MichBio Expo To Highlight Biosciences In Grand Rapids Region
ANN ARBOR -- Grand Rapids' role as one of the Michigan's biosciences industry hubs will be highlighted Nov. 2-3 when MichBio holds its 7th Annual Expo and Conference to DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. MichBio is the statewide trade association for biosciences, and the Expo is the premier annual gathering of the state's biosciences leaders and stakeholders.
"We are delighted that the Van Andel Institute is our co-host for this year's event, which will spotlight the extraordinary depth of bioscience research and services available in this area of Michigan," said Stephen Rapundalo, PhD, MichBio president and CEO. "It will also provide an abundance of networking opportunities as well as topical sessions and comment by industry experts from pharma, medical device, emerging business and bio-based/ag-bio technologies."
Day One of the Expo features tours of local biosciences companies including Avalon Laboratories, Grand River Aseptic Manufacturing, Medbio, MSU Neurotrauma Research, Rose Technologies, Spectrum Health Innovations, Syzygy, Tetra Discovery Partners LLC and the Van Andel Institute.
The afternoon features two programs: the 5th Annual Emerging Biosciences Showcase and a track session devoted solely to the needs of Michigan's growing number of medical device manufacturers and manufacturing suppliers.
At the showcase, young bioscience companies will present their business plans before an audience of investors as well as a panel of judges, who will comment on their performances and award a package of services to the winning company. Presenting companies include:
DGI Clinical Inc. (Halifax, Nova Scotia) -- Provides innovative clinical trial measurement technologies and a unique approach to understanding the clinical meaningfulness of dementia biomarkers and treatments.
NextGen Metabolomics Inc. (Ann Arbor) -- has developed disruptive technology and products allowing faster more concise measurements of the effect of disease, toxins, drugs and food.
JPH Corp. LLC (Tryon, N.C.) -- has developed a gold glove designed to prevent joint destruction caused by rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune arthritis.
Aursos Inc. (Kalamazoo) -- leveraging the evolutionary advantages the black bear has developed to escape the effects of osteoporosis and other bone-related diseases.
Blaze Medical Devices (Bloomfield Hills) -- addressing the global issues dealing with the unknown quality of blood in storage for transfusion, and resulting complications/adverse events.
H&T Medical Solutions (Novi) -- helping psychiatrists/ behavioral health clinicians reduce the time for clinical documentation and increase productivity/quality assurance.
Entos Pharmaceuticals Inc. (London, Ontario) -- focused on identification and development of the Fusogenix Targeted Intracellular Delivery System.
ITOS Oncology (Detroit) -- molecular diagnostics that diagnose the activating oncogene signatures in human cancer specimens, and used to direct personalized cancer medicine.
MitoStem Inc. (Detroit) -- developing a technology that will make the generation of stem cells from adult cells, such as skin and blood, more practical, simple and affordable.
Breonics (Albany, N.Y.) -- focused on repairing ischemic damage to kidneys that causes 96 percent of the potential deceased donor pool from being considered today.
During the manufacturing session, expert panelists from Stryker, B Braun, Terumo Cardiovascular Systems, Interplex Medical, Skytron and Becker & Associates Consulting will provide information and insights on topics ranging from regulations and compliance to quality control and positioning for success as a contract manufacturer.
Topping off the day is the opening reception in the Exhibit Hall followed by an exclusive CEO dinner forum for MichBio member bio-companies.
Day Two of the Expo begins with a legislative policy breakfast and presentation of MichBio's "Legislator of the Year" award. The day also includes concurrent track sessions on pharma, medical devices, bio-based agricultural-bio technologies and emerging business topics, and the Innovations Poster Session, showcasing some of the most promising technologies being developed for commercialization at Michigan universities and research institutions.
"Innovator of the Year" and "Good to Great" awards, which recognize an individual and a company that have demonstrated excellence in Michigan's biosciences community during the past year, will also be presented.
Closing the Expo is this year's keynote address by Kim Popovits, president and CEO, Genomic Health, on "Transforming Healthcare Through the Translation of Genomics: Delivering personalized medicine to patients, physicians and payors through clinically actionable information."
"Kim is an industry thought leader on personalized medicine, and Genomic Health is a game-changing innovator in the field, with special emphasis on oncology," said Rapundalo said.
On Nov. 1, from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m., MichBio will sponsor its annual High School Career Day, this year hosted by the Van Andel Institute and Grand Valley State University. High School Career Day is planned in conjunction with the MichBio Expo each year.
"Career Day is a free event that gives science teachers an opportunity to introduce some of their best students to educational and career opportunities in the biosciences," Rapundalo said. "It's a fun day and lets students see first hand some of the amazing educational and career possibilities that await them after graduation."
Students will begin at the Van Andel Institute where they will hear an address on "Learning Science and Doing Science" and then take part in four break-out sessions featuring research scientists, an animal handler, a research administrator, and a core laboratory manager describing their role in "doing science" and the educational and career path that got them to where they are now.
Students will then transition to GVSU Cook-DeVos Health Science and be split into small groups to rotate through a complimentary lunch while listening to guest speakers and 15-minute, interactive activities that include:
* Demonstration stations featuring GVSU's state-of-the-art simulation model suites & labs
* Programs featuring GVSU's Kirkhof College of Nursing
* Events showcasing healthcare careers in the biosciences performed by GVSU's College of Health Professions faculty and students
For more information about the MichBio Expo, visit www.michbio.org/expo.
