ForeFront Notifier

News from the ForeFront - March 2008

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:58:00 -0600

News from the ForeFront - March 2008

Innovation Support

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING PHASE 1, 2, AND 3 INNOVATION (PROJECT) FUNDING

At their recent quarterly meeting, AHFMR's Board of Trustees decided to wind down the project funding (phase 1, 2, and 3) component of the Forefront Program. This decision was made in response to various reports, stakeholder interactions, and Trustee input regarding the ForeFront Program and its place at AHFMR and in Alberta's medical research community.

The final three deadlines are listed below:

Submission deadline	Competition deadline
April 21, 2008	June 16, 2008
July 21, 2008	September 15, 2008
October 20, 2008	December 15, 2008

NO NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE OCTOBER 20 DEADLINE.

The career support and industry support components will be integrated into AHFMR's training portfolio. Tina Blake will continue to provide leadership in the further development of these programs in her new role as Acting Assistant Director of Grants and Awards.

In the fall AHFMR will host events in Edmonton and Calgary to celebrate the ForeFront program's contribution to Alberta's biotech and medical products sectors for the past 22 years. Dates will be confirmed and posted to the AHFMR website as soon as they are available.

Please contact Tina Blake at tina.blake@ahfmr.ab.ca or Carla Weyland at carla.weyland@ahfmr.ab.ca if you have any questions about the decision to wind down ForeFront project funding.

Career Support

1. Internship Program:

The Internship Program supports the training of individuals with backgrounds in business and/or science in the medical products and biotechnology industries.

Effective April 1, 2008 - the stipend scale for Industrial (formerly ForeFront) Interns will be updated as follows:

Year 1 - $45,000
Year 2 - $50,000

The training allowance per year remains at $5,000.

New Awards for the 2008 fiscal year:

Mr. Farid Foroud - TEC Edmonton
Dr. Jaswinder Kaur - UTI
Ms. Sanah Jowhari - TheraCarb Inc.
Mr. Dean Zaragoza - TEC Edmonton
Mr. Christian Stinner - DriveABLE Assessment Centres Inc.
Ms. Abby Garfunkel - SemBioSys Genetics Inc.
Dr. Tanya Binette - Isotechnika Inc.

Important Dates for the Internship Program:

Submission deadline	Competition deadline
August 8, 2008	September 15, 2008

2. MBA Studentship Award:

A pilot award for 2007-2008, the MBA Studentship is designed to provide a science graduate with the opportunity to broaden his or her training and knowledge through enrolment in the University of Alberta's Master of Business Administration program with a specialization in technology commercialization.

The successful recipient of this award for 2008 is Dr. Stephanie Minnema.

For more information on the University of Alberta's MBA program, please visit http://mba.bus.ualberta.ca/Degrees/TC.htm

3. MBT Studentship Award:

This award is also being piloted in the current fiscal year. One third of the successful ForeFront Interns since 2003 hold Master of Biomedical Technology (MBT) degrees from the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine. AHFMR created the MBT Studentship Award to capitalize on the natural fit between the training provided by the MBT Program and the objectives of the ForeFront Internship Program.

The four recipients of this award for 2008 are:

Mr. Paul Lam
Ms. Katarzyna Okoniewska
Ms. Jennifer Lukus
Ms. Jenna Latanville

For more information on the University of Calgary's MBT program, please visit http://www.biotech.ucalgary.ca/aboutus.html

4. Industrial Researcher Award:

This pilot award provides salary support for an individual with an academic research background (Masters/PhD level) to gain industrial research experience in a company developing and commercializing medical/health-related products.

The successful recipient of this award for 2008 is Dr. Tara Lysechko, who is training at Virexx Medical Corp.

Industry Support

1. Partnership with BioAlberta:

Through this unique partnership, AHFMR will provide $150,000 to BioAlberta over three years. This funding will be used to strengthen and promote Alberta's bioindustry nationally and internationally through various BioAlberta initiatives, including organizing a successful showcase for emerging biotechnology companies at the Biotechnology International Organization's (BIO) International Convention. BioAlberta plays a lead role in coordinating the Alberta pavilion at BIO and will help prepare representatives from emerging companies for the convention.

