CID4 News Feed

GEN on VetDC: 'Firm Finds New Uses for Drugs, Diagnostics, and Devices in Companion Animals'

2011-09-25T13:13:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the Biobusiness Profile in Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News by Carol Potera:

"Companies spend billions of dollars annually on the development of human drugs, devices, and diagnostics. Yet many promising products fail to reach the marketplace and their value is never realized. VetDC was started in Fort Collins, CO, last year to repurpose discarded and shelved technologies for veterinary use. The company in-licenses emerging, underexploited technologies from human biotechnology companies, then develops and commercializes them for dogs, cats, and other companion animals."

Link to genengnews.com

VetDC is a portfolio company of CID4. Link to learn more.

LifeScience Aurora: 'All CID4 portfolio companies presenting at upcoming RMLIPC in Denver'

2011-09-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

Quoting from LifeScience Aurora:

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) will have all four of its portfolio companies — Sophono, PeptiVir, VetDC and Flashback Technologies — presenting and participating in discussions at the 2011 Rocky Mountain Life Science Investor and Partnering Conference Sept. 21-23 in Denver.

The four CID4 companies were announced in mid-August as part of 30 from the across the country that were hand-selected by a national committee of life science investors and business development executives for the three-day RMSLIPC conference at the Brown Palace Hotel, which draws venture capital funds, corporate venture funds and business development leaders from the largest global biopharmaceutical and medical device companies."

Link to the article

Feature: 'Venture capital drought affecting Colorado's crop of medical inventions'

2011-09-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the Aurora Sentinel:

"Kevin Smith, who runs CID4, said the organization looks similar to a grant-writing agency that might fund research or some early-stage investment in a bioscience company. But that’s not really their goal, he said.

'Our mission is not just to give the money to a researcher and hope he or she comes up with something interesting, but to actually take an already identified or discovered technology and get it developed,' he said.

Smith said CID4 works with start-ups that are often in a phase of their development known is the industry as the 'valley of death.'"

Link to AuroraSentinel.com

CID4 Awards Funding and Management Assistance to Longmont's Flashback Technologies - "Advanced Patient Monitoring To Predict Patient Outcome"

2011-08-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Quoting from this morning's news release: "The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4has selected Longmont, Colorado-based Flashback Technologies, Inc. to receive funding and management assistance. Flashback is advancing development of their proprietary learning framework for the real-time analysis of physiological data.

Hemorrhage is the number one cause of potentially preventable death on the battlefield and in civilian trauma settings. Work under development includes a device powered by software that quickly and reliably detects and estimates blood loss volume and predicts a time to cardiovascular collapse.

Discoveries at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Surgery, the University of Colorado, Boulder, Department of Computer Science, and the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research have revealed several previously unknown hemodynamic relationships leading to a patent-pending platform technology for the real-time analysis of human vital sign data. A set of algorithms, collectively termed the Cardiovascular Reserve Monitor (CRM), is under development with funding from the U.S. Army. The CRM takes as inputs non-invasive physiological sensor data that in real-time: 1) Detects the early onset of hypovolemia (blood loss) 2) Estimates blood loss volume, and 3) Predicts a patient's individual risk for cardiovascular collapse."

Link to the Pitch Engine social media release

BCBR: "CID4 seeks bioscience project to fund"

2011-07-25T14:04:00.000-07:00

Quoting from today's article by Beth Potter:

"AURORA - A nonprofit bioscience funding group that has given money to two Boulder County companies is looking to give a grant of up to $600,000 to a new project.

Companies should submit requests to the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development, or CID4, which so far has committed $1.25 million to four projects. The deadline to ask for money is Friday, Aug. 5. For details on the selection process, go to http://cid4.com."

Link to the Boulder County Business Report

Deadline: CID4 Sets Aug 5 Cut-off for Inclusion in Fifth Project Funding Review

2011-07-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

Aurora, CO July 22, 2011 – The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity focused on advancing the Colorado life science ecosystem through company creation and job growth, is seeking its fifth project. A review date of Friday, August 5th has been selected as the cut-off for submitting material to CID4.com for consideration.

