BioScience Under the Big Sky
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Welcome to our Summer Newsletter!
The Montana BioScience Alliance wishes you
a happy summer and lots of sunshine
Please Welcome Our Newest Member:
Genentech
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Congratulations
to Montana BioScience Alliance Board Member
Paul Cook for being named to the Board of
Trustees of the Montana Healthcare Foundation.
for more
information: http://montanahealthcarefoundation.org/
Montana BioScience Alliance's
2014 Directory,
Click Here!
MEMBER NEWS
A small dose of medical meth might go a long way in limiting post-TBI brain damage
May 12, 2014 5:50 am by Deanna Pogorelc
A mistake made by a PhD student in a University of Montana lab nearly a decade ago is now on the brink of
mid-stage clinical trials as a potential treatment for traumatic brain injury.
And, most surprising of all, the treatment consists of a small dose of methamphetamine.
It all started when a research assistant in David Poulsen's neuroscience research lab was doing an experiment
that involved using high doses of methamphetamine to create brain damage in small animal models. But
somewhere along the line, he misread one of the concentrations of meth that he was preparing and accidentally
gave a dramatically diluted dose to one group of rats.
When the team later processed the brain specimens, they found that one group of rats was mysteriously
neuroprotected. It was the group that had mistakenly received a small dose.
Poulsen's team took that discovery and ran with it, spending the next several years applying for grants and
studying how it was possible that a drug so dangerous to the brain in high doses could be so beneficial in low
doses.
Actually, medical meth has been in use for quite some time. It was used in the 1930s to treat asthma and
narcolepsy, and during World War II to keep pilots awake. Today, a low dose is used in the ADHD drug
Desonyx.
Read more
RML Scientist Recognized for Virus Studies
Hideki Ebihara, Ph.D. Credit:NIAID
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the American Committee on Arthropod-Borne
Viruses has presented its Dalrymple/Young Award to Hideki Ebihara, Ph.D., an investigator who studies
emerging viruses at Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Mont. The award, given every three
years to scientists in the middle of their careers, recognizes outstanding contributions to the study of viruses.
Dr. Ebihara is chief of the Molecular Virology and Host-Pathogen Interaction Unit in RML's Laboratory of
Virology. He began his studies at RML in 2009; his group focuses on the molecular virology, evolution and
biology of tick-borne as well as other zoonotic viruses such as filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg), and rodentborne hantaviruses. He previously worked at research laboratories in Tokyo, Winnipeg, and Madison, Wisc.
Along with overseeing research projects at RML, Dr. Ebihara provides expert advice on research proposals
submitted for funding in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the United States.
Read more
Dr. Diane Duin, Dean of the College of Allied Health Professions at Montana State University Billings
provided the Welcome on Thursday, June 5, 2014 for the Montana State University Billings Issksiniip Health
Professions Conference. The Issksiniip Project at MSUB is in partnership with the Blackfeet Community
College and funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services under the Health Professions
Opportunity Grant. The goals of the project are two-fold, with the primary goal to educate, train, and provide
employment and the second goal to reduce the workforce shortage in the area, thus, improving the ability of
the Blackfeet reservation to meet the healthcare needs of its people. The Issksiniip Project provides
participants with support services to ensure a successful completion of the academic programs.
State gives $900,000 for aging, memory research
April 22, 2014 9:56 am * Associated Press
HELENA - Gov. Steve Bullock's office says more than $900,000 in state funds will go to help create the
Montana Center for Aging Research and Memory Care.
The center will research and treat memory disorders and neurogenerative diseases from Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's diseases.
The governor's office said Monday the center is an alliance between the McLaughlin Research Institute for
Biomedical Sciences and Benefis Health System in Great Falls.
The $904,500 will come from the state Department of Commerce's Bio-Medical Research Grant Program. The
money will go to implement new technology, buy updated lab equipment and supplies, pay for seven scientists
and researchers and support an animal resource center.
The Legislature last year appropriated $1 million for the Montana Department of Commerce to grant funds for
bio-medical research in Montana.
Read more
Top Employers Survey 2013: Top Firms Directed by Data, Led by Scientists
By Kendall Powell
October 25, 2013
Developing pharmaceuticals requires huge investments of time, human resources, and capital. The companies
identified in the 2013 Science Careers Top Employers Survey ensure a higher return on those investments by
catering to the whims of the scientist brain, which they view as their greatest economic driver. These
employers give scientists the intellectual time and space to dream up novel ways of blocking, shutting down,
or modifying disease targets. They marry the academic freedom found in the university hallway to powerhouse
financial resources and technological platforms to get research done at a quicker pace. That combination
results in researchers who are not only satisfied in their jobs, but also successful at creating new drugs.
Although the overall economic outlook of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors has remained strong
through the recent gloomy financial times, there remain significant challenges ahead for the industry.
According to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), companies need on
average 10-15 years and more than $1.2 billion to develop a drug. And a coming wave of blockbuster drug
patent expirations is expected to cost the industry tens of billions in lost revenues. PhRMA reports that 84
percent of all prescriptions are now for generic drugs, up from 49 percent in 2000.
Read more
The University's most successful spinoff
company lands $26 million investment
A year after graduating from the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, Patrick
Memoli can say without shame that he is employed as a dishwasher. On a recent Thursday morning, he's hard
at work in the bowels of a building at the eastern edge of Missoula, loading dirty plates into the yawning
mouths of 10 automatic dishwashing machines.
It's quickly apparent, however, that Memoli isn't your ordinary dishwasher. He's wearing a smart white lab coat,
safety glasses and purple latex gloves. He's also dirtying the plates himself, smearing them with a goopy
mixture of butter and milk powder before loading them into each dishwasher along with six clean glasses and a
single aluminum disc. He sets the cycles, and then inspects and records the results, noting the cleanliness of
the plates, the spotting of the glasses and the corrosion of the aluminum disc. Memoli clearly is more bench
scientist than kitchen hand.
"Some of the guys call it hydro-ceramic chemistry," he says with a smile.
Whatever it's called, it's a growth industry. Memoli's employer, UM spinoff Rivertop Renewables, just landed a
$26 million investment from First Green Partners, a venture capital firm, and Cargill, the largest privately held
company in the country. The investment - the biggest in history for any UM-related business - is the reason
Rivertop CEO Mike Knauf has a bottle of champagne sitting on his desk. It's a congratulatory gift from a UM
professor.
Read more
Bacterin Announces the Appointment of Robert Di Silvio as President
BELGRADE, Mont., July 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bacterin International Holdings, Inc. (NYSE
MKT:BONE), a leader in the development of revolutionary bone graft material and coatings for medical
applications, is pleased to announce the addition of Robert (Bob) Di Silvio as President of the Company.
Mr. Di Silvio brings over 30 years' experience serving in executive management positions in the medical
industry, overseeing sales and marketing efforts in the management of medical sales operations.
"I had the privilege of working with Bob when we were both involved with other companies. Bob has a
distinguished track record of success in the medical device industry, managing sales and marketing operations
with significant growth achievements," said Dan Goldberger, Bacterin's CEO. "We are fortunate to have Bob
join our management team in this important role; he brings unrivaled experience and leadership to the Company
and will play a critical role in our growth."
Read more
BOZEMAN, MT - July 16, 2014 - Microbion Corporation, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on
the development of innovative products for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections and control of
microbial biofilms, today announced that it was one of 11 Montana-based companies awarded grants for 2015
from the Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology (MBRCT). The award will provide
Microbion with the funds needed for certain human clinical testing of its lead product, BisEDT Antimicrobial
Gel, on skin.
BisEDT Antimicrobial Gel is a member of Microbion's proprietary bismuth-thiol (BT) family of compounds-a
new class of antimicrobial agents that in preclinical studies have shown potent activity against a broad
spectrum of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and potent activity against
microbial biofilms. Microbion plans to initiate its first Phase 2 clinical trial with BisEDT Antimicrobial Gel for the
treatment of post-surgical orthopedic infections in Q1 2015. Orthopedic device-related infections are
dangerous and recurrent because of resistant microbial biofilms. Up to 6% of implanted medical devices (e.g.,
implanted catheters, stents, prosthetic joints, and even external medical devices such as hospital ventilators)
become infected-accounting for almost half of the approximately two million hospital-caused (nosocomial)
infections that occur in the United States each year. The primary objective of Microbion's initial Phase 2
studies will be to study the safety of BisEDT Antimicrobial Gel (a hydrogel suspension) over a range of doses
and, concurrently, to determine the optimal therapeutic dose. Funds from the MBRCT award will be used to for
supportive studies assessing potential effects of BisEDT Antimicrobial Gel on the skin of human subjects.
