First Patients Complete Treatment at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City

November 17, 2009 -  The first group of patients have completed treatment at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City, the sixth center in the country to provide proton therapy, an alternative to X-ray radiation that spares healthy tissue and results in far fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects. 

Sam McElvany, 54, was among the first patients treated at the Center. "I always left the Center feeling better than I came in," says McElvany, a school superintendent from Wewoka treated for prostate cancer. "Few people can say that during cancer treatment. The folks here made me feel like I was the most important person in the world and the treatment was painless."

Noble Foundation Earns Top 10 Ranking in National Survey

November 2, 2009 -- For the second consecutive year, the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation has ranked as one of the top 10 scientific institutions for academic faculty in the United States.

The Scientist magazine recently announced the results of its annual "Best Places to Work in Academia" survey, and the Noble Foundation ranked No. 9 out of 94 institutions. This year's ranking closely mirrors the Noble Foundation's position (No. 8 out of 70 institutions) in 2008. Last year was the first time the organization participated in the survey.

OMRF Scientists Discover Promising New Path for Treating Traumas

October 27, 2009 - A discovery by scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) could help save lives threatened by traumatic injuries like those sustained in car crashes or on the battlefield. The work also holds potential for treating severe infectious diseases and diabetes.

In a paper published in the advance edition of the scientific journal Nature Medicine, OMRF researcher Charles Esmon, Ph.D., with co-authors Florea Lupu, Ph.D., and Jun Xu, Ph.D., has cast new light on how proteins called histones can enter the bloodstream and begin to kill the lining of blood vessels, resulting in uncontrolled internal bleeding. Building on this work, Esmon and a team of collaborators have discovered an antibody that could counter this deadly process.

OMRF Researchers Receive $14.7 Million in Federal Stimulus Grant Funding

October 7, 2009 – The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded 17 grants worth a total of $14.7 million to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF). The grants are part of the $10 billion in economic stimulus funds that will be provided for medical research through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

The grants will fund OMRF research on a wide array of illnesses, including lupus, multiple sclerosis, blood disease and cancer. The funds will be paid out over a two-year period and include three new projects as well as supplements to 14 existing research projects. The awards range from $92,000 to more than $4 million.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Receives $14.5 Million Grant for Anthrax Research

September 4, 2009 – The Oklahoman reports one of the largest grants in the history of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) — $14.5 million over the next five years — will fund research into unraveling the puzzle of how anthrax affects humans.

The grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will finance a team of seven scientists, who will spend the next five years exploring the infectious agent that causes anthrax.

Oklahoma Entrepreneur Authors Bioscience Guide Book

August 24, 2009 – According to the Tulsa Business Journal, Oklahoma entrepreneur Craig Shimasaki has written a book designed to be used as a guide by other entrepreneurs struggling to build biotech companies.

The book set for September publication, is also designed to be used as a textbook for college courses. Shimasaki is co-founder and former CEO of Oklahoma City-based InterGenetics, which has developed a genetics-based test for breast cancer predisposition, says the Business Journal.

OU Microbe Researchers Receive Recognition for GeoChip

August 4, 2009 – The Oklahoman reports 5 University of Oklahoma researchers will receive recognition for a very hi-tech achievement.

R&D Magazine has named the researchers GeoChip, a glass slide prepared with 50 high-resolution samples of microbial communities, as one of the top 100 technological developments of 2009. The invention is among six bioscience developments to be honored this year.

Compas Selected by R&D Magazine as 2009 R&D 100 Award Winner

July 22, 2009 -- Orthocare Innovations joins Ford Motor Company, Hitachi, Battelle, Dow Chemical and Intel as winners of the prestigious R&D 100 Award. R&D 100 Awards salute the 100 most technologically significant products introduced into the marketplace over the past year.

Compas represents a significant advance in the fitting and ongoing management of prosthetic device users. This new technology assists practitioners in achieving optimal alignment through objective feedback and analysis using embedded sensor technology. Compas marks a significant departure from traditional use of visual observation to align prosthetic devices.

Oklahoma City Regional Bioscience Plan

More than 7,000 new jobs and nearly 90 new businesses would be created over the next 10 years if all action items are implemented in a Regional Bioscience Strategic Plan by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

The Chamber hired Battelle's Technology Partnership Practice, a worldwide leader in research and development activity, to help develop the plan.

Click on the links below for more information:

Battelle OKC Bioscience Report Executive Summary

Battelle OKC Bioscience Report Full Report

Oklahoma Bioscience Industry Cluster Website

Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative Launches Website

Oklahoma's Bio Advantage

Oklahoma's unique bio advantage is aggressive legislation that helps transfer technology from the university lab setting to the commercial enterprise. Learn more reasons to locate your biotech or nanotech business in Oklahoma.

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