Accelerating Medical Product Development with Networked Resources (AMPD^NR)

Mission

The mission of the regional AMPD^NR Initiative is to foster collaborative healthcare innovation in southeast Wisconsin, so that together the institutional partners can advance the development and clinical use of innovative biomedical discoveries or innovations, improving human health.

The regional AMPD^NR Initiative:

• Identifies and connects southeast Wisconsin institutions and people with expertise in the various steps of medical product development, as a Network of Resources
• Deploys this Network of Resources to help academic institutions increase their involvement and effectiveness in healthcare innovation and commercialization via public/private partnerships
• Assists any regional healthcare innovator looking to develop a medical product, such as a drug, device, diagnostic, software or database tool, or clinical delivery process

Contact us for Help Navigating AMPD^NR

If you are a regional healthcare innovator and need help navigating the AMPD^NR Network of Resources, please email our project manager.

Angie Holtz
AMPD Project Manager
(414) 955-2540 / aholtz@mcw.edu

For us to help you, and/or to become a member of the AMPD^NR network, please provide:

• Name
• Phone
• Email
• Institution or Company
• Brief description of your medical product
• Brief description of your need for assistance
• AMPDNR resource you want access to (see ‘Network of Resources’)

AMPDNR Network of Resources

Networking / Connecting / Startup Consulting

• Catalyst BioConsulting: A student-led business consulting group that provides pro-bono research-based, actionable business recommendations for biotechnology, health technology and pharmaceutical firms. They also organize regulat networking events
  Contact: Julie Tetzlaff:  jutetzlaff@mcw.edu
  Link: https://www.mcw.edu/departments/catalyst-bioconsulting
• BioForward & HealthTech MKE: Trade organization that provides connections, resources and networking for the biohealth and HealthTech industries in Wisconsin. HealthTech MKE is a part of BioForward and is focused on healthcare technology, including software.
  Contact: Michael Harrison: mharrison@bioforward.org
  Link – BioForward: https://www.bioforward.org/
  Link – HealthTech MKE: https://www.healthtechmke.org/

Manufacturing, Product Development and Prototyping

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Preclinical (Pharmacokinetic) Studies

• Preclinical IND-enabling Studies: Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery (MIDD): A UWM resource to advance development of new drugs. The Institute focuses on neuroscience, cancer, and infectious diseases. MIDD is focused on collaborations among UWM departments, regional and national academic centers, and medical product companies.
  Contact: Alexander (Leggy) Arnold: drug-discovery@uwm.edu; (414) 229-5489
  Link: https://uwm.edu/drug-discovery/
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: Alcami: https://www.alcaminow.com/
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: AMRI: https://www.amriglobal.com/
• Pharmaceutical preclinical and clinical studies: Covance: https://www.covance.com/

Prototyping

• Prototyping Center: The UWM Prototyping Center is home to several of the most advanced prototyping and machining centers available to fabricate nearly anything, with a staff of experienced machinists, model makers, and engineers. Custom parts for varieties of industries are designed, developed, and fabricated for anyone from campus researchers to private sector goliaths to independent entrepreneurs.
  Contact: Kyle Jansson: jansson@uwm.edu; (414) 316-3081
  Link: https://uwm.edu/officeofresearch/uwm-accelerator-prototyping/
• Proof of Concept & De-risking: Therapeutic Accelerator Program (TAP): The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) TAP program provides funds and advice to advance therapeutic and related medical product development to help medical innovators achieve proof of concept, providing data needed to secure funding, such as SBIR/STTR  grants or angel funding.
  Contact: John Imig (jdimig@mcw.edu) or Ranjit Verma: rverma@mcw.edu; (414) 955-5743
  Link: https://www.mcw.edu/newsroom/news-articles/therapeutic-accelerator-program-receives-wisconsin-economic-development-corporation-grant

Regulatory Consulting and Advising

• Regulatory Expert and Entrepreneur in Residence (REIR): Concordia University’s REIR, Ann Marie Finley, will provide brief pro bono consulting on FDA regulatory considerations for drug, diagnostic and device development, as well as Orphan Drugs, on the second Monday (10:30-12:30) of every month.
  Contact: Schedule with Janet Mushall at 262-243-4250
  Link: https://blog.cuw.edu/entrepreneur-in-residence/; https://calendly.com/regulatoryexpert-entrepreneur
• Innovenn: Provides a broad range of regulatory consulting services on a contract basis, including for drugs, devices and diagnostics.
  Contact: 608-203-9748
  Link: https://innovenn.com/

Building your Company; Funding

Customer Discovery and Business Model Refinement

• NSF I-Corps Program: The UWM-based Milwaukee I-Corps Program helps researchers and entrepreneurs refine their business model by exploring the viability of their technologies and ventures through the “Lean Startup” or “Lean Launch” process of direct engagement with potential markets. Through a five-week workshop, participants are coached on designing and validating a business model around their idea and deciding whether the idea is a go/no-go decision based on their business model.
  Contact: Brian Thompson: briant@uwmrf.org; (414) 906-4653
  Link: icorpsmilwaukee.org

Grants

• Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC): Provides assistance and guidance, including grants, to help move “ideas to market,” with a focus on help to write and obtain SBIR/STTR grants.
  Contact: Brian Walsh: brian.walsh@business.wisconsin.edu
  Link: https://wisconsinctc.org/; (608) 263-7794