Read more
Rocky Mountain Biologicals CEO Suresh Daniel Presents at ISIA Annual Conference in Belgium
RMBIO CEO presents an overview of FBS alternatives Liporo and Fetalgro during serum conference in
Belgium.
Missoula, Montana (PRWEB) May 30, 2014
Rocky Mountain Biologicals (RMBIO),http://www.rmbio.com, is honored to announce CEO and Director
Suresh Daniel recently spoke at the renowned International Serum Industry Association (ISIA) Annual
Conference in Bruges, Belgium. Daniel's presentation "Extending the Serum Industry into the Future" on
Thursday, May 8th provided an overview of RMBIO's powerful fetal bovine serum alternatives, Lipogro and
Fetalgro.
In recent years, Daniel has championed the search for FBS alternatives as supplies of the critical cell culture
research medium diminish due to persistent drought conditions in key US cattle supplying areas. The reduced
cattle supply is being compounded by increased global demand: the amount of animal-based sera and protein
products required to support scientific research and human health developments will need to double by 2040.
RMBIO is strategically poised to address this challenge with its powerful line of alternatives, including
Fetalgro, which have been proven to match or outperform FBS in fostering cell growth.
Daniel's presentation in Bruges marked the firm's first official engagement as a member of the ISIA community.
In 2014, RMBIO underwent the ISIA's rigorous independent audit of sourcing and handling procedures to
make sure traceability of serum remains intact at every step in their supply chain.
Read more
McLaughlin Research Institute conference highlights ingenuity
Briana Wipf, bwipf@greatfallstribune.com 1:12 p.m. MDT June 29, 2014
Groundbreaking medical therapies often grow out of basic biological research, but funding for that research is
becoming more and more difficult to come by, according to scientists who came to Great Falls on Friday to
discuss the state of biomedical research at a conference hosted by the McLaughlin Research Institute.
One of those potential groundbreaking therapies may soon be green-lighted for clinical trials recently by the
FDA, according to Dr. Irving Weissman, the V&D Ludwig professor and director of Stanford Institute of Stem
Cell Biology and Regenerative Research at Stanford University.
Weissman, who grew up in Great Falls, and his team uncovered a protein called CD47 that naturally occurs on
cells that, as the cell ages, erodes away. The protein tells the body's garbage collectors, the macrophages, not
to eat them while they are present. As the cell ages and the protein disappears, the macrophages gobble the
cell up.
Read more
MONTANA NEWS/UNIVERSITIES
Montana's Investment in Research and Commercialization Paying Big Dividends
May 7, 2014
Economic Impact Study Conducted by Bureau of Business & Economic Research Shows Montana Board of
Research and Commercialization Technology has an "Outsized Impact" on Montana's Economy
A recent study by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER), the main research unit of the
School of Business Administration at the University of Montana, shows the Montana economy has been
impacted by the ongoing operations of the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology
(MBRCT) at the Montana Department of Commerce.
The report, titled The Economic Impact of the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology,
uses a state-of-the-art policy analysis model and publicly available data on program spending and associated
impacts to produce a detailed assessment of the ultimate impact of the operations of the program on
employment, income, output, and population in the Montana economy.
The study finds that the operations of MBRCT "have produced a larger, more prosperous and populous state
economy increasing the tax base since 2000 than would have existed in its absence".
"Studies such as this one help validate the fact that economic development programs make a big impact in
Montana," said Meg O'Leary, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. "The Montana Board of
Research and Commercialization Technology invests state money in projects that are at the forefront of
research and innovation, and in return these projects add jobs, income, and tax revenues that boost the quality
of life for all Montanans."
The full study can be accessed by
visiting http://businessresources.mt.gov/content/MBRCT/MBRCTEconomicImpactReport .
For more information, please contact Dave Desch at (406) 841-2579 or ddesch@mt.gov
CBE Research Highlights: June 2014
June 19, 2014
CBE awarded contract from the Department of Defense
Phil Stewart, CBE director, was recently awarded a contract from the US Department of Defense entitled
"Resensitization of Bacteria in Biofilms to Antibiotics." Stewart, the project director, will be joined by
collaborating MSU investigators Garth James, associate research professor, chemical and biological
engineering; Brian Bothner, associate professor, chemistry & biochemistry; and Michael Franklin, professor,
microbiology and immunology.
