Meet Jacob Licht and VLP Therapeutics

VLP Therapeutics was established in 2013 with the mission to develop innovative medical treatments which can transform traditional vaccines and targeted antibody therapies to address global unmet medical needs. Its vision is to combat 21st century global public health problems through its revolutionary next generation i-αVLP technology platform. VLP is currently developing vaccines to treat cancer and infectious diseases such as Malaria and Dengue Fever.

VLP Therapeutics Announced Phase 1 SBIR Grant Award From National Cancer Institute. The grant will support development of novel Virus-Like Particle vaccine-based cancer immunotherapy. Read more here

Contact: Jacob Licht – Email: jlicht@vlptherapeutics.com

https://vlptherapeutics.com

Every month the Maryland Tech Council turns the spotlight on an individual member who is making an impact in their professional field. This month, we want to recognize and thank all of our members who support, advocate and work to diversify Maryland’s technology and life science industries and the Maryland Tech Council.

http://www.mdtechcouncil.com/tcm/pdf/MTCmembers-32×40.pdf

We are excited about the new fiscal year and laying the ground work for all of the collaboration that will go on. To kick things off, please join us at the new headquarters office on October 4^th for MEMBER Orientation. This is your opportunity to meet the MTC staff, familiarize yourself with the variety of member benefits, and most importantly, get connected!  Topics covered include:

• Member Benefits
• Events/Networking
• Cost Savings Programs
• Committees
• Mentoring
• Talent/Workforce Development
• Advocacy/Government Relations
• Communications

We aren’t a place you “go” – we are a network you access, a resource you leverage, an advisor you can trust. Join us October 4^th and meet the MTC Team that is ready to support your growth.

MTC Member Orientation
Thursday, October 4, 2017 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Maryland Tech Council
9841 Washingtonian Blvd #200, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Register Here
Forgot MTC User Name or Password? Click Here

Polaris Alpha

Congratulations to Polaris Alpha which was recently named Government Contractor of the Year at the MTC Industry Awards Celebration! To give members deeper insight into the company, we spoke with CEO Peter Cannito about this newly formed company.

Tell us about Polaris Alpha and the types of clients with whom you work.

The company was formed last year when three well-established companies came together: EOIR Technologies, Intelligent Software Solutions, and Proteus Technologies. All three companies were small businesses, and we wanted to form a new, agile, mid-sized company. We focus on highly technical mission critical systems development for national security clients, including intelligence, three-letter agencies, and the Department of Defense. In Maryland, we support Ft. Meade and various tenants at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Specifically, we build intelligence management systems, cybersecurity systems, smart sensors, and electronic warfare applications.

Polaris Alpha employs 1,200 people and has 20 offices. Our hubs are in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

How is Polaris Alpha different from other government contracting firms?

There are very few mid-sized government contracting firms that are doing what we do, so we are, in essence, defining that space. Our strategy maintains that the market is interested in a mid-size player like Polaris Alpha that is focused on high-end technical capabilities like electronic warfare, cyber, advanced analytics, and cloud computing. We stay at the high-end so that we can be more agile in terms of how we can support the customer, and we are disruptive in developing innovative ways to develop those technologies. As independent small businesses, all three companies shared a common culture in that they were interested in mission critical areas, and now that we are one company, we’re forming a strategy to lead this mid-tier agile space.

What are the most important factors you attribute to your company’s success?

There are two, organic growth and continuing momentum. This year, we acquired Intelesys in Columbia, Maryland. With that acquisition, we plan on winning a number of different contracts as a team instead of as individual companies. We also want to continue our success in using OTAs.

What were some of the obstacles you and your colleagues are facing in bringing together the three companies?

We are trying to successfully navigate the obstacles that come with growing a new company while working on blending corporate cultures into one that is unique. We are currently focusing on merging systems across the organization so that we can grow at a healthy rate and implement a cohesive set of processes. The real challenge comes with working on all of this while supporting intense mission-critical programs.

What are the most pressing challenges you anticipate facing over the next 12 – 24  months?

