rainincubator.org
"Our Mission is to Educate our Community to grow
Jobs, Talent, and Companies in BioTech."
I often get asked why a BioTech incubator has a professional kitchen.
So, let me explain... RAIN’s facility was the original home of The Nativity House Day Shelter. The Nativity House utilized the kitchen in the building to serve Tacoma’s homeless community. To continue the charitable intention of the kitchen, it was revitalized to serve Tacoma in a new way. In line with RAIN’s mission to grow companies, the kitchen is offered to small food businesses at a low cost to support them in their critical start-up phase. The need for commercial kitchen space and business support for these entrepreneurs has encouraged RAIN to create the RAIN Urban Kitchen project. Like every science company supported by RAIN, the plan is foster it’s growth until it needs a larger space independent of RAIN and can continue the mission to grow talent, companies, and jobs through BioTech food!
SUPERHEROES OF SCIENCE: JULY
Targeted Drug Delivery for Cancer Therapy
RAIN was honored to host Dr. Peter Senter, VP of Seattle Genetics as he outlined the pathway to the creations of ADCETRIS, an approved drug that is being used for the treatment of various lymphomas. Dr. Hirschberg described Peter as “An extraordinary chemist forced to work with biologists.” All in the audience last Monday would agree as he mesmerized the listeners with the arduous process he and his colleagues have undergone to make drugs that combine advanced chemical and biological design aspects.
Dr. Senter explained that antibodies can be incorporated into tumors more specifically than most conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, binding cancer fighting drugs to antibodies with high tumor cell selectivity may provide a better way for drug delivery, while sparing normal tissues from chemotherapy-induced toxicities.
Seattle Genetics developed ADCETRIS, a drug that helps patients with Hodgkin and some non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The drug was sufficiently active in early clinical trials that the FDA granted accelerated approval in 2011. Seattle Genetics has built several other promising antibody drug conjugates in various stages of clinical development. They have also discovered novel pathways for therapeutic intervention, such as carbohydrates that coat cells and proteins inside the body.The final message: “cancer is complicated" which includes both causes and cures. You have to be really dedicated, focused, smart, and assemble the right team to have a chance of solving this problem!
IGEM SATURDAY SCIENCE SERIES
The iGEM team was hard at work this week in the lab and RAIN workspace. The Lab Team is nearing completion of the plasmid DNA circuit. The Technology Teamhas begun to train programmers on the strict guidelines for the iGEM Wiki Website. This means that the website must be programmed, rather than utilizing a third party platform. The website will spotlight all activities for the team and showcase the arsenic Biosensor for competition.
The Collaborations Team is talking with UW Seattle about a Pacific Northwest Meet-up event to discuss and practice our presentations. The Human Practices Team is continuing to develop an education application designed to teach 3rd graders and up the functionality and structure of plasmid DNA and how this structure is easily manipulated to complete a desired action.
The Graphics Team is newly formed this week and is working on content creation for the website as well as branding for the team.
IGEM MEETS THE CP ROTARY
Four 2018 iGEM team members were honored to present their project to the Clover Park Rotary this Wednesday. The Rotarians were enthusiastic about the teams arsenic Biosensor and recognize that this team is part of the growing workforce in BioTech in Tacoma. The iGEM Presentation Team is creating a teaching app for mobile devises that plasmid function and construction on a DNA basis. It is targeted to 3rd graders and up so we are reaching out to the masses!
RHODIES BY RAIN
Successful start-ups begin by identifying a problem, then solving it, and successfully scaling for the marketplace. RHODIES by RAIN is at stage two by successfully propagating the cuttings of their Rhodendrons. This project is developed and lead by our homegrown team. As the product scales to the growers in our community we will update you on the team's progress.
RAIN’S GIRLS WHO CODE
Starts Wed. September 12, 2018
Calling all 6-12th grade girls with interest in learning the basics of programming or accelerating their expertise. This September RAIN will launch a weekly Girls Who Code program. This free program, who's mission is "to close the gender gap in computer science", starts every Wednesday in September for 6-12 grade girls from 3-5pm. Volunteers with a proficiency in programming are needed and girls are already starting to join! Learn more at our RAIN GWC site and make new friends!
RAIN PARTNERS WITH CLEANTECH ALLIANCE
RAIN is excited to announce a new partnership with the CleanTech Alliance. This partnership extends the reach of RAIN's industry network while further establishing Tacoma as a hub of innovation in the Northwest. By integrating our networks and resources, we will increase access to biotech start-ups in the region who will be able to accelerate their growth through use of our ecosystem, talent, and facilities here in Tacoma.
RAIN'S URBAN KITCHEN HAS AN OPEN HOUSE
RAIN's Urban Kitchen hosted its first Open House, to a large crowd of excited members! The community was invited to meet and support small business owners as they showcased their culinary works. There was live music, free food samples from our vendors, and drinks courtesy of KT’s Hospitality. We would like to thank everyone who came out to support our local entrepreneurs!"
RAIN BIOENGINEERING CAMP
RAIN is offering a Bioengineering Summer Camp July 30-August 3. We are excited to have a full camp of 9th and 10th graders excited to learn hands on skills in Molecular Bio. Thank you to Graduate Tacoma for a generous grant to help fund our program and keep it free for Tacoma residents.
