Patent Attorney, Seaton Currran to Speak at August 8th, 2013 NevBio Luncheon

Seaton Curran, J.D., MBA & P.E. of Howard & Howard will speak on 

"New Laws - New Strategy: How the Recent Changes in Patent Law Affect your IP Strategy", Thursday, August 8th, 11:30 am check-in, 12 lunch & talk, McCormick & Schmicks, $30. (Students & researchers are free)

This year, the most significant changes in patent law in over 50 years went into effect as the America Invents Act continues to be implemented.  As these new laws come into effect, businesses and inventors need to reevaluate their Intellectual Property strategies to adjust to the new changes.  The most significant change was implemented in March 16, 2013 when the Patent system changed from "First to invent" to "First Inventor to File".  Mr. Curran will discuss IP strategy and how the new patent laws affect the protection of your intellectual property.

  

Mr. Curran is an attorney with the law firm of Howard & Howard and concentrates his practice on intellectual property.  He advises clients in the development intellectual property strategies with a focus on maximizing business value through the protection and licensing of business assets.  He concentrates his practice in the area of patent law with experience in mechanical, electrical and computer software technologies, and assists client with the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications, trademark registrations, patentability searches, patent landscape analysis, freedom-to-operate, infringement analyses and invalidity opinions.  Mr. Curran received his J.D. from the University of Nevada Las Vegas, M.B.A. from the University of Southern California, and BS in engineering from Loyola Marymount University.  He is licensed to practice in Nevada and before the USPTO, and holds a professional engineering license in Nevada.

Seaton Curran has presented to NevBio before. He gives an exceptional presentation. I would advise you not to miss his talk.

 

Sincerely,

 

John Laub

Nevada Biotechnology & Health Science Consortium

jlaub@regenmd.org

Dr. Ron Kline, Pediatric Oncologist to Speak on the Health Insurance Exchange on July 12, 2013

Dr. Ron Kline will speak on "Nevada's Health Insurance Exchange -

A Doctor's Point of View" Friday, July 12th, 11:30 Check-in, 12 noon lunch & talk McCormick & Schmicks.

Ronald Kline is a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and pediatric bone marrow transplant physician. 

In 2011 he was appointed by Governor Sandoval to the Board of Directors of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.

Dr. Kline is the author of 20 scientific articles, as well as the editor of a textbook on pediatric bone marrow transplantation 

He earned his medical degree from UCLA. His postgraduate clinical training was at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and UCSF. In addition, he completed a research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, publishing work on the immunotherapy of cancer.

He was the President of the Clark County Medical Society. 

He was the President of the Nevada State Medical Association.

He is a doctor with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada and has lived in Las Vegas for 10 years.

Come hear an in-depth explanation of the new Silver State Health Insurance Exchange that will be starting enrollment on October 1st for coverage to start on January 1, 2014.  Dr. Ron Kline is a past president of the Clark County Medical Society and the Nevada State Medical Association and is now a Director of the Silver State Health Exchange.

Health Insurance Exchange Facts: * There is no delay on implementation of the requirement of health insurance by 2014 * There is no delay in implementing Nevada's Health Insurance Exchange. * There is a delay for the large employer mandate to 2015 but it does not affect the Insurance Exchange * There are 588,000 Nevadans that don't have health insurance. * Nevadans will be penalized in 2014 for not having health care. * Enrollment for the exchange starts on October 1st for coverage on January 1st.   The Affordable Care Act will change health care. It will affect the medical industry. Ron Kline is one of the Directors of the Health Insurance Exchange in Nevada. He was also awarded a fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the changes that are coming.

Dr. Craig Dees, CEO of Provectus - Promising Results in Phase II for Melanoma - June 5, 2013

Please join us - NevBio evening event:

Dr. Craig Dees, CEO of Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

"Promising Results with Melanoma Lesions in Phase II Trial of 80 subjects"

Wednesday, June 5th, 5:30 pm

Panevino Restaurant (New location)

RSVP here. $10 (Students, researchers & anyone involved in cancer - no charge)

Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.is an oncology and dermatology biopharmaceutical company which is conducting Phase 2 trials of its drug, PV-10 as a treatment for metastic melanoma.

