BioScience under the Big Sky
Summer 2022 Newsletter
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Welcome
Please Welcome
New and Renewing Members:

Alercell
Bozeman MT

The Science and Conservation Center
Billings, MT

JP Morgan
Minneapolis, MN

Promiliad Biopharma Inc.
Alberton, MT

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Member News
Inimmune's new CEO Alan Joslyn takes the helm

News provided by Inimmune Corporation; Two Bear Capital
Jun 21, 2022
Inimmune Corp., a leader in developing the next generation of vaccines and immunotherapeutics, announced today that Dr. Alan Joslyn has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr. Joslyn will also join the Inimmune Board of Directors as CEO.

An experienced business leader, Alan is a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry and has served in leadership positions at several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Lazarus Pharmaceuticals, Sentinella Pharmaceuticals, Edusa Pharmaceuticals, Mt. Cook Pharma, Penwest Pharmaceuticals. Johnson & Johnson, and Glaxo. Most recently, as CEO & President of Oragenics Inc., Alan was instrumental in acquiring a COVID-19 vaccine candidate that expanded the company's infectious disease portfolio. Dr. Joslyn has extensive experience building out clinical development stage capabilities in various R&D biotech companies.

"Inimmune will greatly benefit from Alan's extensive experience in developing strategic plans for both public and private drug companies. This will be particularly important to Inimmune as the company is moving multiple assets from pre-clinical to clinical stages of development" says Dr. Jay T. Evans, a co-founder and former C.E.O. of Inimmune.

Golden Helix: Providing Leading Genomic Data Analysis Software
The 10 Most Emerging Biotech Companies to Watch in 2022
Posted on Insights Success

Although you may not consider Montana a center of biotechnology, Golden Helix has proven time and again how they are able to expand their influence and impact on the biotech community amid the scenic Northwest. The software company is a leader in Next-Gen Sequencing DNA software and supports the creation of clinical reports in the cancer and inherited disease spaces. Their technologies and analytics continue to empower scientists and healthcare professionals to derive meaning from their vast amounts of data. Here is how Golden Helix got to where it is today and where they plan on going.
 
Developing high-quality products for more than two decades 
 
Golden Helix has a 24-year track record in the industry and is committed to continuously assessing new technologies and their potential to build value-added products. Each new technology advancement is viewed from the customer’s perspective to assess its useability and determine how cost savings can be made.
Tonix Pharmaceuticals Receives Federal Grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to Advance Development of TNX-1300 as a Treatment for Cocaine Intoxication

Press Release
August 02, 2022

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has received a Cooperative Agreement grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support development of TNX-1300 (T172R/G173Q double-mutant cocaine esterase 200 mg, i.v. solution) for the treatment of cocaine intoxication. TNX-1300 is a recombinant enzyme that efficiently degrades and metabolizes cocaine. Cocaine intoxication refers to a state in which cocaine has deleterious effects on several body systems, especially the cardiovascular system. TNX-1300 demonstrated activity on reversing the physiological effects of i.v. cocaine challenge in people who use cocaine in a prior Phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study.

The grant is intended to support continued development of TNX-1300 as a treatment for life threatening cocaine intoxication. In 2021, more than 24,900 individuals in the U.S. died from drug overdose deaths involving cocaine.

Montana State researchers collaborate with Nature’s Fynd to send microbe to space to test as astronaut food

By Marshall Swearingen, MSU News Service
July 15, 2022
When future astronauts heading to Mars sit down to a hearty supper in their spaceship, they may dine on a nutritious, meat-like product made from a microbe that Montana State University scientists discovered in a Yellowstone National Park hot spring. On July 11, a group of small bioreactors arrived at the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket to test how well the Yellowstone microbe can be grown in an environment similar to what would be experienced during long-duration space travel.
"It's exciting to be at this stage," said Ross Carlson, professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering. "We think there's a lot of potential for this fungus to help NASA with its goal of sending humans to Mars."

Discovered in 2009 by then-MSU doctoral student Mark Kozubal when he was sampling microbes in a Yellowstone geyser basin, the fungus called Fusarium strain flavolapis can be grown into thick mats with meaty texture on porous membranes using only small amounts of liquid nutrient solution, according to Carlson. Kozubal went on to start a company, now called Nature’s Fynd, that produces the fungi protein commercially. "It's very efficient in terms of volume, weight, water and energy," which makes the microbe an ideal candidate for producing space food, said Carlson, who is working with Nature’s Fynd on the space test.

