November 18, 2020 (Huntsville, AL) – Three scientists from the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology were named to the annual Highly Cited Researchers™ 2020 list from Clarivate. The list identifies scientists and social scientists who demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during the last decade. Their names are drawn from the publications that rank in the top 1% by citations for field and publication year in the Web of Science™ citation index.

By nature, research builds upon past knowledge. When reporting new research, scientists place their work in the proper context with respect to the past work upon which it builds. This is done by referencing sources of information, also known as citations.

In the research community, citations serve not only as performance indicators for individual scientists or fields of study, but also to create webs of knowledge. Citing other research helps to validate the new work and explain how it fits into, or challenges, the current knowledge in the field.

HudsonAlpha has a strong record of making significant contributions to the research community. This is the seventh year in a row that at least three HudsonAlpha scientists have been named on the Highly Cited Researcher list. This speaks volumes to the expertise and respect that these scientists have in their field of study and beyond.

“HudsonAlpha’s outstanding track record of Highly Cited Researchers is a testament to the impactful foundational research that our Institute prides itself on,” says Rick Myers, PhD, President and Science Director and M. A. Loya Chair in Genomics at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. “Collaborative research is an important pillar on which the spirit of HudsonAlpha was built, and we are proud that our scientists are able to be active contributors to the open flow of research and information in the genomics field.”

Past HudsonAlpha faculty included on the Highly Cited Researcher list include Myers, Devin Absher, PhD, Greg Cooper, PhD, Jane Grimwood, PhD, and Jeremy Schmutz.

The three scientists named to the 2020 list are:

• Faculty Investigator Jane Grimwood, PhD – Cross-field
• Faculty Investigator Jeremy Schmutz – Plant and Animal Science
• Jerry Jenkins, PhD – Cross-field  

Grimwood and Schmutz serve as the co-directors of the HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center. Together with their research teams, they have sequenced well over 150 de novo plant genomes, both for their own research projects and collaborative projects. The de novo plant genomes serve as a foundation for genomic and functional plant research, meaning that hundreds of scientists rely on and utilize the reference genomes created by Grimwood and Schmutz’s group.

Because of their expert status in the plant genomics field, Grimwood and Schmutz are no strangers to the Highly Cited Researcher List, both having been named to the list several times before. In fact, Schmutz has made the list every year since its inception in 2014.

Although Jenkins is a newcomer to the Highly Cited Researcher list this year, he has been a critical part of the Genome Sequencing Center team for nearly a decade. He serves as the Genome Analysis Group Leader and is involved in the generation and improvement of de novo plant genomes.

“Working in the Genome Sequencing Center with Jane and Jeremy over the past decade has given me the opportunity to participate in high-quality research and collaborate with dozens of research groups to help address important questions pertaining to plant science,” says Jenkins. “It is rewarding for me personally to see that our peers recognize the impact the group is having in plant genomics, and we plan to continue to make high quality contributions to address questions in plant science."

Grimwood, Schmutz and Jenkins are three of 6,167 researchers from more than sixty countries and regions recognized this year, 2,650 of which reside in the United States. They are also joined by 26 Nobel Laureates.

“In the race for knowledge, it is human capital that is fundamental and this list identifies and celebrates exceptional individual researchers who are having a great impact on the research community as measured by the rate at which their work is being cited by others,” said David Pendlebury, Senior Citation Analyst at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate.

The full 2020 Highly Cited Researchers list and executive summary can be found online here.

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About HudsonAlpha: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to developing and applying scientific advances to health, agriculture, learning, and commercialization. Opened in 2008, HudsonAlpha’s vision is to leverage the synergy between discovery, education, medicine, and economic development in genomic sciences to improve the human condition around the globe. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. The state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. HudsonAlpha has become a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education and fosters more than 40 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn more about HudsonAlpha, visit hudsonalpha.org.

State of Alabama, HudsonAlpha and biotech companies working to track COVID-19 transmission

November 23, 2020 (Huntsville, Ala.) – HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology today announced the ongoing efforts in support of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s work to respond to and mitigate COVID-19. Through Alabama’s Coronavirus Relief Fund and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), $600,000 has been allocated to HudsonAlpha to perform genomic sequencing on positive SARS-CoV-2 samples from people across the state of Alabama.