• gBETA Milwaukee: gBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor. gBETA is a free, seven-weekaccelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams, and requires no fees and no equity. Since launching in 2015, gBETA program alumni have raised $125M+ in capital.
  Contact: Molly Dill: molly@gener8tor.com; (715) 937-3396
  Link: https://www.gbetastartups.com/milwaukee

• Bridge to Cures (B2C): B2C hosts the Healthcare Innovation Pitch event, which provides participants with mentoring on business plan and pitch development, and provides a chance to pitch to actual investors for seed funds. B2C also provides access to seed funds for prototyping, in partnership with MCW TAP (Therapeutic Accelerator Program).
  Contact: Daniel Sem: Daniel.s.sem@gmail.com; (262) 391-1205
  Link: http://bridgetocures.com

• Venture Capitalist in Residence (REIR): Concordia University’s VCIR, Richelle Martin, will provide pro bono consulting on what venture capitalists are looking for, as well as general startup advice, on the last Monday (8:30-12:30) of every month (summer hours may vary). Richelle is Managing Director of the $10 M Winnow Fund.
  Contact: Schedule also with Janet Mushall at 262-243-4250
  Link:  https://blog.cuw.edu/venture-capitalist/; https://calendly.com/winnowfund/concordia-vcir-meeting?month=2021-06

• Angel and Venture Groups that Invest in Biohealth and/or MedTech
  • WEDC: equity investment and QNBV certification: https://wedc.org/
  • M7 Capital Catalyst; MEDC: https://medconline.com/capital-catalyst-fund
  • Winnow Fund: https://winnowfund.com/
  • Brightstar Wisconsin: https://www.brightstarwi.org/
  • Golden Angels: https://goldenangelsinvestors.com/
  • Milwaukee Venture Partners: https://milwaukeevp.com/
  • Wisconsin Investment Partners: http://wisinvpartners.com/
  • Bascom Ventures (UW Alumni): https://www.avgfunds.com/bascom-ventures/
  • Venture Investors: https://ventureinvestors.com/
  • HealthX Ventures: https://www.healthxventures.com/

CEO & Executive Recruiting

• Domann Organization Bill Domann founded The Domann Organization in San Francisco in 1988. Combining his previous experience in search and his educational background, Bill started one of the first search firms focused exclusively on leadership for the Life Sciences. The firm has grown from one office to four, located in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, California and Madison, Wisconsin; and it has helped many innovative biopharmaceutical and healthcare companies secure the transformational leadership talent they need for success. He focuses his recruiting efforts at the Board, Board Advisor, CEO, and C-suite Executive levels.
  Contact: Bill Domann: bill@domann.net; 415 726 9704
  Link: https://domann.net/

Company Formation; Legal Documents

• Wisconsin Corporate Formation: Financial Inst.: https://www.wdfi.org/corporations/
• Delaware Corporate Formation: https://corp.delaware.gov/
• Ycombinator – SAFE forms: https://www.ycombinator.com/documents/
• National Venture Capital Association forms: https://nvca.org/model-legal-documents/

Legal Advice for Startups (pro bono)

• Marquette Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic (LEC): The LEC serves entrepreneurs creating new businesses in southeastern Wisconsin, with a focus on clients who can’t afford qualified legal counsel. Clients must have a well-developed plan to start, or have recently started a new business with potential to help the local economy. Clients also must be a good educational fit for the clinic. The LEC counsels clients in many key legal areas, including: business entity selection and formation, corporate governance, funding/financing, business contracts, employment law, business licenses and permits, trademark, copyright, and other basic intellectual property matters, and commercial leases.
  Contact: Nathaniel Hammons; entrepreneurclinic@marquette.edu; 414-288-5009
  Link: https://law.marquette.edu/community/marquette-law-and-entrepreneurship-clinic
• UW Madison Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic (L&E Clinic): The L&E Clinic is designed to help entrepreneurs develop businesses that create a positive economic impact for the state of Wisconsin. They select applicants on the basis of all of the following criteria: the applicant would otherwise be unlikely to obtain qualified legal advice, has not received a significant round of outside funding or financing from investors, is located in Wisconsin, and the work requested by the applicant is appropriate for students and presents an interesting educational opportunity.
  Contact: entrepreneurhelp@law.wisc.edu
  Link: https://uwle.org/

Digital Marketing and Website

• eCommerce – Concordia University Wisconsin’s School of Business: Students in CUW’s eCommerce class help local companies with digital marketing as part of a semester-long class project. This includes website, SEO, social media, analytics, and CRM/email strategy.
  Contact: Daniel Sem: Daniel.sem@cuw.edu; 262-243-2778
  Link: https://www.cuw.edu/academics/schools/business/index.html

Space

• UWM Innovation Campus: Dave Gilbert; (414) 906-4670 https://uwmref.org/innovationcampus/
• Technology Innovation Center at Research Park: Guy Mascari; gtm@mcrpc.org; (414) 906-4670 https://technologyinnovationcenter.org/
• Ward4 Milwaukee Coworking Space: https://www.ward4mke.com/
• Starting Block Madison: 608-467-4949; https://www.startingblockmadison.org/

Partners

Academic Institutions

AMPDNR Executive Council

• Daniel Sem (Concordia University Wisconsin)
• Kevin Boggs (MCW)
• Laura Savatski (Blood Research Institute; Versiti)
• Brian Thompson (UWM)
• Kalpa Vithalani (Marquette University)
• Wujie Zhang (MSOE)