Link to the related CID4 blog post

Link to the Pitch Engine posting

CID4 Blog: "When is a New Website Not Just A Website?"

2011-07-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

There's a new website in town...CID4's:

"When is a new website not just your run of the mill website? Well … when that website happens to be CID4’s new website.

Launched on 1 July 2011, the new CID4.com is a virtual 'office in the cloud' that enables the management team to maximize efficiencies while catalyzing the growth of the early-stage Colorado life science community. How can a website do all that, you ask? Good question, here is a closer look at some of the new functionality."

Link to the CID4 Blog

DBJ Premium Content: "With VCs quiet, nonprofit helps fund biotech startups"

2011-07-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the July 8th Denver Business Journal:

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) is playing a role left vacant in biotech because of a lack of venture capital in the state these days.

CID4 is pushing to direct the attention of national biotech investors to discoveries from state researchers forming new companies — a role area VC firms used to play.

“We’re trying to replace the early-stage buzz that we’ve lost in the decline of venture capital and create our own buzz about innovation coming out of Colorado,” said Kevin Smith, president and CEO of CID4."

Link to the article at the DBJ website

CID4 Portfolio: 'VetDC hopes money will lead to canine cancer drug on market'

2011-06-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the Coloradoan article by Business Editor Pat Ferrier:

"A small CSU biotech spinoff developing a cancer drug for dogs has become the third company to partner with Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development, CID4, since the statewide institute was formed in 2009...

Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development Corporation, or VetDC, will get $200,000 in bridge financing, management support and key introductions to potential venture capitalists from CID4, a 2-year-old nonprofit designed to grow the state's biosciences...

VetDC hopes to leverage the $200,000 convertible notes from CID4 into $7 million to $8 million in venture or angel capital to develop and bring a new canine cancer drug to market...

VetDC acquired the North American rights to the chemotherapy drug, VDC-1101, earlier this year from Gilead Sciences."

Link to full article at coloradoan.com

VetDC Funding: 'Fort Collins company gets grant'

2011-06-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the posting:

"Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development, a Fort Collins company that develops medical technology for companion animals, has won an investment from the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4)... CID4 is a nonprofit funded by grants from the state and the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority. Its grants have created 20 jobs in the last 18 months."

Link to denverpost.com

'Colorado Institute Awards Funding to VetDC'

2011-06-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Quoting from Veterinary Practice News:

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, selected Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development Corp. (VetDC) to receive funding and management assistance. VetDC develops and commercializes technologies to address unmet medical needs in companion animals."

Link to the posting

Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development Awards Funding to Fort Collins-based VetDC

2011-06-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development has selected Ft. Collins, Colorado-based Veterinary Emerging Technologies Development Corporation (VetDC) to receive funding and management assistance. VetDC in-licenses, develops and commercializes technologies to address serious unmet medical needs in companion animals. The announcement is made by Kevin M. Smith, CID4 President & CEO, who says, "CID4 is providing funding as well as access to CID4’s expert management team’s experience and deep network of potential partners and funders to advance VetDC’s cancer-focused veterinary products."

Performance highlights of CID4 and its funded entities to date include:
* $1.25 million in investments by CID4 has allowed an additional $1.3 million in third party financing into Project companies.
* 20 jobs created within 18 months.
* FDA clearance to market Sophono, Inc.’s Alpha 1 abutment-free, bone anchored hearing device in the US and Europe.
* Rapid progression in PeptiVir’s research and development of its universal influenza vaccine.
* Established a continuous application process so technology owners can apply when they are ready (versus the prior model which was limited to semi-annual solicitations).
* Redevelopment of the CID4 website to provide a more interactive experience and provide more benefits to visitors, as well as provide a direct link to technology submissions.

