The SBTDC's 2006 summer MBA internship program kicked off in mid-May. The SBTDC is the liaison between early-stage, RTP-based tech firms and MBA programs, including the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC-Chapel Hill, the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University, the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, and the College of Management at NC State Univeristy.

Each summer, second-year MBA students are matched with high potential, small tech firms that have a clearly defined short-term business project. Interns work with one or two firms during the ten-week program. Since its inception, over fourty firms have leveraged thousands of hours of assistance through the SBTDC's MBA intern program.

To reduce the logistical burden on the client companies, the SBTDC interviews, selects, and places the students. Each intern is mentored by an SBTDC technology counselor throughout the period. Mentor, client, and student meet regularly to assess strategies to keep the projects on target. In the end, all results are evaluated. SBTDC mentors for 2006 are John Ujvari, MaryBeth Thomas and Scott Rockafellow.

Past projects have included financial analysis, valuations leading to equity investments, preparation of early-stage business plans, competitive analyses, evaluation of alternative business models, market research, and assessments.

This summer alone, 17 MBA interns will provide nearly 7,000 hours of service across North Carolina to more than 25 firms. Attesting to the prevalence of the SBIR program in our tech community, many of these firms are currently seeking or have been awarded SBIR funds. Some of the firms participating this summer are highlighted below.

Asklêpios BioPharmaceutical
Asklêpios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. ("AskBio") is a private development-stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of novel gene therapy-mediated protein therapies through design of proprietary Biological Nanoparticles ("BNPs"). The Biological Nanoparticle is a cutting-edge technology for the sustained and systemic delivery of therapeutic proteins. Once administered to the patient, BNPs utilize the patient's own muscle cells as both protein bioreactor and pump. BNPs are capable of addressing a platform of therapies and are currently in clinical validation.

Recently, AskBio entered into a Phase 1 clinical trial for its Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ("DMD") therapeutic, Biostrophin™. This trial is the first U.S. human gene therapy trial directed at DMD. DMD is a fatal genetic disease beginning in early childhood that is characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. Currently, there are no life-sustaining treatments for this disease. Additionally, in May of 2005 AskBio entered into a research and collaboration agreement with Bayer Healthcare, LLC for the use of AskBio's BNP technology in the treatment of hemophilia.

Bruce Technologies
Bruce Wieland, PhD (shareholder and president) incorporated the company in January 2002, to develop cyclotron target inventions intended to reduce health care costs by increasing the production level and lowering the cost of radioactive F-18. This positron-emitting radionuclide (110 minute half-life) is widely used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a metabolic imaging modality used in diagnostic nuclear medicine. F-18 labeled glucose and other radiotracers are used for imaging several common cancer indications with PET/CT scanners (initial diagnosis, and evaluating therapy through subsequent staging and restaging scans). PET was Medicare approved in 1998, and the number of scans (currently over a million per year) and the associated equipment continues to grow at 20-30 % per year. Bruce Technologies was awarded two NIH Phase II SBIR grants in September 2005, to commercialize two cyclotron target inventions (thermosyphon target system, and regenerative turbine recirculating target system). The company has five employees, two consultants, subcontracts with NC State, and collaborates with Duke University and two corporations.

Capital Analytics
Capital Analytics, Inc., based in Durham, NC, is a consulting and software company that specializes in measuring the financial impact of an investment in human capital (training, mentoring, benefit programs, planning initiatives, eLearning, quality assurance and customer relations) , and determining the future deployment of that initiative for optimum financial benefit. Capital Analytics uses its proprietary methodology and patent-pending ProCourse^® ROI software tool for these analyzes. ProCourse^® ROI is a business intelligence analytics tool that measures and analyzes key results of workforce and customer initiatives and turns them into quantitative indicators, executive conclusions and simple business graphics by isolating statistically the change in business performances that are related to the initiatives, and indicating where to deploy future initiatives to gain maximum optimization.

Clinical Tools
Clinical Tools, Inc. (CTI) is a small, physician-run business dedicated to harnessing the potential of the Internet to create scalable, approachable, and broadly available tools for healthcare researchers, clinicians, and consumers. Information technology can and should serve as a stable framework that will support health and medical researchers and clinicians in their roles. We provide dissemination and management tools that empower clinicians and consumers to understand and control the vast amount of information related to making individual health choices. We will serve our clients creatively, effectively and with the highest quality of service.