MSU-CBE faculty and researcher awarded EPA grant to study water quality on Crow reservation
CBE-affiliated faculty member Anne Camper, professor, civil engineering, and Mari Eggers, CBE postdoctoral
researcher, along with collaborators from Montana's Little Big Horn College were recently awarded a $900,000
three-year grant from the US EPA Office of Research and Development entitled "Climate Adaptation and Water
Disease Prevention."
Read more
Film crew visits Montana State University for documentary on grad Maurice Hilleman who saved lives of
millions
June 13, 2014
A film crew from Pennsylvania is visiting Montana State University this week to work on a feature-length
documentary of the late Maurice Hilleman, who graduated from what was then Montana State College in 1941.
Hilleman went on to become one of the world's most successful developers of vaccines, and he is credited with
saving more lives than any other 20th century scientist.
According to the film's director, Donald Mitchell, the documentary on Hilleman has grown out of interviews
Hilleman gave to fellow vaccinologist Paul Offit in the years leading up to his death from cancer in 2005. Offit's
biography of Hilleman, "Vaccinated: One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases," was
published in 2007.
By Sepp Jannotta, MSU News Service
Read more
Montana Girls STEM funds eight Montana youth projects
July 18, 2014
Eight projects have received mini-grant funding from the Montana Girls STEM Collaborative Project through
Montana EPSCoR, a National Science Foundation-funded partnership that includes Montana State University
and the University of Montana.
The mini-grants seek to develop or grow programs that offer exposure to science, technology, engineering and
math (STEM), with a focus on building collaboration between existing programs and organizations that will
encourage girls to pursue STEM-related education and careers.
Read more
Montana Tech receives $1.3 million grant for K-12 science education
May 1, 2014
Montana Tech has received a $1.3 million grant to fund a science education project in Montana's public
schools.
The goal is to equip 40 of Montana's sixth through 12th-grade teachers with the skills to provide science
research opportunities for students.
The Science Education Partnership Award comes from the National Institutes of Health.
By Kelley Christensen
Read more
Reijo Pera and team: Stem cell research holds promise for male infertility
May 1, 2014 -- MSU News Service
A Montana State University researcher and her co-researchers are receiving international attention for
showing that skin cells from infertile men can be used to create the precursors of sperm - research that holds
promise for treating male infertility.
The teams' work published on May 1 in Cell Reports has been reported on by England's Guardian, Telegraph,
and Independent newspapers as well as National Public Radio and many U.S. science news outlets.
The team took skin cells from men who suffer from a genetic disorder, known as azoospermia, which prevents
them from producing sperm. Those skin cells were then turned into stem cells, specifically, induced pluripotent
stem cells, or iPSC. Like other stem cells, iPSC have the ability to become any other type of cell.
The team then implanted the stem cells into the testes of mice where they produced the precursors to sperm. It
was the first time such work has ever been done.
Read more
Governor Bullock Announces Crohn's Disease Bio-Medical Research Grant Award to Billings' Health
Partners
April 26, 2014
Funding will support the newly-established Crohn's Disease Collaborative Research Center
Governor Steve Bullock and Department of Commerce Director Meg O'Leary announced the award of $95,500
dollars in grant funding to St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation to expand the Crohn's Disease Collaborative
Research Center of the Greater Rocky Mountains through the Montana Department of Commerce Bio-Medical
Research Grant Program.
The Center is a partnership between St. Vincent Healthcare and Montana State University Billings to provide
care and treatment of patients with Crohn's disease and to create a research center for the study of the disease.
There are estimated to be as many as 3,000 patients in Montana suffering from Crohn's disease, with an
additional 200 new patients diagnosed each year.
"The impact of Crohn's disease is substantial to the patient, their families, the community, and our health care
system," said Governor Steve Bullock. "I am proud to support the efforts of these two great Montana
institutions coming together to expand their research capabilities in hopes of increasing the quality of care for
Crohn's disease patients in Montana."
Read more
Settling a New Biotech Frontier in Montana - Montana Molecular
May 1, 2014
"If you start a biotech company in Montana, the governor and our senators take notice and will help with
networking opportunities. If you are awarded an SBIR, the state of Montana will kick in matching funds too."
SLAS members Anne Marie Quinn and Thomas Hughes carved a place for their company, Montana
Molecular http://montanamolecular.com/ , far from the biotech hubs that launched their careers. The company
put down roots on Quinn's vision that the tools of science drive progress and the scientists who adopt those
tools early have a professional advantage.