Within the industry, it’s the ability to come up with new and innovative ways to work with the government so that it keeps pace with technology. Government contracting can be slow and technology changes quickly. With IT, it can be difficult to connect the dots across large agencies, but if you’re as focused on this rapidly growing space as we are, it’s easier to communicate to agencies how they can leverage systems across the government. We’ve developed a lot of intellectual property that can be used across different agencies.

Tell us about the culture at Polaris.

Our mission is the mission. There are a lot of companies in this area where people who are coming out of college and into the high-tech space can work. We differentiate ourselves by offering these individuals the opportunity to have a real impact on mission critical areas and gain hands-on experience supporting highly technical programs. We are building a culture where we have intelligent and motivated people of all experience levels collaborating to solve highly technical problems. They feel good about having a career in which they are doing real work and making a real difference.

Where did the name come from?

Polaris, or the North Star, is actually a triple star system, so we felt that it was representative of the original three companies. Alpha is the brightest of the three stars.

Who can MTC members contact if they have any questions?

They can contact Brittany Trocher, Strategic Communications & Outreach Manager at brittany.trocher@polarisalpha.com or at 410.306.8721 or 443.417.6873.

HackEd

It’s no secret that there is a big demand for cybersecurity jobs in this area, and HackEd—a talent community providing cybersecurity training and recruiting services—was created to train job seekers and match them with local employers. The Maryland Tech Council spoke with Jon Ferris, CEO of HackEd to tell us about how the company is accomplishing its mission.

How did HackEd come to be?

We started HackEd in 2016 with two goals. First, we provide hands-on-keyboard technical training to students, job seekers, and career changers in cybersecurity, and second, we help employers find and retain qualified cybersecurity employees. There has been a lot of talk about the number of cybersecurity jobs that are open in the DC area but it’s not always obvious to job seekers how to obtain those jobs, especially when they have little training. When job seekers want training, they typically follow one of three paths: 1) They train themselves, which requires quite a bit of discipline and there isn’t a teacher available to answer questions; 2) They enroll in a university program which is usually geared toward policy, as opposed to hands-on-keyboard skills, or 3) They enroll in a hands-on-keyboard course which can cost between $5,000 – $6,000 per week. We stepped in to offer them a better solution that not only meets their needs but also sets them up to be hired by one of our corporate partners. It’s a win-win for the local workforce.

What’s different about our program is that it’s free—there is no tuition. There is also no fee to hire from HackEd. Our revenue comes from recruitment practice, corporate training engagements, and employer sponsorships.

Tell us about the classes that you offer.

Our goal is to graduate professionals who are trained and ready to make an immediate impact in SOC/NOC Administration, Vulnerability Assessment, Forensics, Incident Response and Penetration Testing roles. Our curriculum is paired with a series of real-world labs on our proprietary corporate network, Sentinel™, to help participants develop the technical skills employers are urgently in need of.

We run a six-week, full-time program every quarter. Our classes are taught by full-time teachers, so they are committed to helping us develop the curriculum and really making this program a success. The program is taught in Arlington, Virginia right near the Crystal City metro station. We are also teaching in Maryland this summer.

Explain the types of experience/education that applicants need and describe the class profile.

We accept 12-15 students for each class, and we like to say that we screen for passion. The types of students we look for are typically hackers tinkering on their home networks, going to networking groups, and getting certifications as opposed to people who are just interested in lucrative cybersecurity jobs. A degree is not required (which is common for cybersecurity jobs) but we do look for some type of technical background in understanding, for example, how the Internet works and how networks operate. Since we have about 85 local corporate partners that hire from our classes, we look primarily for people who want to work in the DC area.

Our class profile is very diverse. We see people with minimal experience and others with 30 years of experience along with career changers who need to get technical skills. Our classes have men, women, minorities, veterans, university professors, you name it.

What are the plans for HackEd?

It’s an exciting time for us. We are unable to meet the student demand (700+ applicants for 10-15 spots) and 85+ companies with hundreds of job openings. We are planning to build the country’s first Cybersecurity Talent Accelerator. In the accelerator, across 12 classrooms, we’ll be able to train about 800-1000 people per year, which will definitely make a dent in the number of cybersecurity openings in the region. The accelerator will also serve as a training center for our corporate partners, office space for early-stage cybersecurity companies, an after-school cyberlab for high school students, and an event space for the cybersecurity community. We’ve gotten a lot of support locally, and if there is interest in building something like this in Maryland, please contact us.

