2022-05-14T13:45:48-05:00 2021-12-31 341874260 CBIZ MHM LLC 700 WEST 47TH STREET SUITE 1100 KANSAS CITY MO 64112 990 2021-01-01 431889037 BIONEXUS KC BION 8167537700 30 W PERSHING ROAD 210 KANSAS CITY MO 64108 DENNIS RIDENOUR PRESIDENT & CEO 8167537700 2022-05-11 1 DENNIS RIDENOUR XXX-XX-XXXX LISA BURKE P00220718 8169455500 2022-05-11 3 AAL1 IAL1 2021 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z DENNIS RIDENOUR 30 W PERSHING ROAD 210 KANSAS CITY MO 64108 1897434 0 X WWW.BIONEXUSKC.ORG X 2000 MO THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AND TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION IN THE AREA OF LIFE SCIENCES IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. 13 12 6 43 0 0 1017110 1502179 17545 131053 20008 -669 -17009 -11015 1037654 1621548 436244 417333 0 0 758581 841824 0 0 12770 361630 347058 1556455 1606215 -518801 15333 1256150 1271065 0 0 1256150 1271065 X THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER DEVELOPMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA AND TO PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION IN THE AREA OF LIFE SCIENCES IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. 0 0 1271895 417333 138313 SEE SCHEDULE O 1271895 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0 6 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 13 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 X X SHARON NEWMAN 8167537700 30 W PERSHING ROAD STE 210 KANSAS CITY MO 64108 DENNIS RIDENOUR PRESIDENT & CEO 40.00 X X 219917 0 22789 WILLIAM S BERKLEY DIRECTOR (CHAIR) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 JEFF HARGROVES DIRECTOR (TREAS & SEC) 1.00 X X 0 0 0 DONALD CRAIG BRATER DIRECTOR 0.20 X 0 0 0 DAVID FRANTZE DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 IRVINE O HOCKADAY JR DIRECTOR 0.30 X 0 0 0 THOMAS SACK PHD DIRECTOR 0.20 X 0 0 0 ANNE D ST PETER DIRECTOR 0.02 X 0 0 0 MADELEINE M MCDONOUGH DIRECTOR 0.20 X 0 0 0 DEBORAH WILKERSON DIRECTOR 0.20 X 0 0 0 MARIA STECKLEIN FLYNN DIRECTOR 0.50 X 0 0 0 SANDRA STITES MD DIRECTOR 0.01 X 0 0 0 GREG SWEAT DIRECTOR 0.01 X 0 0 0 KEITH A GARY VICE PRESIDENT 40.00 X 133151 0 31220 ANTHONY A SIMPSON MANAGING DIRECTOR, KC NEXUS FUND 20.00 X 146030 0 0 499098 0 54009 3 0 1 0 0 129578 81572 1291029 1502179 EDA B2S PROGRAM AWARDS 541900 131053 131053 131053 137 137 250005 250000 811 5 -811 -806 -806 6800 129578 25075 -18275 -18275 PAYROLL TAX REFUND 541900 3960 3960 MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE 541900 3300 3300 7260 1621548 138313 0 -18944 417333 417333 553107 416433 127590 9084 199576 118185 80198 1193 44041 28401 15130 510 45100 29084 15493 523 11730 11730 28365 28365 105913 105913 22666 20472 1584 610 4791 3800 978 13 13104 7949 5040 115 46784 26745 19577 462 3314 1640 1674 5750 2736 2923 91 10000 8391 1572 37 COVID-19 PREPAREDNESS P 27675 27675 LIFE SCIENCES CONSENSUS 20810 20810 STEAM AWARDS 12157 12157 MISCELLANEOUS 10956 482 10474 23043 11959 10952 132 1606215 1271895 321550 12770 1232411 1256236 104084 89255 17481 14829 6258 0 1256150 1271065 0 0 X 790992 901988 465158 369077 1256150 1271065 1256150 1271065 15333 -418 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1603349 1667012 1561392 992550 1502179 7326482 1603349 1667012 1561392 992550 1502179 7326482 3610117 3716365 9083 27434 28028 20513 137 85195 106 32151 100 7260 39617 7451294 0.49880 0.50370 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 600 600 1271295 1271895 202190 50548 0 0 226634 213305 194980 202190 837109 1255664 1231 1414 1167 600 4412 56659 53326 48745 50548 209278 313917 53828 48208 5620 50256 41047 9209 14829 X 1647016 -418 25886 25468 1621548 0 1621548 1632101 25886 25886 1606215 0 1606215 PART X, LINE 2: BIONEXUS KC HAS BEEN GRANTED EXEMPTION FROM INCOME TAXES BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THERE WAS NO UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME DURING THE 2021 OR 2020 TAX YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EVALUATED THE STANDARDS REQUIRING DISCLOSURE OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS AND DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL MATTERS WHICH REQUIRE DISCLOSURE. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: EVENT EXPENSES 25,075. LOSS ON SALE OF ASSETS 811. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: EVENT EXPENSES 25,075. LOSS ON SALE OF ASSETS 811. ANNUAL DINNER 136378 129578 6800 25075 136378 129578 6800 25075 25075 -18275 1 COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF WYANDOTTE CTY 803 ARMSTRONG AVE KANSAS CITY KS 66101 010674969 501(C)(3) 192862 0 BIONEXUS KC 19-4 BLUE KC TRANSFORMING KC HEALTH RESEARCH GRANT UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI 115 BUSINESS LOOP 70W MIZZOU NH RM 501 COLUBMIA MO 65211 436003859 170(B)(1)(A)(II) 99471 0 BIONEXUS KC 20-1 PATTON TIMOTHY COX, PHD UMKC; BIONEXUS KC 20-4 NEXUS OF ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH GRANT JOAN COATES; BIONEXUS KC 20-6 NEXUS OF ANIMAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RESEARCH GRANT EMMA MEYER MID-AMERICA REGIONAL COUNCIL COMMUNITY SE 600 BRODWAY BLVD STE 200 KANSAS CITY MO 64105 201824454 501(C)(3) 50000 0 KCHC HE LAN CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL 2401 GILLHAM RD KANSAS CITY MO 64108 501(C)(3) 50000 0 BIONEXUS KC 21-3 PATTON MATTHEW MCLAUGHLIN CENTER FOR PRACTICAL BIOETHICS 1111 MAIN ST 500 KANSAS CITY MO 64105 480985815 501(C)(3) 25000 0 BIONEXUS KC 21-4 ETHICAL AI PROJECT 5 0 PART I, LINE 2: GRANTS ARE FOR A ONE YEAR DURATION. GRANT RECIPIENTS AGREE TO PROVIDE A PROGRESS REPORT AT SIX MONTHS AND A SUMMARY TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE END OF THE PERFORMANCE TO INCLUDE: 1. A BRIEF SUMMARY OF TECHNICAL PROGRESS RELATIVE TO THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES PROPOSED IN THE PROPOSAL. 