DEFTECH Coffee Call
Join us this Friday, April 28, 2023, @ 0800-1000 ET In-Person & virtual hybrid DEFTECH Coffee Call
(Coffee & donuts for the In-Person session or see TEAMS Link Below)
Topic: BARDA and ARPA-H: What are they, and why should we care?
Location: NC Biotech Center, 15 TW Alexander Dr, Durham, NC 27709
Please Register if you plan to attend In-Person
Registration for the In-Person Coffee Call Friday April 28, 2023, 8 am – 10 am @ the North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech Center).
Speakers:
Mary Beth Thomas, Ph.D.
Mary Beth Thomas is the senior vice president, science and business development, at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center. Prior to this role, she was vice president of NCBiotech’s Emerging Sector Development program.
As senior vice president, she is responsible for the Center’s Emerging Company Development (ECD) and Science and Technology Development (SciTech) teams, as well as the Information Technology and Life Science Intelligence teams. The ECD and SciTech units administer NCBiotech’s loan and grant programs. She also co-leads NCBiotech’s Focused Initiatives Team (FIT). FIT works to identify and prioritize emerging opportunities that leverage assets and resources to deliver high-impact solutions for North Carolina. Thomas also oversees the Center’s biodefense/biosecurity and precision health initiatives.
Before joining NCBiotech in 2008, Thomas served as the statewide director of technology commercialization with the Small Business and Technology Development Center in Raleigh. Before that, she was the assistant director of the neurosensory program at Tranzyme Pharma in Research Triangle Park. She also served as an assistant director of the neuroprotection program at Cogent Neuroscience in Durham.
Thomas earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biotechnology at the Rochester Institute of Technology (New York), a doctorate in developmental biology from the University of Cincinnati and served as a postdoctoral fellow with the Department of Neurobiology at Duke University.
Emil Runge, Director of Programs, First Flight Venture Center
Emil Runge has the phenomenal pleasure of getting to work with entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners on an array of efforts to improve the probability of success of early-stage science startups. He leads the First Flight BARDA DRIVe Accelerator focused on national health security, facilitates Propeller Ideation Trainings, manages the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) with Hangar6, works with our awesome Navigators and lines up our great companies to present at Itineraries (our nerdvana sessions where our companies can geek out on their science). He also led the effort to launch Test Flight Pitch Practices to help our companies better prepare themselves to pitch to investors.
In 2022, Emil helped launch the Wheels UP Accelerator, comprehensive 12-week, cohort-based, sector-focused accelerator for science/technology startups. Working in collaboration with BARDA, the first Wheels UP cohort in summer-fall 2022 accelerated the ability of entrepreneurs to scale disruptive biotechnology and health security/pandemic preparedness solutions. BARDA provided $100,000 in prize money as well as technical expertise for this first cohort, which had its Demo Day (accelerator graduate presentations to potential investors and industry/government experts) on November 3, 2022.
For over two decades, Emil has consulted, advised and assisted elected and appointed officials in capacities at the federal, state and local level. Since 2001, he focused primarily on improving his region, state and nation through innovative public policy solutions and strategic initiatives in the political, governmental, innovation and entrepreneurial arenas. For over a dozen years, he has focused on growing Startup Communities and improving Innovation & Entrepreneurial Ecosystems.
2023 DEFTECH Coffee Call Connection Instructions:
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app, or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 286 586 268 492
Passcode: SG3mYd
Download Teams | Join on the web
Or call in (audio only)
+1 980-296-2533,,849190916# United States, Charlotte
Phone Conference ID: 849 190 916#
Questions or assistance, contact:
North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office (DEFTECH)
Dennis Lewis
lewisd@ncmbc.us
703-217-3127
Bob Burton
burtonr@ncmbc.us
910-824-9609
North Carolina Defense Technology Transition Office | PO Box 1748, Fayetteville, NC 28303
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