Applied Research and Development Awards Announced

The Center for Biotechnology has announced the recipients of the 2016-2017 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 program currently 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. 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. The projects funded include:

  • ICU Temporary Pacemaker – Dr. Wei Lin and Avery Biomedical Device, Inc.
  • Novel Synergistic and Pleiotropic Skin Brightening Agents – Dr. Sanford Simon and Biocogent, LLC
  • Continued In vivo Testing of Vaccine Candidates – Dr. Eckard Wimmer and Cogadenix, Inc.
  • Advanced Fistula-in-Ano Treatment Device – Dr. Tom Zimmerman and Pepper5, Inc.
  • Development of Nanoemulsion-PUFA-taxoids as Tumor-Targeted Chemotherapeutics – Dr. Iwao Ojima and TargaGenix, Inc.
  • Initial Pre-Clinical Safety Assessment of TRB-N0224 – Dr. Lorne Golub and Traverse Biosciences, Inc.
  • Evaluation of a Continuous Visible Light Disinfection System’s Ability to Reduce Bioburden and Subsequently the Incidence of Infections and Colonizations in an Active Patient Area – Dr. Annie Rohan and Vital Vio, Inc.

More information about the Applied Research & Development (ARAD) program, as well as all Center for Biotechnology Technology Development programs can be found here.

Long Island Bioscience Hub Welcomes Feinstein Institute

Stony Brook University-led initiative to accelerate commercialization of biomedical discoveries

STONY BROOK, AND MANHASSET, N.Y. – April 21, 2016 – The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, the research arm of Northwell Health, announced that the Feinstein Institute will be joining the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH).

Established with a National Institutes of Health grant in 2015, Stony Brook’s Center for Biotechnology is the lead administrative institution for the LIBH, an NIH-designated Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH). It is one of three such Hubs in the country, the mission of which is to accelerate the translation of biomedical discoveries into new drugs, devices, and diagnostics to enhance health and improve patient care. The Feinstein Institute joins LIBH members Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The addition of the Feinstein Institute fulfills one of the Hub’s goals of coordinating comprehensive technology commercialization efforts across all four major bioscience research institutions on Long Island.

“We look forward to working with the Feinstein Institute, and their involvement in the Long Island Bioscience Hub further enriches the region’s burgeoning innovation economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Clinton Rubin, PhD, Director of the Center for Biotechnology. “The Feinstein Institute is a world leader in multiple areas of biomedical research, and their expertise will complement the groundbreaking work being done at Stony Brook, Brookhaven Lab, and Cold Spring Harbor.”

“The Feinstein Institute’s focus is on advancing science, treating disease, and bringing healthcare innovations to patients,” stated Dr. Kevin Tracey, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Feinstein Institute. “Our partnership in the Long Island Bioscience Hub will help ensure that scientific breakthroughs emerging from our research enterprise progress into the commercial sector where they can ultimately impact patient care. We see the Long Island Bioscience Hub as a great opportunity to accomplish our mission.”

The LIBH is connected to a network of National Institutes of Health-designated “proof of concept” centers that include the three REACH centers and three additional National Centers for Accelerated Innovation. Collectively, they are developing best practices for the commercialization of academic innovations. The Hubs & Centers also have access to resources at the federal level including the US Patent & Trademark Office, Food & Drug Administration, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to provide guidance at the earliest stages of technology development.

The LIBH will provide funding for feasibility and proof of concept studies at the four Long Island partner institutions, and coordinate access to expertise in areas required for early stage technology development, including scientific, regulatory, business, legal, and project management. The Hub will also facilitate introductions to strategic industry partners and early stage investors.  The LIBH announced its first round of technology development awards in December 2015, committing approximately $900,000 to thirteen projects. The second round of funded projects is expected to be announced in April 2016.

In addition to the Long Island Bioscience Hub’s institutional partners, support for the initiative has been provided by the Research Foundation of SUNY and Empire State Development. Total investment in the Hub over the next three years exceeds $8 million.

Download a PDF of the press release here.

 

 

 

 

Clint Rubin inducted into Stony Brook’s National Academy of Inventors

On Monday, April 11, 2016 Stony Brook University launched its chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. With the launch, 30 university of faculty members will be inducted into that chapter’s Hall of Fame, including Center for Biotechnology Director and Biomedical Engineering Chair, Dr. Clinton Rubin.

The NAI was founded in 2010 at the University of South Florida to recognize and encourage inventors who earn U.S. patents. The organization aims to enhance the visibility of university-based innovations and promote the societal benefits of technological and academic breakthroughs. Stony Brook joins more than 200 other NAI chapter members around the globe that will “foster research that leads to academic inventions and entrepreneurship from faculty and students,” while building “a culture of invention across all campus disciplines,” SBU said in a statement. A full list of first inductees can be found here.

 

 

“No More Needles” – News 12 LI Features ImmunoMatrix

News 12 Long Island Recently highlighted Katarzyna Sawicka, Founder and President of ImmunoMatrix, a Stony Brook start-up and CFB client developing a technology that can deliver medication directly through the skin, no needles necessary. View the segment here.

“Even Research Needs a Rolodex”

Center for Biotechnology Director and Stony Brook Biomedical Engineering Chair Dr. Clinton Rubin recently spoke with Innovate Long Island about commercialization and entrepreneurship. A serial inventor, Dr. Rubin has been involved in three startup companies based on his technology which have all taught him different lessons about commercialization. As he notes in the article, “There’s a chasm between launching a technology and creating a company”. Read the full article here.