It’s OTRADI’s 15th Anniversary!
A message from Executive Director, Heather Ellis:
We are excited to be celebrating 15 years of OTRADI and 10 years of the Oregon Bioscience Incubator (OBI). I would like to thank all the Oregonians who have supported the work that we do at the OBI. For those who don’t know our background, OTRADI is a non-profit institute primarily funded by the state of Oregon via grants administered by Business Oregon.
OTRADI and the OBI are 100% driven by our mission, which is to fuel the economic development of Oregon’s bio industry by translating innovative research into the next generation of products and companies that benefit health and create high-wage jobs for Oregon.
In a recent economic impact survey of the 18-year period between 2002 and 2020, total bioscience employment in Oregon increased 85% (+5,270 jobs), total wages increased 215% (+$593.4 million), and average annual wages increased 71% (+$31,340). Oregon’s 1,480 life science firms and leading academic and research institutions generated a total economic impact of almost 66,000 jobs and $15.7 billion in output in 2020. (Association, 2022)
Since OTRADI’s inception in 2008, we have done our best to listen to the needs of these startups and we have evolved and responded to these needs by building our facility and developing programs to help build and advance the bio startup community in Oregon. OTRADI has evolved over the past fifteen years from a research institute, which was what was sorely needed at that time, into—ten years ago—building out and opening the Oregon Bioscience Incubator—the state’s first and only bio-focused startup hub.
In 2013, when we opened the doors of the OBI, we started with six startup companies. In response to overwhelming demand, we have expanded throughout the years, and we are now home to thirty-two startup companies working on innovative new drugs, medical devices, and digital health IT products.
Our goal was simple—do everything in our power to make it easier for scientists to take the plunge and launch and grow their own startup companies here in Oregon.
Bio startups are different than other startups. Before they can bring their health and wellness products to market, they must overcome the high bar set by the FDA— which requires specialized space, highly trained personnel, a long timeline, and lots of investment. We heard this, and the OBI responded by building our incubator to be a physical home with labs and specialized equipment for startups.
Bio startups also need a robust network of mentors, advisors and investors to succeed. We heard this, and the OBI responded by creating the state’s first BioMentoring network, made up of more than 120 professionals willing to donate their valuable time to help bio-entrepreneurs across the State succeed.
Bio startups also need entrepreneurial support and a community of public and private organizations to help them grow. We heard this, and the OBI responded by building strong partnerships and collaborations with the state’s research universities and support organizations, including Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Bioscience Association, Technology Association of Oregon, Oregon Entrepreneur Network, Portland State Business Accelerator, private venture capital funds, angel investment groups, developers, and more. We thank these key partners for their hard work and long-time support of our bio startup community.
Although I am biased, I truly believe that the OBI holds the state’s most innovative and promising startup companies. Every day at the OBI, is about showcasing and advancing our 32 startup companies’ work, so please let me take a moment to brag on their behalf.
In the past 15 years, the state’s investment in the OBI has allowed our startups to raise $685M in federal and private funding, generate $85M in revenue, and create 871 jobs. I am more than proud of our startups’ return on investment for Oregon, and we’re just getting started.
We see incredible promise on the horizon. The OBI will be here to listen and to respond to the evolving needs of our bio startup community as they catapult Oregon into the international spotlight with their innovative work.
Please let me thank the most important people within our organization. Thank you to OTRADI’s esteemed board of directors; to our two Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Bill Newman and Gordon Hoffman; and to OTRADI’s small but mighty staff, including Rene Miller, Susan Thompson, and Sarah Vivian.
Finally, let me thank the immensely talented companies that currently reside at the OBI:
AirOmatix
Buchanan Science
CANX LLC
Circumvent Pharmaceuticals
EndoSound
ESG Brands
Gamma Diagnostics
GenerX
Health Technology Innovations
Hemex Health
Keliomics
Madorra
NeuvaRx
OmnEcoil Instruments
PDX Pharmaceuticals
ProMedix
Qtonics
Refeyn
Rewire Neuro
RxHomeTest
Senju
Sirona Dx
Sonivate Medical
StoneStable
Suturegard Medical
Thaena
Trace Biosciences
Vaginal Biome Science
Veana Therapeutics
Velanidi Technologies
Virogenomics BioDevelopment
VitalFlo
We truly believe that Oregon entrepreneurs will drive the next generation of breakthroughs to improve lives. Thank you for your collaboration and support over the past fifteen years, and we look forward to your continued support as partners in these exciting days to come.
References:
Oregon Bioscience Association. (2022). Oregon’s Bio Boom 2022 Economic Impact Report. https://www.oregonbio.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2022FinalEIR_Full.pdf
Welcome to the OBI
AirOmatix and ESG Brands
AirOmatix is developing the only portable oxygen concentrator for high-flow oxygen patients, freeing them from bulky oxygen cylinders. Our novel, patent-pending technology will also enable us to develop low-flow oxygen concentrators that are smaller and quieter than existing options.