PV-10 selectively destroys cancer cells without harming surrounding healthy tissue. As reported in Practical Dermatology, the phase II open label, single-arm trial, 80 subjects with AJCC Stage III/ IV melanoma received treatment for one to 10 target lesions and up to 10 non-target lesions; at least one target lesion had to have biopsy confirmation of the diagnosis. Target lesions were >0.2cm diameter. Intralesional dosing was provided at 50 percent of the calculated lesion volume. Retreatment was allowed at weeks 8, 12, or 16, and all subjects were followed for 52 weeks.

According to final outcome data provided by Provectus, a Complete Response (CR: complete disappearance of the tumor) of PV-10 injected lesions was achieved in 26 percent of subjects, Partial Response (PR: at least a 30 percent reduction in tumor volume) was seen in 25 percent of subjects, and Stable Disease (SD: less than 20 percent increase in tumor volume) was seen in 18 percent of subjects. Less than one-third (31 percent) of subjects experienced Disease Progression (DP: 20 percent or greater increase in tumor volume).

Dr. Craig Dees & Provectus have had impressive results from their Phase 2 study and are preparing for Phase 3.

We want to thank Dominic Rodrigues for generously supporting the effort to have Dr. Dees speak in Las Vegas.

There's a lot more to the story of Dr. Dees & Provectus. I hope you can join us on Wednesday, June 5th. 

Cord Blood America - Saving the Lives of the those Closest to You - May 17, 2013

Join us CEO of Cord Blood America,

Joseph Vicente & Dr. Geoffrey O'Neill

Date:  Friday, May 17th

11:30 am check-in, 12 noon lunch/talk

Place: McCormick & Schmicks

Cost: $30 here. (Students & Researchers are free)

Joseph R. Vicente, has been the Chairman and President at Cord Blood America Inc. since May 15, 2012. Mr. Vicente had served as the Chief Operating Officer/VP and as the VP of Corporate Strategy at Cord Blood America Inc. He had earlier co-founded The Empower Network, Inc. He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of The Empower Network, Inc. Joe has been a Director of Cord Blood America Inc. since June 2004. He earned an MBA from the University of Tampa.

Dr. Geoffrey O'Neill, who will also be speaking, has 25 years experience in the stem cell industry, has published 78 papers on the sector. He was the recipient of the prestigious Jean Julliard Price for Research from the International Society of Blood Transfusion and the International Society of Hematology.

 Cord Blood America preserves cord blood at the birth of a child for potential use in future stem cell therapy. The umbilical cord contains a rich store of stem cells.

Cryogenically preserved umbilical cord stem cells have already been used to treat 75 major diseases: leukemia, severe anemia, metabolic blood disorders,  immune deficiencies and seventy other diseases.

NevBio Luncheon - Van Vo, Cancer Researcher at UNLV on April 30, 2013

Van Vo, Cancer Researcher at UNLV

Tuesday, April 30th

McCormick & Schmicks

11:30 am check-in, 12 noon lunch & talk

RSVP here. $30. Students & researchers, no cost.

Van Vo is a PhD candidate at UNLV. Her research involves developing cisplatin analogues for the treatment of cancer

The In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects of Cisplatin Analogues in Cancer and Normal Cells by Van Vo, Ontida Tanthmanatham, Haesook Han, Pradip K. Bhowmik and Bryan L. Spangelo, UNLV Department of Chemistry

About 50% of cancer chemotherapeutic regimens consist of platinum-based drugs. Cisplatin (CDDP) was the first platinum(II) complex approved for clinical treatment by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1978. Along with cisplatin, two other platinum(II) complexes, carboplatin and oxaliplatin, are now approved for use worldwide.

Although commonly prescribed, clinical application of platinum drugs is limited due to narrow spectra of activity, cellular resistance, and toxic side effects. As a consequence of

these drawbacks, the search for improved drugs continues with the goal of discovering compounds with greater efficacy and reduced toxicity.

Cisplatin is not routinely used for the treatment of breast cancer since many breast cancers are resistant to cisplatin treatment; however, it has been reported that some breast

cancers are sensitive to cisplatin. In an effort to develop improved platinum drugs for the treatment of breast cancers, new platinum-complexes have been synthesized.

