The Good Food Institute’s Post

💸 iFAB Tech Hub has been awarded approximately $51 million to enhance biomanufacturing and precision fermentation capabilities in Central Illinois. Learn more → https://bit.ly/3LhlbKV Awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) in the form of an implementation grant, the funding will help position Central Illinois as a global leader in biomanufacturing and precision fermentation, supporting national security, economic growth, and job generation. The funding is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Tech Hubs Program, a national initiative aimed at investing in and growing regional bioeconomies and workforce development in critical technologies across the country, and follows $680 million in funding announced earlier this year. “Central Illinois is uniquely positioned to lead the way in biomanufacturing, leveraging an ecosystem of industry leaders, innovative startups, world-class R&D, scalable infrastructure, abundant feedstock production, and robust transportation networks,” said iFAB leader Nicole Bateman, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur & Macon County. It's truly energizing to see continued substantial public support for #alternativeproteins to foster vibrant regional bioeconomies in the Midwest. 👏

Thrilled to share my recent op-ed in Bio Futures magazine... In this piece, I delve into the real estate challenges and solutions for Indiana’s life sciences sector. Here are three key takeaways: - Real Estate Investment Landscape: Indiana faces a scarcity of third-party investors compared to major life sciences hubs. While these hubs boast 55% ownership by private developers and REITs, our local market struggles to attract similar capital. My op-ed explores strategies to bridge this gap and foster investment growth. - Startup Support: Early-stage biotech startups are the lifeblood of innovation. However, they often lack access to essential resources. Co-working labs can play a pivotal role in nurturing these startups, providing collaborative spaces where breakthroughs happen. Let’s champion co-working lab initiatives to empower our local entrepreneurs. - Infrastructure Funding: Leveraging Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts presents an exciting opportunity. By directing TIF funds toward life sciences infrastructure, we can enhance research facilities, attract talent, and elevate Indiana’s prominence in the industry. Read my full op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/gcxgPRQF Let’s continue driving innovation and growth in Indiana’s life sciences sector. #LifeSciences #Indiana #Innovation Jon R. Owens, SIOR Kristin Jones Indiana Health Industry Forum

A fascinating and experience-driven article highlighting the significant impact of policy on becoming a leading state in biotech. It underscores the importance of carrying good policy forward. Truly insightful! Keep it up Livio Valenti!

Just when you thought that the good times were gone, and life was dull again... BioAmass is back for the new year! 🎉🍻 This time in Sheffield at The Tap (literally at Sheffield train station to make it as easy as possible) 🗓️ Tues 23 Jan ⏰. 4pm-8pm (until you all clear off)🌙 As before, we are putting a bit behind the bar with the aim of gathering the biotech/biotech adjacent community together. No talks. Just chatting. So come and join us and the rest of your community. From the two we have done in Nottingham I know there are many more people out there in the local area than is immediately apparent. Sheffield people came to the Nottingham ones, so I'm hoping Nottingham people will come to Sheffield. And maybe from lots of other places too! Power in numbers people! Founders, students, postdocs, startups, scientists, investors, lab-builder people, TTOs, regulatory, marketing folks and storytellers, grant writers - you don't know who you need to meet until you meet them. The Eventbrite is here so we have a rough idea of numbers (i.e. Know that some people are coming!) but please spread the word and just turn up. 👉https://lnkd.in/e7s5tB2R My plans are to probably do 4 in Nottingham over the year (dates tbc ASAP) and 4 roving ones! (always happy to do more if someone wants to help with the cash 😉 Tracey Hassall-Jones Tom Wolfenden Joe Price Adam Glen John Heap (I'll tag more people as the days go on!) #syntheticbiology #biotechnology #innovation #founders #postdoc #phd #startups

It's not every day that you encounter founders in the South Pacific who are pioneering the development of drugs delivered via recombinant methods aka Adeno-associated virus (AAV). AAV's are one of the most promising gene therapy vectors and a powerful tool for delivering the gene of interest. Meet Shane Grey, an experienced immunologist with a special focus on diabetes and its secondary diseases. Shane is setting out to be Australia's pioneer in drug manufacturing using recombinant methods.Shane's journey to market has been a marathon beginning with early research in diabetes treatment. Initially, his path was marked by a significant setback when the chosen AAV—being a viral vector—faced regulatory barriers that were insurmountable at the time; simply put, the regulations either would not pass it, or did not yet know how to handle such innovative treatments. Despite the devastated investors, Shane chose resilience over surrender. Along with his team, they began investigating a new type of AAV that could safely and effectively carry their gene therapy treatments. His commitment to overcoming these hurdles highlights the perseverance required to develop groundbreaking treatments. Today, Shane's work is at the forefront of a growing trend where many startups are dedicated to creating safer, more efficient AAV vectors for gene delivery to help scientists like him. If you're intrigued and want to delve deeper into the world of gene therapy, especially on how their safety is evaluated check out Shane's publications. Additionally, I’ve shared an accessible video that demonstrates how gene therapy is conducted in preclinical settings, providing a practical insight into this process: https://lnkd.in/gQNppZAH

