Latest SoCalBio Workshop Assists Emerging Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Medical Device Firms

The Southern California Biomedical Council (SoCalBio) is sponsoring a day-long workshop on Thursday, January 29th focused on "insider" strategies to help emerging biotech, nanotech and medical device firms secure government funding. Held at the UCLA Faculty Club, the workshop will feature a distinguished panel of representatives from government agencies and private sector firms specializing in SBIR and STTR funding.

“Government funding is crucial for emerging life sciences firms, especially in the current financial environment where traditional sources of early-stage funding have essentially dried up,” said Ahmed Enany, president and CEO of SoCalBio. “The good news is that there’s an abundance of government funding opportunities for entrepreneurs who understand how the system works.”

Enany explained that government funding provides early stage life science firms with grant money, peer validation, prestige and an enhanced opportunity to attract investors. The SoCalBio workshop at UCLA will provide first-hand insight from top decision makers involved in the government funding process.

Speakers at the workshop will include:

• Ali Andalibi, Ph.D., Program Director, NCI SBIR Development Center; former NSF SBIR/STTR Biotechnology Program Director
• Robert Berger, Ph.D., Consultant and former SBIR/STTR Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy; former Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Technology and Innovation Division
• David Hood, MS, MBA, PMP, President, DH3 & Associates & Senior Advisor for the Principle Assistant for Acquisitions, US Army MRMC
• Gregory Milman, Ph. D., Director, Office for Innovation and Special Programs, Division of Extramural Activities, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, DHHS

The SoCalBio government funding workshop will be held on Thursday, January 29th from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the UCLA Faculty Club, 480 Charles Young Drive (East), Los Angeles, CA 90095. For more information about attending the workshop, please see SoCalBio’s web site at http://www.socalbio.org.