BIO Alabama event connects Alabama research institutes with international industry partners

A reverse-pitch competition is coming to the metro in the bioscience realm.

RALLY will be held April 26 at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook. It was developed to connect bioscience companies with academic R&D intellectual property to facilitate the translation of science into applications for humanity.

The event is a partnership between BIO Alabama, the trade association for Alabama’s bioscience industry and the state affiliate of BIO International, and the Alabama Department of Commerce. The two are hosting the statewide reverse-pitch event for Alabama bioscience research institutes.

“Industry collaborations with research institutions create kindle for the bioscience ecosystem,” said Rachel Lane, CEO of BIO Alabama. “These collaborations result in the meaningful advancement of research so that it can reach patients and end users more quickly. They also support startup development, job creation, a positive innovation environment and additional capital access opportunities.”

Auburn University, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Southern Research, Tuskegee University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of South Alabama are all presenting technologies to industry partners at RALLY, totaling more than 35 potential technology matches.

“Auburn University understands readiness in research and is focused on a streamlined pathway to quickly connect multi-disciplined researchers that can address industry challenges. RALLY augments our efforts — and those of other research institutes — by facilitating discussions that will solve complex challenges with technology,” said Bill Dean, executive director at the Auburn Research and Technology Foundation. Auburn leads the RALLY effort, submitting 16 technologies for industry consideration.

The competition is part of the April 25-26 bioscience conference at the venue.

The conference, themed “Building Alabama’s Biohorizons,” will offer from across the country. Topics will include state innovation economies, space biotechnology applications, bioscience workforce challenges and federal policy. About 200 scientists, industry professionals and community stakeholders are expected to attend the conference.

Melinda Richter, global head of Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABSs, will keynote the conference.