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A Note from Gina Ford, CEO of BioNTX |
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As I close my first six weeks as CEO of BioNTX, I have been focused on one priority: understanding where we are and where we need to go.
I have spent the past several weeks meeting with founders, researchers, corporate leaders, investors, educators, and public sector partners across North Texas. The takeaway is clear: this region has the talent, the science, and the ambition to compete alongside the nation’s leading life science markets. What we need now is tighter alignment, greater visibility, and a more coordinated push forward.
That is where BioNTX comes in.
Our role is not simply to convene, it is to drive connection, accelerate growth, and position North Texas as a leading life sciences market. That requires focus and a commitment to measurable outcomes.
I am encouraged by the engagement I have seen across our ecosystem and appreciative of the sponsors, members, and partners who continue to invest in its success. That support is critical and it will be matched with clear direction and execution.
As we move forward, the priorities are becoming clear: stronger alignment across the ecosystem, greater national visibility, and real pathways for companies at every stage to grow and advance here.
We have the foundation. Now it is time to take the next steps—focused, deliberate, and aligned. |
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Gina Ford, MBA, DPh Chief Executive Officer BioNTX |
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THBI Texas Life Sciences Summit: A Statewide Ecosystem in Motion |
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Attending the Texas Life Sciences Summit provided a clear view into the momentum building across our state and the role North Texas plays within that broader landscape.
What stood out most was the alignment across regions and sectors. Leaders from industry, academia, government, and investment communities are working in greater coordination to advance Texas as a globally competitive life sciences hub. From startup growth to biomanufacturing and workforce development, the strategy is intentional and already in motion.
These conversations reinforced a simple truth: the strength of our ecosystem lies in its connectivity. Each region brings unique capabilities, and together, they form a powerful platform for innovation and scale. |
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ARPA-H Seeks Program Managers in Texas to Advance Breakthrough Health Innovation |
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The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) is actively hiring Program Managers in Texas to help drive breakthrough health solutions for all Americans.
Program Managers identify critical health challenges and design high-risk, high-reward programs that push scientific boundaries and accelerate transformative advances in health and medicine. ARPA-H fosters open innovation, empowering Program Managers to pursue bold research beyond conventional science and commercial approaches, with each program designed to deliver impact within a five-year lifecycle. |
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BIO BREAK Frisco: The Ecosystem in Action |
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BioNTX was proud to host our second BIO BREAK Frisco, and the continued growth in attendance and engagement is a clear signal of the momentum building across the North Texas life sciences ecosystem.
Each BIO BREAK is designed to create space for authentic connection and Frisco delivered once again. Founders, executives, researchers, and professionals from across the region came together in a dynamic, welcoming environment that reflected what we strive to build every day at BioNTX: an ecosystem in action. Conversations turned into connections, and connections into opportunities, demonstrating the power of convening the right people at the right time.
A special thank you to our valued sponsor, Harness IP, for hosting and helping create an exceptional experience. Their team not only provided a strong setting for engagement, but also shared insight into the expertise and capabilities they bring to the ecosystem, further reinforcing the importance of strategic partners in supporting innovation and growth.
These moments where the community comes together are what drive collaboration forward and strengthen the foundation of North Texas as a leading life sciences hub.
Thank you for your support |
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COMING SOON |
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BIO BREAK: Connect, Collaborate, Innovate |
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BIO BREAK offers the life sciences community a valuable opportunity to come together before summer officially begins. Attendees can connect with peers, exchange insights on emerging trends, and engage in meaningful conversations that spark collaboration and innovation across the ecosystem. This event is designed to foster professional relationships, inspire new ideas, and strengthen the network of life science professionals in the region. |
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PCCP: Building Our Talent Network May 13, 2026 |
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Presents Peer Career Connect Program |
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The Peer Career Connect Program (PCCP) is a platform for professionals navigating career transitions and for employers seeking talent in life sciences and related industries. PCCP facilitates meaningful connections, peer learning, and knowledge sharing to help jobseekers explore opportunities and employers connect with qualified candidates.
