4th Annual "SCENE IN WINSTON-SALEM SCAVENGER HUNT" SET FOR APRIL 2

Scene in Winston-Salem is excited to announce the fourth downtown Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 1:00pm-5:00pm. Scene in Winston-Salem is volunteer organized event in efforts to raise money and awareness for restaurants, clubs and galleries wishing to operate downtown. 100% of the proceeds benefit the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership Foundation which assists the downtown history, community, and local arts scene. Mayor Allen Joines has set off the past three Scene in Winston-Salem Scavenger Hunts, which combined drew a crowd of over 400 hunters who helped raised nearly $10,000.

FAQ, rules, previous year's results and additional, and details for the hunt can be found at http://www.sceneinwinston-salem.com.

Wake Forest University Schools of Business to Host Biotechnology Conference

William Hawkins, CEO and Chairman of Medtronic, Inc. will present the keynote address “Changing the Face of Chronic Disease: A Systems Approach to Healthcare Innovation” on Friday, Feb. 18 at 4:00 p.m. at the Worrell Professional Center Auditorium on the Wake Forest University campus. A panel discussion titled “New Strategies to Discovering and Developing Biotechnology” moderated by Justin Catanoso, executive editor of The Business Journal, will immediately follow.

Some of the nation’s brightest minds in business, science, law, and medicine will come together Feb. 18-19 at the WFU Schools of Business for the 2011 Biotechnology Conference. The WFU Schools of Business is hosting a case competition during the conference in which student teams from around the country will compete for $17,000 in prize money.

Learn more.

Kinect Sensor Allows Surgeons to Manipulate 3D CT Images in Midair

This video demonstrates using a Kinect sensor (typically used with X-Box 360 video gaming platform) to control 3D rendered CT images at the Center for Biomolecular Imaging at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. At the CBI, they take stacks of 2D images from a CT scan and render them in 3D. Typically, they use a mouse to control the 3D rendering system to rotate and view the images. Using Kinect sensor, a surgeon can manipulate the 3D visualization in midair without having to move the mouse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id7OZAbFaVI

"Innovation in Winston-Salem and in Your Organization"

Attend the Tech Council’s Technology and Innovation Series. How do you create a culture of innovation? How do you instill creativity at all levels? Whether your business is large or small, traditional or technology-based, you can learn to rethink your business model and develop new products and processes through innovation. Hear from a panel of experts who are transforming Winston-Salem’s economy and have improved their company’s bottom line through innovation and creativity. Find out what you can do to implement change in your own organization. Featuring successful innovators from Liberty Hardware, Novant Health, Ocular Systems and Targacept. Thursday, March 10; program: 8:30-9:30 a.m.; networking and refreshments: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. Sponsored by Cook Medical and BioNetwork. Click here for details and registration.

Targacept begins phase 2 trials for anti-inflammatory drug compound

Targacept, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company located in Winston-Salem's Piedmont Triad Research Park will begin separate Phase 2 clinical studies of its drug compound TC-6987 for treatment of asthma and Type 2 diabetes. Read more here.

North Carolina ranks second behind Boston for the biomedical market

The California Health Institute gave a vote of confidence to their own state in a recent survey about the California Biomedical Industry. Many CEOs surveyed cite interest in California to continue their operations involving manufacturing, research and development. However, the CEO's also indicated that other regions outside of California had attractive biomedical markets with Boston cited first and North Carolina second ahead of Minneapolis/St Paul and Washington D.C.

Survey respondents also cited the importance of workforce development for continued growth.
For a copy of the full report visit

http://www.chi.org/basicpage.aspx?id=8334

Industrial Fellowship Program

In 2008, the Biotechnology Center instituted a fellowship program for Ph.D.-trained scientists interested in transitioning into scientific careers in industry. This program allows fellows to work at NC biotechnology companies for two-year fellowships to gain industry-oriented research experience and thus improve their competitiveness for high-level industry scientific positions. In the past three years since its inception, 13 NC companies have been recipients of the program. A NC Company interested in applying for the IFP is required to have at least 10 full time employees. Typically, five companies are awarded a fellow each year. Read more here.