b'Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation: Attracting Bold-Name Businesses to Colorado Head Chemist Chamni Jayarathna, Ph.D. and the CaliberMRI team aim to revolutionize MRI through AIFrom a helicopter offering unparalleled views of the Front Range, Metro Denver neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal,additional funding the company is working onEconomic Development Corporation and other problemsanything MRIs are usedlanding, they aim to build their own standards lab.(Metro Denver EDC) provides a birds-eye for today. The lab would enable qMRI by ensuring consis- view of institutions such as the Colorado To achieve this qMRI vision, the machines musttent calibration. They envision disseminatingSchool of Mines and the University of be exquisitely calibratedand today, theyre not.NIST standards to MRI manufacturers, serviceColorado Anschutz Medical Campus What one machine sees can be 30% differentproviders, and medical centers. as well as the regions infrastructure, than what another one does. Without ground- including Denver International Airport We see this as a huge and significant oppor- and the Regional Transportation Districts truth calibration to established standards, thetunity that can really change the standard oflight-rail system. benefits of qMRI will stay out of reach. care, Hollander says.IncollaborationwithoneofColoradosDuring its annual site selector con-34 federal labs, the National Institute ofCOLORADO STATE LEGISLATURE:ference, the organization highlights Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder,SUPPORTING ADVANCED INDUSTIRESColorados outstanding talent, excellent CaliberMRI has developed imaging phantomsShannon Bird, J.D., M.B.A.infrastructure, and unbeatable quality that mimic human tissues as well as accom- Colorado State Representative of life using aerial tours, site visits, and panying quality-assurance software. Theguest speakers.10-person company has sold their solutionsRep. Shannon Bird, J.D., M.B.A., is using herMetro Denver EDC also invites Colorado to hundreds of MRI makers, hospitals, andtime in the Colorado legislature to make sureeconomic development, policy, and research institutions around the world. the state is a partner in industries such as lifebusiness leaders from the nine-county sciences that create opportunities for home- region to serve as ambassadors for the Along the way, CaliberMRI has received twogrown talent and attract savvy new workers tostate. Groups travel once a month to a Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Programthe state.location that has similar industry clusters awards from Colorados Office of EconomicWe need to invest in education for studentsand talent as metro Denver. In 2022, a Development and International Trade (OEDIT)and make sure there are opportunities forlife sciences delegation spent a week in and a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gatesthem when they graduate from the univer- Scotland, meeting U.K. companies and Foundation. The first state grant, in 2018, wassities, said Bird, who was elected to theresearch institutions. The trip created vital in developing its qMRI software.Colorado House of Representatives in 2019.energy and spurred creativity to address Before that, we just made phantoms, WeiantOnce students finish programs, it would bethe infrastructure and resources needed says. Now, we make a comprehensive platform.great to keep them here. Its good for them,to advance Colorados ecosystem.Weiant and CaliberMRI Founder and CEO Billand its good for our economy. The work drives results. In 2022, Metro Hollander are applying grant funds to developThats why Bird is such an advocate for pro- Denver EDC announced 14 bioscience 3D-printed biomimetic phantoms of breast,grams like the Advanced Industries Acceleratorcompanies brought 6,000 jobs to the prostate, brain, and other tissues, with the aimGrant Program and the Advanced Industryregion, accounting for $1.7 billion worth of helping radiologists with their day-to-dayInvestment Tax Credit, critical programs forof investments in the regions economy.diagnoses and treatment monitoring. And withlife sciences that were extended recently by the legislature.2023-2024 BIOSCIENCE COLORADO 25'