 In vitro studies in various human breast cancer cells demonstrated that these compounds are much more potent than cisplatin. One of the synthesized complexes was also tested in a normal human breast cell line and was found to be more toxic to the normal cells compared to cancer cells. However, when this compound was tested in vivo in a mouse model, the animals survived after administration of the compound at a dose of 12.5 mg/kg/day for three days. Further studies are required to assess the potential translation of these compounds into clinical use.

Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis at NevBio - Thurs, April 25, 2013

Thursday, April 25th, 12 Noon

Glenn Diamond, Red Green Biotechnology

 McCormick & Schmicks

11:30 Check-in, 12 pm lunch & talk.

$30. (students & researchers free)

"Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis"

Red Green Biotechnology launch against inflammatory bowel disease epidemic. Innovate Nevada's first parade entrepreneur.

Glenn Diamond is the Founder of Neuropeptide Dynamics and David Pharmaceuticals. He is a polymath featured in Fortune (see article on left) for smart drug development work. One of the last disciples of Bob Swanson immortal founder of Genentech and the world's biotechnology industry.

Over 700,000 Americans have Crohn's Disease. It generally strikes individuals between 15 and 35. Crohn's disease belongs to a group of conditions known as Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract.

Crohn's most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon, but it may affect any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, from the mouth to the anus.

There is no known cure.

Who is Glenn Diamond?

  

From Fortune Magazine:

"Perhaps the most remarkable member of the damn-the-torpedoes set is Glenn "Buddy" Diamond, an entrepreneur who set out six years ago to mitigate his son's Down syndrome. That congenital disorder causes not only retardation but also progressive brain damage much like that of Alzheimer's. Starting with zero funding and no drug industry experience, Diamond managed to light a fire under the development of both the Russian and the Novartis drugs, enlist some of biotech's leading lights to back his cause, and inspire the formation of David Pharmaceuticals--the startup is named after his 9-year-old son.

Known to associates as a brilliant, uncompromising polymath, Diamond was a Minneapolis consultant on business turnarounds when David was born. He soon became a self-taught expert on Down syndrome."  See rest of the story here. (Glenn's story starts on the 22nd paragraph.)

NevBio Commercialization Briefing -New Opportunities for Southern Nevada - February 22, 2013

Join us and take part as we reshape Southern Nevada with new opportunities.

Friday, February 22nd

McCormick & Schmicks

11:30 am reg, 12 pm lunch & briefs

RSVP Free here ($30 normal charge)

Marty Schiller, PhD, UNLV; Treating HIV/Aids and other diseases with Genomic Surgery (New base of biotechnology, hundreds of job, $ billion market). SciReader - an app that can be used by every STEM student in the world. Huge potential.

Francis Tsang, PhD, National Labs, Medical Isotopes (The US imports all of its medical isotopes. $1 billion industry in the US, thousands of job in Nevada.) E-beam for cancer tumors can be used in every cancer center in the world.

Ernest Abel-Santos, PhD, UNLV; Treatment to prevent for C-Diff infections. Needed in every hospital, clinic and nursing home - $ billion market.

Opportunities like this, raise all of the boats. This is an important step toward new, home-grown industry in Southern Nevada.

Tech Transfer in the University System - Rich Helfrich, December 11, 2012

Rich Helfrich

Richard Helfrich, CEO of Alameda Advisors "Converting Innovations to Sustainable Businesses"

*Tuesday, December 11th

*11:30 check-in,12 pm lunch/talk *MCormick & Schmicks

*$30 RSVP here. UNLV Researchers & students - no cost.

Richard W. Helfrich is the President of Alameda Advisors. His team has helped commercialize innovations from universities, government labs and corporations, converting complex technology and life science ideas into businesses.

 Richard is an entrepreneur. He has started a number of companies. One of his startups is on NASDAQ.  He sits on a number of boards in advanced materials, alternative energy, semiconductors, medical, and communications hardware.

He has an AB degree in Physics, an MS in Electrical Engineering and a premed education covering chemistry & biochemistry.

Richard Helfrich supports improving economic growth and the quality of life through technology and a technology- savvy workforce. Richard supports programs for expanded K-12 science education, reduced regulatory and governance burdens for small business, and programs to encourage more spinouts/startups from federally funded and corporate research.

Alameda Advisors Inc. converts innovations to sustainable businesses:

* Maximizing results from intellectual property

* Converting innovations to companies via spinouts

 * Providing Silicon Valley connections

* Arranging efficient and effective Cleantech Solutions

The company "Converts innovations to Profits".