Montana State University postdoctoral researcher Laura Camilleri, left, Rich Macur of Nature’s Fynd, and professor Ross Carlson, right, prepare a bioreactor for a SpaceX flight to the International Space Station at an MSU lab on April 19, 2022. MSU photo by Kelly Gorham
FASTQ to Report: Streamlining the process with Golden Helix Software
August 3, 2022

Manually converting FASTQs to VCFs, importing these into VarSeq, and building projects from scratch is adequate when you have only a handful of cases per week. But as you start ramping up production, the key to your lab’s success quickly becomes how quickly and efficiently you can get to the reporting of your analysis. This blog will explain how you can automate the VCF and VarSeq Project generation process that requires only a few commands. This will expedite your path to analysis as the newly created project will be ready to import rare variants quickly into VSClinical.

Cynthia Tsai: Transformational Global Leader of the Year

From Exeleon Magazine
August 9, 2022

In this modern, ever-growing competitive era, most businesses tend to overlook one of the most significant aspects of their organization i.e., the people. Without question, they are the foundation of any business and carry the potential to take it to the zenith of success. While it is simple to attach this ideology to a business’s employees, it also holds immense value with respect to the world leaders who forge vital partnerships, pave the way for innovation, and advance the industry.

Successful world leaders genuinely understand this notion and believe in the idea of collective growth. In fact, it is one of the key factors that distinguishes successful entrepreneurs from their counterparts — their ability to delegate things, adapt to different scenarios, always be on the learning edge, and do multiple things at once. This characteristic is as true for those who are starting their entrepreneurial journey and for those who lead at the global level.

Cynthia Tsai, CEO of Tana Systems & Healthquest, stands out as a global leader who believes that the road to excellent global leadership cements on forming personal connections with the people along with a personal commitment to exploration and curiosity. In her dictionary, extraordinary global leaders are humble, recognize the contribution of others, value time, and most importantly, develop and use keen intuition.
Montana/ University News
BETTER OFF IN BILLINGS WELCOMES RMC'S NEWEST PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS COHORT TO BILLINGS!
Last week we had the opportunity to hang out with the new cohort of Physician Assistant students (48) at Rocky Mountain College and tell them about what it's like to Be, Grow, and Play in Billings! Later in the day we and some of our Better Off in Billings Ambassadors hosted these newcomers at Thirsty Street at the Garage in Downtown Billings.

Rocky's PA Program is a 26-month program that starts a new cohort of 48 students (from all over the nation) each June.
Montana Tech Awarded $24M Grant to Develop Materials Technology for Rare Earth Element Processing Research Program

By Madison
May 20, 2022

Montana Technological University (MTU) was recently awarded a five-year, $24M research and development grant from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to develop a program called "Materials Technology for Rare Earth Elements Processing." Dr. Jerry Downey, a Montana NSF EPSCoR Track-1 CREWS research lead at MTU, will be the PI for the award, and Dr. Grant Wallace, a Research Associate in Dr. Downey's research group, will act as co-PI. This program, which responds to a critical national need to develop a supply chain for rare earth elements (REE), is a multidisciplinary effort that will use Montana as a model for locating rare earth elements (REE) in primary and secondary sources. A key program task, titled “Selective Separation of REEs from Aqueous Solutions using a Continuous Flow Metal Recovery System (CFMR),” will build on the advances in CFMR development attained in the CREWS project.
Montana State University students mentored by CREWS scientist receive national recognition for environmental health research
By Madison
May 20, 2022
Emory Hoelscher-Hull, a Montana State University (MSU) junior, was recently awarded a prestigious public health grant based on her research into water quality in Montana, and Pilar Santos, a junior from Helena in the environmental health option in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology in the College of Agriculture, was one of four winners of the 2022 Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs Student Research Competition. The award highlights important environmental health research conducted by graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in accredited environmental health degree programs across the U.S. Sarah Warnke, a senior environmental health major from Eagle River, Alaska, was one of three runners-up for the 2022 Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs Student Research Competition. All three students were mentored with support from Montana NSF EPSCoR by Dr. Mari Eggers, an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at MSU and CREWS scientist with the Powder River Basin team.

