Representing Kansas bioscience companies and research institutions
Home About KansasBio Membership Center Bioscience News Contact KansasBio
Information Resources Education & Training Networking & Collaboration Business & Investment
     
 

Volume 4, Issue 9

THREE KANSAS BIOSCIENCE LEADERS NAMED BIG THINKERS AT KANSASBIO ANNUAL MEETING

 


From L to R: Angela Kreps, President & CEO of KansasBio; Greg Krissek, incoming KansasBio Chairman; Senate President and Big Thinker Steve Morris.

LENEXA, Kan. -- At KansasBio's annual meeting on November 19, Michael Beckloff, Chairman of the KansasBio Board of Directors, and Angela Kreps, President & CEO of KansasBio, announced three Kansas bioscience leaders as “Big Thinkers,” the industry organization's highest honor. Big Thinkers are peer-nominated individuals whose groundbreaking leadership in bioscience innovation has contributed to bioscience research, commercialization, policy, investment, industry growth and expansion in the state. The naming of Big Thinkers comes only once a year and is part of KansasBio's strategy to showcase Kansas ' historical strengths and new innovation in biosciences.

The 2009 KansasBio Big Thinkers are: Senator Stephen R. Morris , President of the Kansas Senate; Dr. Ron Trewyn , Vice President for Research at Kansas State University and President of the Kansas State University Research Foundation; and Dr. Scott Weir , Director of the Institute for Advancing Medical Innovation at the University of Kansas; Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics; Program Leader in Drug Discovery and Development; and Frank B. Tyler Cancer Research Professor.
 
 
KANSASBIO WELCOMES GREG KRISSEK AS 2010 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
 

Greg Krissek, KansasBio’s incoming Chairman of the Board, is ICM’s Director of Government Affairs. He represents the company on state and federal matters relating to ethanol policy and overall industry development. He has 20 years’ experience working with ethanol and renewable energy projects as well as related public policy.

Greg currently serves on the board of Growth Energy as its Technical and Environment Committee Chair. He previously served as chair of the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) board as well as chair of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition (NEVC) board. He also serves as a board member of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors, and KansasBio. In addition, he represents ICM on six ethanol plant boards of directors. He also served five years as the biofuels and agriculture representative on the Kansas Governor’s Energy Council.

Prior to joining ICM in 2003, Greg spent three years as Director of Operations with the offices of the Kansas Corn Commission, Kansas Corn Growers Association, and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association. He also worked with the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) for 11 years, including three years as Assistant Secretary. While at KDA, he served as chief staff coordinator for the Governor’s Ethanol Coalition.

Greg holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Rockhurst University in Kansas City as well as a law degree and MBA from the University of Denver.

With approximately 300 employees, ICM designs, builds, and supports ethanol plants as well as serves as a leading ethanol industry advocate. For more information, visit icminc.com.

animal health

 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
SHOR-LINE ENTERS THE VETERINARY REHABILITATION INDUSTRY

( Kansas City , Kan. – Dec. 11, 2009 ) - At the offices of Schroer Manufacturing Company in the Amourdale district of Kansas City, Kansas, the omnipresent “Skippy”, a rambunctious Collie, might cause a visitor to wonder whether the Company is celebrating ‘Bring Your Dog to Work Day'. But his presence at the office has nothing to do with the calendar and everything to do with business. As the Company's Human Resources Manager and Skippy's owner, Connie Keller, will tell you, “My boy is here for a little underwater jogging.”

The Company, known in industry circles as Shor-Line, is an 82 year old manufacturer and supplier of veterinary medical equipment. In addition to traditional kennel, surgical and examination products, Shor-Line has recently moved into animal rehabilitation. Among the products offered by Shor-Line is a water treadmill marketed under the Hydro Physio brand name. This product allows animals to exercise on a treadmill within an aquatic environment. Skippy has a congenital leg condition that is treated with rehabilitative work in an onsite unit.
read more

plant science

ICM, INC. SELECTED AS A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FUNDING AWARD RECIPIENT

Eager to Continue Mission of Sustaining Agriculture
through Innovation

( Colwich , Kan. – December 4, 2009 ) – ICM, Inc. is pleased to announce that it is among 19 awardees selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a pilot/demonstration scale facility through the DOE's Biomass Funding Opportunity Announcement - Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations . ICM received notification today that its application has been selected for negotiations leading to an award; the DOE grant amount is $25 million, and ICM expects to contribute more than $6 million of its own funds as its cost-share for the advanced biorefinery project.

read more

life science

KANSASBIO PRESIDENT SERVES ON
EXPERT PANEL AT ONE HEALTH SUMMIT
IN WASHINGTON , DC



( Washington, DC – Nov. 17, 2009 ) - On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the One Health Commission in partnership with the National Academies co-hosted a groundbreaking summit in Washington, D.C., convening leading health science experts and policy makers across the human, animal, and ecosystem disciplines. The One Health Commission Summit raised awareness of the importance of transcending institutional and disciplinary boundaries to improve the health of people, animals, and the environment. Angela Kreps, KansasBio President & CEO, served on the expert panel and addressed “How Kansas and the Kansas City Region Are Working Together in Human, Animal and Plant Science Innovation.”

