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Lahara Bio Presents at BIO International Convention

SBU Startup, Lahara Bio, presented in the start-up stadium event at the 2023 BIO International Convention in June.

Christopher Ashdown, a MD/PhD student at Stony Brook University, and Center for Biotechnology Program alumnus presented on behalf of Lahara after securing a spot in the coveted forum by winning multiple pitch competitions from NIH SEED office.

According to Ashdown, “Bio 2023 was an amazing experience, and I was thrilled to be able to share the exciting work that we’re doing at Lahara Bio with the greater bioscience community. The CfB was incredibly helpful in preparing the company for this conference and has done an excellent job of helping me develop on a personal/professional level”.

In addition to the main stage presentation, Ashdown also presented Lahara Bio at the NIH booth. Lahara Bio was sponsored to attend BIO by the NIH after Ashdown won the national investor pitch competition at the NIH Proof of Concept Network annual meeting this past spring.

Lahara Bio is an early-stage biotechnology company using cell-specific mechanical vibration to non-invasively improve biomanufacturing outcomes. Learn more about the company and the team behind Lahara at laharabio.com.

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                    [post_date] => 2026-08-10 12:17:19
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Attention Stony Brook University Faculy and Staff: Applications for the second cycle of the President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) opened August 3, 2026. Open to all Stony Brook faculty and staff, this special initiative supports immediate-impact projects that can be launched quickly and deliver results within six to ten months.

The FIF provides awards of up to $300,000 focused on low‑investment, high‑reward initiatives that create visible, positive change. Examples of projects that would be considered include specialized equipment or technology acquisitions, pilot programs or proof‑of‑concept initiatives, targeted renovations or seed funding, among other opportunities.

All proposals must include a customized, high-level budget and be endorsed by the relevant vice president or dean with authority to implement the project. Applications for the August cycle will be available beginning August 3 with submissions due Friday, August 21 by 5 pm, ET. Please visit the Fast Impact Fund website for additional information and to submit an application.

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FuzeHub will host its ninth New York State Commercialization Competition on October 29–30 during the 2025 NYS Innovation Summit in Rochester, NY.

Startups will compete for a share of $410,000 in funding—including awards of $150K, $100K, and $80K—to advance the commercialization of their innovative products or technologies.

Eligibility:
- Companies are required to have an existing tangible prototype
- Applicants must be available to pitch in person October 29-30, 2025 in Rochester, NY.
- Applicants must propose to fund activities to improve upon an existing tangible prototype and/or their “go-to-market” strategy.
- Company must reside and operate in New York State, and at least one founder must reside in NYS.
- Company must be pre-revenue.
- Company must be pre-seed.
- Company must be registered with Dun & Bradstreet, and have an eligible North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code specific to manufacturing identified in their D&B profile.

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

[post_title] => Applications Open: New York State Commercialization Competition  [post_excerpt] => FuzeHub is accepting applications for its ninth New York State Commercialization Competition. Startups can compete for awards up to $150K to advance the commercialization of their innovative products or technologies. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => applications-open-new-york-state-commercialization-competition [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-03-10 14:16:19 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-03-10 18:16:19 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=4902 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2700 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2017-05-19 18:26:24 [post_date_gmt] => 2017-05-19 18:26:24 [post_content] => Center for Biotechnology BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence and Founder and CEO of Traverse Biosciences, Joseph Scaduto, recently penned a powerful article discussing the importance of human capital to the growth and sustainability of New York’s bioscience ecosystem. "...the prospect of “jumping ship” into a new bioscience venture is not just risky, it is downright scary, if not financially impossible, exacerbated further by the frightening lack of alternative job opportunities in the high-probability event of failure. In my opinion, this seemingly insurmountable and geographic “barrier to entry,” defined by the comparatively excessive risk of bioentrepreneurship, is a primary reason why New York continues to struggle to develop, cultivate and grow a vibrant, dynamic and self-sustaining bioscience industry cluster." Read the full article here.   [post_title] => Getting Serious About BioEntrepreneurship in New York [post_excerpt] => "The prospect of “jumping ship” into a new bioscience venture is not just risky, it is downright scary, if not financially impossible, exacerbated further by the frightening lack of alternative job opportunities in the high-probability event of failure." [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => getting-serious-about-bioentrepreneurship-in-new-york [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2017-08-08 15:53:19 [post_modified_gmt] => 2017-08-08 15:53:19 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=2700 [menu_order] => 145 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1337 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2014-10-07 16:44:23 [post_date_gmt] => 2014-10-07 16:44:23 [post_content] => Just released - the Center for Biotechnology's Summer/Fall 2014 News Update recapping the latest news and upcoming events, including spotlighting client company Intensity Therapeutics. Read it here. [post_title] => Center for Biotechnology Summer/Fall 2014 News Update [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => center-for-biotechnology-summerfall-2014-news-update [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2015-01-28 16:57:03 [post_modified_gmt] => 2015-01-28 16:57:03 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/new/?p=1337 [menu_order] => 217 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 4 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 5031 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2026-08-10 12:17:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-08-10 16:17:19 [post_content] =>

Attention Stony Brook University Faculy and Staff: Applications for the second cycle of the President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) opened August 3, 2026. Open to all Stony Brook faculty and staff, this special initiative supports immediate-impact projects that can be launched quickly and deliver results within six to ten months.

The FIF provides awards of up to $300,000 focused on low‑investment, high‑reward initiatives that create visible, positive change. Examples of projects that would be considered include specialized equipment or technology acquisitions, pilot programs or proof‑of‑concept initiatives, targeted renovations or seed funding, among other opportunities.

All proposals must include a customized, high-level budget and be endorsed by the relevant vice president or dean with authority to implement the project. Applications for the August cycle will be available beginning August 3 with submissions due Friday, August 21 by 5 pm, ET. Please visit the Fast Impact Fund website for additional information and to submit an application.

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