“All of us at HudsonAlpha are grateful to the state of Alabama for this support to help strengthen our state’s response and planning for this pandemic," said Rick Myers, PhD, President, Science Director and M. A. Loya Chair in Genomics at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. “HudsonAlpha’s genomic research scientists are fully committed to combating this deadly virus.”

There are multiple goals with this COVID-19 initiative including identifying different strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus from all regions of the state, generating longitudinal data to determine changes in the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the pandemic; identifying possible sources of new hotspots of infection in Alabama; surveying for possible emerging strains of virus which could have implications for vaccine development and vaccine efficiency; and adding an Alabama perspective to national and global COVID-19 initiatives through sequencing data generated in the state. The information generated will be provided to the Alabama Department of Public Health and other parties that have critical roles in responding to the pandemic.

Leading this project is co-director of HudsonAlpha’s Genome Sequencing Center, Jane Grimwood, PhD. “Through this initiative with the state, HudsonAlpha aims to provide actionable information to help the collective efforts of policymakers and frontline workers in the fight against the pandemic,” said Grimwood.

HudsonAlpha is currently working with Diatherix-Eurofins Laboratories (HudsonAlpha resident associate company) as provider of the COVID-19 samples. HudsonAlpha is engaging other sources to provide additional samples to extend geographic and demographic coverage throughout the state.

 

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About HudsonAlpha: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to developing and applying scientific advances to health, agriculture, learning, and commercialization. Opened in 2008, HudsonAlpha’s vision is to leverage the synergy between discovery, education, medicine, and economic development in genomic sciences to improve the human condition around the globe. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. The state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. HudsonAlpha has become a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education and fosters more than 40 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn more about HudsonAlpha, visit hudsonalpha.org.

On the closing day of the first annual Southeast Life Sciences conference, the AdvanSE Life Sciences Conference, we want to congratulation the winners of our awards and PitchRounds.

Southeast Life Sciences awards include awards for best initial funding, best venture funding, best strategic partnership, best M&A, and best IPO. The winners of these are as follows. These awards go back more than a decade from both Southeast BIO and the Southeast Medical Device Association prior to the merger. Some of the biggest success stories from the southeast have been included in these awards and we expect the same big things with our winners this year!

• For best Initial Funding (seed or angel), the winner is Acclinate Genetics, from Huntsville, Alabama.
• For best Venture Funding (>$1mm from institutional investors), the winner is Embody Inc., from Norfolk, VA
• For best Strategic Partnership, the winner is SiO2, of Auburn, Alabama
• For best M&A, the award goes to AskBio, from RTP, NC, which was acquired by Bayer AG.
• For best IPO, the award goes to Shattuck Labs, from Durham, NC and Austin, TX

SE PitchRounds this year took in more than 70 applications from across the region for only 22 slots. These 20 companies represented the most exciting technologies and some of the most experienced entrepreneurs in the region. From the initial 22, we selected four finalists that presented on the closing day of the conference. The finalists were Embody, Inc., Moterum, HeamGen, and Stuart Therapeutics.

The winners from the bipharma/diagnostic group was Stuart Therapeutics.

The winner from  the medtech/digital group was Embody, Inc.

Congratulations to Everyone!

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014. The person responsible for making this announcement is David Bishop, Director of Investor Relations.

Croda International Plc (“Croda” or “the Group”), the speciality chemical company that uses smart science to create high performance ingredients and technologies that improve lives, today announces that it has recently entered into an agreement with Pfizer Inc. to supply novel excipients used in the manufacture of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The contract with Pfizer runs for five years and awards Croda an initial supply contract for four component excipients used in the production of the vaccine candidate for the first three years of the contract. Demand remains subject to relevant approvals.

Croda’s recently acquired subsidiary, Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc. (“Avanti”), specialises in the development and production of high-purity lipids, to produce research and clinical trial quantities of excipients in order to stabilise formulations and enable delivery into the body by parenteral mechanism (injection) for drug and vaccine applications. Croda’s existing health care business has a 20-year track record in developing IP-rich, innovative technologies for drug delivery systems for the pharmaceutical industry and has been working with Avanti, prior to and since its acquisition by Croda, to refine the complex processes involved in achieving the volumes of high-purity excipients required by its pharmaceutical customers. Croda has reprioritised investment, resources and other projects across the Group over the last few months to focus on the delivery of this project.

