Vermont Biosciences Alliance Winter Newsletter

Winter Newsletter 
VBSA was created to foster recognition of medicine and bioscience as a leading industry in the Vermont region and promote economic and human well-being by strengthening sector attention, research resources, and venture growth. To the businesses and organizations who are currently members, thank you for supporting the bioscience industry in Vermont.

Events
Stay tuned for the 2019 Bio & Tech Beer dates! Events will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Queen City Brewery, 703B Pine Street, Burlington. Registration will be available on our events page:  VBSA Events.
Come see a showcase of student research across all levels and disciplines on April 17 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Davis Center, 4th Floor.
Student Research Conference
Save the date! The next UVM I2V Conference will be held on Thursday, April 4 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the University of Vermont's Dudley H. Davis Center Silver Maple Ballroom. Check here for updates:  I2V
Save the date! The next VGN Career Day will be Wednesday, April 3 at Trader Duke's hotel in South Burlington. Check here for updates:  VGN Career Day 2019
Industry News
Is your manufacturing team facing a skilled worker shortage? VMEC argues the advantage of using lean strategies to help existing manufacturing teams keep up with production demands or pursue new opportunities. 
Read the full blog post here: Lean Transformation Can Help
Check out their professional development workshops in lean transformation: VMEC upcoming training
BIO objects to a recent government proposal to implement price controls on pharmaceuticals covered by Medicare Part B, saying the proposed changes would reduce patient access to medicines, not improve it. While the intent of the price controls is to keep medicines affordable for patients, BIO warns that the plan will backfire by increasing the complexity of the drug delivery channels between providers and patients.
Education News
The President of Vermont Tech argues the importance of providing Vermont students with a diversity of choices in higher education.  Two-thirds of jobs now require more than a high school diploma, yet Vermont has one of the lowest rates of high school students entering college. By providing more options than the traditional four-year degree, especially apprenticeship programs that allow students to earn while learning, students who face economic hurdles to education can still access quality training.
Earning and Learning
An end of the year reflection on progress at the University of Vermont, from scientific research to social justice. Check out the 14 milestones they highlight here:
2018 UVM milestones
Check out a new and improved Science Zone (formerly Science360) from the NSF: an app that helps teachers, students, and science enthusiasts "investigate and share the ideas that spark curiosity."
NSF apps
Spotlight
Winter 2019 DRIVEN Accelerator Hub Update

The DRIVEN Accelerator Hub ("DRIVEN") had its first in-person meeting on January 16th and 17th in Hanover, NH. DRIVEN is a regional collaboration led by Celdara Medical and includes 10 research institutions in DE, RI, VT, ME, and NH. The meeting was focused on how the Hub can improve biomedical entrepreneurship in the Northeast.

In attendance at the meeting were two representatives from each of the collaborating institutions (Celdara Medical, Simbex, Brown, Dartmouth, Maine Medical Center, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, U. Delaware, UNH, URI, and UVM) and members of the External Advisory Board, which is comprised of experts from angel and venture capital firms, philanthropic funds, and in-licensing professionals from biotech and pharma (Agios, Atlas Venture, Biograph Venture Development, bluebird bio, Davis Advisors, Deerfield Management, Johnson & Johnson, Mass Medical Angels, MPM Capital, Roche, and Springhood Ventures).

Founders from Javelin Oncology and CairnSurgical presented their companies to the Hub. Moving forward, the DRIVEN Hub will be working to identify additional innovations, entrepreneurs, and early-stage companies to partner with that have a high potential of improving human health.

For more information, contact info@drivenacceleratorhub.com.
Connect
Membership:  Have friends at other businesses that are interested in bioscience and entrepreneurship in Vermont? Invite them to join the VBSA! Joining the VBSA sends a message of support for Vermont bioscience companies and organizations.   Click here   for more on the benefits of joining the VBSA and to sign up.
News: If your business has announcements, milestones, or projects they would like to share with the VBSA community, please get in touch with us! You can email your news and information to vermontbiotech@gmail.com
Call for Seminars: The VBSA is always interested in hosting new workshops and seminars! You can suggest seminar ideas to Rachel Marie Sargent at  vermontbiotech@gmail.com.
Twitter:  Connect with VBSA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VtBSA
Member Benefit
New Member Benefit: Online Marketplace for Custom Scientific Research Services and Products

BIO has partnered with  Scientist.com  - the world's leading online scientific marketplace. The program offers members significant savings in a marketplace populated with 2,600+ suppliers governed by a single legal agreement.  

  Click here for more information
VBSA |  www.vtbiosciences.org