Bioenergy Expert Joins Ceres (UCLA) in Brazil (12/20/2010)

Ceres develops biopower energy crops and cellulosic biofuels. Dr. Richard Flavell, the company’s Chief Scientific Officer, is also an Adjunct Professor of Molecular, Celluar and Developmental Biology at UCLA.

From the company’s press release:
Ceres, a leading developer of bioenergy crops, has appointed William Burnquist as the general manager of its operations in Brazil. An experienced leader in Brazil’s sugarcane and ethanol sector, Burnquist will administer the day-to-day activities of the company’s subsidiary, Ceres Sementes do Brasil Ltda., including local seed production and Ceres’ network of sweet sorghum trials. read full press release

Baluke Dental Studios Joins the SensAble (MIT) Authorized Production Center Program (12/17/2010)

SensAble Technologies develops 3D touch-enabled technology that has evolved from research conducted at MIT by Thomas Massie and Dr. Kenneth Salisbury.

From the company’s press release:
SensAble Technologies, Inc, a leading provider of dental restoration design and fabrication solutions, 3D modeling software and haptic devices, announced that Baluke Dental Studios of Toronto has joined the SensAble Authorized Production Center (SAPC) Program. SAPCs create fixed and removable dental restorations for their own dentists using the SensAble Dental Lab System, an award-winning touch-enabled CAD/CAM system, and are certified to provide design and fabrication services to other dental labs. A full service dental lab whose two locations serve Toronto, Quebec and the Eastern provinces, Baluke Dental Studios has a reputation for quality and a commitment to adopting leading-edge technology that has attracted discerning dentists throughout Canada and made it a dental lab of choice for advanced or complex cases. read full press release

LI-COR (Nebraska) Introduces New Odyssey® Sa Infrared Imaging System (12/17/2010)

LI-COR Biosciences designs, manufactures and markets instruments, software, reagents and integrated systems for biological research. The company was founded in 1971 by Bill Biggs, who was designing instrumentation for the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Biggs is currently the company’s President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board.

From the company’s press release:
The Odyssey Sa Infrared Imaging System offers the advantages of infrared imaging and the flexibility to handle both plate-based assays and quantitative Western blots. The Odyssey Sa is a new addition to the popular line of Odyssey Imaging Systems from LI-COR. For walk-away automation with plate-based assays, the Odyssey Sa can be configured to work with a 30- or 50-plate automated stacking system. read full press release

Li-Cor (Nebraska) Announces 2011 Interactive Environmental Webinars (12/15/2010)

LI-COR Biosciences designs, manufactures and markets instruments, software, reagents and integrated systems for biological research. The company was founded in 1971 by Bill Biggs, who was designing instrumentation for the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Biggs is currently the company’s President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board.

From the company’s press release:
LI-COR Biosciences continues its ongoing commitment to education by announcing new interactive environmental webinars. The 2011 webinars focus on a range of applications that use LI-COR instruments. The webinars are designed to provide customers with scientific knowledge and expertise on LI-COR systems and instruments for environmental research. read full press release

Impinj (Caltech) Speedway Revolution Reader Now Available in Fast-Growing Chinese RFID Market (12/15/2010)

Impinj is a Caltech spinoff that develops UHF Gen 2 RFID solutions. The company was co-founded by Professor Carver Mead of Caltech and Dr. Chris Diorio of University of Washington.

From the company’s press release:
Leading UHF Gen 2 radio frequency identification (RFID) technology provider Impinj, Inc. today announced the availability of the industry-leading Speedway Revolution reader in the fast-growing Chinese RFID market. Available through Impinj certified distributors and partners in China; the Speedway Revolution reader sets the industry standard for reader performance, ease of use, reliability, and cost of ownership. read full press release

RSoft (Columbia, UIUC, UCSB) Releases OptSim 5.2 (12/14/2010)

RSoft Design Group creates software tools for use in optical communications, optoelectronics, and electromagnetic modeling. Founded in 1990, the company has started licensing technology from Columbia University in 1993, and from UCSB and UIUC in 1997.

From the company’s press release:
RSoft Design Group, the leader in Photonics Design Automation software, announced the release of its award winning Optical Communication Design Suite version 5.2, which includes OptSim and its multimode companion ModeSYS. The new release includes cutting-edge features to design and simulate next generation systems such as 100 Gbit/s coherent PM-QPSD, Polarization induced all-optical switching systems, Bi-directional Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM) system, Interferometry based systems, Multimode systems with mode-coupling effects, and Plastic Optical Fiber systems. read full press release

bluebird bio (Columbia) and Généthon Announce Manufacturing Research Collaboration Centered on Lentiviral Vectors for Gene Therapy (12/14/2010)

bluebird bio is a Columbia spinoff developing innovative gene therapies for severe genetic disorders. The company was founded by Dr. Arthur Bank, who was Head of the Division of Hematology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

From the company’s press release:
Cambridge, Mass. and Evry, France, December 14, 2010 – bluebird bio (formerly Genetix Pharmaceuticals Inc.), an emerging leader in the development of innovative gene therapies for severe genetic disorders, and Généthon, a leader in the field of gene therapy treatments for rare diseases, today announced a research collaboration focused on process development and scale up efforts for the manufacturing of lentiviral vectors. This agreement is designed to enable substantial advances in existing manufacturing process for the benefit of both partners. It will also strengthen bluebird bio’s manufacturing platform to enable robust, commercial-scale manufacturing and broaden the company’s capabilities in Europe. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed. read full press release

BRI (NC State) continues its support of NC-based non-profit group (12/14/2010)

BioResource International is a global biotechnology company based on technology developed at NC State’s Technology Incubator. The company focuses on the discovery and development of enzymes for human health.

From the company’s press release:
BRI continues to support financially The Interfaith Food Shuttle, a Raleigh-based non-profit group that aims to relieve hunger in the Raleigh-Durham community by collecting and redistributing perishable food. Please visit the Food Shuttle’s website (www.foodshuttle.org) to learn more about the good work they are doing. read full press release

Luminus’ (MIT) Big Chip LEDs Light Primetime TV on NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ (12/13/2010)

Luminus Devices’ PhlatLight is based on technology developed by Alexei Erchak as part of his PhD research at MIT. Erchak is the founder and CTO of Luminus Devices.

From the copmany’s press release:
Luminus Devices, developer and manufacturer of big-chip LEDs, today announced that its CBM-380-RGBW product used inside VARI*LITE VLX Wash Luminaires are lighting the stage for NBC’s hit television program ‘America’s Got Talent.’ read full press release

Armune (Michigan) Receives Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition $500,000 Grand Prize (12/12/2010)

Armune BioScience, Inc. will develop diagnostic cancer tests that allow for personalized treatment decisions. The company’s technology is based on work performed by University of Michigan Professor of Pathology and Urology Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan, who also chairs the company’s Scientific Advisory Board.

From the company’s home page:
Armune BioScience is pleased to announce that it was awarded the Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition $500,000 grand prize on Dec 11. The award was presented to Eli Thomssen, President & CEO, following Accelerate Michigan’s 3-day event in Ann Arbor. During the 3-day event, business plans were presented from 50 of the 600 international applications received.