Link to the PR Newswire release

Link to the Pitch Engine Social Media Release

CID4 Pres/CEO Kevin Smith Presents at Jeffco EDC/We Work for Health Event

2011-06-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

CID4 overview by Kevin Smith, President & CEO:

http://youtu.be/Mqo4pyQoLSY

Rocky Radar: Sophono Receives FDA Clearance for Hearing Device

2011-06-07T16:03:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the posting:

"Sophono announced that it has received FDA clearance for its implantable Otomag Alpha 1(M) Bone Conduction Hearing System. The Alpha 1(M) can treat several hearing disorders including conductive and mixed hearing loss, as well as single sided deafness. The offers distinct advantages from current implanted bone conduction hearing devices that require an abutment (a titanium screw sticking out of the side of the head). The use of an abutment also necessitates permanent hair removal and the daily hygiene routines. The Alpha 1(M) instead uses magnetic coupling between internal (implanted) and external magnets to secure the device. The device is approved for use in adults and children as young as 5. Sophono, based in Boulder, Colorado, received startup funding from the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development."

Link to Rocky Radar

LABS Inc. Adds Life Sciences Industry Veteran & CID4 COO Kevin M. Smith to Board of Directors

2010-12-08T07:34:00.000-08:00

"CENTENNIAL, Colo., Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- LABS Inc., the premier transplant reference and consultative laboratory in the country, today announced that Kevin M. Smith, Chief Operating Officer of the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), has joined the company's Board of Directors. Smith brings a wealth of experience running businesses in the biosciences industries.

In addition to his current role as COO of CID4, Smith was a member of the group that developed the original business plan and state grant proposal for the organization. He also sits on the boards of Sophono, Inc.; PeptiVir, Inc., and participates on the Centura Audit and Corporate Responsibility Management Committee."

Link to the PR Newswire release

Boulder County Business Report: 'Sophono will use grant to expand' - plus CID4's 2nd Solicitation Due Oct 15

2010-10-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Quoting from the news item:

"Sophono Inc., a Boulder-based hearing-device designer, is expected to use a new $600,000 grant to expand its operations in the United States, the company president said.

The company plans to relocate its manufacturing and assembly operations from Germany to Boulder and to hire six to 10 new employees in the next few months, Jim Kasic, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Sophono got the money from the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development funding group in Aurora."

Link to the Boulder County Business Report

Further, CID4 is currently conducting its second proposal solicitation. The deadline is Friday, Oct 15, 2010.
Link for details and online submission.

PeptiVir: Investor Presentation at BioWest 2010 - Venture Showcase Competition

2010-10-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJMBEMsbdo

Venture Showcase - "Biotech in Colorado: Synthetic Sharkskin and So Much More" - Including CID4's PeptiVir, Inc.

2010-10-08T16:40:00.000-07:00

Report by Eric Whitney: "The Colorado BioScience Association holds a competition every other year to find the state's top new biotechnology start-up company. Nominees get the chance to pitch their ideas to a room full of potential investors. That's more important than ever in a down economy, when start-up funding is hard to find."

Link to listen at the CPR website

CID4's PeptiVir, Inc., was in the competition this year.

Rocky Radar: Sophono and PeptiVir First CID4 Awardees

2010-10-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) announced the two companies that received funding based on its initial solicitation. Sophono, Inc, based in Boulder, is receiving $600K to further the development of its Alpha 1 Magnetic Bone Anchored Hearing System...PeptiVir, Inc, based in Aurora, will receive $300K to support development of its universal flu vaccine."

Link to the Rocky Radar post

AdvaMed News: "Sophono to get $600K in funding for hearing system"

2010-09-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development will give Sophono $600,000 in funding to help it develop its Alpha 1 Magnetic Bone Anchored Hearing System, which is designed to treat single-side deafness and other forms of hearing loss. The institute also will grant funding worth $300,000 to PeptiVir for the development of a universal vaccine for influenza."

Link to the AdvaMed SmartBrief site

Business-Briefs: "2 Metro firms win medical startup funds"

2010-09-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

"Two state companies were selected to receive a total of $900,000 in startup funding from the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4), the institute said Monday.