2. A BRIEF STATEMENT CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND BENEFITS REALIZED FROM THE COLLABORATIONS INVOLVED. GRANT RECIPIENTS AGREE TO PROVIDE (UPON REQUEST) A COPY OF ALL PROPOSALS SUBMITTED TO EXTERNAL FUNDING AGENCIES AS A RESULT OF THE SUPPORT PROVIDED AND SUBSEQUENTLY NOTIFY BIONEXUS KC OF ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION THEREOF. IF THE GRANT RECIPIENT RECEIVES ALTERNATIVE FUNDS FOR SUPPORT OF THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT, BIONEXUS KC REQUESTS THAT THE RECIPIENT RETURN ANY UNEXPENDED FUNDS TO THE INSTITUTE SO THAT THEY CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT OTHER INVESTIGATORS. X X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 DENNIS RIDENOUR PRESIDENT & CEO 204917 0 15000 0 0 0 21492 0 1297 0 242706 0 0 0 KEITH A GARY VICE PRESIDENT 130651 0 2500 0 0 0 14957 0 16263 0 164371 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A 2021 UPDATES: 1. REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT "PATH TO 2025" 2. 2021 KANSAS CITY REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES CENSUS 3. KANSAS CITY QUALITY AND VALUE INNOVATION CONSORTIUM (KC QVIC)/HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATIONS IN QUALITY (HI-IQ) 4. KANSAS CITY REGIONAL BIOLOGICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVENTORY 5. ETHICAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) 6. HEALTH EQUITY LEARNING AND ACTION NETWORK (HE-LAN) 7. COLLABORATE2CURE 8. DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) 9. RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAMS 10. KC NEXUS FUND 11. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 12. 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS 13. "SCIENCE2ART" 14. EVENTS: O NEXUS INFORMATICS O ONE HEALTH DAY 15. SOCIAL MEDIA O CONNECTION O EXPERT EXCHANGE 1. REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT: "PATH TO 2025" THE PATH TO 2025 REPORT IS THE RESULT OF A REGIONAL STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2015. THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SCIENTIFIC FOCUS AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY, INCLUDING ANIMAL HEALTH, HEALTH IT AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH, CANCER AND NEUROSCIENCE, AS WELL AS COMPONENTS OF THE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDED TO BE STRENGTHENED TO ALLOW FOR ROBUST REGIONAL GROWTH, INCLUDING COLLABORATION, CAPITAL, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND MESSAGING/MARKETING. AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THE 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, BIONEXUS KC CONVENED ITS LEADERSHIP TO DEVELOP AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK THAT INTEGRATED THE PATH TO 2025 OUTPUTS AND THE BIONEXUS KC VISION STATEMENT TO FURTHER DEFINE THE ROLE BIONEXUS KC WOULD PLAY IN ADVANCING ITS INITIATIVE. IN 2021, THIS FRAMEWORK WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN IDENTIFYING INITIATIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES MOST ALIGNED WITH THE BIONEXUS KC MISSION. 2. 2021 KANSAS CITY REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES CENSUS SINCE 2003, BIONEXUS KC HAS COMMISSIONED THE KANSAS CITY REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY CENSUS EVERY THREE YEARS TO DEFINE THE COMPOSITION AND SCOPE OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN THIS VITAL SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY. THE UPDATED DATA PROVIDES INSIGHTS THAT CAN INFLUENCE POLICY MAKING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AND AREA FUNDING. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT HELPS IDENTIFY ECONOMIC AND RESEARCH TRENDS THAT WILL HELP STEER THE KC REGION TOWARDS LIFE SCIENCES SUCCESS. THE MOST RECENT VERSION OF THE CENSUS WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 2021 AND FOUND THAT, ACROSS THE 286 COMPANIES IDENTIFIED, THE KC LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY EMPLOYS 35,000 PEOPLE. THE NUMBER OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTERS ROSE TO 149 IN 2021, AND THE NUMBER OF MEDICAL CENTERS PERFORMING CLINICAL TRIALS INCREASED TO 32. THE FINAL REPORT WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY 2022. 3. KANSAS CITY QUALITY AND VALUE INNOVATION CONSORTIUM (KC QVIC) AND THE HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATIONS IN QUALITY (HI-IQ) BIONEXUS KC CONTINUED ITS LONGSTANDING SUPPORT OF THE KANSAS CITY QUALITY AND VALUE INNOVATION CONSORTIUM (KC QVIC) WITH A $79,900 GRANT IN 2021, WHICH WAS USED TO HELP SUPPORT TWO PILOT STUDIES TO DEMONSTRATE THE VALUE OF REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND COST OF HEALTHCARE AND TO ESTABLISH AN UPDATED MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY FOR THE ORGANIZATION. WITH THIS SUPPORT, THE KC QVIC SECURED SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND SUBSTANTIALLY EXPANDED ITS INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT ITS GROWTH. THIS LED TO THE CREATION OF UMKC'S HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATIONS IN QUALITY (HI-IQ), UNDER WHICH THE KC QVIC NOW OPERATES. A $600,000 GIFT FROM THE BLOCH FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTED OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP AT HI-IQ AND RESEARCH CAPACITY FOR THE KC QVIC TO FURTHER ESTABLISH ITS POTENTIAL VALUE TO KANSAS CITY THROUGH 2023. ADDITIONALLY, BIONEXUS KC SERVED ON THE STRATEGIC ADVISORY BOARD AND SUPPORTED MONTHLY KC QVIC FORUMS ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY AND FEATURING LOCAL AND NATIONAL SPEAKERS ADDRESSING HEALTHCARE PRIORITIES IN OUR REGION. FURTHER IN 2021, THE KC QVIC INITIATED A MULTI-HOSPITAL HEART FAILURE 'CLINICAL CHAMPIONS' COMMITTEE, RESULTING IN A PROMISING STRATEGY FOR DIRECT ENGAGEMENT OF THE REGION'S PROFESSIONAL HEART FAILURE COMMUNITY. 