NIH activates new funding vehicle for COVID-19 R&D, other measures seek more information

For the first time and in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) together with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) has activated the NIH Urgent Award mechanism. The targeted opportunity is intended to provide funds for NIH grantees applying to expand the scope of their active grant. Last month, NIAID and NIGMS published a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) “to highlight the urgent need for research on the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). NIAID is particularly interested in projects focusing on viral natural history, pathogenicity, transmission, as well as projects developing medical countermeasures and suitable animal models for pre-clinical testing of vaccines and therapeutics against 2019-nCoV.” Read more  | 

SEC proposes changes to exempt offerings including crowdfunding

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently proposed rule changes that aim to make fundraising easier for new companies, including by expanding crowdfunding’s applicability and allowing for “demo day” communications. The changes target three particular methods of exemptions: Regulation A, Rule 504 of Regulation D, and Regulation Crowdfunding. Read more 

NIST seeking pathways for including non-federal manufacturing centers in national network

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking to expand the network of Manufacturing USA centers for innovation, providing pathways for participation from external industry organizations, according to a recent notice in the Federal Register. These “alliance institutes” will not be federally funded, but will essentially function in the same capacity as the federally-funded institutes. However, alliance institutes will still be eligible to receive public service grants — allowing them to provide workforce development services, small- and medium-sized manufacturer outreach, and conduct other typical Manufacturing USA activities. NIST is also looking for public input on alternative funding ideas and opportunities which alliance institutes could access. Read more

.ORG management change could double URL fees

Organizations using a web address ending in .ORG should be aware of an upcoming change affecting website registrations. In brief, the nonprofit manager of the .ORG top-level domain is requesting permission from ICANN, which is ultimately responsible for domain registration, to a private equity firm. Opponents of the sale have asked ICANN to step in to find a new nonprofit manager, which has, in turn, prompted Ethos Capital, the prospective firm, to propose a binding addition to the .ORG contract. Read more 

Biotech industry diversity examined

The biotechnology industry has made progress in increasing representation, especially in pre-revenue, smaller and private companies, however, diversity and inclusion programming is still in the nascent stages at most companies responding to a survey by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). BIO published its first annual survey on the industry’s progress in its report, Measuring Diversity in the Biotech Industry: Building an Inclusive Workforce. Read more 

Member News:

The University of Illinois announced a new partnership with gener8tor to create Illinois AgTech Accelerators, with seven- and 12-week options and providing convertible notes to participants.

The Lilly Endowment is providing a two-year, $2.9 million grant to BioCrossroads, supporting new and existing efforts that advance biotech in Central Indiana.

The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development has announced the Launch Minnesota Network, six regional hubs that will support entrepreneurs across the state.

This week's Staff Picks:

Stateline: States Have ‘Immense’ Powers to Fight Coronavirus
This story explores some of the powers state and local governments can wield when declaring emergency situations, such as with the coronavirus, but notes that insufficient public health investment may hamper those efforts. Read more

Center for American Progress: From Giveaways to Investments
This report lays out four areas of reform that federal, state and local lawmakers should advance in order to promote economic development that better serves working Americans and represents good stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Read more

Bloomberg: U.S. Coal Use Is Plunging at Fastest Rate Since Eisenhower Era
The decline in coal consumption reflects the rapidly changing U.S. energy mix, as coal is increasingly struggling to compete on price with natural gas, wind and solar. Read more

Vancouver Sun: Oil consumption to fall by largest volume on record, dealing fresh blow to oilpatch
The coronavirus outbreak in China will cause a demand-side shock to the oil markets that will eclipse the oil-demand contraction seen during the global financial crisis in the last decade and deal another blow to fiscally vulnerable Canadian oil producers. Read more

Pensions&Investments: 2 senators introduce bill to curb executive retirement plans
The National Venture Capital Association is opposing a new bill that would tax executives’ stock options when they vest, rather than at distribution. Read more