Innovation + Job News

The University of Maryland Medical School has received a $45 million private gift from the family of a grateful patient.

UMMS will use the multi-million dollar gift to establish the nation's only research enterprise devoted to the study of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and Type-1 diabetes.

The gift, from Indiana couple Ken and Shelia Cafferty, is the largest private donation in the history of the University System of Maryland. The planned research enterprise will be a full-fledged, multidisciplinary academic organization that includes and expands upon two of the school's outstanding research centers, the Mucosal Biology Research Center and the Center for Celiac Research. Alessio Fasano, M.D., a world renowned celiac disease researcher and professor of pediatrics, medicine and physiology at the School of Medicine, will direct the new research enterprise. Dr. Fasano is director of the Mucosal Biology Research Center and the Center for Celiac Research.

"For years, my wife struggled with severe symptoms, with no diagnosis and no treatment for her condition," says Ken Cafferty, a businessman from Carmel, Indiana, who is making the gift with his wife, Shelia, a registered nurse. "I endured this struggle with her, until Dr. Fasano and his staff at the Center for Celiac Research finally found answers for us, diagnosing Shelia with gluten sensitivity. We are making this gift hoping that this new enterprise will help provide answers for other families in the same position, and hopefully make strides toward a cure to provide permanent relief for patients like Shelia."

As is the case with all new research enterprises (institutes or centers), establishment of the research enterprise for autoimmunity research is subject to approval from University of Maryland School of Medicine leadership; a vote will take place in November.

The planned enterprise will have three divisions: one focused on celiac disease, the second on mucosal biology, and a third focused on microbe/host interaction. The third division, the newest of the three, will examine the intersection between the human body and the microbes that inhabit it. Faculty will work closely with faculty at the University of Maryland Institute for Genome Sciences, located in the University of Maryland BioPark in West Baltimore.

"We are assembling a critical mass of multidisciplinary expertise, building the best infrastructure that we can in order to investigate inflammation and autoimmunity from every possible medical and scientific perspective," says Dr. Fasano.

The institute's scientists will use celiac disease as a model for research into autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Autoimmune disorders occur when the body is triggered to misdirect its immune response and attack itself. Celiac disease is of particular value for the investigation of autoimmunity and inflammatory disease because it is the only autoimmune disorder for which scientists have identified a trigger � in this case, gluten, a protein found in wheat that is nearly ubiquitous in the contemporary human diet.

Source: University of Maryland Medical Center
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Choice Hotels International, one of the world's largest lodging companies, has signed a letter of intent to move its headquarters to Rockville when its current lease, in Silver Spring, expires in 2013. 

The company has been looking for a new headquarters of 130,000 square feet or more in the Capital Region to accommodate a growing number of employees. It is in negotiations to lease office space in Rockville Town Center. Once at the new location, the company plans to add 75 new employees, adding to its current base of approximately 400 employees in Maryland. Also under consideration is a Cambria Suites hotel near the proposed headquarters site to accommodate an estimated 10,000 stays per year generated by employee and franchisee training programs, as well as other community, vendor, and hotel developer events.

"Over the past two years, we've conducted extensive site reviews and considered a number of locations for our new headquarters that will continue to provide our employees with a great working environment. Paramount in our decision was to identify a location convenient to where the vast majority of our employees currently live and which provides easy access to public transportation, as well as shops and services," says Stephen P. Joyce, president and CEO of Choice Hotels. "Additionally, we are pleased with the support shown to us by the State of Maryland, Montgomery County and the City of Rockville for Choice Hotels to remain in Maryland just 10 miles from our current home."

To help retain Choice Hotels in Maryland, and assist the company with its relocation, the State, County, and City are providing $4.3 million in conditional loans and grants that are contingent upon job creation at the new headquarters. In addition, the company is eligible for State, County, and City tax credits, including the County's New Jobs Tax Credit, and could also receive Tax-Exempt Recovery Zone Facility Bonds.

Source: Office of Governor Martin O'Malley
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Israel-based Alvarion, a global leader in the wireless broadband market, is moving its North American headquarters from California to Montgomery County. The move will create 25 new jobs by 2013. To assist the company with the relocation, the State and Montgomery County have agreed to provide $95,000 in conditional loans that are contingent on job creation at the new location, which is yet to be determined.

"We are excited to have Montgomery County, Maryland as the new location of our North American headquarters," says Eran Gorev, president and CEO of Alvarion. "Our world-class team of employees is our most important asset, and we look forward to taking advantage of all that this area has to offer a growing technology company like ours. We thank Congressman Chris Van Hollen, the State of Maryland, Montgomery County and the Maryland/Israel Development Center for their support in making this happen."