4. KANSAS CITY REGIONAL BIOLOGICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVENTORY THROUGH A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT LED BY KC RISING AND BIOKANSAS, A REGION-WIDE STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED TO ESTABLISH THE KC REGION AS THE MOST INCLUSIVE BIOLOGICS ECOSYSTEM IN THE WORLD. THE FOCUS ON BIOLOGICS WAS DUE TO THE SIZABLE GROWTH POTENTIAL OF THIS SEGMENT IN GLOBAL MARKETS, THE CROSS-INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES IT PRESENTED, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WITH EXISTING REGIONAL STRENGTHS, AND THE PRESENCE OF A DISTINCT AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR THE KC REGION BASED ON CURRENT ASSETS IN BOTH INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA. THE STRATEGY INCLUDED SEVEN DISTINCT AIMS: BENCHMARKING ANALYSIS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY ANALYSIS WORKFORCE CAPABILITIES AND GAP ANALYSIS ANALYZING INNOVATION IN THE ECOSYSTEM EQUITY ANALYSIS BRANDING THE INITIATIVE GOVERNANCE ASSESSMENT AS PART OF THE OVERALL EFFORT, BIONEXUS KC COORDINATED A RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) ACTIVITY ANALYSIS. THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS ISSUED IN NOVEMBER 2021, BIONEXUS KC SELECTED LATHAM BIOPHARM GROUP TO HELP IDENTIFY AND INVENTORY THE BIOLOGICS ASSETS, CAPABILITIES, AND CAPACITY IN THE KC REGION, EXTENDING FROM MANHATTAN, KS, TO COLUMBIA, MO, AND INCLUSIVE OF ST. JOSEPH, MO. THE INVENTORY WILL INCLUDE ACADEMIC, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND IDENTIFY ASSETS THAT INCLUDE PHYSICAL CAPACITY, FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS, DEPTH OF EXPERTISE, DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE BIOLOGICS WORKFORCE, PAST COMMERCIALIZATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND PRODUCTS IN DEVELOPMENT. THE GOAL IS TO CREATE A BASELINE AGAINST WHICH FUTURE GROWTH CAN BE MEASURED. 5. ETHICAL AI ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY INTEGRATED INTO OUR DAILY LIVES. AI IN HEALTHCARE ASSISTS IN DETECTING, PREDICTING, AND MONITORING HEALTH STATUS, CONDITIONS, AND BEHAVIOR, AND IS ALSO USED TO COLLECT LARGE SETS OF INFORMATION FOR PREVENTION AND TO HELP ASSESS HEALTH RISKS, BENEFITS, AND OUTCOMES. THE ETHICAL AI PROJECT IS AN INITIATIVE LED BY THE CENTER FOR PRACTICAL BIOETHICS THAT WILL LEAD TO THE INTEGRATION OF ETHICAL PRINCIPLES INTO THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, DISSEMINATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HEALTHCARE AI. IN 2021, BIONEXUS KC SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT AND REFINEMENT OF THE ETHICAL AI INITIATIVE THROUGH A $25,000 GRANT AND PARTICIPATION ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. BIONEXUS KC IS EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THIS EFFORT AND FORESEES A FUTURE WHERE THE CENTER FOR PRACTICAL BIOETHICS, AND THE KC REGION IN GENERAL, ARE VIEWED AS THE FOREMOST THOUGHT LEADERS IN THIS SPACE. TOGETHER, ALL OF US MUST ADDRESS AND PRIORITIZE HEALTH INEQUITIES, AND THE ETHICAL AI PROJECT LEVERAGES OUR REGION'S SKILLS AND EXPERTISE TO DO JUST THAT. 6. HEALTH EQUITY LEARNING AND ACTION NETWORK (HE-LAN) KANSAS CITY'S HISTORY INCLUDES PROFOUND RACISM AND UNEQUAL TREATMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. EVEN TODAY, SIGNIFICANT HEALTH DISPARITIES EXIST BETWEEN BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN AND WHITE COMMUNITIES IN THE KC REGION, INCLUDING IN DEATH RATE AND LIFE EXPECTANCY, MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHCARE ACCESS, ELDERLY CARE, MATERNAL/FETAL HEALTH, AND ULTIMATELY, OVERALL HEALTH. IN 2021, THE HEALTH FORWARD FOUNDATION AND THE KC HEALTH COLLABORATIVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT (IHI) AND OTHER LOCAL THOUGHT LEADERS, BEGAN WORK ON AN EQUITY COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE. WHILE BIONEXUS KC HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND ADVANCING INNOVATION TO THE BENEFIT OF EVERYONE IN THE REGION, THIS HEALTH EQUITY LEARNING AND ACTION NETWORK (HE-LAN) IS DESIGNED TO BRING TOGETHER THE ENTIRETY OF THE REGION'S HEALTHCARE ECOSYSTEM. COLLECTIVELY, WE WILL ADDRESS THE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH ACCESS, TREATMENT, AND OUTCOMES, AND "CATALYZE AND SUSTAIN A SYSTEM OF HIGH-QUALITY, EQUITY-CENTERED AND CULTURALLY-RESPONSIVE HEALTH CARE FOR THE KC REGION THAT YIELDS EQUITABLE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR ALL". WITH THE COLLABORATIVE NATURE OF THE EFFORT, THE INCLUSION OF NEARLY ALL BIONEXUS KC STAKEHOLDER INSTITUTIONS, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR BROAD, REGIONAL IMPACT, THE HE-LAN HAS HAD THE SUPPORT OF BIONEXUS KC SINCE ITS INCEPTION. IN 2021, BIONEXUS KC CONTRIBUTED $50,000 TO SUPPORT THE PHASED APPROACH OF THE HE-LAN AND JOINED THE DESIGN TEAM OF THE INITIATIVE, WHICH INCLUDED DEVELOPING THE MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION STRATEGY, CONDUCTING THE INITIAL ASSESSMENTS, AND FORMING THE GOVERNANCE FOR THE EFFORT. GIVEN OUR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH HEALTHCARE DATA AND FOSTERING COLLABORATION, BIONEXUS KC ALSO JOINED THE HEALTH EQUITY DATA TEAM TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND GUIDANCE AROUND HOW EQUITY DATA WOULD BE ACQUIRED, STRUCTURED, STORED, ANALYZED AND APPLIED. IN 2022, BIONEXUS KC WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE LEARNING AND ACTION PHASES OF THE EFFORT. WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON OUTCOMES RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONS THAT IMPACT THE HEALTH OF ALL KANSAS CITIANS, BIONEXUS KC IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE HE-LAN TO ASSERT A COMMON AGENDA AND PROVIDE TRAINING, TOOLS, AND EXPERTISE TO MAKE FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGES TO SYSTEMS, POLICIES, AND STRUCTURES TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND REALIZE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH OUTCOMES - PARTICULARLY AMONG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HEALTH INEQUITIES. 