October 24, 2003
Health Sciences News Briefs
Advice on starting a company
A one-day “Bootcamp for Early-Stage Life Science Companies,” organized by the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Associations, is planned on Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Museum of History and Industry in the Montlake neighborhood. The School of Medicine’s Office of Industry Relations is one of several sponsors.
The program is geared to bioscience entrepreneurs interested in launching and developing commerically viable life sciences companies. Company founders, executives, scientists and venture capitalists will share their experience and insights on how to take an idea from the lab to market. One of the faculty members is Dr. Susan Wray, director of industry relations for the UW School of Medicine.
Cost, including lunch, materials and a reception, is $75. For more on the program, see the WBBA site at http://www.washbio.org or contact Wee White at 543-8319 or veewhite@u.washington.edu.
Workshop on Native genetics
A workshop on “Genetics Education for Native Americans” is planned from 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s Weintraub Building. Topics will include areas of genetic research of interest to Native American communities and the implications of the Human Genome Diversity Project for participating groups. For more information, or to register, contact Wendy Law at 206-667-4553 or wlaw@fhcrc.org.
Public health Montana award
The Montana Public Health Association has given its annual President’s Award to the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, based in the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine. Dean Patricia Wahl spoke at the group’s annual meeting in Kalispell, where the award was presented to Jack Thompson, director of the center. The award is given to the organization that has made the most significant contribution to Montana’s public health activities in the past year, in this case “for providing training and support to our public health improvement and workforce development efforts.”
Middaugh new vice president
Dr. Dan Middaugh, associate dean in the School of Dentistry, was elected vice president of the Washington State Dental Association at the organization’s House of Delegates meeting in Chelan last month. He has been on the WSDA Board of Directors since 1996 and is also president of the Seattle-King County Dental Society. He earned both undergraduate and dental degrees from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in public affairs from the UW. He joined the UW faculty in 1969.
AMGEN donation
The AMGEN company has donated $40,000 to the School of Medicine’s Department of Immunology to provide support for the department’s seminar series and annual retreat.
Tissue banking award
Dr. Mike Strong, executive vice president of operations at Puget Sound Blood Center and research professor of surgery and orthopaedics, has received the George Hyatt Memorial Award from the American Association of Tissue Banks. Strong established the Northwest Tissue Center, run as a part of the Puget Sound Blood Center, in 1988. He is an internationally recognized authority in cell freezing, transplantation and transfusion medicine, and tissue banking. He is a non-voting member of the Food and Drug Administration’s Blood Products Advisory Committee.