#fundingalert 💼Company: Ironic Biotech 💰Funding: €1 Million ⚡Round: Pre-Seed 👥Investors: Nordic Foodtech VC. Ironic Biotech, sweden startup was founded in 2020 by Nélida Leiva Eriksson, who holds a PhD in protein design and molecular biology and has worked as a visiting fellow at Harvard and the University of Essex. This Pre-Seed funding will be used for further ramp work, expanding the company’s patent portfolio, and optimizing the production process. The team is now looking for partners in the food and food supplement industry to work with. Nélida Leiva Eriksson Louise Rørbæk Heiberg Karin Kettisen, Ph.D. Read more -https://lnkd.in/erUC9MhT To share your startup story write us on - [email protected] #IronicBiotech #swedenstartup #biotech #biotechstartup #supplement #molecularbiology #funding #startupnews #fundingnews #news #startuprise

San Diego life science community, get ready to learn about the future of anti-aging technology! Join LaunchBio Inc. and Nucleate San Diego on April 11th for our next Larger Than Life Science event. This event will feature Dr. Anthony Molina, Daniel Oliver, and David H. Crean, with discussion led by Rubén Darío Flores Saaib who will explore the emerging field of anti-aging and the revolutionary technologies employed to both understand and address the aging process. Learn what is driving innovation, the opportunities for biotech start-ups, the investment trends shaping the sector, and the ethical and social implications of this technology. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and stay ahead of the curve in the life sciences industry. Register now and join us for an exciting evening of innovation and investment trends. Don't miss out on this chance to learn from industry leaders and explore the latest breakthroughs in biotech startups and longevity. Register Here: https://lnkd.in/gpiETiUU #LargerThanLifeScience #AntiAging #LifeSciences #Innovation #BiotechStartups #InvestmentTrends #Longevity

When we launched Vaxess Technologies it was crystal clear that Massachusetts was the best place in the world to build a mission-driven biotech company. Coming from abroad as a student, I was excited to see that the State had enacted clever policies to invest in technologies developed at local universities. Unfortunately, most of the high-impact State-funded capital programs are now on pause. Here are some perspective on how to restart key programs to keep up with the competition from other states (and countries), and encourage other founders to build their companies in the Bay State, as we did. Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Maura Healey, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MassBio, Vaxess Technologies, Yvonne Hao https://lnkd.in/eTqwswe3

Like the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner, the creation of successful #lifesciences hubs requires a lot of time, planning, and support!   It’s exciting to see how those efforts are paying off in areas like Boston/Cambridge, the San Francisco/Bay Area, Chicago, Dallas, and elsewhere.   Grace Colón shares more insights on the recipe for fostering thriving #biotech hubs in this article in The Hill.   #executivesearch 

🚀🏔️ ☠️The Journey Through the Valley of Death in Biotech Projects In the development of biotechnological projects, there is a critical stage known as the "valley of death." This term describes the challenge many innovations face when trying to transition from the lab to the market. In this crucial window, a significant number of companies and projects fail, despite their initial potential. Why ???🥹🔬 The "valley of death" is characterized by a series of complex challenges: 1. Scalability: Not all solutions that work in a lab environment can be easily scaled. 2. Regulation: Biotechnology is subject to strict regulations that vary across regions and can be costly and time-consuming to meet. 3. Funding: Securing the necessary financial resources to move forward can be difficult, especially when investors seek guarantees of success. 4. Competition and Market: Fierce competition and the need for a solid market strategy are also significant barriers. Overcoming the Valley💡⚔️ To navigate this stretch successfully, it is essential to: - Develop a clear strategy: Rigorous planning from the start. - Collaborations and partnerships: Partner with entities that can offer additional resources and expertise. - Continuous innovation: Be flexible and open to adjustments in the approach. - Understanding regulations: Invest time in understanding and complying with norms. - Seek smart funding: It’s not just about capital but finding investors who understand the sector. 🧐From my perspective, few investigations take process engineering into account, such as scalability, which is crucial for success. What do you think are the critical stages in biotech project development?🤔 The journey can be arduous, but the rewards of successfully crossing the "valley of death" are immense: innovative products that can transform lives and entire sectors. 🔆Moving forward, overcoming challenges, and building the future of biotechnology* #Biotechnology #Innovation #ValleyOfDeath #ProjectDevelopment #ScienceAndTechnology #Entrepreneurship #Research #Funding #Regulation #Collaboration 📸 S.A Gbadgeshin et. al., 2022