Montana Molecular spent the past year making headlines with its genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors
and probes for cell-based assays and live cell imaging, which help drug discovery scientists to observe and
measure cell-signaling processes. The company has experienced steady momentum since its launch in 2005 by
husband-and-wife team Anne Marie Quinn, M.P.H., founder and CEO, and Thomas E. Hughes, Ph.D., a senior
advisor and scientific officer. Since January 2013, the company's profile has increased and the team is reaping
rewards for their hard work.
Read more
UM Researchers Awarded Grant by NFL and GE to Forward Brain Research
Jan. 23, 2014
MISSOULA - Athletes, members of the military and others suffering from traumatic brain injury may benefit
from research conducted by two University of Montana faculty members through a new $300,000 grant
awarded by General Electric Co. and the National Football League.
GE and the NFL have announced 16 winners in the first stage of the $20 million Head Health Challenge. UM
Research Assistant Professors Sarj Patel and Tom Rau were among the challenge winners selected to speed
diagnosis and improve treatment for mild traumatic brain injury. Other projects were selected from both
biotechnology companies and leading research institutions, including Johns Hopkins Medical School; the
University of California, San Francisco; and Weill Cornell Medical College.
The goal of the Head Health Challenge is to improve the safety of athletes, members of the military and society
overall. Winners were selected from more than 400 entries from 27 countries, after having been reviewed and
nominated by a panel of leading health care experts in brain research, imaging technologies and advocates for
advances in brain research.
Read more
$45 Million: UM Lands Largest Research Award in University History
May. 16, 2014
MISSOULA - The University of Montana has received a $45 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the agency announced May 16. The five-year research award is the largest in the
history of UM.
Under the agreement, UM will help the Corps study and solve environmental and cultural resource problems
across the nation. The University also will assist the Corps in implementing land and water ecological
restoration, maintenance and training for optimal management of public resources.
F. Richard "Ric" Hauer is UM professor of freshwater science and systems ecology and directs the UM side of
the Institute on Ecosystems, a statewide institute of the Montana University System. He will serve as program
director and principal investigator of the cooperative agreement.
"Earning this award confirms that UM has become an elite research institution in the arena of ecology and
environmental sciences," Hauer said. "This will take our research enterprise to an even higher and exciting new
level. It is a wonderful opportunity for our faculty, graduate students and post-docs."
Read more
National Bioscience Report Shows Industry Robust with Strong Prospects for Growth
San Diego, California (June 24, 2014) - A study released today analyzing the U.S. bioscience industry growth
over the last eleven years, through the recent recession and early economic recovery, reveals positive trends.
The industry demonstrated a strong record of growth from 2001-2012, has navigated the deep economic
recession better than most industries and is once again growing.
The report, Battelle/BIO State Bioscience Jobs, Investments and Innovation 2014, the sixth in a biennial series
from Battelle and BIO tracking the U.S. bioscience industry, reveals a robust bioscience sector that has
weathered difficult economic conditions and is on a course for continued growth. The state-by-state industry
assessment finds U.S. bioscience firms directly employ 1.62 million people, a figure that includes nearly 111,000
new, high-paying jobs created since 2001.
Within the private sector, the bioscience industry has been a signature performer over this period, contributing
an additional 6.24 million jobs through the indirect employment effect, yielding a total employment impact of
7.86 million jobs. Furthermore, the bioscience industry continues to create and sustain high-wage jobs, paying
an average 80% more than the overall private sector average salary - and growing at a faster rate.
Full report and news release here
Montana statistics here
University of Montana Joins National STEM K-12 Education Provider Project Lead The Way
The University of Montana has joined Project Lead The Way, the nation's leading provider of science,
technology, engineering and math programs for students in grades K-12. UM's new role as a PLTW affiliate
reinforces the University's support for STEM education and its dedication to providing high-quality
educational opportunities for Montana students and teachers.
PLTW offers programs with pathways in engineering, biomedical science and computer science. As an affiliate,
UM will offer professional development training programs to PLTW teachers, host annual conferences for
school administrators and counselors, and provide ongoing support to PLTW schools throughout the state of
Montana.
This summer, UM will offer teacher training for PLTW Launch, a program for students in grades K-5, which is
designed to engage and inspire a love of math and science for students at a young age.
Read more
Missoula scientists patent treatment for dangerous MRSA infection
April 12, 2014 7:00 pm * By David Erickson
Two Missoula scientists have patented an innovative new way to combat infections from a common and
potentially dangerous bacteria, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, often called MRSA.
