Excerpted from Wisconsin State Journal
By Judy Newman

Primorigen Biosciences, Madison, has received a $1.2 million Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The latest grant comes on the heels of two smaller, Phase 1 SBIR grants from the National Institutes of Health totaling nearly $673,000, received over the past several months. One involves improving the ability of adult stem cells to convert to neural cells, in a project partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin. The other involves a new type of cell culturing technology designed to improve the function of stem cell-derived liver cells.

Read the full article. 

Excerpted from Wisconsin State Journal
By Bill Novak

Would you like to travel to one of the best small towns in America this summer? It won’t take long to get there.

Baraboo has been selected as one of the 20 best small towns to visit in 2013 by Smithsonian Magazine.

“It’s a great honor for Baraboo to be included,” said Mayor Mike Palm in a news release.

Baraboo ranks fourth on the list, trumped only by Gettysburg, Pa. at one; Cleveland, Miss. at two; and St. Augustine, Fla. at three.

The glowing review of Baraboo in the magazine highlights the circus, of course, since the Ringling Brothers grew up there and the community has embraced the world of the circus ever since, thanks to Circus World Museum.

The article also raves about the old-style town square, the Baraboo Hills, the International Crane Foundation and environmental pioneer Aldo Leopold.

Read the full article. 

 

Excerpted from Wisconsin State Journal
By Judy Newman

Cellular Dynamics International is getting a $16 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to develop several thousand stem cell lines that will become the basis of a stem cell biobank for use by researchers worldwide.

The Madison company, founded by UW-Madison stem cell pioneer James Thomson, will receive blood and tissue samples from healthy donors as well as from people with Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorders, liver diseases, cardiovascular ailments, eye diseases, respiratory diseases and neurodevelopmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy.

The cells will be stored at a biorepository to be established in California by the Coriell Institute for Medical Research of Camden, N.J., with the help of a $10 million companion grant.

CDI chairman and chief executive Bob Palay said the company is excited about receiving the funding from CIRM, which was founded as a result of a $3 billion stem cell fund approved by California taxpayers.

“The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine is a world leader in funding stem cell research,” Palay said. “Their human iPSC banking initiative will create the world’s largest human iPSC bank.”

Palay said the agreement will involve adding employees to CDI’s current staff of about 100 but the work will be done in California. No details on staffing were immediately available. 

Read the full article. 

 

Excerpted from news.wisc.edu

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation are creating an early-stage venture capital fund focused on information technology.

Called 4490 Ventures, a reference to the 44° N latitude and 90° W longitude lines that approximate the center of the state of Wisconsin, the $30 million fund will focus on early-stage companies primarily in Wisconsin. The private fund, capitalized jointly by SWIB and WARF, is intended to generate attractive returns and build value for state retirement fund participants and WARF’s primary beneficiary, the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Carl Gulbrandsen, WARF’s managing director, said work on the fund has been underway for more than a year and involved significant staff effort from both organizations as well as independent research to help define the fund’s focus and scope.

“WARF has recognized for some time that there is a significant opportunity in Madison and other regions of the state in information technology startup companies, but experienced venture management and funding for such companies has been lagging our peer states,” Gulbrandsen said. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with SWIB on this effort and we all agree there are some excellent investment opportunities here.”

“We hope that the establishment of this fund will bring attention to the many investment opportunities that exist in this state,” Gulbrandsen said. “Past experience has shown that these types of funds often attract the talent, capital and resources necessary to create high-performing startup companies. Given the consistent top-10 ranking of UW-Madison’s computer sciences department and the high-quality work going on at other state campuses and companies, we know there are plenty of excellent ideas here.”

Read the full article.

Excerpted from Janesville Gazette
By Gazette Staff

Grant money is available to business owners who want to improve the skills of their workers through customized training.

The Express Grant Program is being offered through the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board.

Businesses must show how the upgrade in worker skills would make the organizations more efficient, productive and competitive. Up to $5,000 per organization is available per year. All training projects must be completed by June 30.

The Express Grant Request for Proposal Application and related material are available online at swwdb.org. Proposals will be accepted up to May 31, with funding awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available.

Proposals can be submitted electronically, which is preferred, to Rhonda Suda or in person at the Rock County Job Center, 1900 Center Ave., Janesville, WI 53546. She can be called at 608-314-3300, ext. 305.

Read the full article.