7. COLLABORATE2CURE BIONEXUS KC CREATED THE COLLABORATE2CURE (C2C) PROGRAM IN 2016 WITH THE GOAL OF STIMULATING REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION AND DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SOLVE SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR COLLABORATION, ALLOWING SCIENTISTS IN THE KC REGION TO SHARE THEIR RESEARCH AND TO BETTER COMPETE FOR RESEARCH FUNDING. BIONEXUS KC IDENTIFIES A TOPIC WITH SIGNIFICANT INTEREST TO RESEARCHERS WHICH ALIGNS WELL WITH REGIONAL EXPERTISE, AND THEN COORDINATES A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS FROM RESEARCHERS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS. IN 2021, BIONEXUS KC RESUMED ITS VIRTUAL C2C FOCUSED ON "AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)," CHAIRED BY DR. ZOHREH TALEBIZADEH OF CHILDREN'S MERCY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY. THIS C2C SERIES DID NOT SUGGEST THE NEED TO "CURE" THE BROAD RANGE OF UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY ASD. RATHER, THE EMPHASIS FOR THIS SERIES FOCUSED ON COLLABORATION FOR IMPACTING AUTISM RESEARCH, MANAGEMENT, AND ADVOCACY. THE MONTHLY PROGRAM PROVIDED A PLATFORM FOR PARTNERSHIP AND CONVENED THE REGION'S ROBUST AUTISM NETWORK, COMPRISED OF BASIC RESEARCHERS, CLINICIANS, PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS, AND START-UP COMPANIES.THE SERIES TACKLED A VARIETY OF RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TOPICS RELATED TO AUTISM SUCH AS TEAM SCIENCE, CO-MORBIDITIES, TELEHEALTH AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. C2C SOUGHT TO CATALYZE COLLABORATION AMONG THOSE DEVOTED TO ADVANCING AUTISM RESEARCH AND CARE. THE PRIMARY DELIVERABLE OF THE SERIES IS A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANT AND THE RESULTING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WILL MAKE THE REGION MORE COMPETITIVE FOR RESEARCH FUNDING, MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR AUTISM RESEARCHERS AND CAREGIVERS, AND RAISE REGIONAL AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF ASD ON INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AT THE END OF THE SERIES, A $50,000 GRANT WAS AWARDED TO DR. DAVID BEVERSDORF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI. DR. BEVERSDORF FOUND THAT ELEVATED INCIDENCE OF PRENATAL STRESS EXPOSURES LATE IN PREGNANCIES RESULTED IN CHILDREN SUBSEQUENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH ASD, CONFIRMED BY STUDIES EXAMINING TROPICAL STORMS IN LOUISIANA AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH AUTISM BIRTHS. THIS INITIAL WORK WILL ALLOW THE BEVERSDORF LAB TO SUBMIT LARGER NIH PROPOSALS THAT CAN TRACK OUTCOMES OF THESE PREGNANCIES TO DETERMINE WHICH BIOMARKERS ARE PREDICTIVE FOR CERTAIN NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES. FUTURE WORK WILL FOCUS ON INTERVENTION TO MITIGATE THE RISKS FOR DEVELOPMENT. THE OUTCOMES OF THIS RESEARCH ARE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE IS A HIGH INCIDENCE RATE OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. 8. DEI IN 2021, BIONEXUS KC ESTABLISHED THE REGIONAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) COMMITTEE, COMPOSED OF DEI LEADERS FROM BIONEXUS KC STAKEHOLDER INSTITUTIONS. THE BIONEXUS KC DEI COMMITTEE WILL SERVE AS AN ADVISORY BODY TO REGIONAL HEALTHCARE AND LIFE SCIENCE LEADERSHIP, OFFERING GUIDANCE IN THESE AREAS AS REQUESTED. THE BIONEXUS KC DEI COMMITTEE WILL ALSO INTEGRATE BEST PRACTICES FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INTO REGIONAL STAKEHOLDER POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. ADDITIONALLY, THE BIONEXUS KC DEI COMMITTEE WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS MEMBERS AND SERVES AS A FORUM FOR DISCUSSION OF SUBSTANTIVE BEST PRACTICES. A SMALL NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL BE ADDED, REPRESENTING INDUSTRY, ACADEMIC, CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY INTERESTS. 9. BIONEXUS KC RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM BIONEXUS KC'S RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO GENERATE PRELIMINARY DATA THAT SUPPORT SUBMISSION OF MAJOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH PROPOSALS TO GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE FUNDING AGENCIES. APPLICANTS RECEIVE WRITTEN PEER REVIEWS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEIR PROJECT RECEIVED FUNDING, TO HELP THEM IMPROVE FUTURE GRANT APPLICATIONS. BIONEXUS KC PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN ADVANCING REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE INNOVATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN HELPING RESEARCHERS DEMONSTRATE PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR THEIR EARLY-STAGE WORK. THE RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM IS ONE OF OUR LONGEST RUNNING AND MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. BY LEVERAGING THE NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS PROGRAM AND PARTNERING WITH REGIONAL FUNDERS, BIONEXUS KC PROVIDES GRANTS THAT ALLOW RESEARCHERS TO GENERATE PRELIMINARY DATA NEEDED TO DEVELOP COMPETITIVE GRANT PROPOSALS FOR MUCH LARGER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PROGRAM BOASTS AN INCREDIBLE RECORD OF SUCCESS FOR EVERY $1 GIVEN OUT IN GRANTS, NEARLY $11 IS RETURNED TO THE REGION IN FOLLOW ON FUNDING. OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DECADES, BIONEXUS KC HAS PROVIDED MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN RESEARCH GRANTS, RESULTING IN MORE THAN $70 MILLION OF NEW EXTERNAL RESEARCH FUNDING TO THE REGION. IN 2021, BIONEXUS KC PARTNERED WITH THE PAUL PATTON TRUST, TED C. MCCARTER, WILLIAM EVANS, JR, AND BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. TRUSTEE TO AWARD THREE RESEARCH GRANTS FOCUSED ON THE GENETIC BASIS OF DISEASES THAT AFFECT CHILDREN. BIONEXUS KC ALSO CONTINUED A LONG-RUNNING PARTNERSHIP WITH BLUE KC AND ADMINISTERED THE SECOND YEAR OF A 2-YEAR GRANT FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN THE REGION. THE 2021 BIONEXUS KC RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT GRANT PORTFOLIO INCLUDES: THE BLUE KC "TRANSFORMING KC HEALTH RESEARCH GRANT" (FORMERLY OUTCOMES RESEARCH) PROGRAM: O FOCUS ON PARTNERSHIPS AIMING TO ADDRESS SOCIOECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS TO HEALTH THROUGH RESEARCH ON IMPROVING ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOODS IN NUTRITIONALLY INSECURE COMMUNITIES. PARTNERING WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF KANSAS CITY TO MANAGE THIS GRANT, BIONEXUS KC ADMINISTERED YEAR TWO OF THIS $400,000 GRANT, WHICH WAS AWARDED TO THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH COUNCIL OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY (CHC), THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER (KUMC) AND VIBRANT HEALTH. THE RESEARCH WILL NOT ONLY IDENTIFY SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES TO ENSURE MEMBERS HAVE SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD AND THE CAPACITY FOR HEALTH FOOD PREPARATION, BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATE ASSOCIATED IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH OUTCOMES. PAUL PATTON CHARITABLE TRUST GRANTS: O RENE CORTESE PHD, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, WILL BE USING SINGLE CELL RNA SEQUENCING METHODS TO IDENTIFY CELLULAR COMPOSITION CHANGES IN THE BLOOD OF PEDIATRIC OSA PATIENTS, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE OPERATION. THIS WILL PROVIDE NOVEL DATA TO EXPLORE WHICH PATIENTS WOULD BENEFIT MOST BY SURGICAL INTERVENTION. O MATTHEW MCLAUGHLIN, MD, MS, CHILDREN'S MERCY KANSAS CITY SEEKS TO USE LONG-FORM, WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTING CAUSAL VARIANTS FROM PATIENTS WITH CP AND THEIR UNAFFECTED PARENTS. THE PROJECT COMBINES THIS UNIQUE PEDIATRIC ONSET CONDITION WITH ADVANCED SEQUENCING TECHNIQUES IN A NOVEL APPROACH FOR THIS POPULATION. O MARTIN KATZ, PHD, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, HAS IDENTIFIED DISORDERS IN FIVE DOG BREEDS THAT HAVE SIMILARITIES TO HUMAN HEREDITARY NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES. KATZ'S WORK WILL ATTEMPT TO UNCOVER THE GENES BEHIND THE CANINE DISORDERS AND CHARACTERIZE THE ACCURATE DISEASE PATHOLOGY TO ESTABLISH THE SIMILARITIES TO SPECIFIC HUMAN DISEASES. THIS RESEARCH WILL NOT ONLY UNCOVER ANSWERS TO ANIMAL DISEASES, BUT ALSO PROVIDE PATHS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH OF TREATMENT EFFICACY FOR VARIOUS ORPHAN DISEASES. 10. KC NEXUS FUND DESPITE SEVERE ECONOMIC IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE ONSET OF COVID-19, DEVELOPMENT OF THE KC NEXUS FUND CONTINUED TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT STRIDES, MARCHING THE REGION ONE STEP CLOSER TO HAVING A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT FUND FOCUSED SOLELY ON ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGIES. DURING 2021, THE FUND ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING: FINALIZED THE FORMATION OF THE HUMAN HEALTH AND ANIMAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARDS, PARTNERING WITH EXECUTIVES FROM ACROSS THESE INDUSTRIES PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS. ENGAGE BIONEXUS KC STAKEHOLDERS TO EXPAND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE EARLY-STAGE ECOSYSTEM AND BRING THEIR CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES TO ENTREPRENEURS. WORK WITH EMERGING LIFE SCIENCE ENTREPRENEURS TO DEVELOP A PIPELINE OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ADVANCE THE LEGAL AND BUSINESS STRUCTURES NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE KC NEXUS FUND IN 2022. WHILE THE REGION HAS IMPROVED ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR ALL ENTREPRENEURS, THERE IS STILL A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR LIFE SCIENCE ENTREPRENEURS, SPECIFICALLY. WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE KC NEXUS FUND NEARLY COMPLETE, BIONEXUS KC IS SET TO OFFICIALLY LAUNCH THE FUND IN 2022 AND WILL BEGIN MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT WILL IMPACT THE REGION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. 11. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT REMAINS A TOP REGIONAL PRIORITY FOR OUR LIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER. A TOP QUESTION ON THE MINDS OF COMPANIES CONSIDERING KANSAS CITY FOR RELOCATION IS THE AVAILABILITY OF A SKILLED AND QUALIFIED WORKFORCE. THE TERMS "SKILLED AND "QUALIFIED" VARY GREATLY BETWEEN INDUSTRY FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A SECTORS WITH THE LIFE SCIENCES REQUIRING SPECIFIC, INNOVATIVE, AND UNIQUE STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPING COMPETENCIES HIGHLY DESIRED BY COMPANIES. BIONEXUS KC HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN TWO UNIQUE APPROACHES TO MEET THE WORKFORCE NEEDS OF THE LIFE SCIENCES CLUSTER. BOTH ARE ADDRESSING CRITICAL SKILLS GAPS THROUGH CREATIVE, YET DISTINCT, STRATEGIES. SKILLED KC LAUNCHED AS AN INITIATIVE OF THE EWING MARION KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION, SKILLED KC PROVIDES AN INDUSTRY-ALIGNED, AGILE, AND STUDENT-CENTERED LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS SEEKING TO EARN A CREDENTIAL THAT WILL SET THEM ON A SUCCESSFUL CAREER TRAJECTORY IN THE AREAS OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, BIOTECHNOLOGY, OR SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MANY ORGANIZATIONS, SKILLED KC IS CLOSING THE GAP FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS VALUABLE CREDENTIALS TO JUMP START CAREERS AND FIND JOB PLACEMENTS. BIONEXUS KC, WITH OTHER BIOSCIENCE PARTNERS, HAS BEEN DEEPLY INVOLVED IN THE SKILLED KC BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM SINCE INCEPTION. LEVERAGING OUR DEEP NETWORK OF LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES, THE PROGRAM HAS LEARNED FIRST-HAND WHAT SKILLS/COMPETENCIES ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES. TO ENSURE INDUSTRY VOICES WERE CONTRIBUTING TO CURRICULUM AND PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, THE BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD WAS ESTABLISHED AND CHAIRED BY BIONEXUS KC VICE PRESIDENT, KEITH GARY. COMPRISED OF A CROSS SECTION OF LIFE SCIENCES COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES, THE COLLECTIVE BOARD HAS DIRECTLY INFLUENCED CURRICULUM, STUDENT EXPERIENCES, FACULTY SELECTION, AND DEFINED