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October 19, 2018

Dr. Izadjoo Named 2018 “Innovator of the Year” by MWBC

Frederick/Rockville, Maryland – The Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc (FITCI) congratulates member Dr. Mina Izadjoo, President and Chief Science Officer of Integrated Pharma Services (IPS) and Integrated MicroSciences (IMS), on being named 2018 “Innovator of the Year” by Maryland Women’s Business Center (MWBC).

Dr. Izadjoo received her PhD in Microbiology from Louisiana State University in 1992, followed by six years of post-doctoral fellowships at Texas A&M University and NIH in molecular biology and immunogenomics. Today, she continues pursuing her research in the private sector and is focused on developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic solutions for hard-to-treat infectious diseases, including antibiotic-resistant pathogens. She advanced several technologies through her innovative approach for generating scientific data necessary to take candidate products to the next maturity level. She holds patented technology for standardized growth of polymicrobial communities for various downstream applications, including antimicrobial drug screening and genomic sequencing. She previously won the 2017 JWC Best Innovation in North America Award and the 2018 FCC Leader of the Year, noted for her company’s strong internship program and training for the next generation of scientists.

FITCI CEO Kathie Callahan Brady appreciates the unique challenges women face, even though they now start businesses at more than twice the rate of men. * She says, “Growing a successful business is always a challenge, but Dr. Izadjoo is definitely an outlier. Her drive and intelligence are obvious, but what makes her stand out is a willingness to collaborate, whether it’s with students, fellow accelerator members or clients. That raises the bar for everybody.”

WMBC is a state-wide resource for Women business leaders, offering counseling, training and opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs. The honor celebrates women who have been able to persevere to achieve success by growing their businesses, creating jobs, driving innovation, and contributing to America’s global competitiveness. An awards luncheon happens October 17, 2018, at Lakewood Country Club in Rockville from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Mali Phonpadith, Founder and CEO of the SOAR Community Network and a bestselling author, is the keynote speaker.

* 2016 sixth annual State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express.

Dr. Izadjoo Named 2018 “Innovator of the Year” by MWBC

Written By: Kathie Callahan Brady

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCES 51 “BUILD TO SCALE” GRANTS TOTALING $47 MILLION TO FUEL INNOVATION AND TECH-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding 51 “Build to Scale” grants – totaling $47 million – to organizations that support technology entrepreneurs, catalyze innovation and fuel economic growth.

EDA’s “Build to Scale” program provides annual grants that aim to accelerate technology entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to entrepreneurial support and startup capital. The 2022 awardees will leverage an additional $48 million in matching funds from a variety of private and public sector sources. These EDA investments support advanced manufacturing, bioscience, clean energy and blue economy clusters in regions throughout the United States.

"Strengthening technology ecosystems are a critical key to the Biden Administration's efforts to build a stronger America,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Innovation and entrepreneurship have long been keys to American success and will continue to strengthen our collective economic and national security, as well as individual prosperity and well-being.”

"EDA is proud to partner with this year's 'Build to Scale' grantees as they invest in entrepreneurs and create equitable access to capital in their communities," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. "These projects will give the next generation of industry-leading companies a seminal boost that will result in job creation and private investment – potentially transforming a regional economy and creating economic opportunity beyond what we can foresee.”

The 2022 Build to Scale program was comprised of two competitions––the Venture Challenge and the Capital Challenge. The Venture Challenge supports programs that enable high-growth technology entrepreneurship and foster inclusive access to proven entrepreneurship support models. The Capital Challenge increases access to capital in communities where risk capital is in short supply by providing operational support for early-stage investment funds, networks, and training programs that focus on both traditional and hybrid equity-based financing.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.