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Center for Biotechnology Continues to Expand B-EIR Program

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University has announced the appointment of Mohan Chellani, PhD, and Michael Bielski, MS, JD to the position of BioEntrepreneurs-In-Residence (B-EIR). Both Dr. Chellani and Mr. Bielski have extensive bioscience industry experience at the senior management level, and have successfully commercialized multiple academic innovations. Their roles as BEIRs is to identify technologies that have the potential to support company formation in the region. Each brings unique skills and perspectives to technology assessment and bioscience-startups.

Dr. Chellani has over twenty years of experience in the diagnostics industry prior to his

appointment as B-EIR, having served as VP, Scientific Affairs at Enzo Biochem, and as a

Director and Advisor to Quest Diagnostics. He has also served as founder and CEO of two startup companies, Progen Life Sciences and Discitis Diagnostics. Dr. Chellani holds a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UMD-New Jersey and an MBA from Fordham University.

Mr. Bielski has founded multiple technology companies, including co-founding NewLeaf Symbiotics, Inc., an agricultural biotechnology company that has raised over $25M in venture capital. He also served as the Assistant Director for Science and Technology Commercialization at the Center for Biotechnology for six years prior to pursuing his entrepreneurial ventures. Mr. Bielski holds a JD and an MS in Neuroscience from Syracuse University.

Both Dr. Chellani and Mr. Bielski will conduct due diligence to identify a technology or

technologies around which they may build a company. If successful, they will also be provided with access to a technology development budget that will help them position the technology for commercialization. B-EIRs also have access to the Center’s business and technology development support staff to help develop appropriate business strategies. Ultimately, the goal is to help the company prepare for SBIR/STTR grant opportunities, and Angel and VC investment.

Read the full press release.

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Applications are now open for the 12th BioREACH Award Program from the Center for Biotechnology, which provides $50,000 in translational research funding for Stony Brook faculty and postdoctoral researchers to generate the evidence needed to advance promising innovations to the next stage of development.

BioREACH funds milestone-driven studies and welcomes biomedical innovations as well as platforms, tools, computational technologies, and other enabling technologies with the potential to contribute to solutions addressing unmet needs in health.

Application deadline: October 29, 2026, 5:00pm ET

For info sessions, eligibility and deadlines visit our REACH Website and FAQ.

The Center for Biotechnology (CfB) has helped advance some of Stony Brook University’s most impactful biomedical innovations, among them the yeast two-hybrid system, Xiaflex®, ReoPro®, Oracea®, and 3D virtual colonoscopy. The CfB has supported more than 475 faculty-led translational research projects and contributed to 306 license agreements generating $51 million in royalty returns to the University.

Questions? Reach out to our program contacts or sign up for office hours:

Dee Dao, PhD, Associate Director, dee.dao@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 2–3:30 PM | Sign up Here

Zelda Mendelowitz, PhD, Venture Associate, zelda.mendelowitz@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8–11 AM | Sign up Here