Attend University of Nevada School of Medicine, Dean Thomas Schwenk - February 13, 2013

Nevada Biotechnology & Health Science Consortium and Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition present

Dr. Thomas Schwenk, Dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine

Date: Wednesday, February 13th

Time: 11:30 reg, 12 pm lunch

Cost: $30

Location: Fogo de Chao (new location)

Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D., is dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Schwenk earned his M.D. degree in 1975 from the University of Michigan Medical School. In 2002 he was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the United States National Academy of Sciences. 

His research focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of depression in primary care.

Schwenk spent much of his career at the University of Michigan. He joined the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine in 1984, was appointed interim chair of the department in 1986, and was named permanent chair in 1988. He also served as a professor in the Department of Medical Education and as associate director of the University of Michigan Depression Center. In June 2007 he was installed as the Chair of Family Medicine. In July 2011 Schwenk left Michigan to become dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

The luncheon will be at a new location!

Fogo de Chao 360 E. Flamingo (Right next to McCormick & Schmicks). We have over 90 attending this joint meeting. Please get there early.

Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition is co-hosting. It is a non-profit 600-plus volunteer organization of healthcare professionals committed to improving access and delivery of medical care in Southern Nevada. 

Chancellor Dan Klaich & Former Jim Rogers - January 22, 2013

Please join us for Dan Klaich, Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) & Jim Rogers, former Chancellor of NSHE

DATE: Tuesday, January 22nd

LOCATION: McCormick & Schmicks

CHECK-IN: 11:30 am, Lunch 12 noon

RSVP: Here. $30 (UNLV Researchers & Students no charge)

Chancellor Klaich will talk about a number of issues:

* Fair funding of higher education in Southern & Northern Nevada

* Vision for Higher Education in Nevada.

* The UNLV Events Center.

* Greater presence of School of Medicine in Southern Nevada.

Jim Rogers will talk about:

* Need for research

* Serving a diverse student population

In May 2004, Jim Rogers was appointed to serve as the Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Jim served as the Chancellor through June 2009.

In 1999 Jim was listed as one of the "top 11 philanthropists in the nation" by Time magazine having given or pledged more than $275 million to various colleges and universities.

Jim earned a B.S. in accounting and an LL.B. from the University of Arizona and an LL.M. from the University of Southern California. Jim is the founder and owner of Intermountain West Communications which owns and operates 11 NBC and FOX affiliate TV stations in five Western states.

Dan Klaich has been the Chancellor since June 18, 2009. Previously he was vice chancellor. Dan is an attorney. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He received his JD from the University of Washington School of Law.  Dan served on the Board of Regents of the NSHE from 1983 to 1997, including two terms as Chairman of the Board.

NevBio Innovation Workshop - January 4, 2013

 "Five Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make"

with Matthew Waymire, CPA & Business Broker.

Date: Friday, January 4th

Time: 11:30 Check-in, 12 pm lunch

Location: McCormick & Schmicks

Price: $30 RSVP here.

UNLV students & researchers - free

Matthew Waymire, CPA has been around and studied start up businesses for 25 years. He's one of the bright minds in this area.

The Five Mistakes:

1. New business ideas must be first about getting more information, i.e., developed the business model before writing a business plan.

2. You need to create multiple ways of looking at your product. You never know which market will take off.

3. You need a team. Create a board of advisors.

4. You must develop angels & champions for your idea.

5. Don't under estimate the number of calls and contacts you must make to make this idea work.

Using Magnetic Fields for Treating Disease Dr. Dean Bonlie - November 29, 2012

Dr. Dean Bonlie

Dr. Dean Bonlie, Biomagnetism

(See aliments below)

Date: Thursday, November 29

Place: McCormick & Schmicks

Time: Check-in 11:30 am, 12 pm lunch

RSVP here. $30 All UNLV researchers & students may attend at no cost.

Research with the Magnetic Molecular Energizer (MME) has shown promise: spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke impairment, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, congestive heart failure, bone and joint repair.

All new ideas are controversial. New discoveries are always on the edge.

In the early 1990s, Dr. Dean Bonlie began studying magnetism and its effect on the human body. 