What other services do you offer?

We also offer corporate training (day or night) and full-cycle recruitment. This means that our recruiters are able to manage accounts, as well as recruit for them which is how we build trust and valued relationships. Our goal is to offer outstanding recruiting services to our clients by developing and fostering relationships and getting to know our customer’s work environment, so that we are able to provide candidates that fit not only the skillset but also the company culture, thus ensuring a better match.

Our team is also experienced in recruiting across multiple lines of business so we are able to offer that “one-stop shop” to our business partners. Rather than having to go to one vendor for financial placements, another for admin./clerical, and yet another for IT services, our team has full-time recruiters that are experienced in each of these areas.

Tell us about your experience with MTC

We’re new to MTC and were introduced by one of our clients, the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation (AAWDC). AAWDC has engaged us to train veterans and unemployed individuals on an entry-level cybersecurity curriculum. This 8-week program ends on August 4, and our participants will be looking for jobs. The interview process starts in July, and we would greatly appreciate companies reaching out to us if they have job openings for entry level IT and cybersecurity-related positions. We will also be holding a hiring event on July 27, so please contact Rachel Chen at rachel.chen@hackeducate.com for an invitation.

Where can prospective students and corporate partners get more information?

Employers can visit our website at www.hackeducate.com. I’d also like to add that we are offering discounted rates to our fellow MTC members for our recruiting services. Interested members can contact Rachel Chen at rachel.chen@hackeducate.com for more information.

We are new to Maryland and appreciate the Maryland Tech Council and its members giving us a chance to be of service. Thank you for being so welcoming to HackEd.

GROWING NEED FOR BIOANALYTICAL SERVICES BY CLIENTS RESULTS IN SECOND LABORATORY EXPANSION IN TWO YEARS FOR SMITHERS AVANZA

Smithers Avanza is a contract research organization (CRO) supporting the pharmaceutical industry, whose Scientists have expertise in large molecule bioanalysis, assay development, validation and sample analysis at their GLP- and GCP-compliant and CLIA certified laboratory. Smithers Avanza Bioanalytical Services Division  supports the development of biologics and vaccines from discovery through phase IV, with expertise that includes bioassays and high sensitivity assays. Smithers Avanza also offers preclinical toxicology and vaccine testing at their AAALAC accredited facilities.

New Space & Increased Capacity Will Support Client Requests for Testing of Large Molecule Biotherapeutics –

Smithers Avanza, announced that its Bioanalytical Services Division has completed the second expansion of its bioanalytical laboratory in the last two years. The expansion doubles the size of the Gaithersburg, Maryland lab, which now offers 15,000 square feet of space, and continues the trend of growth in support of client demand for services.

Smithers Avanza celebrated the completed expansion and the renewal of their commitment to doing business in Maryland with clients, employees, state and local officials and community friends with an Open House on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.

Ira S DuBey, Executive Vice President, Bioanalytical Services
Phyllis Conliffe, Executive Director, Bioanalytical Services

“We are very fortunate to count some of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies as our clients and friends,” said Ira DuBey, Executive Vice President, Bioanalytical Services Division, Smithers Avanza. “Through these relationships, we are given an opportunity to grow in order to be the best possible partner, which often involves a need for additional space, staff and new equipment to meet an increasing volume of projects.”

Following the expansion, the company has already added several new staff members, including senior scientific and support personnel. These new staffers will allow Smithers Avanza to continue to support client development of large molecule biologics including immuno-oncology drugs and combination therapies. Further, the company acquired new liquid handling robotics instrumentation and another Singulex instrument. This equipment will help meet the growing need for testing of high sensitivity biomarker and pharmacokinetic assays.

As part of the expansion, the company is augmenting its lab’s capabilities through new instruments such as the recently added Gyros GyroLab xPS workstation as well as the Simoa HD-1 Analyzer from Quanterix.

Smithers Avanza has been an active member of the Maryland Tech Council for over 10 years.