The Maryland/Israel Development Center (MIDC), a public-private partnership charged with creating jobs and promoting trade and investment in Maryland and in Israel, was instrumental in attracting Alvarion to Maryland. MIDC Executive Director Barry Bogage reached out to company officials to promote Maryland as a location for their U.S. headquarters and helped connect the company with economic development officials from the State and the County.

"Alvarion is considered one of Israel's high tech success stories," says Bogage. "Relocating their North American headquarters to Maryland is a strong statement to the Israeli high tech community that Maryland is the prime location in the U.S. for Israeli companies. Currently about 30 Israeli businesses have offices in Maryland including such leading names as Teva Pharmaceuticals, BioLineRX and Verint."

Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Ben Walsh, co-founder of the popular Innovate Baltimore technology-centric networking events, has launched Pure Bang Games, a social gaming development company.

Walsh, a veteran of two local gaming firms, Bethesda Softworks and Big Huge Games, has developed games both personally and professionally for over 15 years. He was responsible for producing multi-million dollar blockbuster console games, including AMF Bowling Pinbusters, Star Trek : Conquest (Winner of IGN's Game of the Month), Age of Empires 3: Asian Dynasties, and WET.

"I'm hoping that Pure Bang will become a catalyst for more gaming companies coming to the city. And as we continue to grow we'll definitely be reinvesting in our neighborhood and the city. I love Baltimore and want to see more creative tech companies get started. If I can help bring more young professionals to the city that is definitely a side benefit of being able to do what I already love -- create video games," Walsh says.

The new gaming firm, based in Highlandtown, will release its first game, My Pet Rock, on the Facebook gaming platform in December. The virtual pet game offers social gamers of all ages fun times as they adopt a pet rock. They can chose from a variety of shapes, then customize the rock's look and its garden home. According to Walsh, players will be able to interact with friends through rock battles or dating their friends' rocks which will eventually lead to a baby rock.

Players will be able to purchase items for their pet rocks using "game money" or more unique items and extra energy for between $.10 and $1.70. A new Halloween pack of costumes has been released enabling players to dress their pet rocks up as Frankenstein or Bride of Frankenstein, etc. Anyone interested in playing the game before it is released should "like" My Pet Rock, and send Walsh an email requesting an invite.

"We want our games to represent our sense of humor and our belief in quality. This is our first game and it will be the best game that we can make. I think a lot of people will enjoy it. They'll smile when they see it. Laugh when they play it. That's definitely success for me, seeing and hearing people enjoying our game," says Walsh.

Pure Bang is also working on a simple arcade game it expects to also release on Facebook by the end of the year. The company will also partner with less-tech savvy individuals who have an idea for a game but no programming experience.

The company is currently hiring for a variety of positions, including engineers, product managers, artists, and marketers.

Source: Ben Walsh, Pure Bang Games
Writer: Walaika Haskins

For Owings Mills-based Medifast, Inc., a purveyor of prepackaged, portioned weightloss meal plans, , the third times the charm. The company took the top spot in Forbes Magazine's 2010 list of "America's 100 Best Small Companies." In 2008, Medifast earned its first mention on list as the 85th best small biz, rising to No. 16 on the list in 2009. Under Armour and Joseph A. Bank also made the list earning the No. 28 and No. 48 spots, respectively.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized by Forbes for the third consecutive year, and being ranked as the top small company in America is an amazing honor and achievement," says Michael S. McDevitt, CEO of Medifast.

According to Forbes, the rankings are based on earnings growth, sales growth and return on equity in the past 12 months and over five years.

"We dropped companies with fuzzy accounting or looming legal troubles. We also compared the stock performance of each company with that of its peers. Shares of last year's list members outpaced the Russell by 10 percentage points," Forbes says, "Medifast is on a tear. Sales have marched north 41% a year over the past five years and earnings per share have increased 35% a year during the same period. The past 12 months have been even better, with sales increasing 69% and earnings jumping 120%."

The company made it to the top of the list churning out $218 million in annual sales, a 41 percent increase over the previous five years and earnings per share that have increased 35 percent a year during the same period.

Source: Medifast
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore County has announced that its 2011 Restaurant Week  will take place Jan. 14 through Jan. 28. The dates, revealed last week, came with an open invitation to Baltimore County restaurateurs to participate in the event.

"We have so many wonderful restaurants in Baltimore County and this promotion will make it easy for residents and visitors to enjoy our local flavor," says County Executive Jim Smith. "I am looking forward to two delicious and affordable weeks of dining in Baltimore County."

