LIBH Innovator Awarded Alexandria LaunchLabs Seed Capital Prize

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Alex Vaughan was awarded the 2018 Alexandria LaunchLabs Seed Capital Prize for the CSHL spinoff company MapNeuro Inc. during the NYC Life Science Innovation Showcase, held in New York City on June 14, 2018. Valued at $100,000, the prize, meant to fund early-stage development companies, includes a scholarship to Alexandria LaunchLabs, a cash award, and an investment from the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform, an innovative funding model catalyzing seed-stage life science investment.

MapNeuro Inc. commercializes “molecular connectomics” technology developed in the laboratory of CSHL Professor Anthony Zador. MapNeuro uses this platform to understand brain-wide patterns of neuronal connectivity, and is specifically targeting neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Read the full article here.

Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH) Technology Development RFP

Two specific funding programs have been designed to help faculty, physicians, surgeons, medical fellows, and post-docs develop their academic innovations toward commercial goals: Feasibility – up $50k/12 months (director costs) and Proof of Concept- up to $100k/12 months (direct cost) . Full details and application materials can be found here.

Faculty members, physicians, post-doctoral associates, and BEIRs who are considering the submission of an application are strongly encouraged to discuss the proposal with
Anton Xavier (anton.xavier@stonybrook.edu); William Hanes (william.hanes@stonybrook.edu) and/or Emily Kao (Emily.Kao@stonybrook.edu) at the LIBH prior to writing a full proposal..

Deadline for submission is September 19th, 2018. All proposal should be submitted through the online portal. Please note an approval from your Sponsored Programs Office is NOT required prior to the submission but will be required if the project is selected for NIH secondary review. Eligible applicants will be notified if their application is selected to move forward.

The LIBH is supported by the National Institutes of Health REACH initiative (Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub), our four partner institutions, The Research Foundation for SUNY, and Empire State Development.

CFB Selected as DRIVe Accelerator

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University has been selected as one of eight accelerators in the nation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to drive innovation in lifesaving medical technologies that solve challenging problems spanning modern health security threats and daily medical care.

Accelerators will scout out innovative technologies and products that can be developed to solve healthcare challenges that extend beyond traditional vaccine and drug development. To assist startups and other businesses in developing their technologies and products, accelerators will connect them with essential product development and business support services. This support could position innovative technologies and products for follow-on investment from the public or private sectors.

A new HHS unit called DRIVe – part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) at the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response – will oversee the accelerator network and is recruiting a nonprofit partner that can work with private investors to fund innovative technologies and products to solve these and other systemic health security challenges. DRIVe also can invest in the projects using quick, streamlined funding methods. Read the full HHS press release here. 

DRIVe Announcement at 2018 BIO International Convention. L to R, Rick Bright, Director, BARDA, Diane Fabel, Director Operations, Stony Brook Center for Biotechnology, Patricia Beckmann, President and Executive Director and Jessica Roberto, Associate Director, Life Science Washington Institute, and Robert Kadleck, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response, HHS.

Additional Media Coverage:

Forbes – June 8, 2018 “An Unlikely Biotech Investor: The Government”

Newsday – June 5, 2018 “Stony Brook center tapped for federal anti-infection program”

Innovate Long Island – June 5, 2018 “SBU Joins Elite HHS Business-Development Task Force”

Chronus Pharmaceuticals Receives Phase I STTR

Chronus Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has received a $299,172 Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award in partnership with the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University.

Funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be used to establish feasibility of an antibody diagnostic for detecting childhood tuberculosis. The research will be lead by LIBH Researcher Nicole S. Sampson, PhD in the Department of Chemistry, who will serve as principle investigator on the award and work in close collaboration with Chronus Pharmaceuticals.

Celmatix awarded $4.5M to expand in NYS

Celmatix, a next-generation women’s health company, has been awarded $4.5 million from Empire State Development’s New York City Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), to expand its headquarters in Manhattan.

Piraye Yurttas Beim, PhD, Founder and CEO of Celmatix stated “New York State has been there for Celmatix every step of the way as we’ve transitioned from ambitious startup to innovative next generation women’s health company. From the training I received through New York State’s Center for Biotechnology program at Stony Brook University, to the support we received from the Empire State Development START-UP New York program when it was time to build our first lab, and now, with this award as we prepare to take the next step in the evolution of our company, we are honored to have continued support to grow and thrive in New York.”

Additional Articles: pharmiweb