OBI Client Company Recent Wins

Endosound

• EndoSound®, Inc., is thrilled to announce that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted a Transitional Pass-Through (TPT) code, effective July 1, 2024, for the company’s EndoSound Vision System™, or EVS™, a revolutionary advancement in endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) technology. Read the article in Business Wire.

Gamma Diagnostics

• Gamma Diagnostics presented new data at the Vascular Discovery meeting of the American Heart Association showing that high GPF levels are associated with death in COVID-19 patients.

Hemex Health

• Two Gazelle studies were presented at conferences during June. Dr. Cathy Segbefia of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana presented “Point-of-care diagnostic for foetal haemoglobin (Hb F) quantification in children undergoing hydroxyurea therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Ghana” at the 2024 Foundation for Sickle Cell Research (FSCDR) conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on June 9th. The study showed that Gazelle could be helpful for clinicians with patients on hydroxyurea – a widely used treatment for sickle cell patients.
• The second study, “Integration of point of care testing in primary health care facilities for early comprehensive management of sickle cell disease in rural Kassena Nankana Districts of Ghana,” which was led by Isaac Odame MD, Professor at the University of Toronto and Medical Director of the Global Sickle Cell Disease Network, was presented at a poster session at the European Hematology Association (eHA) Hybrid Congress on June 14 by team member Lucy Osei Ababio of the Navrongo Health Research Centre. This study showed that Gazelle could be effectively integrated into existing primary healthcare programs in remote area, which should help children in remote regions get screened and into early comprehensive care.

Learn more about OBI’s 31 startups by visiting our website!

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley Visits OBI

Fantastic visit with Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and his team at the Oregon Bioscience Incubator and OTRADI. The discussions centered around the biotechnology landscape in Oregon and included engaging conversations with several OBI client companies. Notable attendees included representatives from Hemex Health, Rewire AI, ESG Brands, Madorra Inc., PDX Pharmaceuticals, and Trace Biosciences. Also participating were OBI’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and the Executive Director of OBI, Heather Ellis.

During the visit, the groups discussed both the positives and challenges faced by startup biotech companies in Oregon. They highlighted the innovative work being done and the potential for significant growth within the sector. However, they also addressed challenges such as local funding limitations, which can hinder the progress of these promising companies. This visit helps bring awareness to the biotech ecosystem in Oregon, emphasizing the need for continued support and investment in the sector.

Registration Now Open!

Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience (AOBIO) is designed to support early-stage life and bioscience startups based in Oregon and Southwest Washington by offering investment-readiness education, connectivity within the local bioscience community, and the opportunity to receive an equity investment from local angel investors.

The program is one in a series of Angel Oregon events facilitated by Oregon Entrepreneurs Network in collaboration with Oregon Bioscience Association, Oregon Bioscience Incubator/OTRADI, OHSU and Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute.

2024 will feature a three-week investment-readiness education series for life and bioscience startups at any stage of development. Cohort 2 launches Thursdays, August 22nd – September 19th.

Biomentoring Program

Expert Guidance: Benefit from insights of seasoned mentors with diverse startup experience.

Tailored Support: Get personalized mentorship to tackle your unique challenges and goals.

Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers and expand your professional network.

And the best part? It’s completely FREE! Our mentors are dedicated to nurturing the next wave of innovators.

Business Oregon’s 2024 SBIR/STTR Matching Awards: A Boost for Bioscience

In 2024, Business Oregon awarded SBIR/STTR Matching Awards to several companies, with the majority of these awards going to ventures within the bioscience and biotechnology fields.

These awards are crucial for early-stage companies that are often navigating the challenging phases of research, development, and initial commercialization.

The SBIR/STTR Matching Awards by Business Oregon in 2024 highlight the state’s dedication to fostering innovation, supporting small businesses, and driving economic growth, particularly within the high-impact bioscience and biotechnology sectors.

Accelerate Happy Hour Networking
July 11, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Register Here

Virtual Lunch & Learn: Patents are Easy, Selling is Hard
July 23, 2024 | 12:00 p.m. -1:00 p.m.
Register Here

Think & Drink Trivia Night
July 30, 2024 | 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Get Tickets Here

Startup Spotlight Expo:
Featuring the Innovative Startups within OBI
September 12, 2024 | 5:00-8:00 p.m.
OBI Event Space, Portland
Tickets on sale now

Other Community Events

Party in the Pinot
July 20, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
Scholls Valley Lodge, Hillsboro
Tickets on Sale Now!

2024 Bend Venture Conference
The largest angel conference in the Pacific Northwest!
October 17-19, 2024
Downtown Bend
Pitch Your Startup–Apply Now!