Commenting on the new contract, Steve Foots, Chief Executive Officer, said:  

“I’m very proud of Croda’s involvement in the battle to fight the most significant pandemic that we have seen in a generation. The application of our innovative capabilities is testament to the strong progress we have made to create industry-leading drug delivery systems, focused on developing speciality excipients and adjuvants to improve the effectiveness and stability of complex drug actives and vaccines. It is another example of why our Purpose - Smart Science to Improve Lives – sits at the heart of our strategy and will continue to drive our priorities and ambitions in the years ahead.”

Nonprofit Operations & Marketing Internship 

You are intrinsically curious about Alabama’s bioscience industry and are motivated to promote the intellectual and innovative capital that make our state a premier place to invest, start, and grow in bioscience. Under the guidance and supervision of the executive director,  you will support back office operations, marketing, and event planning to further the mission of BIO Alabama, the state affiliate of Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the leading advocate for Alabama’s bioeconomy. BIO Alabama is a membership-based professional organization representing the state on a national and international stage. Your role as an intern will be to support the executive director in further connecting our bioscience ecosystem. This internship is for college credit and will follow your instructor’s internship guidelines including minimum hour requirements and deliverables. 

What you will do

• Prepare bi-weekly e-newsletter drafts for executive director’s review and approval.

• Assist with weekly social media posts and engagement.

• Coordinate all details of events (both virtual and in person) including speaker invitations, speaker planning and  preparation, promotion, day of event setup, and event attendee follow-up.

• Conduct market research as needed to better understand the State’s bioscience ecosystem and it’s assets. 

• Update and maintain data in customer management systems (CRM)

• Participate in weekly planning calls with the executive director.

What you already have

• Interest in learning marketing and social media for a state-wide, nonprofit, professional organization. 

• Interest in learning how to plan and implement small/medium scale events.

• Experience conducting research and possess strong written and oral communications skills. 

• Ability to navigate a wide variety of business and social settings and enjoy taking the message of BIO Alabama to individuals and organizations not yet familiar with its mission.

Submit PDF file of Cover Letter & Resume to: Sonia Robinson, Executive Director sonia@bioalabama.com

DEADLINE: January 29, 2021

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – October 15, 2020 – Kailos Genetics announces the launch of Assure Sentinel, a first-of-its-kind workplace viral suppression program that tests organizations for COVID-19 on a frequent and recurring basis.

The Assure Sentinel program reduces the challenges of COVID-19 testing in the workplace. Samples are acquired using the easy and painless ViraWash™ saliva collection system, eliminating the need for nasopharyngeal swabs. Additionally, testing is performed with ViralPatch™, the company’s proprietary viral capture and sample pooling methodology, and next generation DNA sequencing to decrease costs and increase testing sensitivity.

“Pooling dozens of samples together has been standard in blood banking for decades. The Assure Sentinel program is helping to suppress COVID-19 and returning people to the workplace,” says Brian Pollock, Chief Executive Officer for Kailos Genetics.

Regular COVID-19 testing can mean a reduction in employee anxiety and a rise in confidence and productivity. "Safety is, and has always been, our number one priority during the pandemic, and the Assure Sentinel program is helping us continue to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees," said Julia Michaux-Watkins, Director of Human Resources at HudsonAlpha.

Kailos is offering the workplace testing program to companies, non-profit organizations and schools directly and via partnerships with healthcare organizations. The first partnerships announced include Huntingdon College (Montgomery, AL) and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology (Huntsville, AL).

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, Huntingdon College identified access to testing as a key element to our ability to responsibly reopen our campus to our students, faculty and staff for the fall. We have been fortunate to find an Alabama-based partner to provide a reasonably priced, efficient testing option, which has been critical in successfully mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on our campus,” says Jay Dorman, Treasurer and Senior Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Administration at Huntingdon College.

For more information on Kailos Genetics Assure Sentinel program, email media@kailosgenetics.com.

Kailos Genetics is a leader in innovative, cost-effective solutions that make genetic screening accessible to everyone.  Kailos provides genetic and COVID-19 testing through partnerships with physicians, health systems and employers around the world.

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Huntsville, AL  (October 19)  – GeneCapture, a company developing products for commercial and government applications for point of care diagnostics, announced today the world’s first multi-pathogen identification using non-amplified RNA detection. Its 1 hour ‘sample to answer’ CAPTURE PLATFORM™ is on track for commercialization within two years.

