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Anton Xavier Joins CFB in Technology and Business Development Role

Former Pfizer Senior Scientist and Scout Anton Xavier has joined the Center for Biotechnology in the role of Assistant Director of Technology and Business Development. Within this role at the Center, Anton will focus on the development and implementation of technology and business development strategies that will increase sponsored research, company formation, strategic alliances, and investment with external partners. Anton will also provide oversight to the Center’s Commercialization Associates offering technology / business development services and education to entrepreneurial faculty and emerging companies.

During his tenure at Pfizer, Anton had duties within the External Science and Innovation group (ES&I) focusing on sourcing, screening, and evaluating early through to late stage (inter)national biopharma ventures, entrepreneurial academic PI technology, private/public/local government funded life science initiatives, and funding vehicles which aligned with Pfizer’s R&D interest for investment and strategic partnerships. Additionally, Anton led efforts within Pfizer R&D from discovery through to late stage development of targeted therapeutics for oncology indications.

Prior to Pfizer, Anton’s experience was within a wider field of bioscience, including regenerative medicine, infectious disease, and cardiovascular biology where he developed multiple therapeutic, platform, and diagnostic innovations for military and industrial needs.

Anton is currently a mentor and adjunct faculty member for early stage life science ventures with E-Lab NYC, ABCT (Accelerator for Biosciences in Connecticut), NSF’s I-Corps program, the British Consulate NYC, Business France, and Cornell / Columbia University, where he provides critical industry based science, strategy, and business development input for bio-venture development.

Anton earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, a Master of Science (MSc) in Toxicology from Imperial College London and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Microbiology from Queen Mary University of London.

Anton can be reached at the Center for Biotechnology by emailing anton.xavier@stonybrook.edu

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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] => 3365 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2019-09-20 17:23:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-09-20 17:23:10 [post_content] => The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Catalyze Program is soliciting applications for early stage translational research projects with the goal of developing basic scientific discoveries into viable therapeutics, devices, and diagnostics to treat heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases and disorders. Funding is available for early stage technology development, including: Therapeutics (Small molecules/Biologics) - Identifying and characterizing lead compounds Devices/Diagnostics/Tools - Developing, testing, and modifying prototypes - Identifying and developing assay targets - Developing research tools Enabling Technologies and Transformative Platforms - Developing highly-innovative, next-generation technologies that could transform current approaches to clinical practice or translational research (technology must be beyond proof-of-concept and should be ready to begin validation) - Accelerating the areas of early detection and screening, animal model development, or clinical diagnosis Learn more about the program and the informational webinar taking place on October 3, 2019 on the NHLBI website. [post_title] => Funding Opportunity - NHLBI Catalyze Program [post_excerpt] => Funding is available for early stage technology development through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Catalyze Program. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => funding-opportunity-nhlbi-catalyze-program [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2019-09-20 17:23:10 [post_modified_gmt] => 2019-09-20 17:23:10 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=3365 [menu_order] => 85 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 4272 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2023-08-28 13:39:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-08-28 17:39:39 [post_content] =>

The Long Island BioMentor Initiative (LIBMI), created and managed by the Center for Biotechnology, is excited to welcome two new mentors, Dr. Annie Rohan, PhD, RN, FAANP, FAAN and Mike Horan, MBA.

Dr. Annie Rohan is currently Dean of the Henry P. Becton School Nursing and Allied Health at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Dr. Rohan is a dual-certified Nurse Practitioner whose academic achievements rest on the foundation of a 25-year clinical career caring for critically and chronically ill infants and children, and highest-risk families. To support diversification of the healthcare workforce, she has procured over $10-million in federal funding to support the education of underrepresented and disadvantaged students into the allied health and nursing professions. Dr. Rohan is currently Associate Editor for MCN: The American Journal of Maternal-Child Nursing, and has been honored with Fellowship in both the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) and American Academy of Nursing (FAAN).

Mike Horan, MBA is a Product Development, Engineering, and Operations Executive. He is an accomplished engineering and technology business leader with over 30 years of experience in product development. At Zebra Technologies, he currently serves as the Sr. Director of Global Quality overseeing quality for their product and solutions portfolio, supply chain and QMS. Mike has experience in Strategic & Portfolio Planning, Engineering Leadership, Program Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Operations —all in a global environment. He is a highly motivational leader with experience in building high-performing teams.

The LIBM brings highly qualified volunteer mentors together with motivated, early-stage bioentrepreneurs to provide actionable guidance and support as they advance their business strategy. The initiative was developed in an alliance with MIT’s successful Venture Mentor Service and employs a team mentoring approach which is guided by a statement of principles to ensure confidentiality and a conflict free environment.

To learn more about the program or get involved, visit the LIBMI website or contact Ashley Abid, LIBMI Operations Manger (ashley.abid@stonybrook.edu)

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The SBV Challenge is focused on identifying high-potential, impactful cutting-edge hard tech venture concepts originating from research labs and universities on Long Island, accelerating and supporting their commercialization journey to bring impactful, equitable and sustainable solutions and products to market. The SBV Challenge is looking to support champions of hard tech innovations in Energy, Health and Information

SBV Challenge participants and winners receive mentorship and incentives to advance their technologies and accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

Learn more and apply here: https://lihti.org/venture-champions-challenge/

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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

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Funding Opportunity – NHLBI Catalyze Program

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Long Island BioMentor Initiative Welcomes New Mentors

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Stony Brook Venture (SBV) Challenge

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