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The Next Era of BioNTX Begins: Gina Ford Shares Her Vision for the Future of Innovation in North Texas |
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Every new chapter begins with a vision.
As BioNTX continues to build upon a decade of leadership and momentum, our newest episode of BioNTX Presents: Inside Innovation introduces the vision that will help shape the organization’s next chapter.
In her first in-depth conversation since becoming Chief Executive Officer, Gina Ford joins host Eric B. Moore to discuss the opportunities ahead for BioNTX, the growing strength of the North Texas life sciences ecosystem, and the importance of collaboration in advancing innovation.
Throughout the conversation, Gina shares her perspective on leadership, partnership, and the role BioNTX will continue to play as a convener, catalyst, and strategic asset for the region’s life sciences and healthcare innovation community.
Listeners will also get an early preview of the robust conversations that will define this year’s iC³ Life Science & Healthcare Innovation Summit—from DPRIT and the future of brain health research to life sciences manufacturing, investment, patient-centered innovation, and the policies shaping the future of healthcare innovation in Texas.
Watch the full conversation and discover the vision guiding the next era of BioNTX. |
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Partners in Progress: Fort Worth Biotech Highlights the Infrastructure Behind Innovation |
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The BioNTX Facilities Committee brought together industry, academic, healthcare, economic development, and facilities leaders for Partners in Progress: Fort Worth Biotech, an engaging discussion focused on the growth, opportunities, and future of the Fort Worth life sciences ecosystem.
Hosted by UNT Health Fort Worth, the event highlighted the collaboration and infrastructure required to support the next generation of research, commercialization, and innovation across the region. Leaders explored emerging projects, evolving infrastructure needs, and the opportunities to strengthen Fort Worth’s capacity to attract and support life science companies.
The program featured two insightful panel discussions: “What’s New and Next in Fort Worth Biotech,” moderated by Dr. Jeremy Vickers of TCU, and “Why Fort Worth: Building and Scaling Biotech Here,” moderated by Nicole Phillips of UNT Health, bringing together diverse perspectives on the region’s continued momentum.
BioNTX extends its appreciation to UNT Health Fort Worth for hosting and sponsoring this important conversation, and to Syneos Health for their support and commitment to advancing the North Texas life sciences ecosystem. |
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Thank you for your support |
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Building Bridges Between Academia and Industry at UT Southwestern |
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BioNTX recently joined the UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences for an engaging Meet & Greet with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty, strengthening connections between academia and the growing North Texas biotechnology ecosystem.
The conversation highlighted BioNTX’s mission, initiatives, and opportunities for trainees to engage with the region’s expanding life sciences community. Discussions focused on the evolving biotechnology job market, emerging career pathways, and how the next generation of scientists can play an active role in shaping the future of innovation across North Texas.
By fostering stronger connections between academic institutions, industry leaders, and emerging talent, BioNTX continues to advance a collaborative ecosystem designed to support discovery, workforce development, and the continued growth of life sciences in our region. |
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COMING SOON |
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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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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. |
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Thank you for your support |
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iC³ Hotel Room Block BioNTX has secured discounted room block at the Drury Plaza for the iC³ Summit, please feel free to take advantage of this hotel 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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MEMBER BENEFIT |
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Exclusive BioNTX Member Benefit: Save 10% on TechFW ThinkLab OnDemand |
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BioNTX members receive an exclusive 10% discount on TechFW's ThinkLab OnDemand, a self-paced startup accelerator designed to help founders take their ideas from concept to investor-ready venture.
