BioSF's new chief brings research, tech transfer background to job

San Francisco’s nonprofit resource for life sciences startups has hired its second leader in less than a year.
BioSF, a partnership between the mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development, the nonprofit San Francisco Center for Economic Development and the University of California’s QB3 institute, in January hired cardiovascular researcher Ken Harrison as director.
Harrison will oversee a BioSF program that envelops several QB3 projects, including its new “startup-in-a-box” initiative that provides legal, banking and mentoring help to young companies.

BioSF manager leaves after 3 months

The leader of a nascent public-private effort to build San Francisco’s life sciences industry has left after about three months on the job.
SallyAnn Reiss resigned last month as program manager of BioSF.

Biotech game planner: Sally Ann Reiss plays point guard for BioSF

Sally Ann Reiss loves playing point guard.
From her involvement in the early days of television technology pioneer TiVo Inc.to leading efforts to raise millions of dollars for a Portola Valley community project, Reiss is all about turning game plans into victories. Now in her new job directing San Francisco’s biotech attraction and retention efforts, Reiss is hoping to build on the success of the city’s Mission Bay biotech enclave to score the economic development equivalent of a slam dunk.

BioSF kicks off effort to attract life sciences

Federal money, a state program and local partnerships — plus a newly hired leader — are coming together in an effort to swell the ranks San Francisco’s life sciences community and attract more jobs.
BioSF, modeled on the city’s China-focused economic development initiative, ChinaSF, looks to capitalize on the success of the city’s Mission Bay biotech enclave.
The effort is backed by $200,000 from the state’s Innovation Hub program — federal Small Business Administration money funneled through the Small Business Development Center at Humboldt State University — and a $35,000 grant from the city.