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. The time commitment is limited to a pre-event online review of the submissions to select the finalists and then a few hours onsite at the Fair to interview and select the final winners. Lunch is provided to all judges by the Fair. The process is extremely easy and, by all accounts, very rewarding. This years Fair is at ODU in Norfolk on April 13.

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 3, and results will be due back to Virginia Bio on May 10. 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 San Diego, CA in June.

 

Please contact Caron Trumbo if interested in volunteering your time!

Recent News

06/02/2026

TearSolutions Receives FDA Orphan Drug and Fast Track Designations for Lacripep® in Neurotrophic Keratitis and Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Trial with First Patients Dosed

TearSolutions, Inc. (“TearSolutions”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel ophthalmic therapeutics, today announced receiving Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orphan Drug (ODD) and Fast Track Designations for Lacripep in Neurotrophic Keratitis (NK) and initiating a Phase 2 clinical trial with first patients dosed. The FDA’s ODD provides incentives, including tax credits for clinical testing and

06/02/2026

Contraline Announces $92.5 Million Series B Financing to Advance NES/T Male Contraceptive into Late-Stage Development

Contraline, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel male contraceptives, today announced the closing of a $92.5 million Series B financing co-led by BVF Partners L.P. and RA Capital Management, with participation from GV (Google Ventures), Lumira Ventures, Invus, and other new and existing investors. In conjunction with the closing of the Series B financing,

06/02/2026

GEN Names BioHealth Capital Region a Top 3 U.S. Biopharma Cluster for Fourth Year in a Row

The BioHealth Capital Region, spanning Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., has once again been named one of the nation’s Top 3 biopharma clusters by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), marking the region’s fourth consecutive year in the Top 3. GEN’s 2026 “Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters” ranking was authored by Alex Philippidis, Senior Business