“We made history today – this is the first time an automated rapid pathogen identification has been reported directly from the sample, with no modification or amplification of its genetic source, in about an hour,” said GeneCapture CEO Peggy Sammon. “We envision a future where finding out why you are sick can be solved almost anywhere, in an hour, and without being chained to a lab. Infection detection will soon be portable, fast, and inexpensive. Just as the shift from relying on central computers to desktop and handheld devices enabled entirely new markets, so will decentralized, portable multi-pathogen infection detection.”

GeneCapture’s unique disposable cartridge enables its point of care vision for rapid, inexpensive multi-pathogen identification. Whether the illness is bacterial, viral, fungal or protozoan, a single test will pinpoint the cause. The novel technology consolidates sample prep and molecular signature detection in one plastic cartridge with a ‘one button’ portable reader.

Rick Myers, PhD, President, Science Director and M. A. Loya Chair in Genomics at HudsonAlpha says, “GeneCapture’s approach, an array-based genetic fingerprint based on direct RNA hybridization, is an innovative way to simplify the process and cost of responding to infections. Their recent demonstration of Sample-to-Answer pathogen identification is a major milestone for this industry.”  

The significance of a non-amplified solution is in the logistics. Without a need for enzymes, the test cost and complexity drop dramatically, allowing non-medical personnel to perform multi-pathogen tests without access to a lab. This ease of use will open up new markets for infection detection at schools, day care centers, clinics, veterinary offices, nursing homes, airports and field hospitals. The cost per test is forecasted at only $20 for each disposable hand-sized cartridge.

GeneCapture’s future products will screen a human/animal sample for up to 200 pathogens in less than an hour.  Their CAPTURE PLATFORM™ (Confirming Active Pathogens Through Unamplified RNA Expression) requires neither enzymes nor refrigeration and will have an expected shelf life of over a year. The product is envisioned for point of care applications including remote rural health and military operations. 

The initial molecular binding concept was conceived at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and licensed to GeneCapture, which is an associate company at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology - one of the world’s leading genomics centers. The company has since filed an additional 11 patents, built prototypes, and performed successful pre-clinical validation tests. In addition to the commercial applications, the company has been awarded multiple Department of Defense contracts to mature the technology for potential far-forward military operational use.

The closed cartridge accepts a direct sample (urine, blood, swab) and then concentrates and exposes the pathogen’s RNA fragments to the custom DNA probes on an array. Once the RNA is captured, the specific probes activate an optical sensor. The pattern across the array identifies the pathogen. Limits of detection have been validated and are currently clinically relevant for most bacterial infections, and are being optimized for viral infections.

Louise O’Keefe, PhD, Director of the Faculty and Staff Clinic at UAH, and an advisor to GeneCapture says, “Our industry needs a breakthrough in turnaround time for diagnostic results.  GeneCapture’s approach could transform that challenge we deal with every day.”

The GeneCapture team has briefed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its approach and has begun the process to prepare for the clinical testing required for FDA clearance. 

The company is in discussions with industry leaders for various applications in health care infection detection. 

 

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Photo caption: GeneCapture’s disposable cartridge integrates sample prep and pathogen identification in its rapid, portable ‘sample-in answer-out’ pathogen identification platform.

About GeneCapture: GeneCapture is developing products for commercial and government applications for point of care diagnostics. The company’s patented CAPTURE PLATFORM™ performs direct RNA hybridization to rapidly identify infectious disease organisms from urine, saliva and blood. The ability to detect up to 200 pathogens from a single run at an expected price of $20 sets the CAPTURE PLATFORM™ apart. With the addition of antimicrobial susceptibility testing to their offerings, GeneCapture is in a position to bring the capabilities of a microbiology lab to point of care applications and to underserved locations in the U.S. and around the world. 

About HudsonAlpha: HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a nonprofit institute dedicated to developing and applying scientific advances to health, agriculture, learning, and commercialization. Opened in 2008, HudsonAlpha’s vision is to leverage the synergy between discovery, education, medicine, and economic development in genomic sciences to improve the human condition around the globe. The HudsonAlpha biotechnology campus consists of 152 acres nestled within Cummings Research Park, the nation’s second largest research park. The state-of-the-art facilities co-locate nonprofit scientific researchers with entrepreneurs and educators. HudsonAlpha has become a national and international leader in genetics and genomics research and biotech education and fosters more than 40 diverse biotech companies on campus. To learn more about HudsonAlpha, visit hudsonalpha.org.