Their company, Wintermute Biomedical, is one of the only biomedical research facilities in Missoula and
they've been using a $60,000 grant from the Montana Board of Research and Commercialization Technology to
fund their testing.
Wes Hale, the company's managing director and research scientist, formed the company with chief scientific
officer Tom Rau in July 2012. Both men hold degrees in molecular biology from the University of Montana, and
Rau holds a Ph.D in neuroscience. They've been working hard to get their product, a viscous lotion called
Solexan, to market. However, they still have a long way to go before they can conduct clinical trials on humans.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, there isn't a lot of data on the
number of people who get MRSA skin infections, but it spreads easily because 2 percent of the population
carries the bacteria in their nose. Those people don't usually feel the effects, but they can spread the bacteria
through open wounds to others who are susceptible.
Read more
MSU microbiologist receives NIH fellowship to continue pioneering work
July 16, 2014 -- By Evelyn Boswell, MSU News Service
MSU microbiologist Ryan Jackson has received a $100,000 fellowship from the National Institutes of Health.
The image behind him shows the X-ray crystal structure of a CRISPR complex. (MSU photo by Kelly Gorham)
BOZEMAN - Ryan Jackson has spent the past two years investigating how bacteria fend off invading viruses.
Now the Montana State University microbiologist has received a $100,000 two-year fellowship from the
National Institutes of Health to continue his work in this hot new field of science, work that has already
attracted international attention for him and his mentor, Blake Wiedenheft.
"NIH's investment in Ryan is a major stepping stone for his early career in science and a huge endorsement for
research at Montana State University," Wiedenheft said. "These sorts of awards are rare at any institution,
and I think that this is something that the MSU campus should celebrate."
Wiedenheft hired Jackson almost two years ago as a postdoctoral researcher in his laboratory in
MSU's Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Since then, the two have made discoveries that they
have shared at international conferences and in prestigious scientific journals. In February, Wiedenheft
presented their work on the E. coli immune system at the 2014 Biophysical Society meeting. Out of 150
nominations, his was the first of seven presentations to be featured during the society's "New and Notable
Symposium."
Read more
MSUB Hosts Seventh Annual Chicks in Science
KULR-8 Television, Billings, MT
April 12, 2014
(co-ponsored by the Montana Bioscience Alliance)
Girls from all over the state traveled to Billings Saturday for the 7th annual Chicks in Science, hosted by MSU
Billings.
The free event encourages 4th-8th grade girls to get involved in STEM-related fields - that is, science,
technology, engineering, and math. Over 50 exhibitors participated in the event, including Exxon Mobil, Cloud
Peak Energy, and the science and technology departments at MSUB. Organizers said it's important for girls to
see how science and math can be "fun, fascinating, and fabulous."
"One of the things that we really see is that 'Aha!' moment with girls, and they think, 'Oh my gosh, really? This
is science? It's so much fun!' and you'll see that with a lot of the booths. They will do a real simple experiment
and think 'Oh my gosh! I didn't know it was so much fun and I didn't realize it could be fairly simple,'" said
Laura Gittings-Carlson, an organizer with MSUB Extended Campus.
The event lasted from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. According to organizers, Chicks in Science draws hundreds of
people to the Magic City every year.
Video here
Chicks in Science
April 15, 2014
MSU Billings 2014 Chicks in Science was an amazing event that gave girls from grades 4-8 a chance to
participate in hands-on-science and learn about career opportunities in the sciences. As you can see from the
picture directly below, it was a packed event.
After a great day of Hands of Health with the students of Orchard Elementary School, we were ecstatic to
present again on a larger scale and the girls were ready to get hands on:
Giant Nose?... No Problem! They reached inside, grabbed a sample of mucus, and identified the germ infecting
it. A case of mixed up organs for Anabody?... Ailment solved! A little teamwork and they had her back in
working order. And what about the case of the unidentified cow eye parts? Case Closed! Parts identified.
In all, it was an unforgettable experience. We look forward to seeing these Chicks in Science grow
into successful careers in science! Our thanks go out to MSU-Billings for putting on such an outstanding
event. We hope to be back next year!
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Montana Career Opportunity - IT Project Leader - GlaxoSmithKline, Hamilton, Montana
May 28, 2014
GSK Vaccines in Hamilton is located in the heart of the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana, surrounded by
some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The site manufactures MPL® or Monophosphoryl Lipid A,
a unique adjuvant that is used in a number of GSK vaccines. In addition, Hamilton has a small but dedicated
research organization discovering, characterizing and developing additional novel adjuvant compounds to
support the growth of the GSK vaccine portfolio.
