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CFB Announces New Bioentrepreneur & Executive-In-Residence

March 5, 2020

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University has announced the appointment of Dr. Mario R. Mendoza as Executive-In-Residence, and Dr. William Mann as its newest BioEntrepreneur-In-Residence (BEIR). Drs. Mendoza and Mann have extensive bioscience industry experience affording them unique perspectives in their respective roles in residence at the Center for Biotechnology (CFB). Each will work with the CFB and the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH), a collaboration between Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health. Dr. Mann will identify commercially promising academic technologies that have the potential to support company formation while Dr. Mendoza will serve in an advisory capacity for bioscience startup companies in the hub.

Dr. Mario R Mendoza is a clinical anesthesiologist (practiced at the NIH) and currently a healthcare and pharmaceutical industry medical/medical affairs consultant with over 13 years of combined experience in patient clinical care, clinical development, R&D, medical affairs (Abbott, Pfizer and Centrexion Therapeutics), and FDA medical devices regulation. Dr. Mendoza earned his BS degree in chemistry from SUNY College at Old Westbury, and a MS in organic chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and then completed an FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship Program and stayed on at FDA as a Medical Officer/Medical Consultant.

Dr. William R. Mann is Principal of Lodestar Biopharma Solutions LLC, which assists clients in the development of R&D strategies for regulatory and commercial success, business development, and M&A. Previously, he was President and CEO at Helsinn Therapeutics (US), where he transformed the sixteen employee R&D start-up into a profitable commercial company with a team of over one hundred. At Sapphire Therapeutics, Dr. Mann facilitated an investor exit through M&A while managing the company’s lead clinical development program. He also held leadership positions at Novartis in R&D and business development. Dr. Mann holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and an MBA from Rutgers University.
“We are excited to have Mario and Bill join us at the Center for Biotechnology. Their extensive and varied industry experiences are wonderful assets to our program. The further expansion of our BEIR Program allows us to continue to advance our agenda, fueling the developing bioscience industry in the region” Diane Fabel, Director of Operations at the Center for Biotechnology said.

“I’m thrilled to become an Executive-in-Residence for the Center for Biotechnology.” stated Dr. Mendoza “I’m greatly looking forward to getting involved with biotech industry innovators collaborating with the organization. I believe the bioscience community in the region is robust and the support and partnership with organizations like the Center for Biotechnology are critical in driving innovation in the biotech space, and in getting innovative patient-centric products to market for the benefit of the patient and healthcare provider communities.”

“The work of the Center for Biotechnology is incredibly important to the bioscience community in the region, and I’m eager to be joining the organization.” Dr. Mann stated. “The innovation potential within the region is immense, and I look forward to the collaborative opportunities that lie ahead.”

Dr. Mann will work to identify a technology or technologies from within LIBH partner institutions that will create the foundation for licensing and company formation. He will have the support of the Center for Biotechnology business and technology development staff, as well as the support of external industry advisors to develop successful commercialization strategies. Ultimately, the goal is to help the company position itself for SBIR/STTR grant opportunities, as well as Angel and VC investment. In his role as Executive-in-Residence, Dr. Mendoza will offer invaluable support to the CFB client company portfolio by providing guidance and expertise in diverse areas including, but not limited to, product development, intellectual property strategy, regulatory affairs, capital formation, medical affairs and reimbursement.

The addition of Drs. Mendoza and Mann marks ten entrepreneurs and two executives-in-residence working with the Center for Biotechnology under their BIER program. Collectively, the Center for Biotechnology BEIRS have launched twelve new companies since the program’s inception in 2013.

View PDF announcement. 

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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/


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Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled plans for New York BioGenesis Park, a groundbreaking $430 million Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Innovation Hub in Nassau County, Long Island. To be developed by The Albanese Organization, Inc., this state-of-the-art facility would catalyze CGT research, development, clinical manufacturing, and commercialization across New York State. With a historic $150 million state investment—the largest nationwide for a cell and gene therapy hub—NYBGP would accelerate the delivery of new therapies from lab to patient in New York's diverse communities. This transformative hub aims to establish New York as the leading global destination for CGT innovation, driving economic growth, attracting top talent, and revolutionizing patient care statewide and beyond.





