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

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

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

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

NIH Grantees: Learn How to Commercialize Your Tech

The NIH is providing an opportunity for grantees to participate in an online entrepreneurial education platform aimed at teaching academic innovators methods to assess the commercial value of their biomedical technologies through our commercialization assistance program, Concept to Clinic: Commercializing Innovation Education (e-C3i). This program provides entrepreneurial education for investigators who are interested in better understanding the value of their innovation in addressing an unmet market need. The eC3i course is being offered to investigators with active (or in a No-Cost Extension through 9/23) NIH-funded research projects from participating Institutes and Centers.

All applications must be received no later than April 14th, 2023. Apply Today! Applications can be submitted to NIBIB-SBIR@mail.nih.gov. All NHLBI grantees are encouraged to contact us (nhlbi_sbir@mail.nih.gov) if you are interested in participating or have any questions about the application process. Learn more here.

Call for Proposals: Applied Research and Development Program 2023

The Center for Biotechnology has announced a Call for Proposals for our 2023 Applied Research and Development (ARAD) Program. The ARAD program provides matching funds on a competitive basis to support collaborations between Stony Brook University faculty and NY State corporate partners in all areas of medical biotechnology.

These areas include research technologies, diagnostics, therapeutics and medical devices. 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.

2023 Proposal Submission:
The deadline for receipt of applications is May 8, 2023, 5pm (updated). No exceptions will be made. Applications are accepted and considered on a competitive basis and are subject to the availability of funds. Approval from the Research Foundation Sponsored Programs is not required prior to submission, but will be required if the project is selected for funding. All applications require a letter-of-support from a senior executive of the company confirming their corporate residency in New York State and financial commitment to match-fund the project. Further details are found within the forms pages. A single PDF version of the proposal and letter of support should be submitted to Center for Biotechnology at center_for_biotechnology@stonybrook.edu.

ARAD Program Forms:

Call for Applications & Guidelines

Application Form

Budget Forms