CFB Announces New Bioentrepreneur & Executive-In-Residence

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University has announced the appointment of Dr. Mario R. Mendoza as Executive-In-Residence, and Dr. William Mann as its newest BioEntrepreneur-In-Residence (BEIR). Drs. Mendoza and Mann have extensive bioscience industry experience affording them unique perspectives in their respective roles in residence at the Center for Biotechnology (CFB). Each will work with the CFB and the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH), a collaboration between Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health. Dr. Mann will identify commercially promising academic technologies that have the potential to support company formation while Dr. Mendoza will serve in an advisory capacity for bioscience startup companies in the hub.

Dr. Mario R Mendoza is a clinical anesthesiologist (practiced at the NIH) and currently a healthcare and pharmaceutical industry medical/medical affairs consultant with over 13 years of combined experience in patient clinical care, clinical development, R&D, medical affairs (Abbott, Pfizer and Centrexion Therapeutics), and FDA medical devices regulation. Dr. Mendoza earned his BS degree in chemistry from SUNY College at Old Westbury, and a MS in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and then completed an FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship Program and stayed on at FDA as a Medical Officer/Medical Consultant.

Dr. William R. Mann is Principal of Lodestar Biopharma Solutions LLC, which assists clients in the development of R&D strategies for regulatory and commercial success, business development, and M&A. Previously, he was President and CEO at Helsinn Therapeutics (US), where he transformed the sixteen employee R&D start-up into a profitable commercial company with a team of over one hundred. At Sapphire Therapeutics, Dr. Mann facilitated an investor exit through M&A while managing the company’s lead clinical development program. He also held leadership positions at Novartis in R&D and business development. Dr. Mann holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and an MBA from Rutgers University.
“We are excited to have Mario and Bill join us at the Center for Biotechnology. Their extensive and varied industry experiences are wonderful assets to our program. The further expansion of our BEIR Program allows us to continue to advance our agenda, fueling the developing bioscience industry in the region” Diane Fabel, Director of Operations at the Center for Biotechnology said.

“I’m thrilled to become an Executive-in-Residence for the Center for Biotechnology.” stated Dr. Mendoza “I’m greatly looking forward to getting involved with biotech industry innovators collaborating with the organization. I believe the bioscience community in the region is robust and the support and partnership with organizations like the Center for Biotechnology are critical in driving innovation in the biotech space, and in getting innovative patient-centric products to market for the benefit of the patient and healthcare provider communities.”

“The work of the Center for Biotechnology is incredibly important to the bioscience community in the region, and I’m eager to be joining the organization.” Dr. Mann stated. “The innovation potential within the region is immense, and I look forward to the collaborative opportunities that lie ahead.”

Dr. Mann will work to identify a technology or technologies from within LIBH partner institutions that will create the foundation for licensing and company formation. He will have the support of the Center for Biotechnology business and technology development staff, as well as the support of external industry advisors to develop successful commercialization strategies. Ultimately, the goal is to help the company position itself for SBIR/STTR grant opportunities, as well as Angel and VC investment. In his role as Executive-in-Residence, Dr. Mendoza will offer invaluable support to the CFB client company portfolio by providing guidance and expertise in diverse areas including, but not limited to, product development, intellectual property strategy, regulatory affairs, capital formation, medical affairs and reimbursement.

The addition of Drs. Mendoza and Mann marks ten entrepreneurs and two executives-in-residence working with the Center for Biotechnology under their BIER program. Collectively, the Center for Biotechnology BEIRS have launched twelve new companies since the program’s inception in 2013.

View PDF announcement

Call for Entrepreneurs!

Thinking of starting a life science company? The Center for Biotechnology can provide access to a compelling, pre-screened pipeline of academic technologies, milestone based incentives, access to early-stage funding opportunities, and staff support to serve as your virtual start-up team.

The Long Island, NY region has a well demonstrated capacity for innovation, serving as home to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Stony Brook University, the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, among others. Sample technologies that have emerged from the region include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ReoPro®; Xiaflex®; Cavistat®; Oracea®, and 3D Virtual Colonoscopy.

More details on the BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence initiative can be found here. Women and underrepresented minorities are encouraged to inquire. If you are interested in the initiative or would like to discuss further, please contact Diane Fabel at diane.fabel@stonybrook.edu or call 631.632.1582.

Free Course from NIH: Entrepreneurial Finance for Biomedical Innovators

The course is presented in a series of five sequential videos. The video modules and course details can be found here: https://www.nibib.nih.gov/entrepreneurial-finance-course

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports the development and commercialization of biomedical technologies through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. With the goal of bringing life-saving innovations to market, NIH SBIR/STTR funding provides early-stage seed capital to US-owned small businesses. While the commercialization of biomedical technologies can require a significant amount of both time and money, rigorous financial planning can help navigate and mitigate risks for small businesses and can enhance chances of success along the pathway to market. For biomedical innovators considering funding through the NIH SBIR/STTR programs (https://sbir.nih.gov), it is imperative to evaluate the use of federal grant funding within the context of a broader financial plan.

Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to present biomedical entrepreneurs with a detailed framework for building a step-wise, validated financial plan. Moving beyond the short-term perspective of immediate financing needs to a comprehensive, long-term financial plan will increase the probability of success for your venture. The primary learning objectives for this course are as follows:

– Understand the importance of financial planning for your small business
– Gain perspective on SBIR/STTR funding within the broader context of your financial plan
– Learn practical approaches to developing a long-term financial plan
– Evaluate the various sources of funding
– Examine the use of comparables in validating your financial plan

 

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.