Through eight guided modules, participants validate their business idea, refine their value proposition, develop a go-to-market strategy, explore funding options, and build a compelling investor pitch. |
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MEMBER NEWS |
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Lyda Hill Philanthropies Supports NP2’s Mission to Expand Access to Affordable Cancer Drugs |
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Lyda Hill Philanthropies is supporting NP2, a nonprofit pharmaceutical company focused on making critical oncology medications more affordable and strengthening U.S. drug manufacturing. NP2’s first drug candidate, cyclophosphamide, is a widely used chemotherapy treatment that aims to address affordability and supply chain challenges. Through its nonprofit model, NP2 plans to reinvest revenue into developing additional accessible cancer therapies. |
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Colossal Foundation Partners with University of Tasmania to Protect Endangered Tasmanian Devils |
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The Colossal Foundation, the nonprofit conservation arm of Colossal Biosciences, has partnered with the University of Tasmania to advance efforts to combat Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a contagious cancer that has caused major declines in wild Tasmanian devil populations. The collaboration will support research into vaccine development, gene-editing technologies, and conservation strategies aimed at building resistance to transmissible cancers. By combining Colossal’s biotechnology platform with the University of Tasmania’s expertise in DFTD research, the partnership seeks to accelerate solutions to protect one of Australia’s most iconic species from extinction. |
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Island Pharmaceuticals Advances Galidesivir Development Through Texas Biomed Partnership |
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Island Pharmaceuticals has partnered with Texas Biomedical Research Institute to advance dose optimization studies for Galidesivir, an antiviral candidate being developed as a potential treatment for Marburg Virus Disease. The collaboration will support FDA Animal Rule development by generating critical data on dosing, efficacy, and treatment timing ahead of a planned pivotal efficacy study. The partnership with Texas Biomed, a leading infectious disease research institution, strengthens Island’s regulatory pathway and moves Galidesivir closer to addressing the unmet need for antiviral options against Marburg virus. |
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Johnson & Johnson Receives FDA Approval for Next-Generation Heart Rhythm Treatment Platform |
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Johnson & Johnson has received FDA approval for its Dual Energy THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF Platform, an advanced catheter ablation technology that allows physicians to deliver both radiofrequency (RF) and pulsed field (PF) energy through a single catheter. The integrated platform is designed to provide electrophysiologists with greater flexibility in treating complex heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation, by combining proven technology with newer pulsed field capabilities. |
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Lantern Pharma Launches AI-Powered Computational Biology Platform to Accelerate Cancer Research |
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Lantern Pharma launched ZetaOmics™, an autonomous computational biology platform designed to support cancer researchers with advanced bioinformatics, biostatistics, and multi-omic analysis capabilities. The platform, part of Lantern’s withZeta.ai AI co-scientist ecosystem, is designed to analyze large-scale cancer datasets, build research cohorts, and generate publication-ready insights while helping researchers identify biological signals more efficiently. |
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Nanoscope Therapeutics Expands Partnership with Catalent to Advance Vision-Restoring Gene Therapy |
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Nanoscope Therapeutics has expanded its partnership with Catalent to support the late-stage clinical development and potential commercialization of MCO-010, its investigational gene therapy for patients with advanced retinal degenerative diseases. Under the agreement, Catalent will provide commercial packaging and distribution services as Nanoscope advances its ongoing FDA Biologics License Application (BLA) submission. MCO-010 is being developed to restore vision in patients with conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa and Stargardt disease, where treatment options remain limited. |
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Telos Biotech and Made Scientific Collaborate to Advance Cell Therapy Manufacturing |
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Telos Biotech has partnered with Made Scientific to evaluate its TELOVANCE™ platform across multiple cell therapy manufacturing workflows, including CAR-T, natural killer (NK), and hematopoietic stem cell therapies. The collaboration will assess whether TELOVANCE™, a telomerase-based technology designed to preserve telomere length during cell expansion, can improve cell quality, manufacturing consistency, and production efficiency. Initial feasibility studies begin this month, with findings expected to be shared through scientific publications and industry conferences. |
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VaxDome Partners with Matica Bio to Advance Novel Antiviral Vaccine Platform |
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Texas-based VaxDome has partnered with Matica Biotechnology to advance its antigen-agnostic antiviral-vaccine hybrid platform toward clinical trials. Under the agreement, Matica Bio will provide process development, analytical testing, and production of clinical materials at its College Station, Texas, facility. The collaboration supports the development of VaxDome’s intranasal vaccine technology, designed to provide broad protection against multiple viral threats and lung cancer, while highlighting Texas’ growing capabilities in advanced biomanufacturing and next-generation therapeutics. |
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TCU Medical Students Showcase Research at Annual Scholarly Pursuit & Thesis Summit |
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Graduating students at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at TCU presented the results of their four-year research projects during the annual Esch Family Scholarly Pursuit & Thesis Research Summit, highlighting research spanning Parkinson’s disease, surgical outcomes, and childhood trauma.