MSU Billings professor inducted into Hall of Fame

By Maureen Brakke, director of University Communications & Marketing
July 11, 2022
Montana State University Billings’ Suzette Nynas, associate professor and department chair for the health and human performance department, was recently inducted into the Montana Athletic Trainers’ Association Hall of Fame. Individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame are active in their communities, contribute to and support MTATA and the athletic training profession, and advance athletic training and sports medicine through education, research, and community engagement.
Suzette Nynas, Ed.D., associate professor and department chair for MSUB’s health and human performance department.
Nynas has been teaching at MSU Billings since 2009 and became the Program Director for the Professional Masters Athletic Training program. Her leadership was instrumental in developing a collaborative relationship with other athletic training programs and external organizations. Nynas served as a site visitor for the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, is a member of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Convention Planning Committee, the Northwest Athletic Trainers’ Association and Education Program Coordinator, and representative to the Board of Athletic Training Specialties Workgroup and NATA Executive Committee for Education. She has also served as MTATA’s secretary, treasurer and member of the state meeting planning, honors and awards, and governmental affairs committees.

Research vice president Jason Carter leaving Montana State for new position in Texas
By MSU News Service
May 11, 2022
Montana State University Vice President for Research, Economic Development and Graduate Education Jason Carter will depart the university in August for a position at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.
Jason Carter (MSU Portrait)
"During the pandemic, Dr. Carter helped lead a group of MSU faculty, students and staff in significantly increasing Montana’s COVID-19 testing capacity during the pandemic. He oversaw the MSU research enterprise, the state’s largest, when it set records in expenditures in 2020, 2021 and set it on track to set another record this year,” said MSU President Waded Cruzado

Carter will become a dean at Baylor University, a private Christian university and nationally ranked R1 research institution with an enrollment of approximately 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students. At Baylor, Carter will serve as the dean for the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences.

MSU nursing college receives $3.9 million to deliver medical, dental and behavioral health care in five rural Montana communities

By Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service
August 1, 2022
Montana State University’s nursing college has received a grant totaling $3.9 million that will enable MSU and its partners from across Montana to deliver quality medical, dental and behavioral health care to kids in rural and underserved areas while providing exceptional educational opportunities for MSU students. The four-year grant, which began July 1, is from the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration.
The grant funds the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention-Mobile Health Training Program, which allows teams of students from the MSU Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing to work alongside community health care providers to provide care via mobile clinics in five different Montana communities.

According to Laura Larsson, a nursing professor who is leading the grant, each of the MSU nursing college’s five campuses will be matched with a rural or tribal community to provide health care. Its Billings campus will partner with the Crow Nation; its Bozeman campus will partner with the Northern Cheyenne Nation; its Great Falls campus will partner with the Blackfeet Nation; its Missoula campus will partner with Ravalli County; and its Kalispell campus will partner with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation.

A dental hygienist provides dental care to a child in a Head Start program while a student from the MSU nursing college assists in this 2018 photo. Submitted photo.
Tiny Organisms Yield Big Returns for UM Early Career Researcher

UM News Service
June 8, 2022
Endosymbionts are little critters that actually live inside the cells of other organisms. Brandon S. Cooper, a University of Montana evolutionary geneticist, recently earned a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to study these organisms – especially how they interact with their hosts and the environment – which could help improve health for a huge swath of the world’s population.
Brandon Cooper, a UM evolutionary geneticist, recently earned a prestigious CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.
Cooper’s award is from the Faculty Early Career Development Program. CAREER awards are one of the most prestigious NSF awards, given to promising early career faculty members to provide a foundation for a lifetime of leadership integrating education with research.

As further proof of Cooper’s rising star at UM, he already earned a $1.8 million Outstanding Investigator Award for early stage researchers from the National Institutes of Health. Then in collaboration with UM Professor Jeffrey Good and other faculty at UM, Cooper also brought in about $1.5 million from NIH to work on SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and evolution in Montana.

Industry News
What’s hot in life sciences? Bio International Convention looks at what’s next as pandemic recedes

Event draws about 3,000 companies to the San Diego Convention Center to take stock of the latest trends and research.
By Mike Freeman
June 13, 2022
It’s no secret that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global life sciences industry shined. It ramped up development of everything from diagnostic tests to new vaccines — including two based on previously unproven messenger RNA technology —all within months instead of years.
At the Bio International Convention this week at the San Diego Convention Center, the industry took stock of those accomplishments, as well as asked what’s next now that the pandemic has entered an endemic phase.

Can messenger RNA — the technology underpinning vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech — be made durable and effective enough to treat other diseases beyond COVID?

“What we now have is data on billions of people” who have received mRNA vaccines, said Kathy Fernando, head of mRNA strategy at Pfizer. “I think that is going to open the floodgates for mRNA.”