 He found that low strength, negative, magnetic field induced through the body by a layer of magnets beneath the body could provide relief from numerous symptoms, such as pain relief from arthritis and back pain, and sleep disorders. See testimonials here.

This led to study and research of higher strength magnetic fields, similar to those produced by MRI scanners, as a possible treatment method.

Research with the Magnetic Molecular Energizer (MME) offers hope for many diseases previously considered untreatable by conventional methods.  It has thus far shown promise with a wide variety of ailments such as spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke impairment, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, congestive heart failure, and orthopedic conditions involving bone and joint repair.

 MME is a treatment method that consists of the application of high (3,000 to 5,000 gauss) direct current electromagnetic fields.  An MME device consists of two very large and strong electromagnets, with the patient lying in a focal point between the two electromagnets.

The human body is electromagnetic, being composed largely of charged particles such as atoms, electrons, protons, and ions (e.g. potassium, sodium, etc.).  These all perform vital life functions.

The Theory behind MME treatment is as follows:

When a patient is placed in the MME device there is a temporary increase in the magnetic force on the atoms composing the cells of his/her body in the area of the MME focal point.  The force results in a higher velocity of some of the orbiting electrons.  This increase in velocity of some electrons and not others causes precession or wobble of an atom and a higher charge on the valence electrons.  Combined, the higher velocity and increased charge, leads to enhanced electron transfer.  Electron transfer is the basic action in all chemical reactions in the body.

The magnetic field of the MME device acts as a catalyst to improve chemical reactions occurring in the human body.  This improves a variety of body functions in the area of the MME focal point, such as oxygen carrying capacity, assimilation of nutrients, manufacture of enzymes, metabolic waste removal, reduction of free radicals, tissue regeneration, and most importantly healing.  The rate of healing can be accelerated to be much faster than the typical healing rate of the human body.  For example, a bone fracture that typically requires 6-8 weeks to heal may require only a few days with MME treatment.

Dr. Bonlie gives talks all over the country but his company, Magnetico is based in Las Vegas.

Pramod Gupta, PhD with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals - Biotech Success Story Friday, October 26, 2012

Pramod Gupta, PhD, SVP of Pharmaceutical Operations at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals will be speaking on "Research Opportunities in Current Health Care Environment".

Friday, October 26th (Nevada Day)

11:30 check-in, 12 pm Lunch & Talk

McCormick & Schmicks

$30 RSVP here

(UNLV Students & Researchers - free! Please RSVP)

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (SPPI) is a biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology and hematology. Its headquarters is in Henderson, Nevada.

Spectrum has three oncology drugs in the market: FUSILEV® (levoleucovorin), FOLOTYN® (pralatrexate injection) and ZEVALIN® (ibritumomab tiuxetan).

Spectrum has an expertise in acquiring differentiated drugs and a growing pipeline of candidates in Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials (10 drugs in the pipeline).

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is one of the fastest growing companies in biotechnology. It has a massive pipeline, two marketed drugs, and is very cash rich. (Brian Nichols, Sept 2, 2012 Seeking Alpha). Spectrum's revenues are expected to increase by 50% to $300 million in 2012.

"Biological Tools from Hot Springs" Tom Schoenfeld of Lucingen September 27, 2012

Tom Schoenfeld

Tom Schoenfeld of Lucingen, a company that helps researchers with DNA cloning & sequencing, will speak on "Biological Tools from Hot Springs"

Thursday: September 27th 5:30 pm

Place: McCormick & Schmicks

Cost: $20. RSVP here. UNLV Students & Researchers - no cost (please RSVP)

Lucigen makes novel enzymes such as thermostable, bacteriophage DNA polymerase & other enzymes used for research, diagnostics, drug discovery and for producing bioethanol.

Tom Schoenfeld, VP of the biotech, Lucigen, is a bio-prospector of hot springs. Working with UNLV Associate Professor & microbial ecologist, Biran Hedlund, Schoenfeld hunts hot springs for "extremophiles" - bacteria, archae & viruses that live in extreme conditions and contain enzymes with special properties. The enzymes have potential applications with making biofuels, DNA, medical and forensic diagnostics.

Nevada has a high number of hot springs and could be sitting a gold mine of new enzymes.

