Cluster Bioscience

Clusters Overview | Modeling & Simulation | Sensors | Bioscience

"Sensors in Bioscience" Conference Slides
Flyer

R7 Bioscience Sensor and Sensor Science Forum

2-3-09 / Bioscience Steering Committee Meeting
Meeting Summary

Bioscience Steering Committee Information

Hampton Roads Bioscience Cluster Survey

Bioscience Young but Maturing
Bioscience Cluster leader Dr. William Wasilenko outlined the region’s bioscience status, growth and potential at the cluster’s first networking luncheon on Oct. 1. To read his full presentation, click here.

THE BIOSCIENCE CLUSTER

BioScience Cluster Steering Committee Meets
Hosted by the City of Hampton, the inaugural meeting of the BioScience Cluster Steering Committee kicked off on May 29th. Seventeen members attended the two-hour event, including representatives from three Hampton Roads bioscience companies, three universities, the City of Hampton Economic Development Department, cluster economic development consultant the Virginia Biotechnology Association (VaBio), the Virginia Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) and the Hampton Roads Research Partnership (HRRP). Cluster Leader Dr. William Wasilenko of Eastern Virginia Medical School chaired the meeting.

Bill Wasilenko introduced the cluster concept to the membership, then led a follow-on discussion as to what roles the cluster and steering committee, respectively, should play in the coming months. The general consensus among participants was that all responsible parties should focus on raising capital, workforce development, intellectual property management and creating new wet lab space.

Bob Rea of Angle Technology Corp. provided a preliminary summary of the Hampton Roads bioscience economic activity survey he is conducting. VaBio’s Mark Herzog discussed the luncheon series that VaBio is sponsoring across the state, and suggested that Hampton Roads might be an ideal site for one this summer. Mark also discussed Mid-Atlantic Bio, a biotechnology conference and venture capital event sponsored by the Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia biotech communities to be held later this year in Northern Virginia. Mark encouraged participation by Hampton Roads, and Bill Wasilenko suggested the cluster provide an exhibit for the event.

Finally, Terry Woodworth of CIT described the CIT Gap Bio and Life Science Fund which provides funding for new ventures in the stage between self-financing and angel-capital financing. All in attendance enthusiastically applauded the idea of a BioScienceCluster and the steering-committee concept. Bill Wasilenko suggested the next cluster meeting would occur in a few months.

Providing Value:
Participants and Facilities

Broadly defined, BioScience includes medical technologies, marine and environmental science, food science, agriculture and a wide array of activities involving application of the principles of biology.

The Hampton Roads Research Partnership is establishing a BioScience Cluster, consisting of Research Partnership member institutions as well as Hampton Roads companies and organizations actively engaged in one or more BioScience aspects.

The BioScience multi-university coalition will provide access to numerous state-of-the-art research facilities at member institutions and an additional 29 laboratories co-located at the Applied Research Center in Newport News, Virginia.

Among BioScience Cluster partners are included

The Eastern Virginia Medical School
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
The Virginia Center for Innovative Technology
The Virginian Biotechnology Association

Getting Involved:
Interaction and Information Exchange

The BioScience Cluster seeks to develop a well-connected and highly active BioScience community to enable Cluster members to routinely network, exchange information and to create funding opportunities.

The BioScience Cluster will organize a number of events each year, including workshops and seminars.

There exist strong crosslinks to the Modeling & Simulation and Sensors Clusters.

Amplifying Collaboration:
A Regional Research Partnership

The BioScience Cluster is part of the Hampton Roads Research Partnership (HRRP), a synergistic collaboration that involves

Seven distinctive universities and colleges,
Two acclaimed federal research laboratories,
A medical school with world-renowned programs, and
A leader in applied aerospace technologies and education

The Research Partnership

Coordinates research efforts
Leverages partner institutions’ state-of-the-art facilities
Engages the intellectual capital of 2,000 HRRP-affiliated scientists and engineers

HRRP is funded by its members and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.

To Join:
Contact

HRRP BioScience Cluster Leader
William J. Wasilenko, Ph.D.
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Office of Research
721 Fairfax Avenue | Norfolk, VA 23507
http://www.hamptonroadsrp.org | wasilewj@evms.edu
757.446.8480

HRRP Members

Christopher Newport University
http://www.cnu.edu/

The College of William & Mary
http://www.wm.edu/

Eastern Virginia Medical School
http://www.evms.edu/

Hampton University
http://www.hamptonu.edu/

NASA Langley Research Center
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/langley/

National Institute of Aerospace
http://www.nianet.org/index.php

Norfolk State University
http://www.nsu.edu/

Old Dominion University
http://www.odu.edu/

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility
http://www.jlab.org/

Virginia Wesleyan College
http://www.vwc.edu/

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