For more information about the Smithers Avanza portfolio of services, visit www.smithersavanza.com or contact Hope Aubin, 508-295-2550 haubin@smithers.com

Alexander & Cleaver

Alexander & Cleaver is a legal and lobbying firm based in Annapolis, and the Maryland Tech Council recently met with Camille Guevara Fesche, an attorney and government relations consultant, to talk about the firm.

Tell us about Alexander & Cleaver and the types of clients with whom you work.

The firm was founded in 1985, and the primary focus in our Annapolis office is government relations which encompasses legislation and public policy, crisis management, procurement, ethics and campaign finance, and regulatory issues. We work with a variety of professional associations and private sector companies.

What does the day-to-day work in the firm look like?

A large part of what we do is lobbying which is essentially educating. We are engaged in year-round monitoring of legislative sessions which involves a lot of prep work. We develop a game plan and then follow what is going on in government, specifically with the commissions and work groups. We also track what the budget looks like and determine what the priorities of the government are. Building relationships with and educating legislators is a large part of our work; we give them the tools and information they need to understand our clients’ side of the issue. Activities like these help us develop a strategy for our clients. We also work with government contractors and help by looking for opportunities to see where the client’s products or services can fit with the needs of the agency. We ensure that our clients are well positioned to compete for contracts on the local, county, municipal, and state levels.

What types of trends are you seeing?

There are a lot of new subject areas in law that have come about due to technology like autonomous cars for example. There are also new classes of pharmaceuticals, like biologics, and different types of medicines. With these new areas of law we are seeing an opportunity to build that law to make life better for all Marylanders and ensure the companies choosing that product, their needs and stressors have been expressed and have been understood by legislators. Criminal systems is another area of law that is changing. People are rethinking the implications of it and how they can get released prisoners to become productive members of society. There are some very exciting opportunities out there.

Does your firm work with small businesses? It seems that the process can be a bit intimidating.

We do work with small businesses. For smaller companies that are working on their own, we often recommend that they work with a limited scope and focus on perhaps just a few counties, state agencies or bills that they are trying to push. Many times, a group of small businesses, such a group of tech startups with similar interests like employment or tax credits will get together and hire our firm. Regardless of how companies choose to work, our firm is well-suited for the needs of small businesses.

What can a company expect when they work with you?

We would start with an initial meeting to discuss what the client wants to accomplish. Say, for example, the client doesn’t understand lobbying but wants to sell their product to the seven major counties or they have a product that can work in state agencies. We would help the client create a plan and help open doors so they can close deals.

What challenges does Alexander & Cleaver face?

The biggest issue that I see is that there is always so much more to learn from our clients and about certain subjects. We work on a team model, and we have several lobbyists who work within a large number of specialties which serves as a great resource for information.

What’s is like to work at Alexander & Cleaver?

It’s fast paced, and it’s different every day. The people who work here are very bright and they bring a variety of interests, education, and insight to the job. Everyone is always willing to pitch in and toss around ideas. It’s such a great environment and it really sets us up for success.

What would you like MTC members to know about Alexander & Cleaver? 

Joining an organization like MTC is important because being a member of a group with over 600 voices is more powerful than trying to do it on your own. Legislators believe in public service, but they need to be educated especially in new areas of technology. It’s a constant education. You need to sit at the table and have a voice and when you do, lawmakers will then include you. The lobbying process is difficult for a small company to do, and with their MTC dues, members are getting full value of a lobbyist.

To learn more, contact Camille G. Fesche, Esq. 

Government Relations Consultant | Attorney
Alexander & Cleaver, P.A.
cfesche@alexander-cleaver.com
Phone: (800) 292-Laws

MagBio Genomics

MTC member MagBio Genomics recently launched two new products, so we visited with their CEO, Hyacinth Ntchobo, at their office in Gaithersburg.

Give us an overview of MagBio Genomics.

Our company develops and commercializes magnetic bead-based products for nucleic acids isolation including biomarkers as tools for liquid biopsy.

We’re focused on products that allow both safeguarding integrity of bio-samples and efficient isolation of circulating biomarkers from biological samples for human genetic research including cancer studies and non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). Our core platform allows efficiency in the nucleic acids sequencing methods including Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing in both manual and automated work flow. Our customers are academic and private genomics research institutions and clinical genomic research institutions around the world.