House Appropriations Committee Prioritizes Medical Research with Significant Increase for NIH in FY 2023 Budget
 Press Release
June 30, 2022

The House Appropriations Committee will vote today to approve its FY 2023 spending bill including a $2.5 billion funding increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a $466 million funding boost for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and $2.75 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency on Health (ARPA-H). The bill increases current funding levels for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cancer screening and early detection programs and for the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, which provides funding for programs that help prevent youth from starting to use tobacco and helps adult tobacco users to quit.

A statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) Click Here to Continue Reading!
Medical Technology Start-ups Get a Critical Boost Via “America’s Seed Fund” 
Small Business
May 11, 2022

The federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs offer a lifeline to small medical technology companies that otherwise would not be able to secure the initial funding necessary for expensive research and development.

The programs support scientific development and product innovation benefiting patients in need and the public at large. They also spur growth in the U.S. and local economies by helping small businesses implement their groundbreaking ideas.
Start-up medical technology makers are among the innovators nationwide who compete for SBIR and STTR program grants. Some of today’s biggest medical technology companies started as yesterday’s start-ups. They might not have succeeded in developing their life-saving, life-enhancing products without critical early funding from what’s called “America’s Seed Fund.”

The legislative authorization for these initiatives is set to expire September 30, 2022. Congress has long given them strong bipartisan support. Read more about how the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs help bring innovative medical technology to life.
What's Happening?
The Montana BioScience Alliance participated in Montana on the Rise Economic Summit on June 2nd In Bozeman, sponsored by Senator Steve Daines and the Montana Chamber of Commerce. A fireside chat was held with Seth Lederman, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman, Tonix Pharmacueticals and Al Thompson, Vice President of Strategy and Development, GlaxoSmithKline. Following that was A panel on Biotechnology + The Future of Medicine, featuring DR. Mark Jutila, President, Montana BioScience Alliance. Chris Booth, CEO, FYR Diagnostics, Andreas Scherer, President and CEO, Golden Helix, Kelly Haenlein, Global Head, Roche/Genentech and Corbin Schwanke, CAO, Medical Genetics, Shodair Children’s Hospital.

The Bio International Convention was held June 12-16, in person in San Diego, California. There were roughly 15000 attendees from 65 countries and 44,000 partnering meetings. Attending from Montana were: Sharon Peterson, Jenny Hansen, and Melanie Schwarz, Montana BioScience Alliance, Frederick Van Den Abeel, Montana Department of Commerce, Chung Mi Lee, Montana World Trade Center, Cassandra Sunell, Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative. Among the companies attending and presenting were: Inimmune, FYR Diagnostics, Tonix Pharmaceuticals, PurCel, Solo-Dex, CAI, Two Bear Capital and others. This was a great opportunity to shine a light on the BioScience Industry in Montana. We attended the Council of State Bioscience Associations meeting and reception on Sunday June 12. On Tuesday, June 14 from 1:45pm-3:00pm we attended the State Economic Development Panel. “Building a Strong Biomanufacturing Workforce in the United States: A Conversation with State Economic Development Experts.”. They had a fantastic line up of speakers from California (Dee Dee Myers), North Carolina (Machelle Sanders), Michigan (Quentin Messer) and Illinois (Kristi Dula). Lots of good ideas for Montana Bio.

On June 21 Research in Your Backyard event was held at the Northern Hotel in Billings. Sharon Peterson was the moderator: Speakers were Senator Cary Smith, Linda Wetzel, cancer patient, Dianna Linder, Billings Clinic and Dharia McGrew. PhRma. There were about 35 people in attendance.

Since 2004, biopharmaceutical research companies have conducted or are conducting more than 1,200 clinical trials of new medicines in Montana in collaboration with clinical research centers, hospitals, and local research institutions. These clinical trials have investigated or are investigating some of Montana’s
biggest health care challenges, including asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal diseases.

“Clinical trials in Montana provide patients with access to cutting-edge research, treatment and quality care. In addition to the human impact, they also have a significant economic impact that benefits all Montanans. Biopharmaceutical research companies support more than 4,600 direct jobs across Montana, while generating millions in economic activity in the state. These numbers reflect the fact that
the clinical research not only shapes the future of disease treatment, but also employs Montanans and stimulates our economy.” — Sharon Peterson Montana BioScience Alliance.