DESIRED PROGRAM OUTCOMES. THE PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED TWO COHORTS OF STUDENTS AND WILL BE SEATING THIS COHORT IN EARLY 2022. FOUNDING CEO JEFF BARRETT RECENTLY STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS LEADERSHIP ROLE THOUGH MANY OF THE FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAM PRINCIPLES ARE STILL IN PLACE. NEWLY APPOINTED CEO, STEVE LANASA, HAS INDICATED SOME SHIFTS IN THE OVERALL STRATEGY, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT PIPELINES AND ARTICULATIONS WITH OTHER BIOTECHNOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMS. (CONSIDER A QUOTE FROM STEVE LANASA). SKILLED KC REPRESENTS A SHORT-TERM PATHWAY FOR NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS TO ACQUIRE ESSENTIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY SKILLS MAKING PROGRAM GRADUATES ATTRACTIVE FOR MANY ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS WITH LIFE SCIENCES COMPANIES. BIOSCIENCE CORE SKILLS INSTITUTE (BCSI) ANOTHER STRATEGY IN PROVIDING THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY ASSURANCE THAT CANDIDATES FOR HIRE POSSESS ESSENTIAL SKILLS IS EMBODIED BY THE BIOSCIENCE CORE SKILLS INSTITUTE (BCSI), A START-UP COMPANY LAUNCHED IN 2021. THEIR MISSION IS TO VALIDATE AND CERTIFY SKILLS ACQUIRED THROUGH BIOSCIENCE TRAINING PROGRAMS. OFTEN CERTIFICATES OR DEGREES IN BIOLOGY OR BIOTECHNOLOGY ARE BROAD CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION, LACKING DETAIL ABOUT THE CLASSES TAKEN BY STUDENTS OR THE SKILLS ACQUIRED RESULTING IN A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE CREDENTIALS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND THE COMPANIES THAT HIRE THEM. THE BCSI BRIDGES THE GAP WITH DIGITAL MICROCREDENTIALS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE, ATTAINABLE WITH SHORT-TERM TRAINING, AND STACKABLE. THE IDEA OF STACKABLE CREDENTIALS WAS A CONSISTENT THEME IN THE STEM EDUCATION TASK FORCE AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WORKING GROUP CONVENED UNDER KC RISING INITIATIVES. BIONEXUS KC VICE PRESIDENT, KEITH GARY, SERVED AS CO-CHAIR FOR BOTH WORKING GROUPS. STUDENTS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED TO ATTAIN CAREERS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY. EMPLOYERS OFTEN ADVERTISE FOR "WRONG SIZE" CREDENTIALS, (E.G., BACHELOR'S IN BIOLOGY) FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POSITIONS THAT ONLY NEED MASTERY OF SPECIFIC SKILLS. MICROCREDENTIALS SOLVE THIS WRONG-SIZING BY CERTIFYING AND DOCUMENTING THE DETAILS OF THE APPLICANT'S WORK AND TRAINING HISTORY IN A SKILLS-ACQUIRED FORMAT. BY DISAGGREGATING THE SKILLS, BCSI GIVES NEW-HIRES THE ABILITY TO CONVEY THEIR SKILLS TOOLBOX IN A DIGITAL FORMAT WHILE PROVIDING EMPLOYERS A CLEAR ADVANTAGE IN HIRING ALREADY-TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO NEED LITTLE INTERNAL TRAINING TO BE PREPARED TO PERFORM THEIR JOB FUNCTIONS. THE BCSI UTILIZES AUTHENTIC AND VALIDATED RUBRICS THAT WERE CRAFTED WITH INPUT FROM THE BIOTECH INDUSTRY, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS, AND ACADEMIC TRAINING GROUPS. EACH CREDENTIAL CERTIFIES A VALUABLE SKILL AND INCLUDES THE OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCES MEASURED IN A WAY THAT IS APPARENT TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS. 12. 20 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS BIONEXUS KC HOSTED A 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION. THE EVENT FOCUSED ON THE THEME OF "TOGETHER, ALL. AND ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR THE REGION TO COLLABORATE TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE PRESSING ISSUE OF HEALTH INEQUITY AND ITS IMPACT ON KANSAS CITIANS. THE EVENING FEATURED DAVID B. HUNT, A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN HEALTH EQUITY. HIS PRESENTATION DOVE INTO THE ISSUES OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE AND THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF PROVIDING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE CARE. "UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM ACHIEVING HEALTH EQUITY IN AMERICA'S HOSPITALS," HUNT SAID. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT LESS THAN 50% OF HOSPITALS CAPTURE RACE, ETHNICITY, OR LANGUAGE DATA AND TIE IT DIRECTLY TO OUTCOMES. "ABSENT THAT DATA, WE CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT DISPARITIES EXIST OR HOW SEVERE THEY REALLY ARE," HUNT SAID. HEALTH EQUITY HAS LONG PLAGUED OUR REGION AND THE NATION, BUT COVID-19 BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT AND KEPT IT THERE. IN EVERY METRIC REGARDING THE HEALTH OF KANSAS CITIANS, AFRICAN AMERICANS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE WORSE OFF. THE TALKS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT SHOWED THAT WE HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO AS A REGION TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND THERE IS A ROLE FOR EVERYONE TO PLAY. THEY NEED. THIS EVENT ENCOURAGED ATTENDEES TO COME TOGETHER AND IDENTIFY WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THESE DISPARITIES TO INFUSE EQUITY INTO THE HEALTH OF OUR REGION. LOCAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES ARE EMERGING. RECENTLY, HUNT PARTNERED WITH CHILDREN'S MERCY TO CONDUCT AN ORGANIZATION-WIDE HEALTH EQUITY ASSESSMENT. OVER 5,000 EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN THE ONLINE SURVEY FOR A TOTAL RESPONSE RATE OF 60%. HUNT WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE INSTITUTION TO CREATE A 3-5-YEAR STRATEGIC DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION ACTION PLAN WITH WELL-DEFINED ACTION STEPS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE CULTURE AND TO ELIMINATE DISPARITIES IN PATIENT CARE. FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES, BIONEXUS KC HAS UNITED THE LIFE SCIENCES COMMUNITY AND ELEVATED THE IMPACT OF RESEARCH THROUGH COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. BIONEXUS KC HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN MANY