The event commenced with an announcement from Clyde Behney, Deputy Executive Officer of the Institute of Medicine , who revealed the intent of the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council to conduct a study that will help shape the One Health vision at the national and international level.

read more

government relations _________________________

KANSASBIO BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSES 2010 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA AND STATE/FEDERAL POLICY STATEMENTS

To read KansasBio's 2010 Legislative Agenda, click here.
To read KansasBio's 2010 State and Federal Policy Statements, click here.



KANSASBIO IMPLORES KANSAS SENATORS AND CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY

KansasBio Asks Kansas Congressional Delegation to Provide Relief to Small Bioscience Companies

Dear Representatives Jenkins, Moore , Moran and Tiahrt:

On behalf of the members of KansasBio, please accept this letter in support of a provision included in H.R. 4173, the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, that will provide a permanent exemption from Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for smaller reporting companies, and ask that you oppose an amendment by Rep. Kanjorski to remove this provision from the bill.

 

KANSASBIO URGES SENATORS BROWNBACK AND ROBERTS TO OPPOSE DRUG IMPORTATION AMENDMENT

Dear Senators Brownback and Roberts:

On behalf of the members of KansasBio, please accept this letter in opposition to Senator Dorgan's drug importation amendment to the health care reform legislation which may be voted on by the Senate sometime this week.  We believe that the promotion of drug importation is an extremely risky endeavor which threatens the livelihood of one of Kansas ' fastest growing bioscience industry sectors – the service providers to our nation's (and our world's) drug development and delivery companies.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE ___________________________

The Senate voted on importation on December 15.  There were two votes, both of which required 60 votes for passage. The first was the Dorgan amendment, which allowed for a system of importation, without any required certification by the Secretary of HHS as it relates to safety or savings.  This amendment was defeated (because it did not achieve 60 votes) by a vote of 51-48. Both Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts voted no on this amendment.

The second amendment was the Lautenberg side-by-side amendment, which allowed for a system of importation, but only after the Secretary of HHS certified that it could be done at no risk to patient safety and with significant cost savings.  This amendment was defeated as well (again, because it did not achieve 60 votes) by a vote of 56-43. Both Senators Brownback and Roberts voted yes on this amendment.



Other Bio News _________________________________

GIFT OF $10 MILLION TO HELP KU CANCER CENTER'S PURSUIT OF NATIONAL DESIGNATION

A $10 million gift has pushed the University of Kansas Cancer Center closer to its goal of being designated a national cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
 

APPLICATIONS FOR 2010 INVEST MIDWEST BEING ACCEPTED UNTIL JAN. 8, 2010 ______________________

Invest Midwest , the venture capital conference of the Midwest , is accepting applications from companies seeking funding until January 8, 2010 . Up to 45 companies will be selected to present. The conference will showcase companies in three industry tracks: life sciences, technology/general business and cleantech/alternative energy. The InvestMidwest selection committee will consider companies that meet the following criteria:

  • Located within the center corridor of the United States
  • Seeking $1M to $20M in funding
  • Revenue projections of $20 million within five years (with the exception of life sciences companies)
Companies meeting these criteria are encouraged to apply. Companies that are selected will have the opportunity to present a ten minute PowerPoint presentation before a prominent audience of venture capitalists, private investors and corporate investors.
 
 

NEW KANSASBIO MEMBER FAULTLESS LINEN SHOWCASES HOW TO INVITE LEGISLATORS TO VISIT YOUR COMPANY ___________________________________

Politicians are inclined to listen to local business leaders who can put a local face on national issues that impact industry. read more

 
 

KBA BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST BUILDING IN
BIOSCIENCE PARK _________________________________

The Kansas Bioscience Authority broke ground in early December on the first building in the Kansas Bioscience Park in Olathe . read more

 
 
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, DAVID NICKLAUS COLUMN: SHOULD MISSOURI SUPPORT
VENTURE CAPITAL? ________________________________

Nicklaus argues that state support for high-tech research and capital formation is worthwhile. read more

   
   

LAWRENCE AND DOUGLAS COUNTY OFFICALS MAKE IMPORTANT MOVE TO KEEP CRITITECH AND ATTRACT NEW BISCIENCE COMPANIES _____________

Lawrence and Douglas County officials are poised to take a reasonable step by purchasing and improving the former Oread Labs building in an effort to hang on to one local pharmaceutical company and attract other biotech firms. read more

   
   
JOB OPENINGS ___________________________________
 

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Seeks Director of Food and Agriculture, Animal Biotechnology

The primary purpose of this position is to lead and represent BIO on all animal biotechnology science and regulatory issues related to food and agriculture. Click here for job description

KBA/KTEC Seek Federal Research Funding Specialist

This KTEC-KBA sponsored position will provide promising Kansas companies with in-depth assistance to help Kansas companies write winning proposals for federal funding. Click here for job description

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY
KansasBio Membership & Benefits Committee Meeting
1/5/2010, 9 - 10 a.m.
ECJC or Phone Conference
8527 Bluejacket St.
Lenexa, KS 66214