The county hopes a wide variety of eateries throughout the area will participate. The Baltimore County Department of Economic Development office has sent out more than 500 letters to County restaurants outlining the promotion and inviting participation.

"It's easy and affordable for restaurants to participate," says Jill Feinberg, conference and tourism director for Baltimore County. "We expect to appeal to all palettes and price points." Participating restaurants will offer 1, 2, and 3-course lunch and dinner menus from $10.11 to $35.11 at five-dollar increments.

More information can be found at www.baltimorecountyrestaurantweek.com.

Source: Baltimore County DBED
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Energy Answers International, an Albany, NY-based company, is preparing to break ground on a planned renewable energy plant in Curtis Bay. The plant will be located on the "brownfield" site of the former FMC Corp., an agricultural chemical manufacturer. The 90-acre facility will include a 140 megawatt combined heat and power plant as well as an "Eco-Industrial Park." 

According to the company, the heating and electricity power plant is designed to provide wholesale energy to help meet regional demands, as well as reduced-price retail for co-residents of the industrial park, by burning shredded municipal waste, tire chips, auto parts, and woody debris. The plant has received all necessary municipal and state approvals.

Local environmentalists have expressed concerns about the site, however, arguing that it will increase air pollution and emit mercury and other potentially harmful toxins.

Energy Answers says there will be no solid waste, unprocessed waste, or hazardous materials used in the plant, and that all fuel will be delivered in enclosed vehicles. In addition to the generation of steam and electricity, the Fairfield facility will recover ferrous and non-ferrous metals from the combustion residue for recycling and produce Boiler AggregateTM for use in concrete products and other construction materials.

The facility will create up to 400 jobs during a planned three years of construction, set to begin in December, and at least 180 permanent green jobs when it begins operations in 2013.

Source: Energy Answers
Writer: Walaika Haskins

A team of scientists from Coppin State University's nanotechnology research center have created the most efficient solar energy cells in the world. Dr. Jamal Uddin, a Natural Sciences professor, and five undergraduate students have created model cells that are nearly four percent more efficient than solar cells developed by Spectrolab, a Boeing company based in California that had held the title for most efficient simulated cells since 2006.

Dr. Uddin's team made the discovery as it worked to develop a solar energy source for night vision goggles used by the U.S. Army. The goggles are currently powered by Lithium ion batteries, which are very heavy, says Dr. Uddin. The Army is seeking a lighter, longer lasting alternative battery.

The researchers used nanotechnology particles to make the new solar cells. So far, simulations have shown 43.4 percent of solar cells effective for reusable energy. Spectrolab's highest result was 40.7 percent. Dr. Uddin says his team utilized the metaphysics software COMSOL and the online software program PC1D to break the world record.

The team will continue to try and improve, says Dr. Uddin. "We hope to get it up to 50 percent by December. We'll try using different combinations of materials."

The team is currently seeking additional funding to begin fabricating the solar cells, which Dr. Uddin says could be used to power an array of electronic devices. The cells could also be used as the foundation for future technologies.

"I'm excited because this has been an unexpected discovery," he says.

Source: Dr. Jamal Uddin, Coppin State University
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore's TownePlace Suites by Marriott at BWI Airport is the first LEED for Existing Buildings Gold certified green hotel in Maryland. It is also the first existing hotel among Marriott's 3,400-hotel worldwide portfolio to receive that certification.

Its innovative environmental practices range from green cleaning in guest rooms to composting all of its waste to low-flow plumbing devices and use of low-mercury and compact fluorescent lighting.

"We're thrilled to be named the first LEED Gold certified existing hotel in the state of Maryland," says Michelle Emley, general manager. "The vast majority of our nation's housing stock is older or historic. We know that most homeowners are not in the position to design and build a new green home, but they can incorporate simple, sustainable practices in their existing homes."

"A central belief of green building is that our economic, environmental, and personal health is dramatically impacted by the places where we live, work, learn, shop, eat and play," says Chris Smith, COO of the U.S. Green Building Council. "The owners of the TownePlace Suites by Marriott at BWI Airport recognized this early on, and their foresight has resulted in Maryland's first existing hotel to be certified LEED Gold."

Source: TownPlace Suites
Writer: Walaika Haskins

The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) has launched its statewide health information exchange (HIE). HIE is the infrastructure that supports the private and secure flow of health information among physician practices, hospitals, labs, radiology centers, and other healthcare institutions.

The information exchange is a major step towards the ubiquitous delivery of the right health information to the right place at the right time providing safer, more timely, efficient, patient-centered care. 