Open to professionals at all career stages and employers across sectors including biopharma, digital health, aerospace, research, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing, PCCP provides a space to exchange insights, explore career paths, and build valuable professional relationships in a collaborative and results focused environment. |
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Thank you for your support |
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Summer Sizzler Happy Hour with the BioNTX Facilities Committee: Connect & Unwind May 20, 2026 |
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Presents Summer Sizzler |
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Join the BioNTX Facilities Advisory Committee for an afternoon of networking and refreshments at McMillan James Equipment Company’s state-of-the-art facility.
Connect with fellow life science professionals, explore the facility, and enjoy the chance to unwind with the BioNTX community as we continue building momentum for Life Science in North Texas. |
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Thank you for your support |
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2026 iC³ Summit: North Texas’s Premier Life Science Gathering September 24 - 25, 2026 |
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The BioNTX iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit is North Texas’s premier convening for the region’s bioscience and healthcare community. Each year, we bring together industry leaders, pioneering researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators to share insights, explore emerging trends, and collaborate on the next breakthroughs in life sciences and healthcare.
At iC³ 2026, you will have the opportunity to engage with thought leaders, connect with peers, and participate in conversations that are shaping the future of healthcare innovation in North Texas and beyond. Whether you are looking to gain knowledge, showcase your work, or build meaningful partnerships, iC³ provides the platform to make an impact.
Thank you for your support |
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT |
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Preparing for What’s Ahead: Healthcare, Security & FIFA 2026 |
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As BioNTX’s Official Security and Risk Intelligence Partner, The North Group is committed to providing a clear, real-time view of the evolving threat landscape across the healthcare and biotech sectors. Through integrated intelligence and operational insight, we identify risks before they materialize—ensuring organizations are prepared ahead of impact, not reacting after the fact.
With global events like the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, the role of healthcare systems extends far beyond clinical care, becoming a critical component of regional security, resilience, and coordinated response.
In its ongoing FIFA 2026 Threat Series, the TNG Intelligence Division highlights the increasing pressure placed on healthcare infrastructure as both essential service providers and frontline responders. This edition focuses on preparedness across a range of high-impact scenarios, including mass casualty incidents, CBRN exposure, crowd-related injuries, and heat-related emergencies.
Equally important are the evolving operational risks healthcare systems must anticipate—from ransomware attacks targeting hospital networks to managing multi-language patient surges, identifying trafficking victims, and responding to increases in alcohol-related trauma.
The takeaway is clear: healthcare is not a secondary consideration—it is central to event security and regional readiness. Effective preparedness requires more than capacity; it demands coordinated planning, integrated intelligence, and continuity across healthcare, emergency response, and security operations.
In our role as BioNTX’s Official Security & Risk Intelligence Partner, the TNG Intelligence Division plays a critical role in advancing this integrated approach. Their expertise supports alignment across stakeholders, helping ensure that North Texas is not only prepared, but positioned to respond with clarity and coordination when it matters most.
This work reflects a broader truth within the BioNTX ecosystem: resilience, innovation, and collaboration must extend beyond the lab and into the systems that protect and sustain our communities.