The company just launched two new products, tell us about that and some of your other products.

Yes, we launched the Blood STASIS 21-ccfDNA tube for venous whole blood collection and room temperature stabilization of circulating cell-free DNA. The tube is a direct draw whole blood collection system that contains a proprietary reagent that prevents post-collection release of genomic DNA from white blood cells. It allows room temperature transport and storage of blood for 21 days and epithelial cell for 8 days. Other blood stabilization systems contain potential formaldehyde-releasing compounds, making them unsuitable for many liquid biopsy applications and limiting room temperature blood stabilization to only 10 days. Another feature of our product is that the tube is plastic, which makes it less susceptible to breakage. The features of Blood STASIS 21-ccfDNA tube significantly expand the range of liquid biopsy applications such as NIPT and cancer genomic assays and improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance outreach for receiving samples on local and international levels.

We also just launched the cfKapture 21 system. This is a circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) isolation kit which includes a proprietary reagent that prevents post-separation degradation of plasma and ccfDNA fragments for up to 21 days at room temperature. This feature allows laboratories to safely transport and process samples within a much longer time frame without the need for extensive cold chain, which in turn reduces cost, improves efficiency, and increases outreach for both local and international samples. cfKapture 21 is the only kit on the market able to provide this level of flexibility for processing plasma samples in a high throughput setting.

The cfKapture 21 kit is compatible with any whole blood collection tube. However, it is best used in combination with our Blood STASIS 21-ccfDNA tube to ensure recovery of the highest quality ccfDNA suitable for most liquid biopsy applications.

We also sell products in the categories of next-generation sequencing kits, Sanger sequencing kits, DNA/RNA purification kits, and magnetic separation devices.

Give us some insight into the company.

The company started five years ago, and we really turned a corner in 2015. We’ve been in high growth mode since that time. We moved into our Gaithersburg office in June of last year, and now we are getting into R&D so that we can bring more products to the market.

Currently, we have seven employees, and we will be looking to expand our sales team within certain channels in the near future. Like I mentioned, we are in a high-growth mode, so we are looking for an experienced sales executive to lead the team.

Who should members contact with questions?

They can call me directly at (301) 302-0144 x311 or email me at h.ntchobo@magbiogenomics.com.

Montgomery College

Much of Maryland’s workforce pipeline starts at local two- and four-year colleges and with the help of federal grants, students at Montgomery College will be able to get a solid head start on their IT careers. Alton Henley, Senior Program Director at Montgomery College, met with the Maryland Tech Council (MTC) to explain the new program they are developing with funds from the America’s Promise Grant—an outgrowth of the TAACCCT grant.

MTC is a partner with employers, community organizations, and community colleges across the state, including Montgomery College, in Cyber-Technology Pathways Across Maryland (CPAM). CPAM intends, over the next four years of the grant and beyond, to build a pipeline of skilled cyber security workers who will attain certifications, associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, work-based learning opportunities, and, ultimately, good jobs in technology and cyber security.  

Give us an overview of the America’s Promise grant.

America’s Promise grants are awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to 23 regional workforce partnerships in 28 states. These grants are designed to develop and expand workforce partnerships to provide a pipeline of skilled workers in industries such as information technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and educational services.

The state of Maryland received $5.63 million to be used over four years and this money is divided among Montgomery College, Frederick Community College, and Prince George’s Community College. The three schools combined have promised to serve 1,070 students, and Montgomery College will be educating 700 of those students.

It sounds like the America’s Promise grant is similar to the TAACCCT grant.

The America’s Promise grant is an outgrowth of the TAACCCT grant. Money from the TAACCCT grant is used to prepare students for employment in high-wage, high-skill occupations by using innovative strategies and methods for delivering instruction. The program that Montgomery College built from TAACCT funds is focused primarily on cybersecurity, and it is called CyberAdvantage. It is a formal, two-semester program that focuses on desktop, network, and application security. The goal is to help students understand the fundamentals of cybersecurity with the goal of preparing to obtain two baseline industry certifications. We also help them write resumes, and we conduct mock interviews and guide them to career opportunities.

Tell us about the program being developed at Montgomery College specifically under the America’s Promise grant. 