SUCCESSFUL, COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVES INCLUDING: FORMATION OF THE ANIMAL HEALTH CORRIDOR AND THE KANSAS CITY QUALITY VALUE AND INNOVATION CONSORTIUM RECRUITMENT OF THE NATIONAL BIO AND AGRO-DEFENSE FACILITY IN MANHATTAN, KANSAS AND THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE DESIGNATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CANCER CENTER COORDINATION OF THE REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KC RISING AND THE KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION FUNDING REGIONAL INNOVATION THROUGH THE FORMATION OF THE KC NEXUS FUND AND THE RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDED AN 11:1 RETURN TO THE REGION IN FOLLOW-ON FUNDING CONDUCTING THE TRI-ANNUAL REGIONAL LIFE SCIENCES CENSUS TO CATALOG REGIONAL COMPANIES WORKING IN LIFE SCIENCES, HEALTHCARE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND MEDICAL DEVICES HOSTING REGIONAL EVENTS TO FACILITATE COLLABORATION AND INNOVATION AMONG RESEARCHERS, CLINICIANS, ENTREPRENEURS, STUDENTS, AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZING STRATEGIC ASSESSMENTS TO DEVELOP AND IDENTIFY REGIONAL STRENGTHS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE LIFE SCIENCES AND TO KEEP THE REGION GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE ESTABLISHING THE SCIENCE2ART PROGRAM WHICH HAS DONATED OVER $110,000 TO BENEFIT STEAM EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE KC REGION. 13. "SCIENCE2ART" SCIENCE2ART IS A PLATFORM FOR REGIONAL SCIENTISTS TO DISPLAY AND DESCRIBE THEIR RESEARCH THROUGH THE VISUAL ARTS. EACH OF THESE REMARKABLE PIECES TELLS A PERSONAL RESEARCH STORY AND POETICALLY CAPTURES THE FIELDWORK PERFORMED BY THE SCIENTISTS AND THEIR TEAMS. THESE IMAGES WERE SUBMITTED BY SCIENTISTS FROM COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, TO MANHATTAN, KANSAS. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE SCIENCE2ART AUCTION WERE MATCHED BY BIONEXUS KC AND USED TO SUPPORT STEAM EDUCATION IN KC FOLLOWS: HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPATION IN 2022 INNOVATION FESTIVAL'S MECHANISM OF DISEASE RESEARCH AND RECRUITMENT CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY BIOKANSAS. PREP-KC SCIENCE CITY AND THE GREATER KANSAS CITY SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR FREE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART 14. EVENTS NEXUS INFORMATICS THE KANSAS CITY REGION HAS A WEALTH OF INFORMATICS CAPABILITIES AND EXPERTISE THAT COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH ASSETS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE US. HOWEVER, THIS REGION'S ASSETS ARE SPREAD OVER A 250-MILE GEOGRAPHY BETWEEN COLUMBIA, MO AND MANHATTAN, KS. DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO MITIGATE THIS ISSUE WAS LED TO THE LAUNCHING THE FIRST ANNUAL BIOINFORMATICS CONFERENCE (NOW NEXUS INFO FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHILDREN'S MERCY, THE FIFTH NEXUS INFORMATICS CONFERENCE WAS HELD VIRTUALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME ON APRIL 15 16, 2021 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE CONFERENCE FEATURED 13 REGIONAL SPEAKERS INCLUDING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS DR. CASEY OVERBY TAYLOR FROM JOHN HOPKINS MEDICINE AND DR. SUBHA MADHAVAN FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY NEARLY 175 INFORMATICS RESEARCHERS FROM ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY WHO CAME TOGETHER TO DISCOVER CAPABILITIES, SHARE TACTICAL APPROACHES TO PROBLEM-SOLVING, EXPLORE NETWORKS, AND LAUNCH POTENTIAL COLLABORATIONS IN THE REGION. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND INFORMATICS IN OUR REGION VISIT: KCBIOINFORMATICS.ORG ONE HEALTH DAY BIONEXUS KC PARTNERED WITH KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY OLATHE, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAM, KU EDWARDS CAMPUS AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CANCER CENTER FOR THE NOVEMBER 3, 2021 "KANSAS CITY ONE HEALTH DAY." THIS EVENT IS PART OF AN ANNUAL, INTERNATIONAL EVENT FOCUSED ON COMPLEX COLLABORATIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES TO ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH FOR PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT REFERRED TO AS ONE HEALTH. THE 2021 KC ONE HEALTH DAY'S TOPIC WAS 'HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS'. THIS EVENT AN OVERVIEW OF HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH BY KEYNOTE, DR. KEITH LOFTIN, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, KANSAS WATER SCIENCE CENTER. HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS OCCUR WHEN ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA GROW OUT OF CONTROL IN BODIES OF WATER. THE BLOOMS CAN KILL ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN THE WATER BY SEVERELY DEPLETING OXYGEN WHEN THEY DECOMPOSE. NORMALLY, ALGAE ARE IMPORTANT ORGANISMS, BUT WHEN THEY GROW OUT OF CONTROL THEY CAN HARM PEOPLE, ANIMALS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE EVENT HOSTED OVER 75 ATTENDEES FROM ACADEMIA AND INDUSTRY AND ALSO INCLUDED A POSTER COMPETITION FOR COLLEGE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPETE FOR A CASH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD. 15. SOCIAL MEDIA BIONEXUS KC SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR LIFE SCIENCES NEWS FROM MANHATTAN TO COLUMBIA, USING THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION TOOLS: CONNECTION BLOG: HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/CATEGORY/THE-CONNECTION/ BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2021 CONNECTION BLOG SERIES: O SAINT LUKE'S CARDIOLOGIST DETERMINED TO IMPROVE DIABETES CARE, OUTCOMES: SOMETIMES THE MOST DANGEROUS ELEMENT OF DISEASE IS NOT ITS IMMEDIATE MANIFESTATIONS, BUT SECONDARY DANGERS THAT FOLLOW. FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES, THE MOST INSTANTANEOUS ISSUE IS ONE OF ELEVATED BLOOD SUGAR THAT CAN OVER TIME CAUSE DIRECT DAMAGE. THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OR