Each week, our Regional Roundup delivers the most important and timely life sciences news from around the region. From groundbreaking research to fundraising, new development projects, and who’s hiring — we bring you the top stories that matter most. Stay informed with a curated selection of the latest news, delivered directly to your inbox weekly.
This week in the bioHealth Capital Region, funding is fueling discovery, clinical programs are moving forwards, and the region is building more infrastructure needed to turn research into impact. Millions of dollars are flowing into new research, cancer programs are reaching important regulatory milestones, and new facilities and partnerships are bringing researchers, physicians, and engineers together.
On the funding side, UVA’s Biomedical Data Science Innovation Lab landed nearly $2.7 million from NIH, while the Milken Institute and Kissick Family Foundation awarded $2.5 million for frontotemporal dementia research and UMSOP Dean Sarah Michel received another $2.1 million NIH grant. ATCC also secured a 10-year contract worth up to $99 million to manage military medical countermeasures.
That investment is showing up alongside progress closer to patients. OncoC4 earned FDA Fast Track designation for cesalatamig, Rise Therapeutics moved its Phase 1 cancer trial into dose expansion, and OS Therapies aligned with the FDA on its Phase 3 OST-HER2 trial design. At the same time, Baltimore’s new CTEM center is putting engineers and physicians under one roof, while Charlottesville’s life sciences ecosystem has grown to more than 250 companies and is building the workforce to support them. This week shows what growth across the region can look like when capital, talent, infrastructure, and clinical progress start moving together.
Financial
Tracking the capital moving through the BioHealth Capital Region — funding rounds, M&A activity, and investment trends shaping Maryland, DC, and Virginia’s life sciences companies.
UVA’s Biomedical Data Science Innovation Lab Wins $2.7 Million NIH Grant to Expand Interdisciplinary Research Model
UVA’s Biomedical Data Science Innovation Lab received nearly $2.7 million in NIH funding to expand its interdisciplinary research model. The funding will help the program continue bringing together early-career biomedical and data science researchers to collaborate on complex health challenges and build new research partnerships. Read More >
Milken Institute and Kissick Family Foundation Select Recipients of $2.5 Million in New Funding for Frontotemporal Dementia Research and Invite New Proposals
The Milken Institute and Kissick Family Foundation awarded $2.5 million to five research teams studying frontotemporal dementia (FTD), with projects focused on uncovering disease mechanisms, biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. The partners also opened a fourth funding cycle, offering researchers up to $500,000 over two years to continue advancing research into sporadic FTD. Read More >
Michel Awarded $2.1 Million NIH Grant to Investigate Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling and Gene Regulation
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Dean Sarah Michel received a $2.1 million NIH grant to investigate how hydrogen sulfide alters zinc finger proteins and gene regulation. The funding will give Michel’s team long-term support to explore a biological mechanism that could have broader implications for cancer, cardiovascular health, metabolism and neurological disorders. Read More >
ATCC Lands 10-Year, $99M Department of War Contract to Manage Military Medical Countermeasures
ATCC has been named prime contractor for the RAPID program, a 10-year Department of War contract worth up to $99 million to manage government-owned vaccines and biologics protecting military personnel against chemical and biological threats. The award builds on ATCC’s existing DOW relationships and broader federal biodefense portfolio spanning the CDC, NIH, and BARDA. Read More >
People
Who we’re buzzing about this week — the leadership moves, board appointments, and rising names shaping the region’s life sciences community.