[post_title] => BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => bioreach-translational-research-funding-opportunity [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-04 11:55:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-04 15:55:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=5065 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1475 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2015-03-26 16:37:02 [post_date_gmt] => 2015-03-26 16:37:02 [post_content] => Eavesdropping on Investors' Closed Door Discussions" 1st Pitch Life Sciences Meeting Tuesday, April 14, 2015 5:30pm - 8:30pm Hear what happens after a start-up company presents to an investor group. Usually after the company representatives leave the room the investors have a private discussion to decide whether the opportunity merits further investigation and possible investment. 1st Pitch Life Science offers presenters and audience members the chance to hear what happens in those closed-door discussion, and to learn what really matters to investors. 1st Pitch Life Science is organized by MABA (Mid Atlantic Bio Angels www.bioangels.net), a life science investor group, to encourage and educate aspiring life science entrepreneurs who know they may be too early or not fully prepared to seek investment but want the opportunity to practice their pitch and to receive constructive criticism from experienced and knowledgeable professionals. To Register: https://1stpitchapril2015.eventbrite.com When: Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 5:30pm : Registration & Networking 6:00 - 8:00pm : Program 8:00 - 8:30pm : Networking Where:** Please note new location** New York Genome Center 101 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10013   [post_title] => 1st Pitch Life Sciences Meeting - April 14 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 1st-pitch-life-sciences-meeting-april-14 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-03-02 18:13:17 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-03-02 18:13:17 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/new/?p=1475 [menu_order] => 207 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1423 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2015-02-25 22:55:49 [post_date_gmt] => 2015-02-25 22:55:49 [post_content] => Springboard's Health Innovation Hub is a collaboration platform advancing the growth of women-led digital health and life science companies with access to sources of funding, partnerships, and advisors. Learn more on their website, download the 1-pager, or apply here. [post_title] => Springboard Enterprises' Health Innovation Hub [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => springboard-enterprises-health-innovation-hub [to_ping] => [pinged] => http://sb.co/hih15/ [post_modified] => 2016-03-02 18:00:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-03-02 18:00:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/new/?p=1423 [menu_order] => 213 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3338 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2019-08-26 13:59:23 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-08-26 13:59:23 [post_content] => Due to a few technical difficulties, and to accommodate new and/or incoming awardees, NIH is extending the deadline to apply to their NIH Commercialization Accelerator Program (NIH CAP). The new deadline is 11:59 p.m. PDT (Pacific) FRIDAY, September 13, 2019. This is a cost free* customized commercialization (market readiness/growth) program. For 16 years, CAP has provided customized technical/business assistance to companies at different stages, and has a notable track record: 50 acquisitions (including companies acquired by Sony, Zoll, Bruker, BioMarin, Illumina, Takeda, Google, Roche, etc.), 10 IPOs, and more than $1B in 3rd party funding raised. The program features:
  • world-class guidance from experienced domain professionals, including industry and technical specialists affiliated with Bayer Healthcare, Qualcomm, Baxter, Pfizer, Genetech, McKesson, Medtronic, CMS, Life Technology, etc.
  • Feedback and interaction from a range of stakeholders in the life sciences marketplace
  • Notable graduates of the CAP include: Sharklet, Lift Labs, (provide a few big and recognizable names)
  • Alumni benefit – Continued access to Larta’s network and resources post program!
*CAP participation is free of charge for program participating companies; however, participants are responsible for travel and lodging expenses associated with attending workshops and program related events. For more details on this program, including success data, eligibility and instructions, please visit: https://sbir.nih.gov/cap. [post_title] => DEADLINE EXTENDED! NIH SBIR/STTR Commercialization Accelerator Program (CAP) [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => deadline-extended-nih-cap [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-08-26 13:59:23 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-08-26 13:59:23 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=3338 [menu_order] => 88 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 4 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 5065 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2026-09-01 14:03:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-09-01 18:03:32 [post_content] =>

Applications are now open for the 12th BioREACH Award Program from the Center for Biotechnology, which provides $50,000 in translational research funding for Stony Brook faculty and postdoctoral researchers to generate the evidence needed to advance promising innovations to the next stage of development.

BioREACH funds milestone-driven studies and welcomes biomedical innovations as well as platforms, tools, computational technologies, and other enabling technologies with the potential to contribute to solutions addressing unmet needs in health.

Application deadline: October 29, 2026, 5:00pm ET

For info sessions, eligibility and deadlines visit our REACH Website and FAQ.

The Center for Biotechnology (CfB) has helped advance some of Stony Brook University’s most impactful biomedical innovations, among them the yeast two-hybrid system, Xiaflex®, ReoPro®, Oracea®, and 3D virtual colonoscopy. The CfB has supported more than 475 faculty-led translational research projects and contributed to 306 license agreements generating $51 million in royalty returns to the University.

Questions? Reach out to our program contacts or sign up for office hours:

Dee Dao, PhD, Associate Director, dee.dao@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 2–3:30 PM | Sign up Here

Zelda Mendelowitz, PhD, Venture Associate, zelda.mendelowitz@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8–11 AM | Sign up Here

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BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity

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1st Pitch Life Sciences Meeting – April 14

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DEADLINE EXTENDED! NIH SBIR/STTR Commercialization Accelerator Program (CAP)

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