Sheppard Life Sciences Retreat Highlights
Innovation Momentum at Pegasus Park
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As part of their Life Sciences Practice Retreat, attorneys and executives from Sheppard recently visited BioLabs at Pegasus Park to experience firsthand the growing innovation ecosystem taking shape across North Texas.
The visit provided attendees with an opportunity to learn more about several emerging early-stage companies and gain deeper insight into the collaborative infrastructure helping accelerate innovation, commercialization, and company growth throughout the region. During the session, Gabby Everett led a comprehensive discussion on the vision and impact of BioLabs and BridgeLabs, highlighting the importance of flexible infrastructure, strategic connectivity, and ecosystem support in helping early-stage ventures scale and thrive.
The evening reflected the continued national interest in the momentum building at Pegasus Park and reinforced the importance of cross-sector partnerships in strengthening the North Texas life sciences ecosystem.
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East Texas Biotech Innovation Roundtable
Advances Unified Regional Vision
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Leaders from healthcare, academia, entrepreneurship, and economic development recently gathered at the UT Tyler Alumni House for the East Texas Biotech Innovation Roundtable, a strategic discussion focused on the future of biotechnology and healthcare innovation across the region.
Hosted in collaboration with BioNTX and The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine, the meeting emphasized the importance of aligning research, clinical insight, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and regional partnerships into a unified vision for East Texas. Speakers including Gina Ford, David Nichols, Pierre Neuenschwander, Tony Rhorer, and Scott Martinez highlighted the region’s growing potential to become a more coordinated and competitive biotechnology hub.
The roundtable concluded with a shared commitment to continued collaboration, focused working groups, and long-term strategies designed to position East Texas as an emerging force within the Texas life sciences ecosystem.
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BioNTX Visits UNT Health Fort Worth to Highlight
Research Excellence and Shared Innovation Vision
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The BioNTX team recently visited UNT Health Fort Worth for a series of leadership meetings, campus tours, and strategic discussions focused on the institution’s growing role within the Texas life sciences and healthcare innovation ecosystem.
During the visit, BioNTX representatives engaged with campus leadership to learn more about UNT Health Fort Worth’s strategic vision and to experience firsthand many of the impactful initiatives underway across biomedical research, clinical innovation, public health, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The discussions reinforced the importance of elevating and amplifying the groundbreaking work taking place at UNT Health Fort Worth while identifying future opportunities for strategic visibility, ecosystem engagement, and broader collaboration through the BioNTX platform.
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Texas A&M’s Downtown Fort Worth Campus Area
Designated Switchyard Innovation District
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The expanding Texas A&M University presence in downtown Fort Worth has been officially named the Switchyard Innovation District. The name was announced at the Downtown Fort Worth Inc. annual meeting and reflects both the area’s historic role as a rail hub and its future as a center for research, innovation, and collaboration.
Leaders behind the initiative describe the district as a catalyst for bringing together higher education, industry, and public policy to drive innovation and economic growth.
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BioNTX Opens Applications for 2026 Tech Transfer Showcase
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Applications are now open for the 2026 Tech Transfer Showcase.
BioNTX is inviting universities and research institutions across Texas to submit early-stage life science innovations with potential for licensing, collaboration, or acquisition. Selected participants will present at the 2026 iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit, showcasing their work in front of industry leaders, investors, and potential collaborators.
Deadline to apply is Friday, August 3, 2026.
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CPRIT Expands Cancer Research and
Innovation Funding Across Texas
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The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) governing board has approved new grants supporting cancer research, clinical trials, innovation, and workforce development across Texas. The funding expands access to rural clinical trials, strengthens shared research facilities, supports early-stage cancer companies, and invests in training programs for emerging scientists.
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Discover Leading Lab Solutions with BioNTX and Avantor
June 4, 2026
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Join BioNTX and Avantor for an engaging opportunity to explore leading life science vendors from the Avantor VWR catalog.
Discover a wide range of innovative, high-quality tools, products, and solutions designed to support research across multiple areas of the life sciences. This event is a chance to connect with industry partners, learn about emerging technologies, and identify resources that can help accelerate and enhance your research and development efforts.
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BIO BREAK: Connect, Collaborate, Innovate
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BIO BREAK brings the life sciences community together for an evening of connection and conversation. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers, share insights on emerging trends, and explore ideas driving collaboration and innovation across the ecosystem. The event is designed to strengthen professional relationships and support a more connected life sciences community in the region.