The BIO International Convention is the world's largest biotechnology conference featuring expert speakers from the financial and business development communities, as well as presentations from cutting-edge biotechnology companies.

Click here to read the full announcement

For more information about BioAlberta and BIO please visit:
http://www.bioalberta.com
http://www.bio.org

2. Executive-in-Residence (EIR) Awards:

AHFMR recognizes that Alberta's universities are integral to the innovation system and the creation of the medical and health industries through research, technology transfer, and spin-off company creation.

The Executive-in-Residence Award enables the technology transfer offices to recruit senior-level management who have relevant industry experience and appropriate networks to assist university spin-off companies with the commercialization of technologies. The goal is to advance technologies and build better companies that will both improve health care and diversify and contribute to the economy.

The EIR Awards for 2008:

Dr. Randall Yatscoff - TEC Edmonton
Mr. David Rafter - UTI

Click here to read more about these two outstanding candidates

Because you are or have been involved with the ForeFront Program, we have included your email address in our distribution list. Should you wish to have your address removed from this list, please contact Carla Weyland at carla.weyland@ahfmr.ab.ca.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in ForeFront, AHFMR's technology commercialization program. For more information on ForeFront or any other AHFMR program, please visit our website at www.ahfmr.ab.ca

News from the Forefront - July 2007

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 14:05:00 -0600

News from the ForeFront - July 2007

New ForeFront Officer

We are pleased to introduce Carla Weyland, ForeFront Officer. A former WestLink Intern and TEC Edmonton JumpStart team member, Carla has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan and several years of experience in technology commercialization. Carla will be responsible for the delivery of the innovation funding (Phase 1, 2, and 3) and the Internship Program. Any inquiries about these two programs should be directed to Carla at carla.weyland@ahfmr.ab.ca or (780) 423-5727.

Career Support

1. Internship Program:

The Internship Program supports the training of individuals with backgrounds in business and/or science in the medical products and biotechnology industries.

New Awards for the 2008 fiscal year:

Mr. Farid Foroud ? TEC Edmonton, Edmonton
Mr. Damian Sowa ? SciMed Laboratories, Edmonton
Dr. Jaswinder (Jessie) Kaur ? University Technologies International, Calgary

2. MBA Studentship Award:

For more information on the University of Alberta's MBA program, please visit http://mba.bus.ualberta.ca/Degrees/TC.htm

We will continue to provide updates on this award.

3. MBT Studentship Award:

Up to four awards will be offered for the 2007-2008 school year. The applications for this award are currently under review. Successful recipients will be announced by July 31, 2007.

For more information on the University of Calgary's MBT program, please visit http://www.biotech.ucalgary.ca/aboutus.html

We will continue to provide updates on this award.

4. Sponsorships:

Science to Society
An annual weekend workshop for graduate students and academics interested in research commercialization and entrepreneurship.

Biotechnology Learning Community
This model facilitates interaction between students, staff, and industry experts in the biotechnology and life sciences community in Calgary to promote career development planning for students interested in these areas.

InnoWest 2007
InnoWest provides a forum where the innovation community of Western Canada can gather annually to network, review the latest developments, work on common problems, and take recommendations forward for action. This year's theme is "Western Canada in the coming decades ? Where do we want innovation to take us?"

Industry Support:

Industrial Researcher Award:

This pilot award was initiated in April 2007. The objective of the Industrial Researcher Award is to provide academic researchers with the opportunity to apply their skills and training and gain new experiences in research labs in industry. The successful recipient of the first award is Dr. Tara Lysechko of Edmonton. Dr. Lysechko is working at Virexx Medical Corp.

Innovation Support:

Project Funding ? Results from the Spring 2007 Competition:

Phase 1:

Dr. Alain Tremblay, (University of Calgary), Calgary - $35,000
"Drug Eluting Pleural Catheter for Pleural Disease"

Picomole Instruments Inc., Calgary - $35,000
"LifeSens, A Clinical Diagnostic Instrument for Breath Analysis"

ForeFront News - February 2007

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 14:52:00 -0700

The AHFMR Forefront Program continues to evolve to meet the needs of its stakeholders. We are moving ahead with our strategy to support knowledge application through technology commercialization in three areas: career support, industry support, and innovation support. Here is an update on some of our progress:

Career Support:

Internship Program:

The Internship Program supports the training of individuals with backgrounds in business and/or science in the medical products and biotechnology industries.