Boulder-based Sophono Inc. will receive $600,000 for its Alpha 1 Magnetic Bone Anchored Hearing System. The company says the system is the first if its kind and is designed to treat conductive and mixed hearing loss and single- sided deafness.

Aurora-based PeptiVir Inc. will receive $300,000 for its universal flu vaccine under development. The grants are the first made by CID4, which is funded by $3.75 million from the state and $1 million from the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority."

Link to DenverPost.com

CID4 Announces Companies Selected From First Solicitation: Sophono and PeptiVir

2010-09-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

CID4's Pres/CEO Rick Duke named to Governor's new Venture Capital Investment Advisory Committee

2010-09-24T16:30:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, as reported in the Denver Business Journal, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter "named 21 people to a new Venture Capital Investment Advisory Committee. The panel is charged with helping to draw financial support for several Colorado industry sectors, including aerospace, bioscience, clean energy and information communication technology."

CID4 President/CEO Rick Duke is among those named to the new committee. Other bioscience industry supporters selected include: Michael Artinger of Boulder - FBBp; Susan M. Kunz of Boulder - BioVantage; Timothy H. Connor of Boulder – Sequel Ventures; Timothy R. Reeser of Fort Collins - COO for Cenergy, CSU’s Energy SuperCluster; Ronald G. Rossi of Evergreen - Polsinelli Shughart, Managing Partner; James C.T. Linfield of Boulder – Cooley LLP; and David N. Allen of Superior – VP for CU Tech Transfer. Holli Baumunk, President/CEO of the Colorado Bioscience Association is serving as a ex-officio, non-voting member.

Link to Governor Ritter's news release

Link to the Denver Business Journal article

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development Announces Second Statewide 'Call for Proposals' From Life Science Technologies. . .

2010-09-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

"AURORA, Colo., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) has issued its second statewide 'Call for Proposals' from Colorado life science technologies in need of funding and active management guidance. The announcement is made by Kevin M. Smith, CID4 Executive Vice President/COO, who says, 'CID4 launched in February, concurrent with our first solicitation. The response identified many exciting technologies with significant job creation potential and has resulted in the selection of two projects to receive CID4 funding - one biopharmaceutical and one medical device. The final legal documents are in process, and we look forward to announcing the selected technologies in the very near future.'"

Link to denverpost.com

CID4 Announces Second Statewide “Call for Proposals” From Life Science Technologies In Need of Funding and Active Management

2010-09-14T08:39:00.000-07:00

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) has issued its second statewide 'Call for Proposals' from Colorado life science technologies in need of funding and active management guidance. The announcement is made by Kevin M. Smith, CID4 Executive Vice President/COO and spokesperson, who says, "CID4 officially launched in February of this year, concurrent with the rollout of our first solicitation. The response to our first solicitation identified many exciting technologies with significant job creation potential and has resulted in the selection of two projects to receive CID4 funding - one biopharmaceutical and one medical device. The final legal documents are in process and we look forward to announcing the selected technologies in the very near future."

Details for responding to CID4’s second proposal solicitation:

* Respond electronically at: http://www.cid4.com
* Final submissions due: October 15, 2010

Link to the PR Newswire

Link to the PitchEngine social media release

New Study on Innovation Shows Challenges Facing Colorado’s Medical Research Workers, Stresses Need for Federal Innovation Policy

2010-06-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

Colorado's Bioscience Industry supporters gathered this week at the Colorado State Capitol for a Medical Innovation News Conference. The conference was sponsored by the Council for American Medical Innovation (CAMI) and was held to focus on a new national research study on the topic and how findings affect Colorado.

Link to a pdf of the study

Link to the news release about the conference

Video recaps of the presentations are now posted:

Welcome: Kelly Brough, Pres & CEO, Denver Metro Chamber

Walt Plosila, Ph. D., Senior Advisor, Battelle Technology Partnership

Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. -- State of Colorado Innovation in Practice

Richard Duke, Ph. D., President and Chief Executive Officer of CID4

Dana Dzwonkowski, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Denver Post: "Lack of venture capital stymies Colorado startups"

2010-06-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

Today's Denver Post includes a feature about the challenges of securing funding for bioscience startups. CID4's President & CEO Richard (Rick) Duke shared these thoughts:

"Venture capital is going to proven winners or those with clinical trial results rather than startups armed only with a promising idea backed by research and early lab tests, said Richard Duke, co-founder of Denver-based GlobeImmune, which is developing treatments for infectious diseases and cancer. The deals tend to be bigger than in the past, he said.