Basic qualifications:
* Minimum BS/BA in computer science or related technical discipline.
* Lack of a bachelor's degree could be balanced with five years of SAP experience either in a project or
operational capacity.
* Five or more years of experience in SAP project implementation or SAP operation and support in three of the
following domains: MM, WM, PM, APO, PP-PI or QM. The five years of SAP experience could be balanced by
five years of solid professional experience driving complex IT projects.
* Experience with SAP in pharmaceutical or food industry manufacturing environment is strongly preferred.
* Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices and NIH guidelines.
Preferred qualifications:
* One to two years' experience leading a team.
* Maintain a high level of integrity while balancing multiple priorities and responsibilities.
* Demonstrate a serious commitment to accuracy, attention to detail and quality while meeting goals or
deadlines.
* Ability to communicate and influence at all levels.
* Sense of urgency, flexibility and accountability.
* Strong experience with Microsoft (MS) Office applications.
* Must be a committed team player prepared to work in and embrace a team based culture.
* Ability to find solutions and efficient applications of the SAP software. * Ability and motivation to work in
new applications and business processes.
* Provide expertise necessary to train site personnel if required.
* Provide guidance on general site IT issues.
* Familiarity with Good Manufacturing Practices.
* Collaborate with regional and global partners to drive projects and implement improvements. Open to work in
international environment with possible travels in North America and Europe.
GSK is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal
consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital
status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service,
covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Please see http://www.GSK.com website for full job description
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
It has been a busy summer for the Montana BioScience Alliance.
Sharon Peterson and Tom Brown participated in the Life Science Innovation Northwest Conference in Seattle
June 19-20. The Montana BioScience Alliance was a partner in the conference along with Washington,
Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. A highlight of this event was John Crowley, President and Chair of
Amicus Therapeutics, as the LSINW 2014 keynote speaker. John was featured in the movie " Extraordinary
Measures." The talk by John Crowley and other highlights of the conference can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=3NcA_fvhc7g&index=2&list=PL2ge_KUD8TZDpZnIHjhNhRb_momWBFojO
The BIO International Convention June 23-26 in San Diego, Ca. was a huge success with 15,667 attendees from
all 50 states and 70 countries. Dynamic Keynotes from Sir Richard Branson and Former Secretary of State
Hillary Rodham Clinton were highlights of the convention.
The State of Montana and the Montana BioScience Alliance participated in the BIO International Convention
with a booth and one on one partnering meetings. John Rogers, Elizabeth Ching and Andy Shirtliff from the
Governor's Office of Economic Development and Sharon Peterson and David Poulsen from the Montana
BioScience Alliance marketed Montana at the booth and in meetings. They were pleased to be joined by
Lynda Colucci representing the Montana Ambassadors, Kurt Burgess from Injection Technologies, Don and
Michele Zinn and Qiang Ye from Microbion, Rob Keene from Capacity on Demand, and others.
John Rogers, Dave Poulsen and Andy Shirtliff joined John Schlatter from Takeda for a visit to the Takeda
facility in La Jolla. Elizabeth Ching and Sharon Peterson attended a forum at the Pfizer facility in La Jolla on
the first day of the conference.
The Council of State BioScience Associations participated in the press conference releasing a study analyzing
the U.S. Bioscience industry growth over the last eleven years, reveals positive trends. The report,
Battelle/BIO State Bioscience Jobs, Investments and Innovation 2014, is available on line at:
http://www.bio.org/articles/battellebio-state-bioscience-jobs-investments-and-innovation-2014 and
Montana statistics are available at: http://www.bio.org/sites/default/files/SP_Montana.pdf
Governors Jerry Brown (CA), Deval Patrick (MA) Dennis Daugaard (SD) Terry McAuliffe (VA) participated in
the press conference.
Among the many breakout sessions John Rogers and Sharon Peterson attended a session, with Ivor Royston,
Forward Ventures and Rahul Singhvi, Takeda Vaccines. Both spoke positively about their investment in
LicoCyte Pharmaceuticals and Montana.
