Life Sciences/Biotech

DEARBORN - Henry Ford Community College's biotechnology program has received a $100,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to help the college make nanotechnology and microsystems training available for community college students. The grant seeds a partnership between HFCC?s biotechnology program, the University of Michigan Lurie Nanofabrication Facility, the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

KALAMAZOO - Kalamazoo Valley Community College announced the selection of a downtown location where it will expand its curriculum to include training in sustainable food production, distribution and preparation; all part of the college?s efforts to increase community understanding of and access to healthy food and nutrition. The program is in partnership with Bronson Healthcare

GRAND RAPIDS - Van Andel Institute researchers have mapped the complex molecular structure of a folate receptor, a drug target for a number of cancers and other diseases, a first-of-its-kind discovery that may lead to the development of more precise, consistent and effective treatments. In an international collaboration published online this week in the journal

DETROIT - Wayne State University announced Thursday two research grants totaling $1.8 million in the Multidisciplinary Research Group Incubator Program, an internal funding program at the university. The seed-funding program is aimed at fostering the development of multidisciplinary research groups with significant growth potential for external funding through centers of excellence grant programs, program project

EAST LANSING - Michigan State University on Wednesday broke ground on a new $60.8 million Bioengineering Facility, which will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary research in MSU's colleges of Engineering, Human Medicine and Natural Science. Some $30 million came from the state and the rest from the university. The facility will cover about 130,000

FARMINGTON HILLS - Beringea announced that RTI Biologics, a provider of orthopedic and other biologic implants, plans to pay $130 million to acquire Marquette-based Pioneer Surgical Technology, a Beringea portfolio company. Pioneer Surgical manufactures and distributes metal and synthetic products in the orthopedics, biologics, spine, trauma and cardiothoracic markets. Under the terms of the merger

ALLEGAN - Perrigo Co. said Monday it had purchased the ophthalmic sterile ointment and solution portfolio of Fera Pharmaceuticals LLC and its affiliates for an upfront payment of $93 million along with potential contingent payments of $36 million, some of which relate to Perrigo securing more product rights from Fera. Perrigo said the purchase expands

LANSING - After a lengthy session by the House to pass a Medicaid reform bill that attempts to align the desire of Governor Rick Snyder to expand the program using federal money while making reforms some say are needed, members of the Senate are now reviewing that result and in the process of deciding how

MACKINAC ISLAND - Officials in the administration of Governor Rick Snyder are saying they will make a push to complete action on the expansion of Medicaid eligibility before the Legislature leaves for the summer in mid-June. Snyder himself has told reporters that is a priority in interviews, and a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Randy

LANSING - A group of health care providers, insurers, advocates and trade associations submitted a letter this week warning against a proposed 48-month limit on Michigan Medicaid benefits. The Medical Care Advisory Council, in a letter dated Tuesday, expressed concern about the legislation pending in the House Michigan Competitiveness Committee (HB 4714 ) that would