If your organization is assessing risk or preparedness, our team is available to support. |
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MEMBER NEWS |
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Alloy Therapeutics Collaborates with Biogen on Antisense Therapeutics |
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Alloy Therapeutics Inc., a biotech company focused on democratizing drug discovery technologies, announced a collaboration and license agreement with Biogen Inc. Biogen will leverage Alloy’s proprietary AntiClastic™ ASO Platform to develop antisense therapeutics against multiple undisclosed targets. The collaboration combines Biogen’s expertise in advancing innovative medicines with Alloy’s antisense discovery capabilities. The AntiClastic platform is designed to enhance potency and therapeutic index, addressing long-standing challenges in antisense drug efficacy. |
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AstraZeneca Reports Positive Phase III Results in Embolisation-Eligible Liver Cancer |
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AstraZeneca’s EMERALD-3 Phase III trial delivers promising results for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The combination of Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Imjudo (tremelimumab) with lenvatinib and TACE significantly improved progression-free survival compared with TACE alone, while interim analysis showed a trend toward improved overall survival. The treatment was well tolerated, consistent with known safety profiles, and represents an important advance for patients eligible for embolisation, who currently have limited systemic treatment options. |
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Johnson & Johnson Secures Permanent J-Code for INLEXZO™ |
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Johnson & Johnson announced a permanent J-code, J9183, for INLEXZO™, simplifying billing for adults with certain BCG-unresponsive bladder cancers. Approved in 2025, INLEXZO delivers extended local therapy directly to the bladder, offering an alternative for patients who have failed BCG or cannot undergo bladder removal. |
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Lantern Pharma and Starlight Therapeutics Receive FDA Clearance for STAR-001 Pediatric CNS Trial |
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Lantern Pharma Inc. and its CNS-oncology subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics, announced that the FDA has cleared the Investigational New Drug application for STAR-001 in a planned Phase 1 pediatric trial for relapsed or refractory central nervous system (CNS) malignancies. The trial, conducted with the POETIC consortium of 14 leading children’s cancer centers, will evaluate STAR-001 alone and in combination with spironolactone, a strategy designed to exploit a DNA repair vulnerability in aggressive pediatric brain tumors. |
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Nanoscope Receives Orphan Drug Designation in Saudi Arabia for MCO-010 |
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Nanoscope Therapeutics announced that Saudi regulatory authorities have granted Orphan Drug Designation for its lead therapy, MCO-010, for patients with inherited retinal dystrophies causing severe vision loss. The designation strengthens Nanoscope’s global regulatory presence, complementing previous approvals in the U.S., Japan, and Europe. MCO-010 is a one-time, in-office optogenetic therapy designed to restore vision without genetic testing or invasive surgery, representing a potential first-in-class treatment for photoreceptor degeneration. |
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CleanSpace Unveils the Largest Live Cleanroom Ever Built on a US Tradeshow Floor |
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CleanSpace, a leader in modular cleanroom design and delivery, will debut what is believed to be the largest active cleanroom ever installed on a North American tradeshow floor at INTERPHEX.
Unlike traditional exhibits or conceptual builds, this installation is a fully operational pharmaceutical cleanroom environment. Designed, engineered, and constructed by CleanSpace using its vertically integrated delivery model and integrated with SKAN equipment, the space will operate live throughout the duration of the show. |
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G-CON Strengthens Cleanroom Portfolio Through Atmos-Tech Acquisition |
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G-CON Manufacturing Inc., a global leader in prefabricated and modular cleanroom systems, has acquired Atmos-Tech Industries, based in Ocean, NJ. The acquisition expands G-CON’s portfolio of cleanroom products and services, complementing its recent Plasteurop acquisition and the launch of its GCS and Services units, enabling the combined companies to offer a broader range of cleanroom systems, components, and services. |
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Hamilton Company and Takara Bio USA Partner to Automate NGS Library Prep |
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Hamilton Company and Takara Bio USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Takara Bio Inc., announced a development and co-marketing partnership to deliver automated next-generation sequencing (NGS) library prep workflows worldwide. The collaboration focuses on integrating Takara Bio’s SMART-Seq® library prep kits with Hamilton’s Microlab® STAR™ Liquid Handling Systems. The first automated workflow will use the SMART-Seq mRNA LP kit for streamlined full-length mRNA-seq library prep, with additional SMART-Seq kits, including Total RNA Library Prep with ZapR® Depletion (UMIs), planned for future automation. |
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PHCbi Celebrates 60 Years of Advancing Life Sciences |
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PHC Corporation celebrates the 60th anniversary of its Biomedical Business (brand: PHCbi), part of its Life Sciences Business Unit. Since 1966, the business has grown with the support of customers and stakeholders worldwide.