Healthcare organizations currently participating in the HIE include: Holy Cross Hospital, Suburban Hospital, Montgomery General Hospital, Community Radiology (a RadNet partner), Advanced Radiology (a RadNet partner), American Radiology Services, Quest Diagnostics, Laboratory Corporation of America. Several more organizations will connect in the next few weeks

All 48 Maryland hospitals have recently committed to sharing data with the statewide HIE. This commitment covers 11,175 in-patient beds, from Garrett County to the Eastern Shore.

"We at Holy Cross Hospital believe a statewide health information exchange can help make care safer and more efficient for Marylanders," says Kevin J. Sexton, president and CEO of Holy Cross Hospital. "We are delighted to join CRISP, state government and other healthcare providers in getting Maryland to this important milestone."

Other hospitals, physician practices, and clinics will be coming online before the end of the year, including many of the state's federally qualified health clinics, which predominantly serve Medicaid, uninsured and other underserved patients. CRISP will also be expanding the kinds of data the HIE is able to exchange as participation grows, from today's hospital discharge summaries, lab results and radiology results to medical documents that contain more complete medical information, sometimes referred to as continuity of care documents, or "CCDs."

This summer, Lt. Gov. Brown joined Gov. Martin O'Malley to convene a roundtable forum of industry leaders and experts, including medical system presidents, hospital CEOs, state officials and other stakeholders to discuss health care reform and innovation in Maryland. The governor has set a goal for the state to become a national leader in health information technology by 2010 by developing a safe and secure statewide HIE and promoting the adoption of electronic medical records among providers. Maryland is well on its way to achieving that goal.

"This is a major step in developing an electronic system that protects individual privacy while improving the quality of health care and controlling costs," says Lt. Gov. Brown. "Soon, every Marylander will be able to enjoy the benefits of having their critical medical information delivered with speed and accuracy to the point of care, avoiding medical mistakes especially in case of an emergency."

Source: CRISP
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Baltimore ranks No. 3 in the nation for per-capita income growth, according to a new study released by Portfolio.com, the national business news site for small and mid-sized business (SMB) executives.

The latest U.S. Uncovered study ranks U.S. cities with the highest income growth. The study, which looked at the nation's top 100 metropolitan areas, analyzed 25 years of federal income data to calculate how income level growth compares across the nation. El Paso, TX took the top spot, with a 147 percent increase in income levels over the past 20 years, followed by Baton Rouge, LA.

The study used a 25-part formula to analyze the consistency and strength of per capita income (PCI) growth in each market. The formula compared each area's growth rates against the U.S. averages for 25 different time spans, yielding an overall score for income growth. All 25 spans ended in 2009, ranging in length from 25 years (1984-2009) to a single year (2008-2009).

Microsoft, the Redmond, WA-based tech giant, has added a Baltimore company to its long list acquisitions. The company announced last week that is has purchased AVIcode, a developer of of real-time, always-on application monitoring solutions, for an undisclosed amount.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Microsoft, AVIcode will use its monitoring technology to provide a 360-degree view of Microsoft's ever-expanding portfolio of cloud-based technologies. Micorosoft says it has been using AVIcode's solution in conjunction with its own System Center Operations Manager for years in its datacenters.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, AVIcode will continue to be based in Baltimore.

"AVIcode will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft and will maintain AVIcode offices in Baltimore, MD, for now. We're excited about the caliber of employees at AVIcode and are working closely with AVIcode's management team to bring a number of AVIcode employees to Microsoft across most functions of the company," he says.

Source: Microsoft spokesperson.
Writer: Walaika haskins.

Hunt Valley-based Oculis Labs, a cyber security firm, and Tom Loveland, CEO of Mind Over Machines, were the big winners named at the Greater Baltimore Tech Council's (GBTC) TechNite last Thursday. In truth, though, it was the region's tech community as a whole that won. The annual event serves as a fundraiser for the GBTC while also shining the spotlight on some of the area's most innovative technology companies.

Oculis Labs, which took home top honors for the "Hottest Tech in Town," was selected from among 15 finalists. The first-time award was based equally on votes from the public and a panel of judges. Oculis edged out Direct Dimensions, a 3D imaging company, and Gloto, developer of a social media marketing platform, both of which had more votes from the public.

"The judges probably looked at it from a slightly different perspective than the community. These are VC and private equity folks, people who deal with ventures on a regular basis. The judging panel was pretty strict. The community vote was great. We had over 5,000 votes which really blew my mind for a first year competition," says Jennifer Gunner, GBTC's interim executive director.

"I was pleasantly surprised that we won. There are a lot of really good companies in Baltimore doing some really interesting things. It was a really nice surprise to be picked," says Bill Anderson, CEO of Oculis Labs.

