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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”

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                    [post_date] => 2026-09-01 14:03:32
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                    [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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Dr. Yusuf Hannun and his team at Stony Brook Medicine Cancer Center have been awarded a competitive $11 million NIH Program Project Grant to advance groundbreaking research on sphingolipids in cancer biology and therapy.

This is a major milestone for the institution and a testament to the team’s innovative work in understanding how lipids drive cancer development and how that knowledge can lead to new treatments, especially for breast and liver cancer—the two leading causes of death both locally and nationwide.

Dr. Hannun’s legacy continues to shape the future of cancer research at SBCC, and this award reflects the growing global impact of our work with promising life science companies.

[post_title] => SBU Cancer Center Team Receives $11M NIH Grant [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => 4919-2 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-03-10 14:20:09 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-03-10 18:20:09 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=4919 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2544 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2016-09-01 18:19:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-09-01 18:19:34 [post_content] => Check out the newly designed Center for Biotechnology newsletter! Catch up on client financings, newcos, expansions, and other happenings. And if you're not already...be sure to follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest Center news. [post_title] => Summer 2016 Newsletter [post_excerpt] => The Center for Biotechnology is thrilled to present our newly designed newsletter. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => summer-2016-newsletter-2 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-12-30 18:19:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-12-30 18:19:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=2544 [menu_order] => 165 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 3415 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2020-01-13 14:10:26 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-01-13 14:10:26 [post_content] => MicroRid Technologies Inc. has received a five year, $4 million, Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) Technology/Therapeutic Development Award, which is administered by the Department of Defense office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The company, founded by Center for Biotechnology BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence Dr. Brian McCarthy and Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine Professor Maurizio Del Poeta, is researching the development of small-molecule anti-fungal drugs.The Center for Biotechnology is also supporting company technology development efforts via our REACH program. The company will work with Stony Brook University on aspects of the project, engaging with Dr. Del Poeta as well as Dr. Iwo Ojim from the department of Chemisty. The goal of the project, titled “The Research and Development of New Antifungals” is to develop / optimize compounds that inhibit fungal specific targets and perform preclinical development that will help prepare the company for their Investigational New Drug filing with the FDA. [post_title] => MicroRid Technologies Receives $4M Award [post_excerpt] => MicroRid Technologies Inc. has received a five year, $4 million, PRMRP award. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => microrid-4m-award-2020 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-01-13 14:10:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-01-13 14:10:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=3415 [menu_order] => 80 [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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