Albert D. Bender

Aegera Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on developing targeted therapeutics to address major unmet medical needs. Aegera has three programs in clinical development, two for oncology and one for neuropathic pain. Aegera is also dedicated to identifying novel development candidates based upon its core technologies and internal expertise and experience in rapidly moving lead candidates through preclinical development and into clinical trials.

Javelin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. develops pharmaceutical drugs. It is a specialty pharmaceutical company that applies innovative proprietary technologies to develop new drugs and improved formulations of existing drugs that target current unmet and underserved medical market. The company's product candidates address the acute moderate-to-severe pain medication market segment. It has three late stage product candidates in development: Dyloject (diclofenac sodium, injectable), Rylomine (intranasal morphine) and PMI-150 (intranasal ketamine). The company was founded on February 23, 1998 and is headquartered in Cambridge, MA.

Duke University is an academic university that offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs. It also has publications and research services. The university was founded in 1838 and is headquartered in Durham, NC.

The Detroit Medical Center's (DMC) record of service has provided medical excellence throughout the history of the Metropolitan Detroit area. From the founding of Children's Hospital in 1886, to the creation of the first mechanical heart at Harper Hospital 50 years ago. Their medical experts are nationally recognized and each year, hundreds of DMC doctors are included in the list of America's Best Doctors. A reputation for excellence draws patients to world-class programs in oncology, organ transplant, cardiology, women's services, neurosciences, stroke treatment, optometry, orthopedics, pediatrics and rehabilitation. They are the leading academically integrated system in metropolitan Detroit and the largest health care provider in southeast Michigan. The DMC has more than 2,000 licensed beds and 3,000 affiliated physicians. Detroit Medical Center facilities employ best practices and conduct business in an atmosphere of respect and professionalism. Their recognition of and attention to diversity in their business operations and healthcare services is unparalleled. Their volunteer efforts in health education & disease prevention represent an ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of the communities they serve. The DMC continues to meet the health care needs of a growing community, offering the best in medical research & development, advanced technology and optimum clinical services.

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute provides health care services for cancer patients. It also provides integrated center of research, patient care and education, dedicated to the prevention, early detection, treatment and eventual eradication of cancer. The company was founded in 1943 and is headquartered in Detroit, MI.

Located at the heart of the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), the David H. Murdock Research Institute (DHMRI) bridges the research gap between academics and industry by providing R&D solutions in a customer-focused, yet collaborative environment. The DHMRI catalyzes innovation at the public-private interface by driving and supporting R&D efforts with partners who are located both on and off campus. The institute leverages state-of-the-art research technologies and expertise with integrated approaches to provide robust solutions to the growing biotechnology research field. The NCRC is a visionary effort to bring together scientists from public and private sectors to focus on innovation in the areas of agriculture, nutrition and human health. The NCRC is the vision of David H. Murdock, Chairman of Dole Foods, and currently houses 8 university research groups as well as a number of public and private organizations and companies. Working together with the campus partners, the DHMRI, a 501(c)3 research institute, supports R&D efforts by bringing together campus wide expertise and advanced instrumentation to deliver high-quality solutions in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The mission of the DHMRI is to offer a customer-focused environment that allows researchers to advance discovery and development at the intersection of agriculture, nutrition and human health. By combining the expertise provided by the NCRC with the DHMRI expertise and on-site technologies of the DHMRI, the institute delivers creative multi-disciplinary solutions to the most complex problems.

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center provides research and education grants. Its services include financing, technology assessment, business planning, and marketing strategies implementation. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC.