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Long Island Biomentoring Initiative Established

November 18, 2016

Program Established to Foster Vibrant Bioscience Cluster in the Region

On Friday, November 18th at the Long Island High Technology Incubator, the Long Island BioMentor Initiative (LIBMI) will be hosting its first full-day mentor training session for the founding mentors of the new initiative. Led by the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University and Accelerate Long Island, the LIBMI has been established on behalf of the Long Island Bioscience Hub – an NIH-designated Research, Evaluation, and Commercialization Hub. The LIBMI is a platform to bring highly qualified, volunteer mentors together with motivated, early-stage bioentrepreneurs to provide guidance and support as they advance their business strategy.

The LIBMI is based on the successful mentoring model developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), and created in collaboration with Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Hofstra University, and the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health Systems. Through MIT VMS’s team mentoring approach, the LIBMI aims to provide objective and unbiased advice that will help entrepreneurs navigate the challenging landscape that growing bioscience ventures face. Mentors participating in the November 18th training session led by a MIT VMS Co-Director will benefit from curriculum and interactive teachings along with a mentoring session with one of the first entrepreneurs chosen to serve as mentee.

“There is an abundance of innovation on Long Island as well as a growing pool of entrepreneurs looking to create ventures that will take root and grow in the region” said Mark Lesko, Board Member, Accelerate Long Island. Diane Fabel, Director of Operations for the Center for Biotechnology added “Establishing a formal mentoring program, specifically for the bioscience sector, is critical as these companies need diverse support in order for them to thrive.”

The initiative employs the team mentoring approach and brings together experts with great depth and a range of experiences. The members of the founding mentor team include Dr. Linda Amper, Chief People Officer of Clever Devices; Dr. Gian Luca Araldi, founder and principal of US Pharma Services; Kara Cannon, Global Head of Sales & Marketing of Enzo Life Sciences, Inc.; Dr. Anil Dhundale, former Executive Director of the Long Island High Technology Incubator; Dr. Wayne Koff, President and CEO of Human Vaccines Project; Ric Overton, President of Overton Operations Advisors; Jeff Peacock, VP Global Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at Henry Schein, Inc.; Dr. Saied Tousi, Managing Director for NW Advisors; and Edward Travaglianti, Market President of Long Island for TD Bank.

The entire process is guided by a statement of principles to ensure confidentiality and a conflict free environment. The initiative will build upon a suite of services and resources provided by the NIH-designated Research, Evaluation, and Commercialization Hub (LI Bioscience Hub), Accelerate Long Island and the Emerging Technology Fund, the New York State Center for Advanced Technology in Medical Biotechnology.

“It’s important to me to help support the entrepreneurial ecosystem on Long Island” founding mentor Ed Travaglianti stated, “and the team approach expands our capacity, allowing us to mentor more than one entrepreneur.”

Learn more about the Long Island BioMentor Initiative here.

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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












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                    [post_content] => The Center for Biotechnology (CFB) at Stony Brook University is a New York State Center for Advanced Technology and the lead institution of the Long Island Bioscience Hub. The CFB provides the cross-institutional infrastructure for technology development, technology transfer, strategic industry partnerships, new company formation, attraction of investment capital, and other commercialization activities.

The CFB seeks ongoing technology and business development consulting services for its faculty and small business clients. The CFB works primarily with faculty and emerging small businesses to help them develop their technology and business strategy to prepare them for strategic partnerships and/or investment.

Consulting services anticipated, but not limited to:

    
 	
  • Conduct thorough due diligence on select technologies under consideration for investment by the CFB. Develop written assessments.
    • 
 	
  • Participate in in-person meetings on a weekly basis with faculty innovators and emerging companies to provide strategic guidance in intellectual property, competitive analysis, regulatory strategy, manufacturing, company formation and other issues related to commercialization strategies.
    • 
 	
  • Actively manage a project portfolio of funded technologies ensuring milestones are met and will add commercial value.
    • 
 	
  • Assist faculty in the development of applications for funding.
    • 
 	
  • Assist clients to develop effective fundraising strategies and materials.
    • 
 	
  • Participate in CFB technology and business development initiatives including the Boot Camp, Strategy Sessions, Long Island BioMentor Service and Life Sciences Summit.
    • 
 	
  • Help source and conduct due diligence on emerging company candidates for the Life Sciences Summit.
    • 
 	
  • Consult with CFB on specific technologies regarding commercialization and viability for moving forward. 
    • 
 	
  • Consult with CFB clients on milestones required for licensing, strategic partnerships, investment, and/or manufacturing.
    • 
 	
  • Consult with CFB staff on client work, intellectual property, as well as patent, regulatory, commercialization strategies as needed.
    • 
 	
  • Consult on course content for CFB programs such as the Innovation Boot Camp and Fundamentals course. Serve as instructor or guest lecturer as needed.
    • 
 	
  • Review, interpretation, and advice of patents, websites, articles related to specific technology. 
 Required Qualifications:
    • 
 	
  • Direct experience in the management of business and technical issues associated with advanced bio-based technology commercialization, including:

      
 	
    •  Due Diligence
      • 
 	
    •  IP Strategy
      • 
 	
    •  Fundraising
      • 
 	
    • Product development
      • 
 	
    •  Regulatory
      • 
 	
    • Manufacturing (preferred)
      • 
 	
    • Sales and Marketing (preferred)
      • 
 	
    •  Licensing
      • 

    

    • 
 	
  • Technology development experience in working with faculty-members and entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize early-stage technologies. 
    • 
 	
  • Experience in technology development and initial IP landscape review and strategy development.
    • 
 	
  • Experience in the grant application review and the management of approved grants, including the identification and achievement of milestones that have material commercial value.
    • 


Progress Reports

Progress reports detailing meetings held/attended, project development issues, priorities, and other issues of importance are required on a monthly basis. 

Time Commitment

    
 	
  • No less than one full day per week.
    • 
 	
  • Must be available to meet onsite and in-person with CFB staff and clients as needed and required by the CFB.
    • 
 	
  • Ability to respond to urgent requests and to fill in as needed is desirable.
    • 


Proposal Deadline
 The CFB seeks proposals from qualified providers who have the expertise and desire to support the technology and business development objectives of the CFB. Interested parties should submit a proposal of no more than one page to Kristina Duryea at Kristina.Duryea@stonybrook.edu by 5p, May 26, 2017.
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The core technology of BasicBites was developed by Israel Kleinberg, DDS, PhD, DSc, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology, and Director of the Division of Translational Oral Biology at Stony Brook University. View the brief video here: http://bit.ly/1GJ8Mth
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iCell
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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












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BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity

September 1, 2026

More Information

Request for Proposals: Technology & Business Development Services

May 8, 2017

More Information

High Tech Oral Hygiene BasicBites featured on Good Morning San Diego

March 12, 2015

More Information

iCell Gene Therapeutics Granted Orphan Drug Designation

August 11, 2016

More Information