Getting a drug candidate to the level where venture-capital firms will step in can cost $5 million or more. Some companies are able to attract angel investors or government grants to make the jump. This gap is known in the biotech industry as the "valley of death" because so many companies perish there, Duke said.

'The regional early-stage companies have really gotten killed,' he said...

Duke should know. After taking GlobeImmune through early-stage funding, he left to start other ventures. GlobeImmune received $17.5 million in later-stage financing earlier this year, while Duke's new company, ApopLogic Pharmaceuticals, has been unable to attract the $2 million to $5 million in early-stage capital it needs to attract the attention of venture-capital firms.

'Today we'd never be able to get GlobeImmune off the ground. It would be very difficult,' Duke said.

To combat the problem, Duke and former Gambro president Kevin Smith launched the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) last year. Based in the Fitzsimons Life Science District in Aurora, CID4 provides funding and management expertise to small biotech companies.

The state backed CID4 with a five-year, $3.75 million grant and the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority kicked in $1 million. The institute's goal is to create jobs and provide returns while helping bridge the gap for early-stage companies.

CID4 is one of a handful of state or state-backed programs to bolster bioscience, which is one of four target industries designated by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for funding to promote growth. The others are aerospace, renewable energy and tourism.

In 2008, the state created a $26.5 million fund to make grants of $150,000 to research institutions and $250,000 to companies in early stages of research and development through 2013. Another important development for Colorado biosciences is the Colorado Initiative in Molecular Biotechnology at the University of Colorado, which is headed by Nobel laureate Tom Cech and has a $145 million facility under construction."

Link to the Sunday Denver Post article

CID4 Launches Its YouTube Channel

2010-05-31T11:44:00.001-07:00

CID4 has launched its YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/cid4colorado

The first video posted is a presentation by EVP/COO Kevin Smith at the Colorado BioScience Association annual all-member meeting in April.

Link to Kevin Smith's Video Overview of the Institute

CID4's Kevin Smith Presents Institute Overview at Colorado BioScience Assocation Annual Meeting

2010-04-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

Videos are now posted on CBSA's YouTube Channel of highlights from the Colorado BioScience Association Annual All-Member Meeting, held April 20. CID4's Kevin Smith was among the presenters on the agenda:

CBSA Accomplishments of the past year -- Rick Jory, Board Chairperson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVqqJRXi5oQ

Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development -- Kevin Smith, EVP/COO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4XQA5tD54k

Colorado Center For Drug Discovery -- Terry Opgenorth, Director: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXFqkjkZVKg

Cover article from Biotech Reporter Greg Avery: Bioscience Gets Boost From Grants

2010-04-09T11:17:00.001-07:00

"State grants are funding new university laboratories in Aurora, Boulder and Fort Collins — filling what bioscience veterans say has been a gap in turning promising research into new pharmaceuticals and successful companies. The first installments of nearly $7 million in state biotech infrastructure grants are being paid this spring."

CID4 is included in the chart -- link below.

Link to the article

Link to descriptive chart - $10.5 million in state grants has been awarded to solidify biotech drug development infrastructure in Colorado

Fitzsimons: From vacant Army post to medical promised land

2010-03-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

There was a great multi-part feature in Sunday's Denver Post on the Fitzsimons Life Sciences District and Anschutz Medical Campus and how it "has emerged as an economic bright spot in the area, bringing advanced health care and research facilities to the region, garnering national attention, and providing an economic engine that is expected to employ nearly 45,000 people when it is fully developed."