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Building the Future of Life Sciences in Fort Worth
July 16, 2026
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Join the BioNTX Facilities Committee for a dynamic gathering of industry, academic, and facilities leaders exploring the next chapter of life sciences growth in Fort Worth. From recent developments to the realities of building and scaling, this event highlights the collaboration, innovation, and infrastructure driving the region forward.
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Thank you for your support
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Join Us This September at the 2026 iC³ Summit
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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iC³ Hotel Room Block
BioNTX has secured discounted room blocks at nearby hotels for the iC³ Summit,
please feel free to take advantage of these options during your stay.
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Drury Plaza Hotel Dallas Arlington
101 West Road to Six Flags Street
Arlington TX 76011
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Live! By Loews
1600 E Randol Mill Road
Arlington, TX 76011
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Good Days: Supporting Access to Retina Care & Patient Assistance
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This episode of RetinUp highlights the important role Good Days plays in helping retina patients access care and treatment.
Clorinda Walley joins the hosts to explain how the organization is funded, how financial assistance programs are managed, and what determines patient eligibility. The conversation also explores current healthcare policy challenges, the impact on retina practices and patients, and how physicians can help support continued access to care.
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Nanoscope Therapeutics Featured on NYSE Floor Talk
to Discuss Vision Restoration in Retinal Disease
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In this NYSE Floor Talk interview, Sulagna Bhattacharya discusses Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc.’s mission to restore meaningful vision for people living with severe retinal diseases and the work behind its optogenetic gene therapy programs.
The conversation also highlights the company’s progress toward upcoming regulatory milestones in the U.S. and globally, along with its broader effort to bring vision-restoring therapies to patients.
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Alloy Therapeutics and IPI Partner
to Advance Nanobody Discovery Platforms
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Alloy Therapeutics and the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI) are collaborating to develop next-generation humanized VHH (nanobody) libraries to accelerate antibody discovery. By combining Alloy’s scalable discovery platform with IPI’s expertise in protein engineering, the partnership aims to enable faster development of bispecific and multispecific therapeutics targeting complex and hard-to-drug diseases.
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AstraZeneca’s Enhertu Gains Expanded FDA Approval
in Early HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
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Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan), co-developed and co-commercialized by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, has been FDA approved for both neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer. The approvals are based on Phase III DESTINY-Breast11 and DESTINY-Breast05 trial results and expand Enhertu’s use into earlier stages of therapy, including before surgery and after surgery in patients with residual disease, with the goal of reducing recurrence risk and improving long-term outcomes.
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Colossal Biosciences Achieves First Live Hatch
From Artificial Egg Technology
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Colossal Biosciences announced that it has successfully hatched live chicks from a fully artificial egg using a first-of-its-kind exogenous incubation platform that supports complete avian embryo development outside a biological eggshell, from early embryo through hatching without supplemental oxygen.
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Johnson & Johnson Launches Next-Generation Coronary
IVL Catheter for Calcified CAD
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Johnson & Johnson has announced the global launch of its Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter, a next-generation device designed to improve deliverability, lesion crossing, and repositioning in the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD affects an estimated 315 million people worldwide and remains the leading cause of death globally. In advanced cases, calcium buildup hardens arterial blockages, making them difficult to treat with conventional interventional techniques, particularly in complex and tortuous vessels.
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Lantern Pharma Gets FDA Feedback Supporting
Phase 2 Lung Cancer Trial
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Lantern Pharma Inc. announced positive written feedback from the U.S. FDA following a Type C meeting request for its Phase 2 HARMONIC™ trial of LP-300 in never-smoker non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The FDA raised no objections to key proposed protocol amendments, supporting a clearer regulatory path forward for the study, which evaluates LP-300 in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC after kinase inhibitor failure.
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Baker Tilly Partners with HubSync to
Modernize Tax Engagement Workflows
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Baker Tilly has announced a collaboration with HubSync to enhance and streamline tax service delivery across its middle-market client base. The initiative focuses on modernizing tax engagement workflows through a more unified, AI-enabled digital platform that improves collaboration, visibility, and client interaction across the tax lifecycle.
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Brand Institute Gets First EMA Approval
for AI-Generated Drug Name
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Brand Institute said the European Medicines Agency has approved a drug brand name developed using its AI platform Brandi, marking its first AI-assisted naming approval. The name will be disclosed after final product authorization. The milestone highlights growing use of AI in pharmaceutical naming under regulatory review, alongside human oversight.
