News

Call for Judges for Science Fair and BioGENEius Challenge

Each year, Virginia Bio recruits volunteer judges from the membership to attend the Virginia State Science and Engineering Fair to select the top three winners in the field of biosciences. This year’s fair will be held virtually on April 10, 2021, hosted virtually by the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke’s Berglund Special Events Center. Judges will be sent applicant information, abstracts and posters to review.

Volunteer judges are also needed for the Virginia BioGENEius Challenge. Students submit their projects in either the categories of biotechnology, agriculture or industrial/ environmental science. The judging for the challenge is done virtually. Judges will be sent applicant information, abstracts and posters by May 10, and results will be due back to Virginia Bio on May 19. Winners from the state challenge will go on to compete in the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge taking place during the BIO International Conference in June.

Please contact Caron Trumbo if interested in volunteering your time!

Recent News

04/20/2026

Lumira Ventures Announces First Closing of Fifth Fund to Back High-Impact Healthcare Innovation Across North America

Lumira Ventures today announced the first closing of Lumira Ventures V, LP (“Fund V”), its latest healthcare venture capital fund dedicated to building transformative biotechnology and medical technology companies across North America. Together with three strategic funds managed by the firm, this closing represents the seventh investment fund established by Lumira. With a target final

04/15/2026

Gov. Spanberger and Homegrown Innovator Agrospheres Celebrate Launch of Virginia’s new Biomanufacturing Facility

AgroSpheres, Inc., a Charlottesville-based agricultural biotechnology company, officially opened its first commercial biomanufacturing facility, representing a milestone for AgroSpheres and the biotech ecosystem. Speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included: Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, AgroSpheres co-founders CEO Payam Pourtaheri and CTO Ameer Shakeel, Albemarle County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Ned Gallaway, President of the

04/08/2026

Likarda and The Tiny Cargo Company Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Next-Generation Delivery of Biologics, Peptides and Small Molecules

Likarda, Inc., a leader in hydrogel-based drug delivery technologies, today announced a strategic partnership with Tiny Cargo, an innovator in extracellular vesicle (EV) delivery systems. The collaboration will focus on advancing the delivery of biologics and small molecules by integrating Likarda’s Core-Shell Spherification® (CSS®) platform with Tiny Cargo’s vesicle-based technologies. The partnership is designed to