KansasBio Talent Development and Education Committee Meeting
1/7/2010, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
ECJC or Phone Conference
8527 Bluejacket St.
Lenexa, KS 66214

KansasBio Executive Committee Meeting
1/12/2010, 1 - 3:00 p.m.
Phone Conference

Bioscience Caucus Meeting
1/14/2010
Statehouse
Topeka, KS

K-INBRE Symposium
1/16 - 1/17/2010
InterContinental Hotel
Country Club Plaza
Kansas City, MO

KansasBio Public Policy Committee Meeting
1/28/2010, 2:00 - 4:00p.m.
ECJC or Phone Conference
8527 Bluejacket St .
Lenexa, KS 66214


KANSASBIO MEMBERS

Aerosol Research & Engineering Laboratories (ARE Labs)

Agro-International

Alliance for Technology Commercialization, Inc.

Amgen

Aptakon

AstraZeneca LP

Bayer CropScience

Bayer Healthcare LLC, Animal Health Division

Beckloff Associates

Biomedical Devices of Kansas

Bioscience Consulting

Bioscience Development Corporation of Tonganoxie

Blue Valley School District

BVM Biologics, LLC

Cambridge Technology Enterprises Inc.

Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics

Chubb Commercial Insurance

Cobb Communications

Colby Community College

Compan Pharmaceuticals, LLC

CRB Engineers & Builders

CRI - Clinical Research Institute

CritiTech, Inc.

CyDex, Inc.

Deciphera Pharmaceuticals

Dighton/Lane County Economic Development, Inc.

Ecoversion

Edenspace

EFL Associates

Eli Lilly, LLC

Elliott, Kyle

Emporia State University

Faultless Linen

First National Bank

Fish & Richardson, P.C.

Flax Biotech

Foley Company

Fort Hays State University

Foulston Siefkin LLP

Global Prairie

Gould Evans

Great Bend Chamber/Economic Development

Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce

Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition

Greenbush Southeast Kansas Education Service Center

Guava Technologies

Haake Companies

Harvey County Economic Development Council

Hennessy Research Associates, LLC

Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc

Hoefer Wysocki Architects, LLC

Hoelscher Agriculture Development

IBT Laboratories

ICM, Inc.

IdentiGEN North America, Inc.

ImmunoGenetix Therapeutics, Inc.

Initiatives, Inc.

JE Dunn Construction

Johnson County Community College

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson Strategic Communications

Junction City / Geary County Economic Development Commission

Kansas Association of Ethanol Processors

Kansas Association of Wheat Growers

Kansas Bioscience Authority

Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce

Kansas City Area Development Council

Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute

Kansas Environmental Management Associates (KEMA)

Kansas Farm Bureau

Kansas Grain & Feed

Kansas State University

Kansas Technology Enterprise Corporation

KC BioMediX Inc.

Karp, Jeff

Kelly Scientific Research

Kimsey, R. Scott

Kraus-Anderson Construction Company

Labconco Corporation

LabTech Specialty Staffing

Lawrence Chamber of Commerce

Lawrence Douglas County Bioscience Authority

Leavenworth County Development Corporation

Lee Research Institute

Lutgen, Tom

Madeira Therapeutics

Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

McCownGordon Construction

McDermott, Stan

Merck & Co., Inc

MGP Ingredients Inc.

Midwest Management Solutions

Montgomery County Action Council

Nancy Shawver Consulting

Nanoscale Corporation

New Boston Creative

Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation

Novita Therapeutics

Nu Life Market LLC

Nueterra Capital Management

Oncimmune

Orbis Biosciences, Inc.

OsteoGeneX Inc.

Overland Park Economic Development Council

Pars Bioscience, LLC

PGAV Architects

PhRMA

Physicians Reference Laboratory

PhytoTechnology Laboratories

Pinnacle Medical Research

Pinnacle Technology Inc.

Pittsburg State University

Polsinelli Shughart

Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation

PRA International

ProPharma Group, Inc.

Proteon Therapeutics, Inc.

Regional Development Association of East Central KS

Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP)

SAFC Biosciences

Schifman, Remley & Associates, Inc.

Schroer Manufacturing Company

Shawnee Economic Development Council

Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

Southeast Kansas, Inc. (SEK)

Stifel Nicolaus & Co., Inc.

Stinson Morrison Hecker

Stormont-Vail HealthCare

The Lanese Group, Inc.

Treanor Architects

Turner Construction Company

TVAX Biomedical LLC

University of Kansas

University of Kansas Medical Center

Vasogenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Ventria Bioscience

Via Christi Health Services

Vince & Associates

VWR International, Inc.

Walton Construction Company LLC

Western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance (wKREDA)

Wichita State University

Wichita Technology Corporation

Wyandotte Economic Development Council

Xenometrics LLC



 

 



Kansas Bioscience Association

Kansas Bioscience Organization
8527 Bluejacket St. | Lenexa, KS 66214
phone 913-495-4334 | fax 913-888-6928
info@kansasbio.org

© 2004 Kansas Bioscience Organization (KansasBio). All rights reserved.