New Awards for 2007 fiscal year:

Ms. Lisa Ceroni - Stem Cell Therapeutics - Calgary
Dr. Veronica Coronado - Isotechnika Inc. - Edmonton
Dr. David Chang - Chenomx Inc. - Edmonton
MBA Studentship Award:

Announced in 2006 as a pilot initiative, the MBA Studentship Award enables students with backgrounds in the medical/health/life sciences to apply their knowledge and pursue management careers in those industries. The award supports education and hands-on training in the University of Alberta's MBA program, specializing in technology commercialization.

Two candidates have been selected for the pilot.

Industry Support:

Executive-in-Residence Awards:

The Executive-in-Residence Award enables the technology transfer offices to recruit senior-level management who have relevant industry experience and appropriate networks to assist university spin-off companies with the commercialization of technologies. The goal is to advance technologies and build better companies that will both improve health care and diversify and contribute to the economy.

New Award:
Mr. David Rafter (Calgary) - University Technologies International
http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/forefront/rafter.php

Renewed Award (Year 2):
Mr. Ron Matheson (Edmonton) - TEC Edmonton
http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/forefront/matheson.php
Industrial Research Program:

The Industrial Research (IR) Program offers the opportunity for an individual with a background and education relevant to the interests of the AHFMR to get an introduction to a research career in industry where they will be participating in research and development projects focused on commercialization of medical and biotechnological innovations. Two awards will be piloted under this program:
- Industrial Researcher Award: supports full-time research careers in industry
- Summer Studentship Award: supports research training in industry during the summer months (deadline for application for eligible companies is March 1st, 2007)
These awards are being offered as a pilot in 2007 and will be evaluated at the end of the year to determine if they will be continued.

Innovation Support:

Block Grants:

Block Grants in the amount of $105,000 have been awarded to both TEC Edmonton and UTI. The technology transfer offices will use the funds to assess and strengthen the technical aspects of scientifically sound projects; verify uniqueness; and explore the potential for commercialization in real time. The objective is to accelerate the process of identifying, assessing, protecting, and commercializing medical and health innovations, and increase their chance of getting to market and improving health sooner. Funds will be administered by the tech transfer offices.

These awards are offered as a pilot and the outcomes will be evaluated at the end of 2007. During the pilot, ForeFront will continue to accept all Phase 1, 2, and 3 applications per our usual application process. To view the press release for this funding go to: http://www.ahfmr.ab.ca/press/2007-02-21.php.
Project Funding - Results from the Fall and Winter 2006 Competitions:

Phase 1:

MSD Lens Corporation - Edmonton - $35,000
"The Mini Scleral Contact Lens for Treatment of Corneal Pathologies and Profound Visual Impairment of the Eye"

Clearwater Clinical Ltd. - Calgary - $35,000
"Dizzyfix: A Simple At-Home Treatment of Benign Positional Vertigo"

Dr. Tarek El-Bialy (University of Alberta) - Edmonton - $35,000
"Intraoral Ultrasound Device for Tooth Root Healing"

Phase 2:

AIMS Ltd. - Edmonton- $150,000
"Commercialization of Biochips for Proteomics"

Updated ForeFront website

Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:21:00 -0600

We have redesigned our website to improve the design, functionality, and navigation.

The new site can be viewed at www.ahfmr.ab.ca/forefront/.

In an effort to keep you up to date on the program activity, development, and important events and dates we have also developed an electronic newsletter that will be emailed to you quarterly. The premier edition of "News from the ForeFront" will be sent out shortly.

Thank you for your continued support and interest in ForeFront, AHFMR's technology commercialization program.

Yours sincerely,

Tina

Tina Blake, BSc, MBA
Manager, ForeFront Program
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
1500 - 10104 103 AVE
EDMONTON, AB T5J 4A7
Tel: (780) 423-5727
Fax: (780) 429-3509
Email: tina.blake@ahfmr.ab.ca
Web Site: www.ahfmr.ab.ca