Children with “lazy eye,” or amblyopia, have structurally intact eyes that may appear normal. But one eye isn’t used, generally because of a subtle misalignment. Unless someone notices this early enough, the “lazy” eye can slowly go blind, simply because the brain hasn’t received proper stimulation from it. It’s learned to ignore input from that eye.
News Well
Executive hiring forecast for 2011
by Mike Travis
2011 is shaping up to be a good year for executive hiring. An improving business climate, a loosening of VC investment, and a hint that the public markets are reopening are all cause for optimism.
Executive search firms are seeing concrete evidence of the improving economy. At a recent meeting of New England executive search consultants, the vast majority of us reported a strong uptick in business starting last summer. The two publicly-held search firms, KornFerry and Heidrick & Struggles, have also reported robust growth.
Earnings roundup: Neogen profits jump 33 percent
Neogen profits jump 33 percent
Neogen Corp. (NSDQ:NEOG) posted profits of $6.1 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, on sales of $43.9 million during the three months ended Nov. 30. That compares with profits of $4.6 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, on sales of $35.3 million during the same period last year.
Sales growth opportunities are as real as you want them to be
A few weeks ago, I saw a ranking of sales representatives according to percentage of quota. I was happy to see that a number of reps I recruited in the last couple of years were near the top of the rankings.
And then, of course, there were reps who were below quota, some significantly. In a year like 2010, it would be easy to think that making quota was difficult given the economy. And, yet there were those who trumped the prevailing logic and grew their business substantially.
Looking at it from a 30,000 foot perspective, I wondered, what is the difference? Certainly everyone wants to be over 100 percent. They want to maximize their income. They want to succeed. They have similar training and the same products, so why the broad disparity in outcome?
Funding roundup: Doctors Research cements $7.7 million in funding
Here’s a roundup of the latest dealflow and investment news:
Judge tosses class action suit against Medtronic
A federal judge ruled that an attempt by former Medtronic Inc. (NYSE:MDT) employees to sue the company on grounds related to the Employment Retirement Income Security Act could not proceed.
U.S. District Court for Minnesota Judge Patrick Schiltz followed a decision by the U.S. Appeals Court for the 8th Circuit in denying the plaintiffs ERISA bid, according to court documents.
BG Medicine inks development pact with Siemens
BG Medicine Inc. entered into a development agreement with Siemens Healthcare (NYSE:SI) diagnostics division for a heart-failure test.
The Waltham, Mass.-based diagnostics firm will develop and commercialize a test for its galectin-3 biomarker for Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Inc.’s automated immunoassay platforms, according to a press release.
Murmurs of Sharfstein replacement begin to circulate through social media
The Food & Drug Administration announced on Jan. 5 that its deputy commissioner, Joshua Sharfstein, would be leaving to take over Maryland’s health department.
The next day, MedCity News floated the idea of Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Dr. Steven Nissen replacing him.
CardioInsight drums up $4 million and Japanese distribution
CardioInsight Technologies Inc. secured a Japanese distribution partner for its heart-mapping technology, and added about $4 million in investment funding that it hadn’t previously disclosed.
The company raised a total of $10 million last year.
Navigate the body with Google
The creative folks at Google Labs (NSDQ:GOOG) have introduced a 3D body browser, which is essentially a Google Earth for the human body. It supports 3D rotation, zoom, and exploring the nervous system, circulatory system, musculoskeletal system, and organs.
The application, simple called Google Body , requires a browser that supports WebGL, a cross-platform, royalty-free API used to create 3D graphics in a Web browser.
Hologic inks $125 million deal for Interlace Medical
Hologic Inc. (NSDQ:HOLX) acquired Interlace Medical Inc. and its minimally invasive fibroid treatment for $125 million, saying it hopes to have Interlace’s MyoSure system on the market early this year.