Author Archives: Center for Biotechnology

CFB Client Mission Driven Tech Tops Stony Brook Venture Challenge

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Eve McDavid and her team at Mission-Driven Tech have been named the Health Track winners of the Spring 2025 Stony Brook Venture Champions (SBV) Challenge hosted at LIHTI this past week.

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, and accelerating and supporting their commercialization journey to bring impactful, equitable and sustainable solutions and products to market.

Mission Driven Tech aims to improve equity in outcomes for cervical cancers by providing a less painful medical device and raising awareness.

Prizes awarded are in the form of funds that will apply towards I-Corp support related to customer discovery, technology development, infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, and training. Awardees will complete a regional I-Corps program within four months of the challenge.

Check out all the spring 2025 winners via the LIHTI LinkedIn page here.

Pragma Bio Inks Co-Development Deal with Syntekabio

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Pragma Bio, a venture highlighted at the Center for Biotechnology’s 2024 Life Sciences Summit this past fall, has signed a $3.1M deal with Syntekabioto to co-develop drug candidates sourced from gut microbiota. Pragma, which mines microbiome-based therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases, will provide the compounds and Syntekabio will handle the algorithmic optimization.

Read more about the Pragma, Syteka and their partnership here: https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=27024

NYS Governor Hochul Announces $5M Investment in AI at Stony Brook

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Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced that Stony Brook University will receive $5 million over the next three years from New York State to reimagine its existing Department of Technology and Society in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS).

The funds will be used to support faculty hiring, graduate and undergraduate research, internships and fellowships, new technology, and other AI-focused efforts in the establishment of a new Department of Technology, AI and Society.

The new department will be built upon and leverage the expertise of the existing Department of Technology and Society. It will facilitate interdisciplinary research and thinking across SBU’s colleges and schools, as well as the new AI Innovation Institute, to explore applications of AI to challenges like energy and the environment, medicine and human health, and technology, arts and society, organized around themes of ethics, equity and justice.

Read more about the funding and Stony Brook University’s AI Innovation Institute via Stony Brook University News: https://news.stonybrook.edu/university/governor-hochul-announces-5m-investment-in-ai-at-stony-brook

CFB Clients Named to Inc. Magazine’s #FemaleFounders500

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Maria Luisa Pineda, PhD of Envisagenics, and Maeve Wang of IAMBIC have been named honorees of Inc. Magazine’s 2025 #FemaleFounders500!

The list aims to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of 500 female founders who are shaping the entrepreneurial landscape. The honorees are women who are considered inspiring, innovative, and tenacious role models in business.

A well deserved honor for two incredible female founders we’re thrilled are in our ecosystem!

Funding Opportunity: Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH)Awards

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The Center for Biotechnology is pleased to announce a request for proposals for our Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) award program. Awards will be in two categories: Feasibility ($50k/12mo) and Proof of Concept ($100K/12 mo.) Details on the full funding program overview and proposal guidelines can be found here.

The development of promising innovations often stalls due to limited early-stage funding to address translational uncertainties. The Center for Biotechnology’s Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) award program bridges the translation gap between biomedical discovery and their development toward commercial goals. Program funding is intended to determine feasibility, develop proof-of-concept, and ultimately lead to follow-on funding, a strategic partnership, or company formation.

The REACH program supports faculty and postdoctoral researchers in translating bio-based, bio-convergence, and bio-medical research discoveries by providing targeted funding and strategic guidance to bridge the translation gap between discovery and development for commercialization.

Application Deadline: May 15, 2025, 5pm ET

Learn more about the program, get information session details and access the full request for proposals here: https://centerforbiotechnology.org/what-we-do/technology-development/reach/