December2006 Issue
Delaware BioScience Observer
Current news and views related to Delaware’s Bioscience industry.
Contents
President’s Message
Industry Roundup
Member Spotlight
Issues Forum
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - Bob Dayton
Welcome to Delaware Bio’s newsletter, the Delaware BioScience Observer, the place
where you will find everything new related to activities of the Delaware BioScience
Association and its members—along with highlights of what’s in the news that affects the
growth of the bioscience industry.
I am excited about Delaware Bio’s progress and potential. As was noted at our second
board meeting on July 19th, and now in just over 6 months since formation, we already
comprise a dynamic and diverse membership of companies and organizations engaged
in and supportive of bioscience research and commercialization. Members include
pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies; analytical equipment
manufacturers, contract research organizations, universities, and medical institutions.
We also have supporting service providers like law firms, financial and accounting, and
communications companies. Delaware Bio has initial financial support from the State of
Delaware through the Delaware Economic Development Office.
As we move through our first year, the focus remains on creating value for our members
in order to build our organization and strengthen our collaborative voice as we strive to
advance the bioscience industry. To that end, I have made it a priority to evaluate
supplier offerings and, with support from member companies, select which programs will
have the most immediate value. We are also developing meaningful networking
opportunities, with the goal of supporting introductions and interactions that capture and
build the vitality of the bioscience community.
Group purchasing programs we are currently considering include programs offered by
the BIO Business Solutions team at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).
Additionally Delaware Bio is looking into working directly with some key providers.
DETAILS
I am thrilled to be in a position to serve the Association and to aid in the growth of our
industry and our research here in Delaware. Our broad collaborative efforts have the
power to transform and deliver better healthcare and cleaner air and water, as well as
reduce our environmental footprint using innovative technology being developed and
manufactured in our labs and facilities here in Delaware.
I want to extend special thanks to those individuals from our membership who serve on
ad hoc committees and volunteer their time to help enrich the value of Delaware Bio to
its members: AccelaPure, Dade Behring, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, Delaware
Technology Park, Inb:Biotechnologies, Incyte Corporation, Quest Pharmaceutical
Services and Strategic Diagnostics. Those envying these individuals will have many
opportunities to volunteer their services as we go forward. I'm sure someone famous
offered a remark or two on this topic in the past, if not let it be said here that, " a true
measure of Delaware Bio's success will be evidenced by the depth and breadth of its
participating volunteers."
This is the first edition of the Delaware BioScience Observer, and we're getting it to you
in its nascent form. Be sure to check in again soon, as we're getting more news and
information daily that will help us flesh out the newsletter's sections. In fact, we welcome
news from you...whether it's about an article related to the bioscience industry, a
research report you recommend our members become familiar with, or a
company/organization initiative, accomplishment, or grant you would like to announce.
We'll be pleased to include it in the Observer.
Be sure to visit here often. Delaware Bio will update the news regularly, and publish a
new Observer here monthly. I welcome your comments about both, and can be reached
at 302.452.1104 or bob.dayton@delawarebio.org
As 2006 moves into 2007, with your participation, I look forward to identifying and
implementing more ways to add value to membership and to ensure the continued
progress
INDUSTRY ROUND UP
Delaware Academia Supports Bioscience Advancement

The Delaware Technical & Community College (DTCC) submitted a grant
proposal requesting up to $900,000 over a three-year period for curriculum
development and science teacher training through an Advanced Technology
Education (ATE) Grant with the National Science Foundation. The Delaware
Biotechnology Institute and Delaware Bio supported this submission by reaching
out to several members for letters of support and to initiate dialog between DTCC
and industry.

The Applied Optics Center (AOC) at Delaware State University received a $5
million National Science Foundation grant to pursue graduate student research
and education of undergraduate students in the use of optics for, among other
things, the early detection of diseases like cancer. DETAILS

In October, the University of Delaware was recognized as one of the “best places
to work in academia,” in the latest survey of life-science researchers conducted
by The Scientist. DETAILS

Senators Joe Biden and Tom Carper along with Congressman Mike Castle
recently announced funding to our scientific community including several
Delaware Bio members. DETAILS

On November 3, with funding through the National Science Foundation EPSCoR
program, Delaware Biotechnology Institute is partnering with the Delaware
Department of Education to train forty-four middle school teachers on “Our
Genes Ourselves,” a new 7th grade science kit. The science kits are funded by
local industry, led by the DuPont Company.

Science Teacher Professional Development Weekend, held January 19-21,
2007, at the Virden Center in Lewes, will focus on “Biotechnology and the
Environment.” Bill Hall, Sea Grant Education Specialist, will lead this session for
middle-and high school science teachers interesting in learning more about
molecular biology and environmental science.

On January 23, 2007, the Delaware Biotechnology Institute hosts the
Annual State Meeting, an event that brings together a statewide
partnership working under the National Science Foundation Experimental
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR). The meeting
will focus on research, education, economic development, and ethics and
public policy initiatives.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Delaware BioScience Association member companies are securing federal grants
to continue research and commercialization.

MIDI secured a three-quarter million dollar multi-year SBIR phase II grant with
partner Johns Hopkins for development of rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing for
multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. See more about MIDI at DETAILS
Meaningful Connections

Through the Delaware BioScience Association, Strategic Diagnostics was
introduced to, attended, and presented its new technology at the World Congress
of Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing in Toronto, Canada, July 2006.

Over the last few months, several scientists and engineers were introduced to
bioscience companies, resulting in offers of employment.

Delaware Bio has supported and worked with the Delaware Economic
Development Office, Delaware Department of Labor, Delaware Technical &
Community College and our counterparts and others in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey to secure $1.5 million in federal funding for curriculum and training
development for advanced manufacturing in the bioscience industry. More
details on this funding will be announced in the near future.
ISSUES FORUM
This section is under development. Coming: information concerning the advocacy
initiatives related to public policy affecting the bioscience industry.