Minnesota’s LifeScience Alley returns to roots, rebrands as Medical Alley

January 5, 2016 By Brad Perriello Leave a Comment

LifeScience Alley, the trade association serving Minnesota’s medical device, biopharmaceutical, diagnostics and digital health sector, is returning to its original moniker, Medical Alley.

Formed in 1984, the group hopes its old new name will harken back to Minnesota’s long history as a center of medical innovation.

“Not only did the name resonate with our founders – it became the name that the world associated with our unique cluster of health technology and leadership. In 2015, the American History Museum of the Smithsonian opened the permanent exhibit “Places of Invention” – featuring six great places of American invention. Included in this exhibit is Medical Alley,” president & CEO Shaye Mandle wrote on the association’s website.

“The Medical Alley Association is committed to elevating the region as a global epicenter of health innovation,” Mandle said today in prepared remarks. “Our role and goal is to influence relevant policy, foster connections, and deliver the insights needed to improve access to new therapies for patients in need around the world. Our members are truly changing every aspect of healthcare in all corners of the world and we’re proud of the role that Minnesota and Medical Alley play in that amazing effort.”

“The Medical Alley Association rebrand carries forward our historical spirit of rich innovation and unparalleled support for our constituents. It also allows us to focus our efforts in strengthening our leadership role in advocacy, research, and enhancing connectivity among industry stakeholders,” added chairman Rob Kieval.

The Medical Alley Association collaborated with two long-time, local agencies to bring the rebrand to life: StoneArch and Risdall Public Relations. StoneArch developed the brand identity and Risdall Public Relations designed the media launch strategy. Both creative organizations have served Medical Alley’s largest organizations for more than 30 years and were uniquely positioned as they are also lifetime Medical Alley Association members; lending both expertise and experience to the initiative.

Mojo Vision developing ‘smart’ contact lens
Mojo Vision is working with the FDA to develop a smart contact lens to help people with low vision. The lens overlays real-time contrast and lighting enhancements with zoom functionality and recently won FDA breakthrough device designation. “Receiving the Breakthrough Device Designation is a significant step in our research and development process. We look forward to… […]
FDA to EPA: Leave us out of your ethylene oxide rule
This article has been updated with comments from the FDA. The FDA has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to leave the FDA out of its proposal for stricter regulation of ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions, and the EPA complied. In an interagency comment on the EPA’s proposed rule governing commercial EtO users — which includes medical… […]
Clippart debuts stepper-controlled flow valve
Clippard recently launched a new stepper-controlled proportional valve for precision flow control. The Eclipse valve uses the industry’s most robust and powerful miniature linear actuator, according to Cincinnati-based Clippard. The patent-pending Eclipse is designed for liquid and gas delivery, medical, analytical and industrial automation requiring ultra-fine resolution and repeatability. The design also allows for custom… […]
Supporting regulatory affairs departments to address clinical requirements under new MDR
By Dietmar Falke and Jaap Laufer, Emergo Group The May 25, 2020 MDR deadline is approaching rapidly, and by now many medical device manufacturers are aware that the MDR requires the proactive collection of post-marketing clinical follow-up (PMCF) data. Get the full story here at the Emergo Group’s blog. The opinions expressed in this blog… […]
5 tips to raise funding for your medical device
Securing funding can be a long and tedious process, and medical device businesses must work to position themselves as especially attractive to potential investors to maximize success and accelerate the fundraising process. Jon Speer, Greenlight Guru According to Alejandro Cremades, author of The Art of Startup Fundraising, it can take from six to nine months… […]
FDA recognizes latest ISO 14971 as medical device consensus standard
By Mark Leimbeck and Stewart Eisenhart, Emergo Group The US Food and Drug Administration has granted Recognized Consensus Standard status to the third edition of the ISO 14071 risk management standard for medical devices and IVD products. Get the full story here at the Emergo Group’s blog. The opinions expressed in this blog post are… […]
Synaptive Medical updates Modus V surgical microscope
Synaptive Medical announced that its U.S. and Canadian Modus V robotic digital microscope now includes updates such as additional 3D visualization and voice-activated control. The Modus V is a robotically controlled digital microscope used as part of Synaptive’s BrightMatter surgical suite designed for less invasive, patient-specific approaches in complex cranial procedures. The Modus V provides similar… […]
New machine can preserve donor livers for 1 week
Researchers in Switzerland have built a perfusion machine that can preserve human livers for transplantation for a week or more, potentially slashing the number of donor livers that must be discarded due to time-related deterioration. Existing perfusion technology can preserve a donor liver for up to 24 hours. The team of surgeons, biologists and engineers… […]
Smiths Medical launches Portex tracheostomy tubes and kits
Smiths Medical this week launched its Portex polyvinyl chloride tracheostomy tube and kit portfolio. The new polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube portfolio has options for a variety of patients, according to the company. “Our goal was to create tracheostomy tubes and kits designed to help clinicians provide the best patient care. We’re excited to offer a variety… […]
FDA clears Cleveland Clinic 3D-printed airway stents
The FDA recently cleared 3D-printed, patient-specific stents developed by a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic physician Tom Gildea developed the stents to keep open the airways of patients with serious breathing disorders caused by inflammation, trauma, tumors and other masses. Airway stents come in a limited number of sizes and shapes and are… […]
Boston Scientific shares drop on Q4 sales news
Shares in Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) dropped 8% this morning on news of disappointing fourth-quarter sales. The company’s preliminary earnings report showed sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2019 coming in at $2.9 billion, below the $2.91 billion that analysts were expecting. The unaudited sales figure represents organic growth of 7.3%, missing the company’s own guidance of… […]