Reports + Research
Aging and Memory Research at UC San Diego Gets $10M from IBM
According to the United Nations, aging is “poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the twenty-first century, with implications for nearly all sectors of society, including labor and financial markets, the demand for goods and services, such as housing, transportation and social protection.” The ability to live independently depends highly on mental wellness. To address this, IBM has given a $10M contract to UC San Diego to find better ways to detect mild cognitive impairment. This could lead to earlier intervention that could delay more serious forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Startup Gets Funding to Scale Manufacturing of “Miracle Material”
San Diego startup Grolltex has received $600,000 from local investors to help scale up a new way to manufacture graphene that could enable mass production. Dubbed the “miracle material,” it is used by electronics makers because it is “stronger than steel, more conductive than copper and more flexible than rubber.” Could it be the greatest discovery for tech since the silicon chip?
Halozyme Inks Two Huge Drug Partnerships
On the same day, Halozyme announced two major licensing deals of the company’s drug delivery technology with Bristol-Myers Squibb and Roche. Halozyme’s technology takes drugs that normally would require IV delivery and enables the drugs to be absorbed under the skin (subcutaneously).
Awards + Honors
15 under 40 – Life Science Catalyst Awards
Biocom recognizes 15 leaders who are under the age of 40 as Life Science Catalysts for their significant contributions to the Southern California life science industries.
San Diego’s Top 50 Companies
In addition to the big three – Qualcomm, Sempra, and UC San Diego – see who else made Our City’s list of the 50 most important businesses to San Diego.
Read + Listen
POW! Podcast of the Week
Did you know 15% of newborns go straight to intensive care? The man who set the Guinness World Record for fastest genetic diagnosis talks to Biotech Nation about how a rapid readout of a newborn’s genetics could improve newborn healthcare. Listen to the interview with Dr. Stephen Kingsmore, president and CEO of Rady Children’s Institute for Genomic Medicine.
Events
It’s Happening Here
October 4–8:
Experts from across the world in infectious diseases will be coming to San Diego for IDWeek, taking place October 4–8.
October 5–6:
On October 5–6, Scripps Translational Science Institute will host DIGIMED17, a conference about transforming healthcare through evidence-driven digital medicine.
November 15
Save the date for a first look at the 2018 California Life Sciences Industry Report.
Tags: Biotech, Biotech Briefing, Blogs, Medical Research, Podcast, Stephen Kingsmore, UCSD