Today, PHCbi continues to advance cell and gene therapy technologies, addressing Quality, Cost, and Delivery challenges in therapy manufacturing. Leveraging proprietary technologies and precision manufacturing, its products and services support research and clinical applications in approximately 110 countries and regions. |
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RSM US Foundation Empowers Youth Through Education and Community Programs |
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RSM US LLP, a leading provider of assurance, tax, and consulting services for the middle market, announced that the RSM US Foundation continues to support programs that prepare the next generation to thrive in an evolving workforce and economy. The Foundation focuses on removing barriers to opportunity through initiatives in education, career readiness, health, housing, and hunger. The Foundation also prioritizes scholarships and financial education, supporting students across communities and expanding access to experiential learning that builds practical skills and confidence. |
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TDIndustries Earns Three National Excellence in Construction® Awards |
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TDIndustries, a leading facilities services and mechanical construction firm, has received three national Excellence in Construction® (EIC) Awards. The awards recognize 86 of the nation’s top construction projects from 2025, spanning school relocations, large-scale renovations, and the construction of science parks, apartments, and hospitals. Contractors were also honored for leadership, innovation, health and safety, and overall excellence. |
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Dallas College Celebrates Community College Awareness Month |
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This month, Dallas College is celebrating Community College Awareness Month with a five-week campaign, “Dallas College: Future Ready,” highlighting how community colleges expand access to education, strengthen the workforce, and drive economic mobility across North Texas. Community College Awareness Month is a national opportunity to recognize the impact these institutions have on students, families, and local economies. |
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UNT Health Fort Worth Now Accepting Applications for New PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences |
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UNT Health Fort Worth is now accepting applications for its new PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, launching this fall, the first of its kind in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The program prepares scientists in drug discovery, development, and translational research, requiring applicants to hold a master’s or PharmD degree. Students will complete 60+ credit hours and a dissertation in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology/toxicology, or applied outcomes research. |
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UT Arlington Drives Innovation in the UT System |
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The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) is helping reinforce the UT System’s global reputation for innovation. The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) ranked the UT System No. 4 worldwide for universities granted U.S. utility patents in 2025. In 2025, UT System institutions secured 229 patents, maintaining a top-five global ranking. UTA researchers earned 28 patents, including 16 in the U.S., a 12% increase from last year, spanning a wide range of disciplines and showcasing the University’s multidisciplinary approach. |
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UT Dallas’ Dr. G. Andrés Cisneros Elected 2025 AAAS Fellow |
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G. Andrés Cisneros, PhD |
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Dr. G. Andrés Cisneros, professor and head of the Physics Department at The University of Texas at Dallas, has been elected to the 2025 class of AAAS fellows. He also serves as a professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM).
Cisneros was recognized in the chemistry section for his “unique contributions to biophysics, computational enzymology, and computational chemistry by developing accurate simulation methods and applying them to DNA transaction proteins.” |
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UT Southwestern and Children’s Health Receive Major Gift from Stephens Greth Foundation for New Pediatric Campus |
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UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children’s Health℠, together with Southwestern Medical Foundation, announced support from The Stephens Greth Foundation for the new pediatric campus. In recognition of the gift, a tower at the new Moody Children’s Hospital under construction will be named Stephens Greth Tower.
The pediatric campus is designed as a compassionate, family-centered environment, featuring spacious rooms, green spaces, and comprehensive services addressing children’s medical, emotional, educational, and social needs. |
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UT Tyler School of Nursing Opens Helicopter Critical Care Transport Simulation Center |
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The University of Texas at Tyler School of Nursing celebrated the ribbon cutting of its new Helicopter Critical Care Transport Simulation Center, designed to train nurses and paramedics in critical care transportation. The program is the second medical flight program in the United States with a clinical flight simulator and the only one to train both nurses and paramedics. |
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FUNDING & MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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Prototype Fund
The Prototype Fund at the Texas Tech Innovation Hub supports early-stage tech startups in developing prototypes or MVPs based on customer discovery insights.