NevBio Awards Dinner September 20, 2012

The NevBio Awards Dinner

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012

Time: 5:30 pm Cocktails - 6:30 Dinner

Place: Stan Fulton Building at UNLV

Price: $100  R.S.V.P here

Join Us for a Special Evening of

Recognition & Support as NevBio Presents:

The 2012 NevBio Awards for Biotechnology & Health Science Achievement

Honoring top researchers and organizations in Nevada for

achievement in biotechnology & health science.

 Keynote Speaker:

Jim Rogers: Former Chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education and current owner/CEO of KSNV-TV Chanel 3

  

Nominees Include:

Top Organization: CardioVascular BioTherapeutics, Inc./ Cord Blood America / DSX Therapeutics / Sable Systems / Sierra Sciences / Touro University / Roseman University and UNLV College of Sciences.

 

Top Researcher: Ernesto Abel-Santos, PhD (UNLV) / Bill Andrews, PhD (Sierra Sciences) / Charles Bernick, MD (Ruvo/Cleveland Clinic) / Ron Fiscus, PhD (Roseman University) / John Lighton, PhD (Sable Systems) / Martin Schiller, PhD (UNLV) / Bryan Spangelo, PhD (UNLV) and Bob Webber, PhD (DSX Therapeutics).

Special Recognition:  Aquastretch / Comprehensive Cancer Centers / Desert Research Institute / Lucine Biotechnology Prometheus / Quertle and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals.

People attending:

Father Max Oliva, Society of Jesus

Susan Brager, Chairman of the Clark County Commission

Judge Nancy Allf, District Court Department 27

Harry Rosenberg, PharmD, PhD, President of Roseman University

Nicholas Vogelzang, MD, Comprehensive Cancer Center

Fadi Braiteh, MD, Comprehensive Cancer Center

Andy Kuniyuki, PhD, Associate Dean of Sciences, Nevada State College

Robin Herlunds, PhD, Nevada State College

Terry Miller, PhD, Touro University

Brian Hedlund, PhD, UNLV

Cheryl Smith, Wellness & Medical Tourism Manager, LVCVA

Daniel Montano, CEO & Chairman of CardioVascular BioTherapeutics

James Rogers, former NSHE Chancellor

Lonnie Hammargren, MD, former Lt. Governor & Regent

Bart Patterson, JD, President of Nevada State College

Bob Beers, CPA, Las Vegas City Council

Doug Geinzer, CEO of Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition

William Boldt, EdD, VP for University Advancement at UNLV

Stan Smith, PhD, Associate VP for Research at UNLV

Vance Farrow, MPH, Governor's Office of Economic Development

Tim Porter, PhD, Dean of the College of Sciences

Robert Webber, PhD, CEO of DSX Therapeutics

Ernesto Abel-Santos, PhD, UNLV

Martin Schiller, PhD, UNLV

Ron Fiscus, PhD, Roseman University

Bryan Spangelo, PhD, UNLV

Charles Bernick, MD, Cleveland Clinic, Lou Ruvo Brain Center

Joseph Nika, PhD, UNLV

George Eversaul, Founder of AquaStretch

Professor Ernesto Abel-Santos on C-Diff 30,000 Deaths & 500,000 Infections - August 29, 2012

Dr. Ernesto Abel-Santos

C-Diff is highly contagious. A new strain is very aggressive and toxic. Many  antibiotics increase the chance of infection.

Dr. Ernesto Abel-Santos is working on a way to combat C-Diff.

  Date: Wednesday, Aug 29th

  Place: McCormick & Schmicks

  335 Hughes Parkway

  Time: Check-in 11:30, Lunch 12 noon

  $30. RSVP here.

(UNLV Researchers & students no cost)

Dr. Ernesto Abel-Santos received a Ph.D. in Bio-organic Chemistry at Washington University School of Medicine in 1997. In 1997, Dr. Abel-Santos moved to the PennsylvaniaState University to carry out postdoctoral studies investigating DNA polymerase function. Simultaneously, Dr. Abel-Santos developed a genetic system to produce biosynthetic cyclic peptides (SICLOPPS). In 2001, Dr. Abel-Santos became an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he continued to develop and apply the SICLOPPS Technology to find novel antibiotic targets. He also started studies on inhibitors of anthrax spore germination. Since 2006, Dr. Abel-Santos has been an Associate Professor of Chemistry at UNLV.

