Canarsie, Brooklyn: Terminal Eyes New Beginning

Check out Terminal Eyes New Beginning, a multimedia package on the Brooklyn Terminal Market that Jessica Simeone, Robert Voris and I created for the NYCity News Service.

LOCAL: State Ranked No. 1 For Biotech Research, Development

(previously published here at www.thebulletin.us)

By: Heather J. Chin, The Bulletin
07/25/2008

Pennsylvania's advances in biotechnology research and development have recently been recognized as number one for the "diversity and depth" of their initiatives.

This was the conclusion of the most recent Business Facilities magazine study, an annual report that also rated states for their strength in biotechnology.

Gov. Rendell announced the ranking during Wednesday's groundbreaking in Montgomery County for the new North American headquarters of Almac, a worldwide provider of R&D and manufacturing services for pharmaceutical and biotech industries.

"We have laid the groundwork to keep Pennsylvania number one in biotech," said Mr. Rendell noting its elevation in perceived status. The state had previously ranked 11th for the past three years.

"Biotechnology plays a critical role in Pennsylvania's economic and strategic growth. We're providing [the] industry with a competitive edge by directing support and funding to companies to expand, create jobs and retain ... talent."

Criteria included amount of state R&D funding and venture capital investments, level of concentrated occupational employment, tax exemptions, and university grant funding.

The report noted the state's allocation of $150 million in 2007-08 from its tobacco settlement to support research in CURE, the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement, toward health-related programs.

In addition, the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a statewide network that pushes entrepreneurship and tech innovation for economic growth, leveraged $675 million and created and retained 2,475 jobs.

Other Pennsylvania biotech programs include Life Sciences Greenhouse Initiatives and various venture capital investments in medical device and equipment companies worth more than $500 million, according to The National Venture Capital Association.


Heather J. Chin can be reached at hchin@thebulletin.us


©The Evening Bulletin 2008

Alumnus Donates $1.5M In Grants To Two Penn Schools

(previously published here at www.thebulletin.us)

By: Heather J. Chin, The Bulletin

07/18/2008

University of Pennsylvania alumnus Arthur Bilger and his wife, Dahlia, made two monetary gifts this week to his alma mater to be used to support research into interactive media business models and therapeutic drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease.

The Wharton School received a $1 million gift to create and support the Wharton Interactive Media Initiative (WIMI), a research program focusing on interactive media, its effect on global business and its influence on traditional media business models. This data-driven research will hopefully be applied to helping media companies do profitable business.

Of his family's donation to Wharton, Mr. Bilger said "Through the WIMI, Wharton will continue its tradition of cutting-edge scholarship with practical applications... to the world of business."

The Bilger Foundation's $500,000 donation to the School of Medicine will establish the Nathan Bilger Alzheimer Drug Discovery Initiative in memory and honor of Mr. Bilger's father. The monetary gift will be used by the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR) to identify new methods and drug targets for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease that can hopefully be translated by their Marian S. Ware Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Center into new therapeutic drugs.

"The Bilger family gift will enable us to determine if an off-label drug used to treat organ rejection in transplant patients can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease," Dr. Virginia M.Y. Lee, CNDR director, said to the Almanac, a Penn-run publication.

Dr. John Q. Trojanowski, director of PennMed's Institute on Aging, explained that this is significant because early studies that are promising need a lot of money to evaluate them further as potential Alzheimer's therapies, and, "if successful, could put more drugs in the pipeline aimed at helping... patients by blocking... the disease process."

Mr. Bilger manages a private investment firm in California, is a member of Wharton's Board of Overseers, and along with his wife has supported the School of Arts and Sciences, Penn Medicine, and a scholarship for undergraduates.

Heather J. Chin can be reached at hchin@thebulletin.us

©The Evening Bulletin 2008