About UAH: Launched from America’s quest to conquer space, The University of Alabama in Huntsville is one of America’s premier doctoral-granting, research-intensive universities. Located in the second largest research park in the United States, UAH has robust capabilities in astrophysics, cybersecurity, data analytics, logistics and supply chain management, optical systems and engineering, reliability and failure analysis, rotorcraft and unmanned systems, severe weather, space propulsion, and more. UAH prepares students for demanding positions in engineering, the sciences, business, nursing, education, the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., October 27, 2020 –Transomic Technologies, a leading functional genomics laboratory located on the campus of the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, announced today that it has become a member of Scientist.com’s VIP Program. Only laboratories that achieve a high customer satisfaction rating and that commit to maintaining superior customer service are invited to join the program.

“Scientist.com puts our portfolio of cutting-edge functional genomic services in front of thousands of pre-qualified research customers, “said Blake Simmons, CEO of Transomic Technologies. “The platform helps us get the word out about our latest tools and technologies and helps improve our digital reputation through positive reviews for our products, services, and customer support.”

Transomic Technologies helps life science researchers move their work forward faster by offering genomic tools and services that use next generation strategies such as CRISPR Cas9 gene editing technologies. Transomic works directly with the researcher to understand their goals and to provide the best solutions to accomplish those goals.

“Transomic Technologies is a rapidly-growing genomics tools company that has built a reputation for offering innovative technologies,” said Kevin Lustig, PhD, Scientist.com’s Founder and CEO. “We are thrilled they have joined with other exceptional laboratories in our VIP Program to offer high-quality, competitively-priced services and a commitment to outstanding customer service.”

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About Transomic: Transomic Technologies offers life science researchers one of the industry’s most comprehensive portfolios of lentiviral-based functional genomics tools. These tools use next generation technologies such as CRISPR-Cas9 to advance discovery research. Transomic uses their genomic tools to accomplish custom service projects for several major pharmaceutical companies, ranging from knockout cell lines to CRISPR screening assays. Learn more at transomic.com.

About Scientist.com: Scientist.com is the pharmaceutical industry’s leading AI-powered marketplace for outsourced R&D. The marketplace simplifies R&D sourcing, saves time and money, reduces risk, and provides access to the latest innovative tools and technologies. Scientist.com operates private enterprise marketplaces for most of the world’s major pharmaceutical companies, over 80 biotechnology companies, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Visit scientist.com to learn more.

Follow Scientist.com on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Follow Transomic Technologies on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

The Alabama Defense Advanced Manufacturing Community (ADAMC) consortium has been awarded a $3.7 million Department of Defense (DoD) grant under the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP) by the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA). The ADAMC consortium is tasked with utilizing this grant to undertake a $6.2 million project to focus on the visibility, workforce training and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies in the region, with an emphasis on the modernization of aviation, missiles and ground vehicle systems.

This award follows a competitive selection process culminating in Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment’s designation in August 2020 of six Defense Manufacturing Communities (DMC).

The ADAMC comprises 22 counties that will focus on supporting and growing the capabilities of the defense industrial base (DIB) in Alabama. The ADAMC will pull together existing programs throughout the region like Auburn University’s Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Manufacturing Systems (ICAMS), and The University of Alabama’s Initiative on Manufacturing Development and Education (Alabama IMaDE). Additionally, ADAMC will establish a facility for the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center (AMIIC) in Huntsville. Leveraging a best-practice model demonstrated by the U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC), AMIIC is a public-private collaboration between the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC), the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), industry, and academia (K-12 through university), that will work in collaboration with other similar centers to focus on meeting Alabama’s demand for a highly trained workforce, centric to advanced manufacturing and other leading-edge technologies critical to the DIB participants and Alabama’s DoD operations.

A key objective of the ADAMC will be to support visibility, awareness, technology adoption and workforce development and education in advanced manufacturing technologies that are vital both to current needs and future requirements to enhance the readiness and modernization of U.S. Army aviation and missile weapon systems. This DMC encompasses the majority of aerospace and defense manufacturing, defense installations and associated industries in the region.

The implementation strategy to achieve these goals consists of two Enabling Activities, including:

• NCDMM will establish the initial operation of the AMIIC facility.

