Exploring New Frontiers: Innovation Unfolds at PIC MC

Wednesday, May 14th’s Community Connect #4, hosted by the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC), brought together entrepreneurs, researchers, and industry leaders for a dynamic morning of insights, networking, and collaboration. Held at Montgomery College’s Germantown Campus, the event spotlighted the convergence of life sciences, data, information technology, and healthcare — all within Montgomery County’s growing innovation ecosystem.

With thought-provoking presentations, interactive discussions, and a room full of biotech and tech innovators, the event exemplified how PIC MC continues to serve as a launchpad for transformative ideas and cross-sector partnerships.

“We’re not just building technologies — we’re building a community of thinkers, doers, and problem-solvers. The value comes from getting people in the same room who might not otherwise cross paths” said Thomas Luginbill, Executive Director of the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology, reflecting on the morning’s success and PIC MC’s role in shaping the region’s innovation landscape.

“It's about more than any single innovation — it's about creating an environment where ideas can grow, industries can converge, and talent can thrive. That’s the role PIC MC plays, and it’s exciting to see it come to life through events like this.

Visionary Presentations Driving Real-World Impact

Martin Rapos, Chief Information Officer at FLEXNODE, introduced their AI-powered, modular data centers, which they say offer a sustainable and flexible alternative to traditional infrastructure—purpose-built to meet the rapidly growing demands of biotech, life sciences, and other AI-driven sectors.

As AI adoption surges across industries, FLEXNODE aims to provide infrastructure that can efficiently support high-performance AI workloads while addressing strict compliance, security, and cost constraints. The company offers modular, pre-fabricated systems that can be deployed onsite and scaled as needed. Their use of liquid cooling is designed to support high-density computing more efficiently than traditional air-cooled data centers. This setup is intended to give organizations more control over their data, improve energy use, and allow for faster deployment.

Deb Chowdhury, Enterprise Managed Services Business Leader at Hughes Network Systems, introduced the Private Wireless and 5G (P5G) Incubation Center—a new facility on the PIC MC campus focused on delivering secure, high-speed connectivity to support the next generation of health tech and industrial applications.

Hughes says that as industries adopt automation and undergo digital transformation, the need for reliable, low-latency networks that public systems can’t deliver is growing. Their end-to-end managed services include deployment, monitoring, and security. The center also enables real-world testing and validation, helping clients confidently adopt next-gen wireless infrastructure.

Samaneh Kamali, PhD, Co-Founder & Principal at Caleo Bio, presented the company’s Patient-Derived Organ-Dish platform—an innovative approach aimed at improving early-stage drug development using 3D tissue models created from real human biopsies.

Animal models often fall short in predicting human outcomes, leading to high clinical trial failure rates—especially in diseases like IBD. Caleo Bio addresses this challenge by isolating patient-derived cells, reprogramming them into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and creating advanced 3D tissue models through a proprietary process.

The platform replicates human tissue complexity and enables scalable, high-throughput drug screening. With integrated AI for imaging and predictive analysis, it aims to offer a more accurate and efficient path to developing effective therapies.

Creating a Collaborative Culture

The true power of Community Connect lies in its ability to spark cross-disciplinary collaboration. Whether you're working in AI, biotech, health systems, or advanced data infrastructure, events like these make clear how essential it is to break down silos and build new bridges between industries.

The event drew a vibrant mix of organizations including CAI, MilliporeSigma, Montgomery College Biotech, Bio-Trac, BioTrain, Women In Bio, NIH Federal Credit Union, TALOC Technologies and Workforce Genetics with new partnerships forming over coffee and conversation.

What’s Next?
As Montgomery County continues to emerge as a global hub for biotech and digital health, PIC MC is positioning itself as the go-to destination for collaborative innovation.

Missed this one? Don’t worry— the Community Connect: From Code to Cure is July 16. Whether you're scaling a startup, building tech infrastructure, or driving life science breakthroughs, PIC MC is where the future of innovation comes together. Register now.

About PIC MC

Located just 20 miles from Washington, D.C., with convenient access to three major airports, Montgomery County, Maryland is strategically positioned at the heart of the nation's innovation corridor. PIC MC, at the center of this ecosystem, is uniquely designed to support the convergence of public and private sector advancements in life sciences, data science, cybersecurity, and healthcare.

Key partners include Hughes Network Systems, the Germantown Innovation Center, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, and the NexCore Group Medical Office Building. PIC MC is further strengthened by the Montgomery College pipeline of highly trained talent across biotechnology with cGMP compliance, clinical trials project management, cybersecurity, and AI — ensuring a robust workforce ready to meet today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.