Virginia BioTechnology Research Park

January 2011

Biotech Park News

Governor McDonnell Announces Outstanding Scientist and Science Innovation Awards
Governor Bob McDonnell and Science Museum of Virginia Director/CEO Richard Conti are pleased to announce Virginia’s Outstanding Scientists of 2011 and the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Science Innovation presented by Altria. The Governor’s Award for Science Innovation is awarded to Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. a Richmond business founded by four people who realized that all people and their diseases are not created equally. Unlike a traditional clinical laboratory, HDL Inc. takes a team approach, working with physicians and patients to understand the disease, provide answers, education and support to identify and reverse health risks. HDL Inc. was founded in 2009 at the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park.
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Richmond Study Recommends Support for Biotech Park
An economic-development study prepared for the city of Richmond calls for enhancing the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park and redeveloping the former Armstrong High School on North 31st Street into a training and education center. In addition, the study recommends a redevelopment initiative in which the city would identify and assemble up to 200 acres for a new technology or industrial park or corridor.
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Fast-Growing Firm Expands at Biotech Park
The fastest-growing company in the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park opened an expanded office and laboratory space Wednesday, January 19th. Since it was founded in 2009, Health Diagnostic Laboratory Inc. has grown from a staff of 11 people to about 180 employees. Its revenue reached about $70 million in 2010, said Tonya Mallory, the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer. The company still is hiring and expects to reach a total employment of about 210 this year.
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Kidney Exchange Program Makes 1st Matches
Kathy Niedzwiecki of Pelham, N.H., and Ken Crowder of St. Louis needed new kidneys and had loved ones willing to donate them — but those donors were medically incompatible.  Thanks to a United Network for Organ Sharing pilot program launched in 2010 that matches incompatible donor-recipient pairs through a nationwide pool, Niedzwiecki and Crowder got the kidney transplants they needed.
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Virginia Government to Assist Five Israeli Cleantech Companies
The Virginia state government believes in Israeli capabilities and has launched a program to support and encourage Israeli cleantech companies. Via Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) and with the collaboration of the Zysman, Aharoni, Gayer, & Co. (ZAG) law firm, a Dominion Resources commercialization team went to Israel to interview 25 cleantech companies, of which five will receive aid packages. The program is directed at companies close to commercialization of their products and which are targeting the US market. The chosen companies will receive financial, technological, and management assistance and will open offices in Virginia. Candidates include CQM Ltd., Emefcy Ltd., and Pythagoras Solar Ltd.
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VCU News and Research

Carnegie Foundation Upgrades VCU to ‘Research University, Very High Research Activity’
The Carnegie Foundation has elevated Virginia Commonwealth University to “Very High Research Activity” status, which combined with its “Community Engaged” designation makes VCU just one of 28 public universities in the country with academic medical centers to achieve both distinctions.
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Clinical Trial Examines Existing Drugs for New Uses in Fighting Brain Cancer
As Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center uncovers new biological processes related to cancer progression, sometimes new purposes for known drugs come to light. A current clinical trial offered by VCU Massey in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute is studying whether a common anticonvulsive drug, Valproic acid, could help patients suffering from the most common and aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme. The study tests the addition of Valproic acid, a common anti-convulsive drug, to the standard treatment for glioblastomas involving radiation therapy and the chemotherapy drug temozolomide (also known as Temodar and Temodal).
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American Association for the Advancement of Science Honors Two VCU Researchers
Two Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Alenka Luzar, Ph.D., a professor in the VCU Department of Chemistry, was recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of computational and theoretical chemistry, particularly for theoretical modeling and new applications of modern condensed matter science to confined liquids. Ramana M. Pidaparti, Ph.D., a professor in the VCU Department of Mechanical Engineering, was recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of computational mechanics and materials through multidisciplinary approaches, particularly for structural/material durability, biomaterials and nanoscience applications.
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Clinical Trial Explores Therapy to Reduce the Recurrence of Pancreatic Cancer
A clinical trial at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center is examining a new therapy aimed at decreasing the recurrence of pancreatic cancer. The Phase II trial assesses whether a chemotherapy combination typically given as a stand-alone treatment for pancreatic cancer helps improve patient outcomes when combined with surgery. To enhance the success of entirely removing cancerous tumors in the pancreas, the trial uses a combination of the chemotherapy agents gemcitabine (also known as Gemzar) and erlotinib (also known as Tarceva) before and after surgery.
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