Dr. Jonathan Burke Selected as Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Dr. Jonathan Burke was selected to lead NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, where he will oversee more than $520 million in annual research funding. Burke brings more than three decades of experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery, clinical care and academic leadership to the Bethesda-based institute. Read More >
Humberto Moran Named VP of Manufacturing Technical Operations at Cellphire Therapeutics
Cellphire Therapeutics named Humberto Moran Vice President of Manufacturing & Technical Operations as the company continues building its manufacturing capabilities. Moran will help lead manufacturing strategy and operations as Cellphire works to advance its platelet-based therapeutics from clinical development toward commercialization. Read More >
MaxCyte Names Sidharth Kapileshwar Chief Corporate Development Officer
MaxCyte has appointed Sidharth Kapileshwar as Chief Corporate Development Officer to help lead the company’s corporate development and growth strategy. Kapileshwar brings nearly 25 years of experience in corporate development, strategy, innovation and M&A, most recently serving as Vice President of Innovation for Danaher’s Life Sciences Platform. Read More >
Workforce
The hiring activity, team expansions, and talent trends driving growth across Maryland, DC, and Virginia’s life sciences and biotech employers.
How Charlottesville became home to more than 250 life science companies
Charlottesville’s life sciences ecosystem has grown from roughly 40 companies to more than 250 over the past decade, creating growing demand for scientists, engineers, lab technicians, production workers and quality professionals. CvilleBioHub is working with Piedmont Virginia Community College and regional employers to build a local talent pipeline, aligning training and certificate programs with the skills life sciences companies are actively hiring for.
New Neurotech Funding Solicitation Released from NIH Blueprint Medtech
Applications are now open for the Blueprint MedTech Incubator Hub Cycle 7 funding opportunity, designed to accelerate transformative medical device innovations aimed at preventing, diagnosing, or treating disorders of the nervous system. Apply Now >
Who’s hiring?!
Top Employer
Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, Emmes is a clinical research organization that combines scientific expertise, technology, and data to support clinical research and advance new treatments. Its work spans clinical trials, data and statistical services, technology solutions, and research programs across a range of therapeutic areas.
For professionals interested in the intersection of healthcare and technology, Emmes offers opportunities that go beyond traditional clinical research. The company is currently hiring across software engineering, project leadership, and other technical functions, including backend, front-end, full-stack, and software testing roles through Essex Management.
They are currently hiring across 30+ roles across Maryland. Apply Now >
Other employers and available roles we’re paying attention to this week:
- ICON (Maryalnd) is hiring a Jr. Scientist II/X-Ray Crystallographer | Apply Now >
- Psomagen (Rockville, MD) is hiring a Laboratory Logistics Assistant (Part-Time) | Apply Now >
- AbbVie (Hagerstown, MD) is hiring a Specialty Representative, Psychiatry | Apply Now >
- ZOLL Medical Corporation (Washington, DC) is hiring a Territory Manager – Washington DC South | Apply Now >
- DELFI Diagnostics (Baltimore, MD) is hiring a Senior Scientist, Assay Development | Apply Now >
Clinical + Commercial
The latest clinical trial progress, regulatory milestones, and commercial launches from companies advancing science from the lab to the market across the BioHealth Capital Region.
OS Therapies Achieves Incremental Alignment With FDA and Accepts Project Orbis Invitation From MHRA on OST-HER2 Metastatic Osteosarcoma Program
OS Therapies aligned with the FDA on the Phase 3 trial design for OST-HER2, its immunotherapy for metastatic osteosarcoma. The company is also moving forward with a global regulatory strategy under Project Orbis, with the Phase 3 trial expected to begin in the U.K. later this year. Read More >
OncoC4 Receives FDA Fast Track Designation for Cesalatamig, an Investigational PD-1/VEGF Bispecific Antibody
OncoC4 received FDA Fast Track Designation for cesalatamig, its investigational PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody being developed for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed after immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The therapy is currently being evaluated in global Phase 1/2 trials across more than 50 clinical sites, with OncoC4 now working toward registrational Phase 3 development. Read More >
Rise Therapeutics Completes Dose Escalation in R-5780 Phase 1 Cancer Trial, Advances to Dose Expansion
Rise Therapeutics completed dose escalation in its Phase 1 trial of R-5780, an oral immunotherapy designed for cancer patients who don’t respond or become resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors. With a recommended dose established and safety data reviewed, the trial is now moving into dose expansion to further evaluate the therapy’s safety, tolerability and potential to improve responses to checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Read More >
Ecosystem
The partnerships, programs, and policy moves building the BioHealth Capital Region’s life sciences infrastructure — and the organizations driving it forward.