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Munck Wilson Mandala Named Among
Vault’s Top Midsize Law Firms in Texas
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Munck Wilson Mandala has been recognized in Vault’s 2026–2027 rankings of Best Midsize Law Firms in Texas, based on peer evaluations from associates across the legal industry. Compiled by Vault, the list reflects survey feedback on firm reputation and prestige within regional markets. The recognition highlights Munck Wilson Mandala’s standing among Texas law firms and its continued growth across key practice areas, including technology, life sciences, AI, and complex commercial litigation.
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Polsinelli Strengthens Position in
Largest Healthcare Law Firms List
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Polsinelli has been ranked No. 4 on Modern Healthcare’s list of Largest Healthcare Law Firms, rising from No. 7 in the prior year’s edition. The annual ranking evaluates firms based on the number of attorneys dedicating at least 50% of their practice to healthcare law. The recognition reflects continued growth in Polsinelli’s national healthcare practice, which advises clients across regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters in the evolving healthcare sector.
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TWU Researcher Receives Major Grant
for Cerebral Palsy Training Project
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Texas Woman’s University researcher Heather Roberts, PhD, has received a major award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to improve care and outcomes for people with cerebral palsy. Her project, CP-TRAIN, will create free training modules and certification pathways for therapists and educational resources for individuals with cerebral palsy and their families. Working with Scottish Rite for Children, the initiative emphasizes patient-centered research and collaboration with patients, families, and clinicians to guide future care and research priorities.
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UNT Health Honors Health Professions Students for Leadership
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University of North Texas Health Science Center recognized health professions students at its Student Leader Awards for leadership that strengthens healthcare training and patient-centered service. Students across medicine, physical therapy, and biomedical sciences were honored for roles in clinics, student organizations, and community health initiatives that support future healthcare practice and patient care.
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UT Arlington Study Finds Millions Experience “Undiagnosed Pain”
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University of Texas at Arlington researchers report that millions of U.S. adults live with significant pain that affects daily life but lacks a formal medical diagnosis.
Led by kinesiology professor Feinuo Sun, the study introduces the term “undiagnosed pain” and estimates that at least 21 million adults experience disabling pain not reflected in their medical records. The findings highlight a major gap between patient-reported symptoms and clinical documentation, with implications for treatment, quality of life, and healthcare costs.
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UT Dallas Joins NSF Innovation Program
to Advance Research Commercialization
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The University of Texas at Dallas has joined the National Science Foundation I-Corps Southwest Hub, a regional program that helps university researchers turn scientific discoveries into market-ready technologies. The program provides entrepreneurship and customer-discovery training to help researchers evaluate commercial potential, connect with industry needs, and move innovations toward licensing and startup creation.
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UT Southwestern Researcher Receives
National Cancer Research Prize
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UT Southwestern Medical Center scientist Benjamin Sabari, Ph.D., has been named a recipient of the 2026 Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize for innovative cancer research. Sabari’s lab studies biomolecular condensates and how abnormal gene activity drives cancer growth. His research aims to develop new ways to target cancer-causing gene transcription, potentially opening a new approach to cancer treatment.
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FUNDING & MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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The Hill Prizes
The Hill Prizes supports top Texas innovators working
on high-risk, high-reward research with strong
real-world impact potential.
Applications due June 1st
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Texas Woman’s University STEMM Camp
TWU's STEMM Camp is a week-long summer program designed for high school students to explore careers in biology and healthcare through hands-on lab work.
Applications due June 1st
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Texas Woman’s University ChemCamp
TWU's ChemCamp is a week-long summer program designed for rising 9th–12th grade students to explore chemistry through hands-on labs and interactive activities.
Applications due June 1st
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BioFORCE Summer Academy
BioFORCE is a week-long STEM summer program that introduces high school students to biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing through lectures, hands-on labs, and facility tours.
Applications due June 21st
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities
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Nucleate Texas Demo Day
Nucleate Texas Demo Day is the culminating event of the Nucleate Texas Activator, bringing together founders, scientists, investors, and industry partners from across the state and beyond.
May 29th | Austin, TX
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Future Biotech Expo
The Future Biotech Expo Conference is a two-day program of high calibre sessions designed for people who are actively shaping the life sciences sector.
June 2nd - 3rd | Houston, TX
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Regional Scientific Research Innovation Show
Join BioNTX and Avantor at Pegasus Park for a Vendor Show! Explore top vendors from the Avantor VWR catalog with cutting-edge solutions to support your research needs.
June 4th | Dallas, TX
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2026 Texas Manufacturing Excellence Awards
Join TMAC for an evening of food, celebration, and storytelling as we recognize the progress and future of manufacturing in Texas.
June 4th | Fort Worth, TX
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Thank you for your support!
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