The event underscores TCU’s commitment to integrating research into medical education, preparing future physicians to combine scientific inquiry with compassionate, patient-centered care throughout their careers. |
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UNT Health Hosts Second Annual Camp C.A.R.E. to Inspire Future Public Health Leaders |
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UNT Health Fort Worth welcomed students from across North Texas for the second annual Camp C.A.R.E., a four-day summer program designed to introduce high school students to careers in public health, healthcare administration, and physician assistant studies. Through hands-on simulations, team-building activities, and community service projects, campers explored real-world healthcare challenges while learning about interdisciplinary career pathways. Building on the success of its inaugural year, Camp C.A.R.E. continues to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals through immersive, experiential learning. |
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UT Dallas Earns Prestigious Accreditation for Human Research Protection |
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The University of Texas at Dallas has received full accreditation from the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP), recognizing the University's commitment to ethical, high-quality research involving human participants. The accreditation affirms that UT Dallas meets rigorous international standards for research oversight and participant protection, strengthening its growing clinical and translational research programs while enhancing confidence among research partners, sponsors, and participants. |
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UT Southwestern Cardiologist Receives American Heart Association’s Highest Honor |
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Joseph A. Hill, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Harry S. Moss Heart Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center, has been awarded the American Heart Association’s Gold Heart Award, recognizing his outstanding volunteer leadership and contributions to cardiovascular research. The honor celebrates Dr. Hill’s decade of service as editor-in-chief of Circulation and his lasting impact on advancing heart science and patient care. |
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FUNDING & MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES |
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Opportunities to Mentor, Teach, and Inspire Future Biotech Leaders |
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Nucleate Dojo is an undergraduate biotech program launching in September 2026 in partnership with SMU, UTD, and UTSW. The program helps undergrads break into the biotech industry through a faculty and industry seminar series, hands-on skills workshops, and mini-projects built around biotech industry problem statements, culminating in a final competition for cash prizes.
They are looking for professionals to get involved in any of the following roles (feel free to choose more than one):
This is a great way to support the next generation of biotech talent in Dallas. Programming will take place at the aforementioned institutions. Participation is in your own individual capacity.
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INDUSTRY EVENTS |
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities |
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BIO BREAK Frisco
Join BioNTX and Harness IP for a happy hour bringing together leaders, innovators, and professionals from across the life science community.
July 20th | Frisco, TX |
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2026 STRAC Emergency Healthcare Systems Conference The STRAC Emergency Healthcare Systems Conference is a two-day event featuring high-impact education for EMS, nursing, physician, and military professionals.
July 21st - 23rd | San Antonio, TX |
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DFW Startup Week 2026
DFW Startup Week is The DEC Network’s largest, premiere event for DFW business owners & entrepreneurs. The program includes a 5 day celebration that builds momentum around entrepreneurship and innovation.
August 2nd - 6th | Dallas, TX |
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Nucleate Global Summit 2026 This Nucleate Global Summit is an environment where founders, scientists, and investors from around the world can engage in conversations, share real challenges, and build relationships that extend far beyond Summit.
August 16th - 18th | Parker, TX |
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Thank you for your support! |
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July 20, 2026 |
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