Tom Loveland's role as Baltimore's "Google Czar" and the work he's done to help win the Google Fiber competition were only part of the reason he received the GBTC's Beta 2.0 award. Inaugurated in 2009, the award is presented to a person who has done the most to help expand the area's technology and business sectors. Loveland was selected from a group of five finalists that included Newt Fowler, a partner at Rosenberg, Martin, Greenberg LLP,  Christian Johansson, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, Mike Subelsky, founder of Ignite Baltimore, and David Troy, president of Roundhouse Technologies.

"[Loveland's role as Google Czar] is one part of it, but it's also the fact that he's really been pushing things forward. From something as simple as pulling together everyone for a great barbecue at his house, to his work with the National Academy Foundation School, where he's trying to make sure that students have access to the STEM curriculum," Gunner says.

Loveland emphasizes that the projects he's involved in are group efforts and that he shares the award with the other finalists. And, of course, that none of this would be possible if there weren't smart, innovative people starting companies and working on cool technologies in the Baltimore area.

"What we really want to say is that it's not just about us. There are emerging leaders and we want to get them some recognition. All kinds of people are doing things. It's exciting. There's a lot of energy, a lot of programs that are getting people engaged," says Loveland.

The attention the event attracts for tech companies is significant, says Gunner.

"CSA Medical, Social Toaster, Direct Dimensions, and Juxtopia -- all of the companies are impressive. It was a really hard process to narrow it down. The most important thing that we did is to get their names and their products out into the marketplace," Gunner says.

Sources: Jennifer Gunner, GBTC; Bill Anderson, Oculis Labs; Tom Loveland, Mind Over Machines
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Profectus BioSciences, Inc., a technology-based vaccine company devoted to the treatment and prevention of chronic viral diseases, has received $6.25 million in grants and contracts from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), including three Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grants from the Division of AIDS, National Institutes of Health totaling $2.9M. These grants are focused on optimizing the Company's portfolio of genetic adjuvants.

Profectus BioSciences seeks to harness the immune system to treat and prevent viral diseases and cancers through the delivery of proprietary prime/boost vaccines.

"Along with IL-12, our portfolio of genetic adjuvants provides us with a toolbox of options to optimize our heterologous prime/boost vaccines. These awards provide significant validation to our scientific approach and accelerate our efforts to develop therapeutic vaccines against HCV, HPV, HSV, and HIV that will have significant clinical impact," says John Eldridge, chief science officer at Profectus BioSciences.

Profectus BioSciences also received $2.75M in continued contract support from the Division of AIDS to develop its recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (rVSV) platform as an HIV vaccine. VSV is a negative-strand, non-segmented RNA virus from the order Mononegavirales that has been redesigned to enable delivery of vaccine immunogens. VSV is a particularly attractive candidate for this purpose because its genome can potentially host more than one foreign gene and it contains its own Profectus BioSciences is utilizing this technology along with its pDNA platforms to develop effective therapeutic vaccines against HCV, HPV, HSV, as well as HIV.

This funding is in addition to the $4.4M in grants announced earlier this week to support the Company's HIV prophylactic vaccine program.

Source: Profectus BioSciences
Writer: Walaika Haskins

Anyone who's been to the B&O American Brasserie wouldn't be surprised to learn that the restaurant received an award for its food, decor or dining experience. But would you expect the downtown eatery to receive kudos for its treatment of its employees? The restaurant received the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and Nation's Restaurant News 2010 SPIRIT Award for its "commitment to their workforce and a strong understanding of how their staff impacts the organization's overall success."

"Being recognized by the National Restaurant Association and Nation's Restaurant News for employee satisfaction at B&O American Brasserie means a great deal to us." says Niki Leondakis, president and chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. "At Kimpton, we are committed to empowering our employees to stay true to themselves. This recognition is a tremendous nod to the strong culture of care that the employees at B&O have created."

"It is an honor to win this prestigious award. At B&O American Brasserie we pride ourselves in employee satisfaction. We recognize the importance of a comfortable and positive work environment and we believe it benefits everyone, including costumers," says Marcus Garner, general manager of B&O American Brasserie.

The National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and Nation's Restaurant News present the annual award to four restaurants that have shown a superior dedication to employee recognition and retention. Winning restaurants display a commitment of quality in several areas including, employee recruitment, hiring, retention, education and training.

The awards are given in four categories (Fine Dining, Full Service, On Site, and Quick Service) and are won by varying types of food establishments from franchise foodservices to independent restaurants. Industry leaders and educators review applicants and determine the winners.

Source: B&O American Brasserie
Writer: Walaika Haskins