ESG Brands is a sustainable technology company operating in the materials science space with agricultural waste as feedstock. ESG Brands core technology is a green chemistry based degumming process for the textile industry–clothing and footwear, home textiles, and technical textiles–converting agricultural waste into cotton 10x faster than conventional processes with potable water as a byproduct. In addition, the company is active in sustainable manufacturing and the broader materials science space: food and beverage, and next-gen bio-synthetics. ESG Brands believe that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is essential for a sustainable future, and are committed to using business to make a positive impact on the planet. The first materials product from ESG will be marketed as BANEX, the world’s next natural fiber, from the daily waste streams at banana plantations.
AirOmatix and ESG Brands join the OBI on June 15, 2023. Let’s give them a warm welcome!
OBI Client Company Wins
- ProMedix was the winner of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network‘s entrepreneurial education and angel investment program Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May! They received the $185,000 AOBIO angel investment, as well as an additional $75,000 investment from ONAMI.
- They published an important paper in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, entitled Evaluation of electronic measurement of capillary refill for Sepsis screening at ED triage.
- ProMedix has been invited to attend the Creative Destruction Lab Super Session in Toronto, Canada after graduating from their Vancouver, Canada accelerator program.
- VitalFlo was a finalist in May’s Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale.
- At SUTUREGARD Medical, we released a new product this year called HEMIGARD Interlock, which allows surgical incision closure/support without sutures. A proprietary hook and loop technology from 3M has been incorporated into our existing HEMIGARD design and allows for considerable tension relief at the incision healing edge. This protects skin edge blood flow and optimizes healing and scarring outcomes.
- Our Classic HEMIGARD ASRD (Adhesive Suture Retention Device) is used now in over 230 hospitals in the USA and helps surgeons close high tension or at risk wounds. We envision HEMIGARD Interlock for gentler support in elective surgeries such as joint replacement, bunion correction, cosmetic surgery and other.
- Q1 2023 was our first profitable quarter and we hope to build on this momentum and continue to our goal of being self funding through sales revenue.
- Trace Biosciences won a $125,000 investment from ONAMI at the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale in May.
- We published a 103-patient COVID-19 study showing that our diagnostic test for gamma prime fibrinogen (GPF) can differentiate between mild/moderately ill patients, severely ill patients, and non-patients better than six other widely-used diagnostic tests.
- The paper is at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10147444/.
- Keliomics won a $100,000 investment from ONAMI and a $100,000 investment from Ideaship at the Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience finale in May.
HTI:
- Attended BIO23 as a co-sponsor of the Oregon Bioscience Association‘s Oregon Pavilion. BIO2023, BIO International Convention | BIO, is the premier international conference with over 17K attendees representing biotech, pharma and investment companies. Meetings set with over 30+ partners to advance cryo-em service and software business.
- Successfully finished early CryoDiscovery ™ testing at OHSU/PNCC.
- Successfully submitted the Phase2 matching grant final report to Oregon Business.
- Submitted application, per NSF invitation, for TCEP, Technology Enhancement for Commercial Partnerships (TECP) supplemental funding,
- Signed Cryo-EM MSA with BASF
- Advanced partnership project with ADRx toward full completion into 3D model building stage
- StoneStable was a finalist at Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience in May.
Synergic Medical Technologies (alumnus):
- Synergic has initiated a clinical trial for the vibrotactile treatment we have developed for people with Parkinson’s. The study is posted on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05881460) and our partners at OHSU will start enrolling people soon. We expect the data from this study to enable us to submit to FDA for market clearance.
OBI’s BioMentors Offer Free Help for Oregon Startups
We have a network of over 120 BioMentors who are available to provide short-term pro bono advice and assistance to promising life science and digital health entrepreneurs across the state of Oregon. Our BioMentors have valuable expertise in a wide range of business topics that are integral to the success of early-stage life science companies, including:
ACCOUNTING
BUSINESS PLANS
DIGITAL HEALTH
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
HEALTH IT
LEGAL/IP
LICENSING
MACHINE LEARNING/AI
MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURING
MARKET ANALYSIS
MARKETING
PRIVATE FUNDING
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
REGULATORY/FDA
For more information and assistance, fill out this form and we’ll match you with a BioMentor who can help.
Office Space for Your Bioscience Startup
If you have a bioscience or health innovation startup and need office space, come talk to us! We operate the only bioscience-focused incubator in Oregon, with private offices, private labs, co-working space, and shared labs for startups in bioscience – including digital health, medical devices, AI/ML, diagnostics, therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, and more! We have brand new office spaces available now.
Submit your facility inquiry here and let’s schedule a time to talk.
Upcoming Events
Health Tech Forum:
Care Beyond the Provider’s Office
June 15, 2023
3:00-5:30 PM
Google – Portland
Free to attend – register here
PDXWIT Presents:
Pride Happy Hour
June 20, 2023
5:30-7:30 PM
DAT Freight & Analytics – Portland
Free to attend – register here
2023 Invent Oregon Collegiate Challenge Finals
June 22, 2023
1:30-6:00 PM
Redd East – Portland
Free to attend – get tickets
Angel Oregon Tech Finale & Innovation Showcase
June 22, 2023
3:00-7:00 PM
Jupiter NEXT – Portland
Get tickets here
Oregon Bioscience Incubator
Happy Hour Networking
July 6, 2023
5:30-7:00 PM
River Forum Outdoor Patio – Portland
Free to attend – register here