Baby Mia caught  C-Diff 8 times at the hospital

The development of C-Diff is strongly associated with use of particular antibiotics, especially quinolones and clindamycin, which kill "good" intestinal bacteria along with "bad" ones, leading to overgrowth of C-Diff. Patients who report a history of penicillin allergy are much more likely to be treated with quinolones and clindamycin because their antibiotic choices are limited.

The Face of C-Diff

USAToday reported on the story of Baily Quishenberry who contracted C-Diff a few days after surgery for a brain tumor. The 14-year-old was writhing in pain from the infection, her abdomen had swollen 10 times its normal size with a high fever. She had contracted a potentially fatal infection of Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, that ravages the intestines. The bacteria preys on people in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities. According to USA Today the bacteria is linked to 30,000 deaths a year and it strikes about a half-million Americans a year.

Fight Biofilm (Algae & bacteria) with Sphagnum Moss -NevBio Lunch -Dr. David Knighton, MD - Thursday, August 2, 2012

Swimming pools are perfect for biofilms, allowing algae to thrive in its protected biofilm colony.

* How does algae absorb chlorine? (see video)

* Why does algae keep coming back like a chronic disease? (See link)

* How can we fight algae with less chlorine and less work? (2nd video)

Dr. David Knighton

Speaker: David Knighton, MD

Date & Time: Thurs, Aug 2nd, 12 noon

Location: McCormick & Schmicks

Cost & RSVP: $30 RSVP here

(UNLV researchers & students free)

Chlorine and its disinfection byproducts (DBP) are not good for you. DBP's are formed when chlorine, bromine or any halide molecule used to kill bacteria in the water, combines with biologic molecules that contain carbon and nitrogen. The most prevalent molecule in the swimming environment is urea from urine and sweat. Urea undergoes chemical changes in the pool and combines with chlorine or bromine to form over 30 different DBP's. Some of these molecules stay in the water and others are volatile so they diffuse into the air above the water and eventually into the entire building. The act of swimming actually increases the concentration of DBP's by churning up the water and increasing the concentration of these molecules in the air.  DBP's can affects one's breathing - if you have asthma - it would be tough to breathe in a pool with high DBPs. They can irritate your skin, eyes and lungs; cause central nervous system changes such as dizziness and headaches; cause fatigue; and with prolonged exposure are potential carcinogens.

Swimming pools are perfect for biofilms, allowing algae to thrive in its protected biofilm colony.

* How does algae absorb chlorine? (see video)

* Why does algae keep coming back like a chronic disease? (See link)

* How can we fight algae with less chlorine and less work? (2nd video)

Sphagnum Moss changes the chemistry of the water and binds ions which keep the biofilm from forming. If there's no biofilm to protect the algae, then chlorine can be effective in killing the algae. Because it's easier to kill the algae, pools require up to 70% less chlorine. (See the amazing video of St. Paul's public pool)

Sphagnum Moss changes the chemistry of the water and binds ions which keep the biofilm from forming. If there's no biofilm to protect the algae, then chlorine can be effective in killing the algae. Because it's easier to kill the algae, pools require up to 70% less chlorine. (See the amazing video of St. Paul's public pool)

David Knighton, M.D., read an article about World War I soldiers whose wounds were treated with sphagnum moss. 

The moss helped prevent infection by stopping bacteria growth. He also noticed that many of the lakes of northern Minnesota, which contained the same kind of moss were cleaner & contained less algae than those farther south. He decided to start a company based on using Sphagnum Moss to clean pools & spas.

"Mindfulness" NevBio Lunch & Learn with Monterey Brookman, July 24, 2012

Why Do You Need "Mindfulness? Health & Cognitive Control. Monterey Brookman

Tuesday, July 24th 12 noon

McCormick & Schmicks

Monterey graduated from Pepperdine University with a BA in Psychology. She earned her Master's degree at the University of Southern California in Language Development and Educational Psychology.

She studied under several renowned professors who taught life changing views of learning, teaching, cognitive psychology and set her on a path of passion for study of the brain.

Why Mindfulness?