Don't miss these related articles:
1) Venture capital firms sought to boost Fitzsimons life-science incubator
2) Fitzsimons growth fueling retail development
3) CU Hospital's diabetes research sets standards worldwide

CID4 and Kevin Smith were included in the incubator sidebar:

"To help bridge the gap between basic research and successful product commercialization, the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) was formed late last year. The nonprofit organization received $4.75 million in grants that run through 2013 from the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

CID4, based at the incubator, is reviewing its first round of applications and will select two or three technologies to fund and manage through the development cycle. The funds are available to any Colorado life-science technology, not just those that are being researched and developed at Fitzsimons.

Unlike a pure investment firm, CID4 will select technologies that can generate jobs in Colorado, as well as provide financial returns.

'We don't have to make a percentage return on our investments, so we have a bit more flexibility to make choices,' said Kevin Smith, the organization's executive vice president. 'If we get jobs and $8 million, that's probably as good as $10 million.'"

Link to Margaret Jackson's Feature Article

March 2 is the 2010 BioBeers Launch at Twisted Pine in Boulder

2010-02-26T16:13:00.000-08:00

Kickoff the 2010 BioBeers Season at "BioBeers - Boulder" on March 2. BioBeers wonderful friends at the Twisted Pine will host (click for details & signup) Note: please arrive promptly at 6:30 p.m.

This will be a special event with a chance to talk and connect with local life science leaders, such as Rick Duke Ph.D. and Kevin Smith of CID4 as well as Robin Shandas, Ph.D., head of the new Bioengineering Department at University of Colorado-Denver and research professor of mechanical engineering at CU-Boulder. All three will be speaking about their ongoing efforts to elevate Colorado bioscience.

Dr. Richard C. Duke, Ph.D. is a biotechnology executive, inventor, biomedical researcher and serial entrepreneur with fifteen years of experience in building, financing, and managing start-up biotechnology companies based on inventions made in Colorado's non-profit research institutions. He is currently Co-scientific Founder, President and CEO of ApopLogic Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Duke is a Co-scientific Founder and former CEO, President and Director of GlobeImmune, Inc. and was involved in the formation of Sierra Neuropharmaceuticals where he was an initial Director. These Colorado-based companies have raised more than $150 million in
financing and have multiple products in phase 1 and 2 human clinical trials. In addition to his entrepreneurial activities, Dr. Duke has over twenty-five years of experience in cutting-edge biomedical research and is a tenured faculty member in the Departments of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Immunology at the University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Duke has provided independent 3rd party life research analysis in the life sciences sector to Janus Capital and to venture capital firms.

Kevin M. Smith was a member of the group that developed the business plan and State Grant proposal which resulted in the creation of CID4. Prior to joining CID4, Kevin was Managing Director of Act Three Consulting, LLC. Act Three was formed in July 2007 to provide consulting services to management teams and their advisors during times of dramatic change. Prior to founding Act Three, Kevin spent nine years as President of Gambro, Inc., the US holding company for the publicly-traded, Swedish-based Gambro Group, until its acquisition by private equity investors in 2006. The US operations of Gambro included the manufacture and distribution of cardiovascular (CV), blood separation and renal dialysis products and the operation of US and international kidney dialysis centers. Before joining Gambro, Kevin was an audit partner in the Denver and New York offices of Ernst & Young, specializing in entrepreneurial services and led the formation of E&Y's Denver Life Sciences Practice. Kevin graduated from Kansas State University in 1970 and worked in New York until his relocation to Colorado in 1988.

Robin Shandas, Ph.D. is the head of the new Bioengineering Department at University of Colorado-Denver and research professor of mechanical engineering at CU-Boulder. This new program will be a driver of economic development in bioengineering fields (Colorado has more than 150 medical device companies). Several companies and jobs have already been created due to bioengineering research in Colorado and this program will continue to grow the medical technology industry and research labs in the state. CU-based startups that could be classified as Bioengineering include: 2C Tech Corp, BioTricity Medical, Cello Bioengineering, EndoShape, Illumasonix, Locomotion, MedShape Solutions, Precision Biopsy, Physical Activities Innovation and TissueFusion. Since 2006, this set of companies has raised more than $20.5 million in grants and seed financing.