SERIOUS DISABILITY FOR THESE PATIENTS, HOWEVER, IS CARDIOVASCULAR AND HEART COMPLICATIONS. FOR DR. MIKHAIL KOSIBOROD, CARDIOLOGIST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH AT SAINT LUKE'S HEALTH SYSTEM, THE GOAL IS TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSES OF ELEVATED CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND MITIGATE OR ELIMINATE THOSE RISKS. HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/SAINT-LUKES-CARDIOLOGIST-DETERMINED-TO-IMPROVE-DI ABETES-CARE-OUTCOMES/ O TMC/UH DOCTORS COLLABORATE TO ACHIEVE VACCINE ADOPTION AMONG MINORITIES FACED WITH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED MARGINALIZED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, A PAIR OF POWERHOUSE PHYSICIANS TEAMED UP TO ENSURE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. BOTH DOCTORS HAVE EXPERIENCE RESPONDING QUICKLY TO SITUATIONS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT. DR. TRACI JOHNSON, OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGIST AT UNIVERSITY HEALTH AND MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE CLINICAL FELLOW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI - KANSAS CITY (UMKC) SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DR. MICHAEL MONCURE, VICE CHAIR OF SURGERY, TRAUMA SURGEON AND CRITICAL CARE SPECIALIST AT TMC/UH AND PROFESSOR OF SURGERY AT UMKC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ARE ON A COLLABORATIVE MISSION TO IMPROVE SOCIETAL VACCINE ADOPTION. THROUGH EDUCATION, THEY'RE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE. WITH THIS EFFORT, THEY HOPE TO ADDRESS THE PANDEMIC AND IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND MINORITY POPULATIONS IN KANSAS CITY. HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/TMC-UH-DOCTORS-COLLABORATE-TO-ACHIEVE-VACCINE-ADO PTION-AMONG-MINORITIES/ O MRIGLOBAL EXPERT SAYS IMPACT OF COVID-19 WILL INSPIRE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS MANY SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE GIVEN THE WORLD A GREAT DISCOVERY, STARTED THEIR JOURNEY AS A CHILD INSPIRED BY EXPLORATION. FOR DR. HILLARY WOOD, SENIOR SCIENTIST IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE SURVEILLANCE AND DIAGNOSTICS GROUP AT MRIGLOBAL, THIS MAY BE THE REMEDY FOR ATTRACTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS. EXPERT EXCHANGE VIDEO SERIES (HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/VIDEO_CATEGORY/EXPERT-EXCHANGE/) BELOW ARE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2021 EXPERT EXCHANGE SERIES: O CHILDREN'S MERCY PHYSICIAN'S RESEARCH IMPROVES PEDIATRIC CANCER TREATMENT ALL CREATURES HAVE A SPECTACULAR ARRANGEMENT OF CELLS. WHEN THESE CELLS ARE AT THEIR BEST, THE BODY FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE, HOWEVER, WHEN THESE CELLS DECLINE. FOR DR. DOUG MYERS, PHYSICIAN AND SECTION CHIEF OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION AT CHILDREN'S MERCY KANSAS CITY, HIS OBJECTIVE IS TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT FAMILIES WHEN THIS CELLULAR MISFIRE AFFECTS CHILDREN WITH CANCER. MYERS FOCUSES ON MODIFYING CELL TREATMENTS AND CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR (CAR) T-CELLS TO TARGET PEDIATRIC CANCER. HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/VIDEO_BLOG/DR-DOUG-MYERS/ O KU RESEARCHER PARTNERS WITH SPOUSE TO EXPEDITE VACCINE DEVELOPMENT SYMBIOSIS AS A CONCEPT IS OFTEN GENERALIZED, WHEN THE MORE SPECIFIC TERM SOUGHT IS MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS, A LONG-TERM, MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIP. THERE IS ALSO PARASITIC SYMBIOSIS, WHEN AN ORGANISM THAT SURVIVES ON OR IN A HOST, RELIES ON AND ULTIMATELY WEAKENS THAT HOST TO SURVIVE. DR. WILLIAM PICKING, FOUNDATION DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY AND DIRECTOR OF THE KANSAS VACCINE INSTITUTE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (KU), PRACTICES MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS, WHILE RESEARCHING THE PARASITIC VARIETY. HE WORKS ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE, DR. WENDY PICKING, PROFESSOR OF PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY, TO UNCOVER A VACCINE FOR DYSENTERY. HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/VIDEO_BLOG/DR-WILLIAM-PICKING/ O KU MEDICAL CENTER PROFESSOR ADDRESSES BRAIN HEALTH INEQUITIES, SEEKS CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY YOU'VE HEARD THE SAYING, 'ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.' TO DISCOVER WHAT MOTIVATES SOMEONE OR WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM, YOU CAN SIMPLY WATCH THEIR FEET. FOR DR. ASHLEY SHAW, RESEARCH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER, HER FORWARD MOTION IS RESEARCH, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND A COMMITTED FOCUS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PREVENTION WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. HTTPS://BIONEXUSKC.ORG/VIDEO_BLOG/DR-ASHLEY-SHAW/ FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE ORGANIZATION HAS A POLICY FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S AUDIT COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE 990 BEFORE IT IS FILED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL STAFF AND DIRECTORS MUST SUBMIT ANY CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. IF A CONFLICT ARISES WITHIN THE BOARD, THE DISCLOSING INDIVIDUAL SHALL NEITHER VOTE NOR ENDEAVOR TO INFLUENCE THE DECISION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A COMPENSATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S PRESIDENT IS AGREED UPON BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FINALIZED VIA A WRITTEN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. THIS APPROVAL IS DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD. IN 2013 THE ORGANIZATION CREATED A COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND CONDUCTED A COMPENSATION STUDY TO FURTHER REFINE THE COMPENSATION PROCESS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.