BOULDER - Quark Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Fremont, Calif.-based pharmaceutical company, will use a portion of a round of $27 million in financing to add jobs at its research and development lab in Boulder.

The development-stage company focuses on discovering and developing RNA interference-based therapeutics.

Quark plans to add 10 to 15 clinical research jobs within the next year, mostly in Boulder, said spokesman Gavin Samuels. The company employs about 25 people in Boulder, and another 75 in California and Israel.

"The main purpose of this funding is to expand our clinical program," Samuels said. "We're looking to solidify Boulder as the center of Quark's clinical development."

Japan-based SBI Asset Management Co. Ltd. and SBI Investment Co. Ltd. were the major investors in the financing.

Quark Chief Executive Officer Daniel Zurr said the company anticipates having Quark drug candidates in five clinical programs by the second half of 2008.

RNA interference-based therapeutics look to combat genetic diseases by using the body's own natural genetic defenses.

Quark's current clinical pipeline includes AKIi-5, developed by Quark for the prevention of acute kidney injury following major cardiac surgery. The company is developing RTP801i-14, licensed to Pfizer, for age-related macular degeneration.

BOULDER - The University of Colorado at Boulder's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering has opened the Center for Environmental Mass Spectrometry.

The center will focus on the detection of pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic contaminants in water. It will evaluate the effectiveness of methods removing these compounds. There will be professional and graduate student research done in the center.

The center will have a lab for research, but it is "under renovation at the moment," according to Michael Thurman, a professional research associate that helped to establish the center.

"We're operational, but we're in borrowed space right now," he said.

Funding for the center comes from the university, and the instruments were provided by Santa Clara, Calif.-based Agilent Technologies. The company provided the center with a core liquid chromatograph/mass spectrometer at no change. The system's list price is approximately $270,000.

The spectrometer contains a number of design features that are well-suited for environmental analysis enabling scientists to detect very small quantities of chemicals in complex mixtures.

Agilent has facilities in Colorado Springs, Englewood, Fort Collins and Loveland. The technology provided comes from the company's Little Falls, Del. laboratory and its headquarters in Santa Clara.

The center was established at the University of Colorado by Thurman, Imma Ferrer and Karl Linden.

BOULDER - Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy in Boulder has appointed David Maher, former vice chairman and chief operating officer for Boise, Idaho-based American Store Co., to its board of directors.

The retail pharmacy chain plans to add 12 stores a year to its current 21-store chain, and Maher will help direct Pharmaca's expansion plan.

Maher brings 35 years of experience in the retail and health-care industries. After graduating from the University of Iowa's pharmacy program, Maher began his career as a retail pharmacist in 1963.

Currently Maher serves as chairman of the board of trustees for the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and sits on the advisory board for the University of Iowa's College of Pharmacy. He is the founder, chairman and general partner for DMM Enterprises LLP, an asset management company located in Beverly, Mass. Maher resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.

"The addition of David Maher to our board of directors brings significant health and retail expertise to Pharmaca," said Barry Perzow, chief executive and president of Pharmaca. "The benefits of his proven track record both behind and beyond the pharmacy counter will be immeasurable as we continue growing at a fast pace."

Founded in 2000, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy combines traditional pharmacy services and over-the-counter medications with natural health, beauty products, consultation in nutrition, naturopathic medicine and safe body care. The company's stores are in five states: California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.

LOUISVILLE - After two years in development, owner and pastry chef Nicole M. Hedlund has launched a franchising effort to expand A Grande Finale Patisserie.

"I put so much work into the business, and I know how difficult it is to start something from scratch," Hedlund said. "The franchising opportunity is a way for me to help other people start their own business and to have support in the process."

Hedlund has developed two startup franchise models.

The larger-scaled option, or Full Patisserie, includes training and licensing in recipe and baking production, store design, business plan, full operations manual, and marketing materials and is offered at $60,000.

The smaller-scaled option or Retail Patisserie includes all but the recipes at a cost of $35,000. The first option will require a commercial kitchen as well as sit down dining and would occupy at least 1,500 square feet. The second option demands about 1,000 square feet.

Hedlund hopes to open 50 franchises within the Denver metro area in a five-year period. "But it's not about the numbers per say," Hedlund said. "It's about having good quality locations where people are happy to come to work."

Hedlund hopes to attract franchisees  May 13 at the WestEx Food Show, a restaurant trade show in Denver at the Merchandise Mart.

Open since 1999, the retail baked goods store is located at 641 Main St. in Louisville. Patisserie specialties include a chocolate mousse torte cake and tarts, coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Clients are both residential and corporate.

LONGMONT - Tickets are on sale for this year's Boulder County Business Hall of Fame induction luncheon set for Thursday, May 1.

Cost is $50 per person and $500 for a corporate table.

To make reservations or purchase a table, go to www.blacktie-colorado.com/rsvp then enter event code: BCBHOFFINDUCTEE to complete your reservations.

If you don't have access to a computer, contact Fred Kreider at 303-229-3582.

Peter D. Behrendt, Joan Brett, John Fenstermaker, Edwin Kanemoto, David M. Wyatt and the late Harlow C. Platts will be inducted into the Boulder County Business Hall of Fame in May.

The six inductees for the class of 2008 will be honored at the hall of fame's 16th annual induction luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Longmont.

The Boulder County Business Hall of Fame, established in 1992 to recognize and honor businesswomen and men who personify "business at its best." More than 110 people have been inducted in to the hall.

The Boulder Chamber of Commerce Business Women's Leadership Group will cover Creating a Powerful Branding Strategy from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at A Spice of Life Event Center, 5706 Arapahoe Ave. in Boulder. Several presenters will discuss how to generate good business "buzz." Cost: free to members, $25 nonmembers. Contact: christine.day@boulderchamber.com.

The Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce will host Healthcare Cost & Your Bottom Line from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, at the Chamber Center, 528 Main St. in Longmont. Dr. Richard Jones, market medical officer for Humana, will speak on the importance of wellness as it relates to small business and controlling costs. Cost: free to members, $10 nonmembers with RSVP. Contact: 303-776-5295.