For details and to RSVP: http://www.biobeers.com

"With $4.75M in hand, institute helps biotech startups"

2010-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

"Local bioscience industry boosters have formed a state-supported nonprofit institute to fund biotechnology startups and provide them executive leadership at their earliest stages.

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) is armed with $3.75 million from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and $1 million from the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority in the next five years."

Link to the Denver Business Journal feature

CID4's first funding solicitation deadline is March 1st

2010-02-22T07:24:00.000-08:00

From w3w3's Larry Nelson recapping his interview with CID4's Rick Duke and Kevin Smith:

"Kevin added, 'Back in late October when we last talked, we were poised to start operations, doing a lot of planning but we hadn't really started yet. The good news is since then we've finalized our grants with the State of Colorado and our grant with the Fitzsimmons Redevelopment Authority and we're ready to start operations. We've actually launched that first solicitation for technology. But in order to do that we've brought together a business and technical advisory committee consisting of some of the top leaders in the State of Colorado, both in the financing of early stage companies as well as folks with understanding of the medical drug technology development process and the medical device technology process.'"

"Larry asked, 'Rick could you tell us about the solicitation process and what kind of investments you're actually looking for?' 'We have a solicitation process that involves a very simple and straight forward application that's available on our web site and it's open for private companies as well as research institutions or even individual inventors to submit. The caveat is we are looking for technologies that are ready to enter clinical development.' Submissions are due March 1, 2010 and commercialization is a key word."

Link to the w3w3.com site (posted 2/22/10)

Link to download the mp3 from w3w3.com

Reminder: Feb 15 Deadline for CID4 Letters of Intent

2010-02-07T13:40:00.000-08:00

The Colorado Institute for Drug Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) encourages life science entities in need of funding to submit letters of intent by February 15th deadline.

CID4 is in the midst of its initial technology solicitation and the interest from Colorado bioscience companies has been high. “We encourage all entities which are pursuing life science product technologies and are in need of funding and management support to submit a letter of intent by the deadline – February 15, 2010,” says Kevin M. Smith, CID4 EVP/COO and spokesperson.

“Details of CID4 participation in any individual technology development project will need to be individually negotiated”, says Richard C. Duke, Ph.D., CID4 President/CEO. “We would not want to miss an opportunity to add our support to an ongoing effort because an existing entity self-determined that they were not eligible for the program”’ Duke continued.

Link to complete information and the submission form

CID4 Launches to Support Early Stage Life Science Companies

2010-02-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

"The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) announced its official launch yesterday. The goal of CID4, a not-for-profit entity formed in 2009, is to bridge the gap between basic research, which is usually grant funded, and product commercialization in the life science industry."

Link to the Rocky Radar posting

CID4 accepting proposals for technologies in need of funding

2010-02-02T09:35:00.000-08:00

"A Colorado nonprofit is launching an initiative designed to assist life sciences technologies and companies through funding and active management.

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development, or CID4, is soliciting proposals for drug, vaccine, device and diagnostic technologies that are on the verge of clinical development and available to be exclusively licensed by the CID4, officials said."

Link to the Boulder Daily Camera article

CID4 Launches Today with a Statewide “Call for Proposals” From Colorado Life Science Technologies In Need of Funding and Active Management

2010-02-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development (CID4) officially launches today with a statewide “Call for Proposals” from Colorado life science technologies in need of funding and active management. The announcement is made by Kevin M. Smith, CID4 Executive Vice President/COO and spokesperson, who says “CID4 is a private, not-for-profit entity, formed in 2009 to bridge the gap between basic research and successful product commercialization, thereby creating more Colorado jobs in the life science industry.”

