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CFB BEIR Receives $1.9M SBIR Fast-Track

Avanti Biosciences, Inc. a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company lead by Center for Biotechnology BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence Dr. Gian Luca Araldi, has announced that the National Institute of Aging (NIA) has awarded the Company an SBIR fast-track grant of up to $1,930,000 to support the company’s small molecule treatment for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) over the next 3 years.

The award will enable the preparation and testing of Avanti’s proprietary compounds derivatized from natural catechins, which inhibit DYRK1A, an enzyme that modulates tau phosphorylation. Working with NY Institute for Basic Research and the University of California San Diego (UCSD), the company hopes to attenuate and potentially reverse pathogenesis for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

“This award marks a significant milestone for Avanti Biosciences and an important step for their research into a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease” stated Dr. Clinton Rubin, Director of the New York State Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University. “The Center for Biotechnology is thrilled to see another success for one of the emerging bioscience companies fueling our regional bioecosystem and we proudly support Dr. Araldi’s work as one of our BioEntrepreneurs-in-Residence.”

Dr. Gian Luca Araldi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Avanti, stated, “We are delighted to have been granted this funding from the NIA as it underscores the great need for innovative, effective treatments for this disease, and recognizes the potential benefits that our compounds may provide for patients with AD. The continuous support of Center for Biotechnology and the BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence program has been critical force in the development of our technology and the company as whole.”

More than five million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive, irreversible, neurodegenerative disease that destroys memory and other cognitive abilities. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and as the aging population in the country grows, the incidence rate is expected to rise dramatically.

Learn more about Avanti Biosciences: avantibiosciences.com

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Applications are now open for the 12th BioREACH Award Program from the Center for Biotechnology, which provides $50,000 in translational research funding for Stony Brook faculty and postdoctoral researchers to generate the evidence needed to advance promising innovations to the next stage of development.

BioREACH funds milestone-driven studies and welcomes biomedical innovations as well as platforms, tools, computational technologies, and other enabling technologies with the potential to contribute to solutions addressing unmet needs in health.

Application deadline: October 29, 2026, 5:00pm ET

For info sessions, eligibility and deadlines visit our REACH Website and FAQ.

The Center for Biotechnology (CfB) has helped advance some of Stony Brook University’s most impactful biomedical innovations, among them the yeast two-hybrid system, Xiaflex®, ReoPro®, Oracea®, and 3D virtual colonoscopy. The CfB has supported more than 475 faculty-led translational research projects and contributed to 306 license agreements generating $51 million in royalty returns to the University.

Questions? Reach out to our program contacts or sign up for office hours:

Dee Dao, PhD, Associate Director, dee.dao@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 2–3:30 PM | Sign up Here

Zelda Mendelowitz, PhD, Venture Associate, zelda.mendelowitz@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8–11 AM | Sign up Here

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November 4, 2021
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

REGISTER HERE

The fourth Annual NYC Builds Bio+ Real Estate Development Symposium will focus on the Greater New York Metropolitan area (which also encompasses eastern New Jersey and southern Connecticut), and how it has emerged as the largest and one of the fastest growing life sciences economies in the country.

The Symposium is NYC Builds Bio+’s flagship event and was launched in 2018 as a catalyst for driving targeted life science initiatives in New York City. All proceeds from the Symposium will be dedicated to supporting NYC Builds Bio+, New York’s premier not-for-profit association connecting commercial life science opportunities to the real estate development community.

Creating Specialized Life Science and Lab Space in New York City

A recent NYC City Planning study of the Life Science economy concluded that the NY Metro area, which also encompasses eastern New Jersey and southern Connecticut, enjoys the largest life science economy in the United States. The 2020 Census data indicates that it is also one of the fastest growing markets in the country.

Join the Fourth Annual Life Science Real Estate Development Symposium to hear how private and public investments are driving exponential growth for the life science industry, what new initiatives are furthering innovation in the space and what this means for the Greater NY Metropolitan Area.

Event website: https://www.nycbuildsbio.org/events-test/2021-life-sciences-real-estate-development-symposium/

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New York State-based Startup companies have the opportunity to compete for a share of up to $420,000 in funding to accelerate the commercialization their innovative technology or product.

As part of the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, FuzeHub will hold its tenth New York State Commercialization Competition on October 27 & 28 at the Buffalo Convention Center during the New York State Innovation Summit.

The FuzeHub Commercialization Competition is intended to help small manufacturing and technology companies further develop their prototype in an effort to pursue additional investment and customers as well as strengthen their “go-to-market” strategies, as they move from new product/production method to marketplace.

Learn more and apply here: https://fuzehub.com/commercialization-competition/

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The Center for Biotechnology on behalf of the Long Island Bioscience Hub is pleased to announce a request for proposals for our two-tiered technology development & commercialization program. Awards will be in two categories: Feasibility ($50k/12mo) and Proof of Concept ($100K/12 mo).  More information can be found thru this link (or view on CfB web-page)… 

Review the full funding program overview and proposal guidelines. 

Stony Brook University faculty and postdoctoral associates, alone or in partnership with companies or CFB-appointed BioEntrepreneurs-in-Residence (BEIRs), are eligible to apply. In all instances, the faculty member or post-doctoral associate must serve as the principal investigator, and the project must be executed on the academic campus at Stony Brook University.

Application Deadline: March 7, 2024 no later than 5pm.

Interested applicants are strongly recommended to connect with the Center for Biotechnology team before writing a full proposal and submission.  
Please contact Phuong Nguyen, PhD, at the Center for Biotechnology: phuong.t.nguyen@stonybrook.edu.

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Applications are now open for the 12th BioREACH Award Program from the Center for Biotechnology, which provides $50,000 in translational research funding for Stony Brook faculty and postdoctoral researchers to generate the evidence needed to advance promising innovations to the next stage of development.

BioREACH funds milestone-driven studies and welcomes biomedical innovations as well as platforms, tools, computational technologies, and other enabling technologies with the potential to contribute to solutions addressing unmet needs in health.

Application deadline: October 29, 2026, 5:00pm ET

For info sessions, eligibility and deadlines visit our REACH Website and FAQ.

The Center for Biotechnology (CfB) has helped advance some of Stony Brook University’s most impactful biomedical innovations, among them the yeast two-hybrid system, Xiaflex®, ReoPro®, Oracea®, and 3D virtual colonoscopy. The CfB has supported more than 475 faculty-led translational research projects and contributed to 306 license agreements generating $51 million in royalty returns to the University.

Questions? Reach out to our program contacts or sign up for office hours:

Dee Dao, PhD, Associate Director, dee.dao@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 2–3:30 PM | Sign up Here

Zelda Mendelowitz, PhD, Venture Associate, zelda.mendelowitz@stonybrook.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8–11 AM | Sign up Here

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BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity

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