Applications due May 1st |
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2026 Capra Tank Application
This competition is a dynamic opportunity for local entrepreneurs and small business owners in Lubbock to present their innovative ideas or products to a panel of influential business leaders.
Applications due May 5th |
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LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship Program
The LPA Diversity in Design Scholarship awards students in California and Texas pursuing degrees in architecture, engineering, and related design fields, with an emphasis on supporting underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Applications due May 7th |
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TMC Innovation Accelerator for Cancer Medical Devices
The Accelerator for Cancer Medical Devices helps researchers, entrepreneurs, and clinicians develop cancer-focused medical devices through hands-on training, expert mentorship, and technical support.
Applications due May 8th |
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Startup Prize: Health 2026
Startup Prize is a national, founder-first program designed to support early-stage companies preparing for commercialization. Startup Prize connects founders with experienced mentors, practical guidance, and investor and ecosystem connections.
Applications due May 15th |
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2026 Health Wildcatters Accelerator Program
The Health Wildcatters Accelerator Program continues to be ranked among the greatest in the nation according the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. If you are looking to take your startup to the next level, the Health Wildcatters Accelerator Program is your next step.
Applications due May 30th |
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INDUSTRY EVENTS |
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities |
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Biofest Invest 2026
Biofest Invest is an annual spring event that brings together potential investors from across the nation and Texas bioscience companies seeking investment funding, while sharing best practices, connections, and valuable advice.
April 14th | San Antonio, TX |
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Integrated Discovery and Spatial Biology Symposium
Join Bruker for an event showcasing the latest advances in spatial biology and live-cell functional imaging. This interactive gathering brings together innovators to explore how leading technologies are shaping the way we study tissue architecture, gene expression, and cellular behavior.
April 15th | Dallas, TX |
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Pipettes and Patents: IP Networking Mixer and Panel Event
Join the Biotech Club at UTSW for a networking mixer and panel session featuring intellectual property professionals, including experts from the UT Southwestern Office for Technology Development, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and Norton Rose Fulbright.
April 15th | Dallas, TX |
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Turning KOL Data Into CRM-Ready Action With AI
Join Sherry Crowe, CEO of OncoConnect, as she explores how real HCP interactions generate the first-party signals that make AI effective in oncology engagement and how syncing these signals to your CRM enables timely follow-up and measurable outcomes.
April 16th | Virtual |
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Welcome Dennis Lal Open House
SLC6A1 is hosting a welcome BBQ for Dennis Lal, a global leader in neurogenetics, precision health, and rare disease now at UT Arlington. He is transforming how we treat complex conditions using genomics, AI, and data.
April 17th | Frisco, TX |
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2026 Discoveries to Impact Startup Week
Discoveries to Impact Month’s Startup Week unites innovators and entrepreneurs to explore, learn, and connect. Enjoy presentations, expert sessions, networking, a Keynote Luncheon, and the Texas Tech Accelerator Competition.
April 20th - 24th | Lubbock, TX |
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Texas Innovation Conference & Awards
The Texas Innovation Conference & Awards aims to highlight people and organizations that are turning research into real-world results. It brings together a select group of high-impact innovators, including startups, researchers, and ecosystem leaders.
April 22nd - 23rd | Fort Worth, TX |
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The SHIFT 2026
The SHIFT 2026 brings midlife women together for a day of credible education and candid dialogue around menopause. You will hear from trusted experts, gain clarity on what is happening hormonally, and walk away with a clearer understanding of your options.
April 25th | Dallas, TX |
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Thank you for your support! |
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April 13, 2026 |
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