The Center for Biotechnology is thrilled to be counted as a partner in this effort, and is looking forward to working with our colleagues in the initiative to help catalyze and accelerate life-changing therapies.





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A cornerstone of New York BioGenesis Park is its incubator, supported by a $50 million investment from ESD's Long Island Investment Fund. This facility will empower early-stage therapeutic developers by offering state-of-the-art wet lab space, shared equipment, office space, and other essential resources. This nurturing environment will provide Cell and Gene Therapy companies with access to specialized equipment, mentoring, and stage-appropriate financial guidance. As a critical component of New York BioGenesis Park, the incubator is poised to catalyze the growth of promising Cell and Gene Therapy companies by providing them with resources and support, unlocking their potential for innovation and success.





New York BioGenesis Park would foster strong ties with academic and medical institutions throughout New York, creating a robust ecosystem for Cell and Gene Therapy innovation. Collaborating with the Empire State Cellular Therapy Consortium and world-class institutions like Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the Feinstein Institutes, Northwell Health, Roswell Park, Stony Brook University, Weill Cornell, Columbia University and others around the state, New York BioGenesis Park would enhance research synergies and accelerate medical breakthroughs. This ecosystem would bring together experts in advanced Cell and Gene Therapy therapies, offering specialized facilities, services, and resources to both tenants and collaborating institutions. By facilitating cutting-edge science, innovative technology development and novel approaches to clinical trials, New York BioGenesis Park would ensure New York's institutions remain globally competitive in groundbreaking Cell and Gene Therapy research and commercialization.





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https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-launches-next-phase-long-islands-nation-leading-cell-and-gene-therapy


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CFB Client Haptic Heart Solutions has been accepted to present "Haptic Feedback System for Cardiovascular Interventions" at the Heart Rhythm 2025 Meeting taking place April 24-27 in San Diego, California. The annual Heart Rhythm meeting is the must-attend event for anyone involved in researching or delivering arrhythmia care or services





HapticHeart Solutions is building a system that takes signals from various systems within the cardiac cath/electrophysiology lab and translates them into haptic feedback that is delivered to operators in near real-time via a wearable. This device-agnostic solution can be customized for multiple use cases in catheter-based interventional cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, and structural heart procedures.


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Led by experts from BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting, join our live Virtual Classroom for an interactive, 2 day SBIR/STTR workshop. We’ll review the basics including program purpose; eligibility; and sources of funding. Then we’ll provide proposal prep essentials of the NIH, NSF and DOE programs. In addition to up-to-date information on the SBIR/STTR programs, we will cover:

- NIH and NSF grant mechanisms and where to find them

- How to find the program officers, how to approach them, what questions to ask

- How to do research using the web tools available (eReporter, SBIR.gov, etc.)

- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them, and much more.





Workshop registration fee: $25.00. Please register online: https://cfbsbirtrain2021a.eventbrite.com. 

*Stony Brook University Faculty/Staff/Students may attend workshop at no cost – please contact Kate Hutchinson (kate.hutchinson@stonybrook.edu)  for details. 





Workshop is produced by the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University and in partnership with Columbia Technology Ventures. The Center for Biotechnology also offers a follow on One-on-One Proposal Counseling program via a competitive application process. Learn more here: https://centerforbiotechnology.org/resources/programs/ 


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Center for Biotechnology's Director of Operations, Diane Fabel recently penned an OpEd for the Long Island Business News: "Biotech investments, partnerships key to LI economy".





"Breakthroughs made by academic and industry scientists over the last 20 years have advanced the field of biomedicine exponentially. Immunotherapies, regenerative medicine, and pre-symptomatic diagnostics are now realities. 





Long Island is facing a moment of enormous potential to advance biomedical discoveries that will improve human health and drive economic growth. Enabled by a concentration of world-class research institutions, and an emerging bioscience industry cluster, the region is at a tipping point."





Read the full article on LIBN.com







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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/


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