The money from the America’s Promise grant will be used for a new program that is designed to help students top off, if you will, their programming skills. Whereas the CyberAdvantage program introduces students to a field within IT, this new program will help students get additional training in skills that they have already learned. For example, some students may have training in theory, but they don’t have the tools. We offer the technical tools, like training on how to write a complete application in Java. It’s this type of hands-on experience that companies are looking for. Our program is akin to a bootcamp that will help students finish their journey in a way that directly prepares them for the work world. We’re trying to stem the tide of having students enroll in one of the expensive bootcamps that charge up to $16,000 for three months of training.

The program will be built upon the knowledge and experience that we have in this area. Infosys is one of our partners, and we have conducted this type of training before. Also, I’ve been a developer for 39 years having first learned in a programming class that my mother, a former employee at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST), taught when I was 9 years old. Suffice it to say that we know what works.

What do prospective students need to know about the program?

First, students must have, or be within one semester of obtaining a four-year degree and they must also participate in pre-work, which is an online class that sets a baseline for capability. From those students, we will choose who we think will be successful and benefit most from the program.

This is an in-person program, and the first class will start on May 22. Students will be in the classroom for eight hours a day for eight weeks at the Gaithersburg Business Training Center. It will be like working on the job, and in the end, it almost equates to having a minor in Java. Students will learn how to write, fix, change, and complete their work and they will be given constructive feedback. The program addresses the Oracle certification in Java which is a stackable entry-level certification. We like to say that this program is purposeful practice through self-direction.

How can readers get more information on this program or other IT programs at Montgomery College?

They can contact me at alton.henley@montgomerycollege.edu or at 240.567.3826.

ComNet Communications

Maryland Tech Council (MTC) members work on all sides of technology, and this month we talked with Carl Lechner, Business Development Manager for ComNet Communications. ComNet has been a member of MTC for two years, and Carl serves as a lead member of the MTC Ambassador Committee.

Give us an overview of ComNet Communications.
We are a national contractor that focuses on the turnkey installation and integration of wired and wireless IT, Communications, Audio Visual and Security systems. When a company moves or expands, they will need to add phone and network capabilities, so we do the physical installation and integration of the various systems. We have an excellent reputation for working on complex projects with companies of all sizes.

ComNet is privately owned and has been in business for 32 years. Our Corporate headquarters is in Bethel, CT, not too far outside of New York City. Our Mid-Atlantic office is based in Frederick, MD and we have about 450 full time employees companywide. We also have offices in Dallas and Jacksonville, with teams of technicians in several other areas around the country.

What types of industries do you work with?

Our client base is very diverse. Some examples are new or renovated office buildings, schools, hospitals, retail, data centers, sports facilities, and life sciences companies. We’re comfortable in almost any space, both locally and nationally. Last year we performed a large project for Daytona Speedway, and we upgraded signage and other technologies for 750 McDonald’s locations. We’ve done work with MTC member, CRB. We installed their IT and communications wired and wireless systems. We work with the end-users directly and also through general contractors and systems integrators.

ComNet works with federal government agencies as well, correct?
We do. Typically, we work as a subcontractor partner to systems integrators that are more involved in the network gear (servers, etc.). We are the install component of the contract, or the feet on the ground if you will, and we serve in this capacity for large contractors.

What is ComNet’s differentiator in this market?
We have a trained staff of technicians ready to deploy across the country. In the remote areas where we don’t have permanent staff, we have vetted contractor partners that we use. This is a big advantage for us, and we want clients to call on us regardless of where their project is located. We have the ability to offer consistency in our installations across all geographies in the U.S.

Another differentiator is that we are vendor agnostic, and we can work that way because ComNet invests a lot of resources in training the technicians and engineers on a wide variety of products. Our IT staff has numerous certifications, which enables us to offer solutions that are right for the job. We have 16 engineers that are BISCI certified.

What is the best thing about your work?
We work with companies that are typically growing and expanding. Our goal is to build long-term relationships with companies and to help them to prosper and grow by being a trusted resource for the installation of their mission-critical wired and wireless technologies.

Are you seeing any trends in your industry?
There is a trend in downsizing office space because, for one reason, more people are telecommuting. Companies are also trending toward more open office spaces and fewer closed or walled offices. Collaboration spaces are also becoming very important in commercial buildings.