Report can be found at: https://www.phrma.org/resource-center/Topics/Research-In-Your-Backyard/Research-in-Montana

America can’t get caught flat-footed on pandemics again
By Seth Lederman
June 18, 2022 4:04 am

How did the United States, a global superpower, get caught so flatfooted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit? 

A big reason was sleeping through the decline of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, allowing most development and manufacturing capabilities and jobs to leave the U.S. for foreign countries. The economics of globalization pushed the hands-on, bricks-and-mortar type biotech work to countries with lower taxes, lower wages and less oversight of environmental and safety concerns. However, the pandemic showed that globalism has limits to its utility in the face of a crisis.  
That the pandemic exposed these vulnerabilities to our enemies makes it even more urgent that we prepare for the next pandemic or biowarfare attack that could lead the world to close borders and shatter supply chains. The U.S. is especially vulnerable because we are so dependent upon globally integrated supply chains. Historically, the production of medicines and vaccines for the U.S. population was domestically based. America had a robust industrial policy that led to our becoming the world’s manufacturing powerhouse during World War II. However, in recent decades, pharmaceutical manufacturing was largely shipped overseas. Companies moved manufacturing to locations with tax incentives, such as Ireland, or countries that had cheaper labor and lax environmental laws, such as India and China. Moving high-tech jobs offshore also decreased the opportunities for our domestic STEM-educated workers to work and live here in the U.S.  

Events Calendar
Colorado BioScience Association is excited to announce the return of the highly anticipated Rocky Mountain Life Sciences Investor & Partnering Conference in 2022 in Vail, Colorado.

Opening Reception
Tuesday, September 13, 2022 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Conference + Partnering
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. followed by a closing reception

The two-day event allows investors and innovators to source opportunities and build partnerships in the areas of medical device, diagnostics, biotech, pharmaceutical, animal health, and digital health.

Employment and Funding Opportunities
The Montana Bioscience Cluster Initiative 4th F fund

The objective of the 4th “F” Fund (4FF) is to provide direct assistance to Montana Bioscience entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses in need of money for travel to key conferences, small equipment purchases, or temporary staff assistance in relation to proposal development, etc. This fund is designed for maximum flexibility in support of new and established businesses and entrepreneurs in the Bioscience industry.

For the link to the 4th F Fund Application, Click Here!
Careers at Mesa

Our 500+ employees do work that matters in following our purpose Protecting the Vulnerable®, applying our skills in ways that make a positive impact. That work is accomplished by rallying behind Mesa’s vision: a customer-focused, lean-based value system, called The Mesa Way! and is based on four pillars that drive our work every day- Measure What Matters, Empower Teams, Steadily Improve, and Always Learn
Careers at Montana Molecular

Montana Molecular develops fluorescent biosensors and reporters for drug discovery and research in living cells. Our products help scientists observe and measure cell processes that are important in maintaining health and treating disease. Our team is focused on creating breakthrough innovations that empower scientists and lead to better therapeutic treatments for disease. The company is committed to building a sustainable biotech industry in the state of Montana, providing good jobs in a safe and healthy environment.

Montana Molecular is growing. We have openings for scientific staff with a desire to bring cutting edge fluorescence technology to the market place. This will involve working with a team to combine experience in molecular biology, live cell imaging and fluorescence microscopy to create new tools for discovery. The people who work here are passionate about science and dedicated to building the next generation of biosensors for drug discovery and cell biology.

Open Positions:

To find out more about the current open positions and about Montana Molecular, Click Here!
Careers at FYR Diagnostics

FYR Diagnostics is a fast growing Missoula, MT-based biotechnology company developing a powerful portfolio of PCR-focused solutions. FYR Diagnostics’ mission is to commercialize novel detection technologies to help eliminate human suffering by better diagnosing human disease states and to eliminate vast inefficiencies in the agricultural industry.

Those who work with FYR Diagnostics are members of a community that seeks to respect and celebrate all the qualities that make each of us unique. Each of us is empowered to be ourselves within this community, which cultivates and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels. FYR Diagnostics is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace and Affirmative Action Employer.

Open Positions:

To find out more about the current open positions, Click Here!
Two Bear Capital provides a job board with the different job openings from
the following companies:

-Elisity
-FYR Diagnostics
-Graphiant
-Inimmune
-Leapfrog Bio
-Novoron
-pulseData
-Selector.ai
-TileDB
-Truwl
-Verafi
-XIX

For Open positions with Companies you'll love to work for, Click Here!
Work for a great company in beautiful Bozeman, MT

At Golden Helix, we are committed to accelerating ground-breaking research in genetics, drug discovery and predictive analytics, to our purpose of dramatically improving human health, our great culture, personal development, and strong values.

