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LIBH Innovator Awarded Alexandria LaunchLabs Seed Capital Prize

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Alex Vaughan was awarded the 2018 Alexandria LaunchLabs Seed Capital Prize for the CSHL spinoff company MapNeuro Inc. during the NYC Life Science Innovation Showcase, held in New York City on June 14, 2018. Valued at $100,000, the prize, meant to fund early-stage development companies, includes a scholarship to Alexandria LaunchLabs, a cash award, and an investment from the Alexandria Seed Capital Platform, an innovative funding model catalyzing seed-stage life science investment.

MapNeuro Inc. commercializes “molecular connectomics” technology developed in the laboratory of CSHL Professor Anthony Zador. MapNeuro uses this platform to understand brain-wide patterns of neuronal connectivity, and is specifically targeting neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Read the full article here.

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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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Established in April 2023, Stony Brook University's Center for Healthy Aging aims to promote healthy aging and extend physical and mental well-being through innovative research solutions. Please join them for our inaugural virtual seminar series.

Dr. Payel Sen, Stadtman Investigator, NIH
Epigenetic mechanisms of tissue aging
September 25th at 11 am
https://stonybrook.zoom.us/j/98037022918?pwd=XT2p35EKbehaazZpb0aLJtOW3a8gE1.1
Meeting ID: 980 3702 2918
Passcode: 426599

As we age, changes in our “epigenome” alter how our genes are regulated, ultimately impacting organ function. Our research focuses on understanding epigenomic changes in different organs. In this presentation, I will focus on skeletal muscle, which makes up 40% of our body weight and plays a key role in metabolism. As we age, our muscles tend to weaken, partly because the stem cells in our muscles that help repair and grow reduce in number and function. In our study, we looked at muscle stem cells from young, old, and geriatric mice and uncovered that as these cells age, they show signs of increased immune activity and start to lose their ability to stay dormant, which is vital for their function. We also identified specific areas of the genome that might be responsible for these changes. By targeting these areas, we could potentially restore the function of these stem cells and help maintain muscle health as we age.

Upcoming Topics & Dates:

  • October 30th, 11 am: Samantha Rossano, PhD, Medical Science Liaison, Life Molecular Imaging, Inc., Brain imaging biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease
  • November 20th, 11 am: Gregorio Valdez, PhD, GLF Translational Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Slowing muscle degeneration
  • February 26th, 11 am: Christopher Barrett Bowling, MD, MSPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences, Senior Fellow of the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Geriatricizing chronic disease research
  • March 26th, 11 am: Dr. Frank Lin, MD, PhD, Director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health, Professor of Otolaryngology, Medicine, Mental Health, and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Team, Baltimore HEARS and the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging
  • April 30th, 11 am: Dennis Selkoe, MD, Vincent and Stella Coates Professor of Neurologic Diseases, Harvard University, Role of soluble oligomers of amyloid beta in synaptic injury

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America’s Seed Fund, also known as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, offers small business entrepreneurs in the life sciences more than $1.4 billion in non-dilutive funding to support small business research and development.   

Join NIH SEED for this informational webinar on Wednesday, November 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET, where you’ll learn about open funding opportunities, common application errors, and how to avoid them.

Bring your questions - there will be a live Q&A session following the presentation! Next receipt date is January 5.

Speaker: Stephanie Fertig, Director, NIH Small Business Program

Moderator: Adam Sorkin, NIH Small Business Policy Manager

REGISTER HERE
Can’t make it? The webinar will be recorded and posted online about 7 business days after the event.

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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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SBU President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF)

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SBU Center for Healthy Aging Seminar Series

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Webinar: NIH’s Seed Fund – Submitting Successfully to the Small Business Program

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Translating Science into Opportunity

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