Save the Date for the 2015 BIO International Convention: June 15-18, Philadelphia, PA
Montana BioScience annual board meeting was held July 8 in Billings. Executive board members reelected
were: Dave Poulsen, President/Chair, Ron Zook, Vice President, Dave Gibson, Secretary and Carol Beam,
Treasurer. Board members reelected (including officers) are: Joe Fanguy, Paul Cook and Cindy Orser (MUS)
(replacing Neil Moisey)
MontanaBio served on the steering committee and participated in the Successful Big Sky Business Healthcare
Summit, July 8, 9 and 10 in Billings. At the pre-conference dinner, a panel consisting of Dave Poulsen, Sinapis,
Ron Zook, Swan Valley Medical and Jamie Haggard, Bacterin highlighted Bioscience Research in Montana.
Check out our 2014 BioScience Membership Directory here
EVENT'S CALENDAR
McLaughlin Research Institute
32nd Annual Biomedical Sciences Workshop
Tuesday 5 August, 2014
9 AM to 4 PM
Held at McLaughlin Research Institute
1520 23rd Street South
Great Falls, Montana
Featuring discussions on translational neuroscience initiatives in Montana and presentations by members of
McLaughlin Research Institute's Scientific Advisory Committee, MRI faculty, and representatives of
Montana's universities
Speakers include:
Jeff Frelinger, Univ. of Arizona
John Mercer, InStem & NCBS, Bangalore, India
Irv Weissman, Stanford
John Bermingham, MRI & Washington University
Neal Copeland & Nancy Jenkins, Texas Medical Center
George Carlson, MRI
Additional speakers to be announced as they are confirmed
Lunch will be provided
Register by email to: lezabeattie@mri.montana.edu
September 10, 2014 | Marriott City Center, Denver
Medical device| Biotechnology| Pharmaceutical| Diagnostic| Agricultural-bio
White Hat Investors 2014
(Montana Bioscience Alliance is a co-sponsor)
This September in Phoenix, the White Hat Life Science Investor Conference will be held from Sept. 17-18,
2014. White Hat is attracting nationally recognized venture and investment firms that are specifically focused
on the life sciences (Rx, Dx, Med Device, and Health IT.) White Hat is an opportunity for the top 40 companies
from across the Rocky Mountain Southwest Region to demonstrate that they are ready for investment and get
connected with the investment community.
Governor Bullock Announces Trade Mission to China
By Office of the Governor Monday Jun. 23rd, 2014 - 12:48pm
HELENA, MT - Montana Governor Steve Bullock Monday announced that he will be leading an eight-day
trade mission to China in the fall.
The mission will bring together leaders in business, education, and government to focus on creating export
opportunities for Montana businesses as well as deepening the long-term relationship between Montana's and
China's economies. The mission will take place September 21 - 29 and include stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and
Montana's sister-state, Guangxi.
"This trade mission will build ties between Montana businesses and Chinese companies and investors, and
expand opportunities for education and cultural exchanges," said Bullock. "There is enormous potential to
make an immediate and substantial impact to Montana's economy by expanding our trade with China."
Read more
CLASSIFIEDS
BIO Business Solutions - Delivering savings to biotech companies
Thousands of biotech and related companies nationwide save money every day on
essential products and services through an excellent cost-savings program offered by the
Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the international organization that represents
the biotechnology industry.
Through its partnership with BIO, Montana Bio offers its members the opportunity to take
advantage of several of the organization's BIO Business Solutions programs. These
include:
* Laboratory supplies, equipment and chemicals from VWR
* Select shipping services from FedEx
* Office supplies, furniture and equipment from Office Depot
* News distribution services from Business Wire
* Business insurance (clinical trials, product, property & casualty) from the Chubb Group of
Insurance Companies
* Executive liability insurance from Monitor
* Packaged (cylinder) mini-bulk and bulk gasses from Linde
* Pre-owned laboratory equipment from BioSurplus
* Energy consulting services from Appi Energy
* Secure document sharing and virtual data from ShareVault
* Moving and relocation services from Humboldt
* Computer and technology products from TechDepot
* Business intelligent publications and databases from Elsevier Business Intelligence
For more information on these excellent cost-savings programs, please visit
http://www3.bio.org/bbs/montana/
________________________________________________________________________________
www.montanabio.org
The Montana Bioscience Alliance serves as a hub for Montana's biotechnology companies,
entrepreneurs, laboratories, hospitals, clinics and universities to commercialize, grow and
sustain globally competitive bioscience companies -- ultimately to create high-quality jobs and
economic opportunity in Montana.
Sharon Peterson
Executive Director
Montana BioScience Alliance
sharonpeterson@bresnan.net
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