance surgical robotic care and provide advanced surgical options to patients throughout San Diego, Sharp Memorial Hospital has become the first hospital in the county and one of the first in the world to receive and utilize the da Vinci 5 robot from Intuitive Surgical, a global technology leader in minimally invasive care and the pioneer of robotic-assisted surgery. The da Vinci 5 is the fifth-generation multiport robotic system, which has been decades in the making and boasts more than 150 enhancements since its last iteration.
Adcentrx Therapeutics to present at AACR annual meeting
Adcentrx Therapeutics, a biotechnology company revolutionizing Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) therapeutics for cancer and other life-threatening diseases, announced that preclinical data for ADRX-0706 will be presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting taking place place April 5-10, 2024, in San Diego. The three presentations will include preclinical data for Adcentrx’s lead ADC program, ADRX-0706.
Poseida Therapeutics announces inducement grant to Syed Rizvi, M.D.
Poseida Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage cell and gene therapy company advancing a new class of treatments for patients with cancer and rare diseases, announced that the Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors granted an inducement award to Syed Rizvi, M.D., the company’s new chief medical officer. This grant is made pursuant to the company’s 2022 Inducement Plan as an inducement material to Dr. Rizvi entering into employment with the company.
Staley Point Capital and Bain Capital acquire industrial properties in Vista
Staley Point Capital, an investor focused on industrial properties across the West Coast, and Bain Capital Real Estate, the real estate investing business of Bain Capital, announced the acquisitions of two industrial properties in Vista. The properties, 2325 Cousteau and210 Oak Ridge, were acquired for a purchase price of approximately $25 million and mark the joint venture’s entrance into the San Diego market.
DELFI Diagnostics to present at AACR annual meeting
DELFI Diagnostics Inc., a developer of accessible blood-based tests that deliver a new way to enhance cancer detection, announced multiple upcoming poster and oral presentations at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting taking place in San Diego April 5-10. DELFI Diagnostics is developing next-generation, blood-based tests that are accurate, accessible and deliver a new way to help detect cancer.
Acadia Pharmaceuticals to take part in Needham Virtual Healthcare Conferenced
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it will participate in a fireside chat at the 23rd Annual Needham Virtual Healthcare Conference on Monday, April 8, 2024 at 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference will be held virtually. A live webcast of Acadia’s fireside chat will be accessible on the company’s website, Acadia.com, under the investors section and an archived recording will be available on the website for approximately one month following the presentation.
UC San Diego receives $6.7 million grants by NIH
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have been awarded two new grants by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), totaling $6.7 million, to develop and clinically test technologies that can noninvasively examine and quantify immune cells found in tumors. These immune cells, called macrophages, are involved in the body’s normal inflammatory responses, but they also make up a significant portion of solid tumors. The density of macrophages in a tumor can affect how it responds to treatment.
SDCCU partners with LEGOLand California Resort
San Diego County Credit Union is partnering with LEGOLAND California Resort to offer free tickets and discounts for members to enjoy the Southern California theme park, through April 30, 2024 or while supplies last. Customers who open a new FREE Checking with eStatements account at any SDCCU branch location will receive a free LEGOLAND California Resort ticket.
U.S. construction spending slips from January to February
Total construction spending declined from January to February to an annual rate of nearly $2.1 trillion, but all categories posted year-over-year gains, according to an analysis of a new government report that the Associated General Contractors of America released. Association officials noted, however, that the monthly decline could have been caused by changes in winter weather patterns, including heavy rain and snow in the West, during February.
Party for the Planet on Earth Day at Birch Aquarium
In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography is holding a Party for the Planet, its second annual event that is family-friendly. The celebration of all things Earth runs Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. The observance highlights ocean planet Earth while pointing out some of the simple steps people can take to make a difference in supporting the planet and safeguarding its health.
Living Coast Discovery Center awarded
$50,000 grant by Fieldstone Leadership Network
The Living Coast Discovery Center, a nonprofit zoo/aquarium located on San Diego Bay in Chula Vista, has been awarded a $50,000 grant by Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego in partnership with the Clare Rose Foundation to help build its long-term leadership capacity. Executive Director Ben Vallejos is the recipient of FLNSD’s nonprofit sabbatical program, which began on April 1.