Six Industry Leaders Take the Stage in Rockville to Share Lessons on Quality, Manufacturing, and Scale
Maryland’s pharmaceutical operations leaders gathered at Supernus Pharmaceuticals in Rockville this Wednesday 23rd September, for BioBuzz’s Built to Scale event, featuring fireside chats with leaders from Supernus, AstraZeneca, Samsung Biologics, Kymanox, ProcellaRX, and PureFlow on quality culture, manufacturing tech transfer, and facility infrastructure. Read More >
FDA Updates Regulations to Advance Innovative Alternatives to Animal Testing
The FDA updated its regulations to give drug developers more flexibility to use non-animal methods, including human-cell models, organs-on-chips and computer models, in preclinical safety testing. The change could help modernize how new drugs and biologics are evaluated before reaching human trials while giving developers more options for generating regulatory evidence. Read More >
Building Connections Across Frederick & Life Sciences Ecosystem
Frederick’s life sciences community came together at Matan at Riverside for a Bio Networking Happy Hour connecting scientists, industry professionals and local economic development leaders. The event highlighted the partnerships and resources supporting biotech growth in Frederick, from technology transfer and commercialization to helping companies establish and expand in the region. Read More >
Ribbon-cutting Celebrates Baltimore Center Where Engineers, Doctors Team Up to Improve Health Outcomes
The University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park have opened the new Center for Translational Engineering and Medicine (CTEM) at the University of Maryland BioPark, bringing engineers and physicians together to accelerate biomedical breakthroughs. Backed by a $10 million private gift and $12.75 million state partnership grant, the center will support collaborative research across cancer, eye disease, vascular disease, AI, biomedical imaging and other areas with the goal of moving discoveries closer to clinical use. Read More >
Other [Good] Reads
Editor’s picks from across the web — the stories, videos, and podcasts shaping the conversation in DMV biotech and life sciences this week.
More Young People Are Getting Colon Cancer Than Ever. This Doctor Is Accelerating Clinical Trials to Find New Treatments
Georgetown oncologist Dr. John Marshall is leading KLEOS, a new clinical trial platform designed to accelerate the development of treatments for colorectal cancer as rates continue to rise among younger adults. By using a single protocol to test multiple therapies simultaneously, KLEOS brings together researchers, patient advocates and pharmaceutical companies to reduce administrative hurdles, lower costs and move promising treatments through clinical trials faster. Read More >
Rolling the Dice on Microbiome Science
Mihai Pop, co-director of UMD’s Center of Excellence in Microbiome Sciences, created a story dice game that challenges players to connect concepts across human health, agriculture, the environment and research technology to imagine potential microbiome studies. The game is designed for classrooms, scientific meetings and public outreach, but could even spark new research questions. Read More >
On the Calendar
A few of the upcoming events, conferences, and networking opportunities across the BioHealth Capital Region’s life sciences ecosystem that you don’t want to miss.
HJF Innovation Labs BioHealth Pitch Showcase & Networking Event
Tuesday, October 6 • 4:30–7:05 PM • Bethesda, MD
Hosted by HJF Innovation Labs @ MontgomeryCountyMD | Register Now >
Maryland Bionetworking Summit
Thursday, October 8 • 6–8 PM • Rockville, MD
Hosted by UMBC-Shady Grove | Register Now >
Blackbird Forum: Reshaping Healthcare & Healthtech with AI
Monday, September 28 • 12–1:30 PM • Baltimore, MD
Hosted by Blackbird Laboratories | Register Now >
What Investors Want to See
Thursday, October 1 • 4:30–8:00 PM • Baltimore, MD
Hosted by Emerging Technology Center (ETC) and Baltimore Development Corporation | Register Now >
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