It will help you make better decisions and achieve your own goals rather than other people's goals for you.Over the past 40 years, mindfulness has been the subject of much research. Thousands of research papers have now been written on the applications of mindfulness on:

ADHD, Aggression, Alcohol abuse, Bipolar disorder,  Blood pressure, Brain injuries,  Cancer, Chronic Pain, Depression & anxiety, Diabetes, Eating disorders, Fibromyalgia, Heart Disease, Hepatitis/ HIV /Aids,  Immune System, Learning difficulties, OCD, Parkinson's disease,   Quality of life, Organ transplants, Preventing relapse, Pregnancy, Psoriasis, Multiple Sclerosis, Sleep problems, Smoking Cessation, Stress Reduction, Substance abuse and addictions, Tinnitus, Visual sensitivity

In one study a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program resulted in decreased stress symptoms, altered cortisol and immune patterns consistent with less stress and mood disturbance, and decreased blood pressure.

Mindfulness affects how the brain thinks. Once you understanding the underlying physiology of mindfulness, you will see that human change, learning, education is about mindfulness.

Don't Miss Talk on Bioinformatics & 5 Marketable Discoveries - Dr. Martin Schiller July 12, 2012

Dr. Martin Schiller received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Utah State University. He has served on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is a Full Professor at UNLV.  His research focuses on building and experimentally testing sequence and structure based bioinformatic tools. He has published 55 papers and received 13 research grants primarily from the National Institutes of Health. He has taught classes for undergraduate, graduate and medical school students. He has six patent and invention disclosures. Some of his tools include Minimotif Miner, HIVTolbox, VENN, MimoSA, and JBOG which can be accessed at theBio-toolkit website.

UNLV is fortunate to have a leading researcher in the new field of Bioinformatics. Research in this area consists of taking massive biological databases and combining it with computer processing. 

Date: Thursday, July 12th

Reg: 11:30 am, Lunch & talk 12 noon

Loc: McCormick & Schmicks

335 Hughes Center Dr.

Cost. $30 RSVP Here

UNLV Students & Researchers Free

Dr. Schiller is going to talk about five of his lab's discoveries:

1. Bioinformatics-based drug design of new HIV inhibitors.

2. Genetic surgery of the genome.

3. A geogenomic approach for more effective use of HIV drugs (HIVAtlas).

4. A new functional screen for targeted drug discovery.

5 The SciReader which helps readers find the meaning of words in technical papers.

Using Breakthroughs in Neuroscience to Think Better Matt Waymire, Monday June 18, 2012

Matt Waymire

NevBio Lunch & Lecture Series

How Neuroscience can help you:

* Be more creative

* Improve your leadership skills

* Communicate better

* Be happier

11:30 Check-in; 12 Noon lunch & talk. McCormick & Schmicks. 335 Hughes Cntr Dr. $30 Register here. (UNLV Students & Researchers- Free)

 Four Findings:

1. Rationality is massively overrated (sorry Spock)

2. Activating negative emotions stops all thinking

3. Social standing is a much stronger driver of behavior than thought.

4. Attention changes the brain.

Matt Waymire's talk is based on the work of David Rock PhD., Dan Siegel PhD. & other neuroscientists.

Dr. David Rock co-founded the NeuroLeadership Institute, a global initiative bringing neuroscientists and leadership experts together to build a new science for leadership development.

"How The Brain Works" video

Dr. Siegel is currently clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he is on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and the Co-Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center.

Protect Your Ideas-Latest in Patent Protection, - Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Mark Paulson, Esq. "What Kills US Patents and How Mayo v Prometheus will impact Patents in Personalized Medicine" NevBio's patent luncheon is Tuesday, June 5th, Mark Paulson of the DC office of Jones Day. Check-in 11:30 am, 12 lunch & talk. 335 Howard Hughes Cntr Pkwy. McCormick & Schmicks Rest. $30 (UNLV Students & Researchers Free)

Please protect your discoveries, ideas & innovations! Once they're lost, you will not benefit or society*.Mark Paulson, attorney with Jones Day has been lead counsel on numerous patent litigations and has experience with patent procurement, opinions, design patents, Federal Circuit appeals, 337 ITC actions, trade secret and unfair competition matters, as well as patent interferences, reexaminations, and reissues. He also has handled acquisitions, technology transfer agreements, and joint ventures where technology is the driving force.

*Discoveries, ideas and innovations that are not patented will not be funded by investors. Investors want the protection of a patent to fund a company that can bring the product to market. If it's not brought to the market (general public), the innovation will not benefit society or the inventor.