Southeastern Virginia Biomedical 

Technology Partnership Forum

William J. Wasilenko, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Research, EVMS

June 15, 2010

Bioscience Trends in Hampton Roads: Growing 

Infrastructure and Research Capabilities for 

Economic Development
Hampton Roads Bioscience

• A growing Bioscience Research and Development Base

• Over $150 million/year R&D funding & 35 companies

Research Parks and Incubators

James City County

Innovation Park

McDemmond RISE

Hampton

Workforce Training Programs

EVMS 

Hampton University

NSU

Unique Research Resources

Free Electron Laser

Proton Beam Center

LifeNet

National Research Centers

Bioelectrics

Marine

Proteomics

SonoVCAD 

SMART

Brain Games
Representative Programs Highlighted
Additional Resources for Bioscience

Marie V. McDemmond Center for Applied Research

• An education and research center 

• State of the art clean room for research on nanoparticle 

and materials for sensor and medical device 

development
Additional Resources for Bioscience

Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility Free 

Electron Laser

• A Kw class, high average power, sub-picosecond laser covering the 

mid-IR spectral region

• Short pulses of electrons produce broadband Tera Hz light sources (tunable colors)

• Applications to nanoscience and biological research:

 Fat destruction

 Medical imaging

 Cellular and molecular dynamics
Additional Resources for Bioscience

Hampton University Center for Advanced Medical 

Instrumentation (CAMI)

•Technology transfer is the mission

9 sensor patents, some pending

– Breast cancer imaging

– Brachytherapy monitoring

– Radiation treatment delivery

– Radiation treatment planning

•Contractual agreements for 

technology co-development in 

place with

– Varian Medical Systems (treatment 

planning algorithm development)

– Ion Beam Applications (radiation 

treatment imaging)

•Research funding from DoD (CDMRP), NHRC, 

Commonwealth of Virginia, Varian Medical Systems, 

NIH, NSF, DOE
Additional Resources for Bioscience

VIMS Sea Water Lab (BSL3)

• Large enclosed wet labs with circulating seawater 

including toxics rooms and BSL3 facilities

• Designed for contractual use and industry 

collaborations
EVMS Biomedical Research: 

Clinical Translational Focus

 Cancer and Infectious Disease

 Women’s and Infant Health

 Diabetes and Obesity

 Cardiovascular

Translational Research Resources and 

core Laboratories

 Proteomics and BioRepository

 Microscopy and Imaging Resources

 Translational Animal Models

 Epidemiology and Biostatistics

 Technology Transfer and 

Commercialization

Additional Resources for Bioscience
Bioscience

Disease Prevention 

and Therapy

- Cancer

- Pediatrics

- Diabetes / Aging

- Women’s Health

Devices

- Imaging

- Lasers / sensors

- Diagnostics

Marine and 

Environmental

Defense / Homeland 

Security

Unique Opportunity

•Convergence of Core Technologies in Sensors, Modeling Simulation 

and BioScience 
Project Overview

Two 100,000 sq. ft. five story 

buildings

Class A office and wet/dry lab

Flexible wet lab suites & 

offices

Conferencing Center

Full Range of Laboratory 

Facilities

Adjacent covered parking

Located on the ODU campus, 

within the 75-acre University 

Village development

Broad range of amenities 

and support
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Bioscience Devices

Food

Consultation

Pharma/Nutraceuticals

CROs

Software

HRRP Bioscience Cluster

Over 35 regional Bioscience companies and a growing list of products in 

the market place.
Regional Facilitators of Bioscience 

Innovation

Opportunities 

and Resources

Technology 

Incubators

Technology 

Commercialization

Innovation Research 

Park

Eastern Virginia Medical 

School

ODU Business Gateway

College of William & Mary

Thomas Jefferson Lab

NASA Langley Technology 

Gateway

Innovate Hampton Roads