The Institute’s mission is to advance the life science industry in Colorado through active management and funding of projects, resulting in the creation of new companies and new jobs. The need for CID4 was initially outlined in the ‘Colorado Bioscience Roadmap 2008,’ a study compiled by the national Battelle Technology Partnership Practice for the State of Colorado and its bioscience industry partners. Link to a copy of the study

"With more than 20,000 good-paying jobs in Colorado, the life sciences industry is one of our state's most important economic sectors today and it holds incredible promise for tomorrow," Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter said. "I'm pleased CID4 is now ready to advance to the next level as we lead Colorado forward on the road to economic health and recovery."

CID4 was formed through the collaborative efforts of all sectors of the Colorado Life Science community as reflected in the composition of its Board of Directors:

* David N. Allen – University of Colorado
* Denise Brown – Consultant & Former Executive Director of the Colorado BioScience Association
* John Collar – President and CEO, Colorado BioScience Association
* Richard C. Duke, Ph.D – President & CEO , CID4
* Terry Opgenorth, Ph.D. – COO NeoTREX®, CSU Ventures, Inc.
* Kevin M. Smith – Executive Vice President & COO, CID4
* The Honorable Edward J. Tauer – Mayor, City of Aurora & Chair of the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority

“We are very excited about this opportunity to continue developing Colorado’s life science sector. With initial financial support in the form of grants from the State of Colorado and Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority, we have been able to commence operations, recruit a highly distinguished Technical and Business Advisory Committee and reach out to sources of technology across the State,” Richard C. Duke, CID4 President & CEO, explains. “We are now poised to conduct the first of what we expect to be semi-annual solicitations for new technologies. And, the selection process will be rigorous, with only three or four technologies selected each year.”

Unlike a pure investment firm, CID4 will select technologies that have the ability to generate Colorado jobs, as well as financial returns. “We fully expect this new model will allow us to attract additional funding in the form of philanthropic contributions and targeted product investment by angel investors and venture capitalists,” Smith says.

“Bioscience companies can bring great jobs to Colorado’s families. By helping promising technologies in need of startup assistance to become great companies, CID4 becomes our secret weapon to growing more, higher-paying Colorado jobs” The Honorable Ed Tauer, Mayor of the City of Aurora and member of the CID4 Board of Directors, says. CID4 is headquartered at 12635 E. Montview Blvd., Suite 127, in the Fitzsimons Life Science District in Aurora.

About the First Solicitation

CID4 invites Colorado-based Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), researchers and inventors from Colorado-based public and private not-for-profit research Institutions, independent researchers and inventors in Colorado, and private Colorado-based Life Science Companies to submit technologies for consideration. Deadlines for response to the solicitation: February 15, 2010, letters of intent due; March 1, 2010, final submissions due. Note, this proposal solicitation is for drug, vaccine, device and diagnostic technologies poised to enter clinical development and available for exclusive license to the CID4. Link to information and the submission form

Link to the PR Web newswire

Denver Magazine, January 2010: The New Health Technology

2010-01-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

Barbara T. Zimmerman, PhD, authors "The New Health Technology" in the January Denver Magazine. CID4's Rick Duke, President & CEO, and Kevin Smith, EVP & COO, are included.

Link to the article online

October 26, 2009 - Interview on w3w3 Internet Talk Radio

2010-01-29T13:02:00.000-08:00

Rick Duke, CID4 President & CEO, and Kevin Smith, CID4 Executive Vice President & COO, began putting the Institute's organization together last year. While still in the early stages, Rick and Kevin visited with Larry Nelson at Colorado's w3w3.com - Internet Talk Radio - about the new entity. CID4, which stands for the Colorado Institute for Drug, Device and Diagnostic Development, is a private, not-for-profit entity, formed in 2009 to bridge the gap between basic research and successful product commercialization, thereby creating more Colorado jobs in the life science industry.

The Institute’s mission is to advance the life science industry in Colorado through active management and funding of projects, resulting in the creation of new companies and new jobs. The need for CID4 was initially outlined in the ‘Colorado Bioscience Roadmap 2008,’ a study compiled by the national Battelle Technology Partnership Practice for the State of Colorado and its bioscience industry partners.

Link to a copy of the Battelle study

Link to the w3w3 interview