Wireless is also a big factor in technology implementations. Also, bandwidth and speed are increasing exponentially and thus fiber optics are becoming more in demand. Of course security and audio-visual systems are becoming more important and complex, so ComNet has invested heavily in developing these teams and service offerings as well. This isn’t just running wires and plugging them in, you need highly technical, experienced people to design, install, and integrate these systems.

Where can people get in touch with you?
They can email me at clechner@comnetcomm.com or call me at 202.748.1823.

Noble Life Sciences

The Tech Council recently visited with Srujana Cherukuri, Sr. Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, of Noble Life Sciences. The company was founded in Gaithersburg and currently operates the business at their location, which is nestled in a picturesque valley in Sykesville in Carroll County, Maryland.

What services does Noble Life Sciences offer?

We provide integrated GLP and non-GLP preclinical services designed to accelerate development of drugs, vaccines, and medical devices. Our core services are disease and animal models in a wide range of mammalian species, toxicology, analytical and lab services, polyclonal antibody production, and drug evaluation services with significant expertise in the development of new drugs to treat cancer and infectious diseases.

Noble offers real-time, live animal imaging services with the IVIS Lumina series imager. This imaging tool is well suited for preclinical studies of new drugs to treat cancer and infectious diseases as well as cell and gene therapies. Our imaging capabilities also include a C-arm imaging scanner intensifier, radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound.

Tell us about this location.  

Spring Valley Laboratories, founded in 1980, was headquartered at this location, at first providing animal housing and antibody production services. Eventually, the company’s services expanded to include GLP-compliant services and large animal testing capabilities. Because Spring Valley’s services and capabilities were complementary to Noble’s small animal testing capabilities and in vitro drug discovery expertise, Noble acquired Spring Valley Laboratories in 2014. In 2015, we consolidated operations at this site. The facility consists of 24,000 square feet of animal housing, support, and lab space on a 25-acre campus. The support space includes two surgical suites with recovery room and intensive care area; labs for clinical pathology, specimen analysis, and necropsy; and areas for test article storage and secure-access controlled archives.

How is Noble different from other companies in this arena?

The key for us is to offer flexibility and competitive pricing to our clients backed by strong scientific experience. In addition, Noble provides high quality and customized services to our clients allowing our clients to participate in their studies. For example, a medical device company may want to use our animals and technicians but have their surgeon conduct the testing of their device. We provide the resources, but they conduct the study. We offer our clients a full range of options including assistance with study design and program development based on our scientific expertise and extensive experience in drug development and medical devices.

What type of support do you offer to startups?

We offer quite a few resources to startups. As anyone in a startup can tell you, it’s not always possible to hire a lot of people and the staff doesn’t always have the scientific expertise that’s needed to plan and conduct a study. So we walk them through the process and help them in preclinical program development. We also help companies with grant applications. For example, we can help them prepare a budget, develop an animal-use protocol, and provide them with a support letter.

Do you see any trends in CROs?

Partnering is popular now because many CROs do not provide a full range of services. For example, a CRO may have most of the capabilities needed to meet their clients’ needs but not have large animal capabilities or a surgical suite. In such a case, the CRO might partner with Noble to offer a more complete package of services. This is a good model for clients who want to have their study managed by one CRO and receive a single report.

What’s in the future for Noble?

We want to grow our business by offering our clients high quality, cost effective preclinical services. We will be increasing our sales and marketing presence as well as continuing to expand our technology platform to add more value to our clients.

We’re also excited about a new externship program that we developed with Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health. Through this program we offer full-time Ph.D. candidates non-academic experience for 6-12 months. After they are trained in our sales process, they spend 10 hours a week helping us to increase our client base by using their scientific background and their sales training. The externs benefit because they gain business development experience and can explore alternate career paths which they may pursue in the future.

Have you utilized any of the Tech Council’s benefits?

Absolutely, we’ve taken advantage of the VWR member discount program for years and see that as a big benefit.

Who can Tech Council members contact for more information?

They can contact me at my business number 410.795.2222 or my cell 301.642.7826 or at scherukuri@noblelifesci.com.