IAVO Research and Scientific
Founded in 2000, IAVO Research and Scientific offers a unique blend of technical and business knowledge. We serve as an engineering and software development firm, focusing on advancing geo-spatial data analysis and science, with an emphasis on photogrammetry, remote sensing, image processing, fusion, geo-statistics, and advanced visualization. Our expertise covers a range of proven and emerging technologies in both theoretical and applied imagery and photogrammetric sciences for government, private industry, and academia.

InnerOptic Technology
InnerOptic Technology, Inc is developing two families of patented and patent pending medical devices. The 3D Laparoscope system, which is licensed from UNC-CH, provides surgeons with a direct view "into" the body during minimally-invasive procedures, making them akin to open procedures; full tracking and significantly better visualization enable operations to be performed with more precision and speed. InnerOptic is also working to bring to market an optical cancer detection system, which spectrally evaluates carefully selected light frequencies in a customized colposcope to detect early-stage cervical pre-cancers. InnerOptic is located in Chapel Hill, NC. For more information, please visit http://www.inneroptic.com.

Mi-Co
Mi-Co, the mobile information and data capture company, provides digital writing software that enables an efficient and effective process for capturing and communicating handwritten data. Mi-Co's enterprise Mi-Forms Software System enables flexible e-forms design for data capture using digital ink. In addition, Mi-Forms Software has proven capabilities for handwriting interpretation, touch-screen input, verification, data validation and communication of forms-based data for enterprise users. Mi-Forms supports Tablet PCs, UMPCs, Digital Pens, Pocket PCs and signature capture devices. The company is headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and has a Washington customer service center. For more information on Mi-Co, visit http://www.mi-corporation.com.

RadarFind
RadarFind Corporation, a healthcare technology company, focuses on improving patient care and hospital profitability by tracking and determining the status of medical equipment and patients. Our unique system design reduces the cost of ownership and installation for hospitals. Asset and patient tracking improves efficiency and productivity by lowering costs. This ultimately enhances patient satisfaction and quality of care. RadarFind (http://www.radarfind.com) is a privately held company based in Research Triangle Park, NC

Southeast TechInventures
Southeast TechInventures, Inc. (STI), www.southeasttechinventures.com, is a technology accelerator focused on migrating the most promising technologies from university research labs to the commercial marketplace. STI partners with inventors to accelerate the commercialization of technologies and intellectual property (IP) in the areas of (1) biotechnology (medical device, drug delivery); (2) photonics (optics and displays); (3) information technology; and (4) nanotechnology. STI partners with universities, government funding agencies, private investors, and corporate entities to provide the structure, processes and funding needed to successfully bring new technologies to market.

Williams LifeSkills
Williams LifeSkills, Inc. is located in Durham, NC. The company has focused, since it's founding in 1996, on the goal of providing basic skills training designed to help individuals cope successfully with whatever distresses were present in their particular situation. Ten skills form the core of the LifeSkills program and these are fine-tuned to meet the needs of particular populations within healthcare organizations, government agencies, and corporations. Training is provided in four formats: face-to-face workshops; one-on-one coaching; a video with accompanying workbook, which can be used for self-study or with the aid of a facilitator; and online training.

ZyCare
ZyCare has developed an innovative approach utilizing Direct-to-Patient Expert Systems™ and the Internet to automate much of the routine decision making involved in remotely managing patients with chronic conditions. ZyCare's systems directly involve the patient in information gathering that drives automated treatment recommendations, while giving physicians a vehicle to closely monitor their patients' progress without random and time-consuming telephone calls and faxes. This enables the healthcare system to cost-effectively take advantage of the new home monitoring devices that are being developed and marketed for chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. The Company believes that its approach gives patients more control over their own condition, and allows medical personnel to focus on those patients needing their attention. ZyCare's technology is protected in part by patents issued in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. ZyCare's first commercial product, the CoagCare® System for managing oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin (Coumadin®), is now available in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.zycare.com.

John Ujvari manages the SBTDC's MBA summer intern program, in addition to his primary role as North Carolina's SBIR/STTR Program Specialist. For more information on this program, please contact John Ujvari at 919-962-8297 or via email at jujvari@sbtdc.org.