Author Archives: Center for Biotechnology

CFB Announces Annual Applied Research & Development (ARaD) Awards

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The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University (CFB) has announced the recipients of the 2023-2024 Applied Research & Development (ARaD) awards. The ARaD Program is designed to help bridge the gap between the early-stage technology discovery and development capabilities of the academic community, and the later-stage commercial development interests of the bioscience industry.

The CFB is supporting the project*, “Wearable Haptic Device for Catheter Based Cardiac Procedures” that is being developed by HapticHeart Solutions. The company is collaborating with Dr. Wei Lin of the Department of Biomedical Engineering to upgrade the haptic handle of their current prototype to a sleek wearable device for a better experience and reduced cost. The technology has the potential to revolutionize the $14B cardiac catheterization market.

Additionally, the CFB will support the project* entitled “”Development of a Structural Model and Enzyme-Inhibitor Interactions for a Novel Cancer Target” by Lime Therapeutics, a startup spun out of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in collaboration with Dr. Ivet Bahar, who serves as the Louis and Beatrice Laufer Chair and Director Laufer Center for Physical & Quantitative Biology within the Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Stony Brook University. The goal of this project is to leverage the computational and molecular dynamics capabilities of Dr. Bahar’s lab to achieve three specific aims related to optimizing the company’s lead compound.

The program currently provides matching funds on a competitive basis to support collaborations between Stony Brook University faculty and New York State corporate partners in all areas of medical biotechnology. The primary interest is in supporting development of technologies that will help companies hit commercially relevant milestones, and that have the potential to positively impact the New York State economy.

Companies that are looking to connect with expertise at Stony Brook University are encouraged to contact Dr. Phuong Nguyen at the Center for Biotechnology to explore options. Dr. Nguyen can be reached at: phuong.t.nguyen@stonybrook.edu.

*pending finalization of contract

View the full press release here.

2023 Global NY Export Experts Tour

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Learn how to expand your presence in the global marketplace. Empire State Development’s Global New York Division is taking its expertise on the road – Global New York programs connect companies with sales agents and distributors abroad and offset the costs of exporting with grants and loans, as well as help New York businesses enter or expand their presence in the global marketplace.

From June 12 – 16, Global New York is bringing its eight foreign office representatives from Canada, Mexico, Europe (U.K.), South Africa, Israel, India, the Caribbean, and China on an seven-stop export promotion tour to regions across New York State.

Long Island: June 12
Central New York: June 14
New York City:June 12
Finger Lakes:June 15
Mid-Hudson:June 13
Western New York: June 16
Capital District: June 13

Learn more and register: https://esd.ny.gov/global-ny-trade-promotion-tour

CFB Client featured on Forbes.com: “IAMBIC Creates ‘Sizeless’ Shoes That Are Good For Your Feet”

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NYC startup IAMBIC co-founded by Maeve Wang and Stony Brook University Alumni Raza Hassan are developing “an AI-driven precision fit sneaker” aimed at combating pain, injuries and deformities that one in four people experience when it comes to traditional shoe sizing. Backed by a grant from the National Science Foundation, these innovative shoes are both stylish and foundational, fusing traditional shoe making with science and technology, and allowing the company to have “a preventative lens on foot health” according to Wang. Read the full article on forbes.com

Dr. Louis A. Peña appointed Director, Program in Life Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship & Associate Professor of Practice

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The Center for Biotechnology has announced the appointment of Dr. Louis A. Peña as Director of the new Program in Life Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, Dr. Peña has been appointed as Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the College of Business at Stony Brook University.

The Professor of Practice will steward the University’s Advanced Graduate Certificate in Life Science Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which was established under Empire State Development’s Life Science Entrepreneur Development award, and further develop educational and experiential learning initiatives. The Director of the Program in Life Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship will build upon the Center’s efforts to synergize technology and business accelerator activities with opportunities for students to gain real-world technology commercialization experience.

Prior to joining the Center for Biotechnology and Stony Brook University, Dr. Peña held leadership positions in both industry and academia. He is experienced with startup and early stage companies. Commercializing scientific discoveries he made at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Dr. Peña co-developed a biotech startup that took a biomaterial from idea to clinical trials and acquisition. He later served as Chief Scientific Officer of a biopharma Contract Research Organization. Dr. Peña has also consulted for technology startups in bioagriculture, medical devices, medical imaging, and energy, supporting technology assessment, market assessment, and business strategy.

“We are excited to have Louis join the Center for Biotechnology and Stony Brook University to further our efforts of expanding entrepreneurial education in the life sciences” Diane Fabel, Director of Operations at the Center for Biotechnology said. She continued “His industry involvement, coupled with his academic experiences allow him to bring a unique perspective to the role and for students in our programs to benefit from his real-world experience.”

“I am very happy to join the team at the Center for Biotechnology and my colleagues at Stony Brook University. The Center has a great, established foundation of commercialization and education in this sector and I’m eager to further develop these unique and critical programs” Dr. Peña said. “Our goal is to bolster the life science commercialization knowledge of students graduating from New York universities. At one level, this will help entrepreneurs gain the mix of skills and expertise needed to successfully guide innovative life science startups along the path to commercial viability. At a broader level, this will help with the biotech workforce development of our region and state for those who may not want to start companies but want to understand the sector in great depth so they can secure well-paying and/or leadership positions in this sector.”

Download a PDF of the announcement here.

SBU Faculty: Biomedical Sciences Innovation Fund

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The Office of the President, Office of the Provost, Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, and Office of the Vice President for Research invite applications for a seed grant program to fund collaborative efforts between biomedical scientists at SBU seeking to apply to externally funded research and training initiatives.

This seed grant program will award proposals in the following areas of interest:
– Brain, Behavior, Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Cancer
– Development, Aging, and Life Span
– Drug Development, from Chemistry to Diagnostics and Therapies
– Environmental Health, Climate Change and Human Health
– Immunology and Infectious Diseases
– Metabolism, Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disorders
– Technology, Computation, Biology, Medicine, and Regenerative Medicine

The program will fund up to five multidisciplinary teams that commit to submitting proposals for medium/large scale grants (i.e., >$3M for research grants and >$2M for training grants) in the following categories: multi-PI grants, center grants, instrumentation grants, and training grants. Awarded projects will receive up to $100,000 for a maximum award period of two years.

Eligibility Requirements
All PIs must be current, full-time, tenured or tenure track faculty at Stony Brook University
Applicants can only be PI on one application and Co-PI on one application. There is a limit of four Co-PIs on any application.

Applications due May 8, 2023 at 11:59 PM EST via the application submission portal.

Full details here: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/proposal-development/funding/OVPR_Seed_Grant_Program/Biomedical_Sciences_Innovation_Fund.php