• The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) will lead the effort of examining needs, gaps and barriers to effective workforce development and technology adoption.

The implementation will be further supported by three Thrust Areas, each with a lead organization:

• UAH will manage the effort to develop new and enhance existing education and workplace development programs.

• Auburn University will conduct pilot technology adoption projects with industry.

• The University of Alabama will be responsible for initiating a technology development program.

These efforts are designed to strengthen the innovation and manufacturing base in designated DMC Communities, a consortium composed of members of academia, defense industry, nonprofit organizations and State and local government organizations. This presents a revolutionary step forward for the region with regard to positioning the DoD presence within a rich environment of industry, academia and DIB Small-to-Medium Manufacturer (SMM) expertise, benefitting Army Modernization priorities through product, process, human capital and the STEM educational experience.

The combination of achieving DMC status and the subsequent enhancement of advanced manufacturing capabilities will strengthen Alabama’s DIB and further contributions to the DoD, positioning Alabama for continued growth and retention of its defense installations. The State has a strong history in manufacturing and is growing exponentially in advanced manufacturing-related jobs.

To achieve these program goals, the ADAMC will implement an execution model that drives interaction and collaboration amongst partners. The educational process will begin early in K-12, with a focus on STEM needs and manufacturing education, and carry forward through both two-year and four-year academic career paths.

Industry will have the opportunity to engage prospective students and employees at multiple levels, while demonstrating product and process advancement on key technologies. The existing, displaced and military veteran workforce, in collaboration with local and state programs, will be able to undergo retraining, skills enhancement or continuing education/certification to reenter the workforce or obtain position advancement.

 By working collaboratively with government, industry and academia, existing education programs will benefit as new workforce development programs are created to supply a pipeline of qualified and capable individuals.

 ADAMC Consortium members include: 

• Athens State University

• Auburn University

• Calhoun Community College

• Carpenter Technology

• Central Alabama Community College

• City of Tuscaloosa

• Dynetics, Inc.

• Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation

• J.F. Drake State Community & Technical College

• Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce

• National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining

• North Alabama Works

• Northrop Grumman Corp, Defense Systems

• Shelton State Community College

• Stillman College

• The University of Alabama in Huntsville

• The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa

• TriVector Services, Inc.

• Troy University

• Tuscaloosa County Commission

• University of West Alabama

• West Alabama Works 

This award is one of six DoD grants announced across the country totaling $25 million made by the OEA. The awards derive from Fiscal Year 2020 appropriated funding and leverage an additional $12.6 million in non-Federal funding for a total investment of $37.6 million to enhance critical skills, research and development and small business support.

 The OEA works with states and communities to help them respond to changes driven by the DoD throughout the U.S. Some are home to military bases, while others manufacture the products and provide the services necessary for national defense. The Office leverages the capabilities of state and local partners through grants and technical assistance to enhance readiness of installations and ranges as well.

For more information, please contact Brian Tucker in the UAH Office for Operational Excellence at 256.824.2957 or email brian.tucker@uah.edu.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – October 6, 2020 – Kailos Genetics, a CLIA-certified genetic sequencing company, announced they have entered into a partnership with Intermountain Healthcare to establish a pharmacogenetic testing platform for the healthcare network.

Pharmacogenetics is the study of how specific genetic variations affect the way an individual metabolizes medication. Understanding which genetic variations a patient carries can help physicians better personalize healthcare. Kailos Genetics' proprietary InspexionTM pharmacogenetic testing service is the most comprehensive in the industry.

Through a decade of industry experience and innovation, Kailos Genetics has provided thousands of genetic results to physicians to implement precision medicine solutions. “We combine our expertise in both genetic panel design and Illumina sequencing technology to provide robust, up-to-date pharmacogenetics data that is securely and directly transferred to most Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS),” says Brian Pollock, Chief Executive Officer for Kailos Genetics.

“Kailos is committed to delivering the highest quality and most comprehensive pharmacogenetic information available today to help Intermountain Healthcare physicians better serve their patients,” says Brian Pollock, Chief Executive Officer for Kailos Genetics.

Founded in 2010 and located at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama, Kailos Genetics is committed to providing innovative, trusted and affordable genetic sequencing solutions.

Intermountain Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system serving Utah, southern Idaho and southern Nevada.  Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the healthcare network consists of 24 hospitals, 2,400 physicians and approximately 160 clinics.