We are always seeking self-motivated individuals who strive for excellence and have the drive to help us on our journey. We offer competitive wages, benefits and the opportunity to live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world.

Open Positions:
-Field Application Scientist
-Area Sales Director

General Employment Inquiries
Interested in a position that we're not actively hiring? Submit your resume for our files! We will archive your information and if a position becomes available that matches your qualifications, we'll contact you.
GSK Hamilton

The Hamilton site is located on a 35-acre campus in the heart of the scenic Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. It started in 1981 as Ribi ImmunoChem Research, Inc., a company focused on research and development of vaccine components capable of stimulating the immune system. GSK purchased the site in 2005 to acquire its proprietary adjuvant technology which is used to help make vaccines more effective. GSK Hamilton currently employs over 185 professionals and is expanding its job base with the addition of a new adjuvant manufacturing facility.

To review current openings at the GSK Hamilton (GlaxoSmithKline) site, Click Here!
2022 FAST Micro-Grants are here!

The Montana Innovation Partnership (MTIP) powered by MSU TechLink Center will utilize some of our 2022 FAST funds to provide financial assistance to Montana small businesses that are actively preparing SBIR/STTR proposals in the federal fiscal year 2022.

MTIP will award six FAST Microgrants to eligible SBIR/STTR applicants of up to $2,000 per year. Prospective SBIR/STTR applicants may apply to MTIP to receive Microgrants to attend conferences, travel to speak with agencies or commercialization partners, to acquire consulting services from an approved service provider for assistance with preparation of Phase I or Phase II proposals, to develop supporting project data, and to undertake other activities directly related to their SBIR/STTR proposal.

For more information and to access the application

Open Solicitations From Techlink and MTIP

Dates are subject to change. Please refer to each agency site for up-to-date information.

  • NIH omnibus program announcement. The next submission due date is September 5, 2022 and than January 5, 2023.

  • NIH Targeted funding announcements have varying release and due dates. Find a list of currently open program announcements and requests for applications here.

Links to all participating agencies' SBIR home pages are available here.

Reach out today for no-cost consulting and proposal reviews from one of MTIP's SBIR
experts.
Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program

What do you do after you have received Stage 1 SBIR/STTR matching funds from the
Montana Department of Commerce, have satisfactorily completed your Phase I work, the
Phase I final report has been accepted by the Federal SBIR/STTR agency, and you have
submitted your SBIR or STTR Phase II proposal?

You submit your Stage 2 application to the Montana SBIR/STTR Matching Funds
Program. You do not have to receive notification of a Phase II award before submitting this
application. For more information, Click Here!

Questions? Feel free to contact Ann at [email protected] or
Annmarie Robinson with the Department of Commerce at [email protected].
Classifieds
UPS Healthcare brings reliability, scalability and security to life science companies every day. Its portfolio of end-to-end services is well-suited to meet today's complex logistics demands for the pharmaceutical, medical device, and laboratory diagnostic industries. Learn exactly how from UPS Healthcare.

Through Montana BioScience Alliance’s partnership with UPS Healthcare, you get access to exclusive rates on a full suite of UPS® services. And, after recent renegotiations, the savings have gotten even better. While the same popular shipping services, like UPS Next Day Air®, and UPS Worldwide Express SM, remain at reduced rates, the price band range to qualify for discounts is narrower. For example, a company that spends $1,500 to $4,999.99 weekly for UPS Next Day Air® shipping now receives a 60% discount rather than a 50-55% discount under the previous arrangement.

As a Montana BioScience Alliance member, be confident that your critical healthcare shipments will be delivered timely and with care by a quality-focused and patient-driven organization.

Montana BioScience Alliance Members Save Up To:
· 74% on UPS Next Day Air®
· 59% on UPS 2nd Day Air® & UPS 3 Day Select Services®
· 51% on UPS Ground® Commercial Services
· 68% on UPS Worldwide International Services

BIO Business Solutions®, the largest cost-savings program for the life sciences industry, is FREE with your company’s membership in BIO or Montana BioScience Alliance. Receiving savings from our lab and office partners is incredibly simple. We’ve already vetted the suppliers and negotiated discounted pricing and favorable end-user agreements.

Click on the company name to learn more.
There is no fee for MBA members to participate.