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LIBH Supported Technology Licensed to Startup

A technology that manipulates microRNAs (miRNAs) developed by Jingfang Ju, PhD, a biochemist and Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, and colleagues has shown promise when used as anti-cancer therapeutic. The technology has been licensed to Curamir Therapeutics Inc.,

Research leading to the development of the miRNA drug platform was funded in part by grants from the Long Island Bioscience Hub, led by the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University, under the National Institutes of Health REACH  program, as well as the National Cancer Institute.

An incubated company financed by Delos Capital, Curamir will begin developing these drugs for testing with an initial $10 million in financing from Delos Capital. The company was co-founded by Dr. Ju and Dr. James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA structure; and Dr. Lan Bo Chen, Professor Emeritus of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and Academician of the Academia Sinica of Taiwan.

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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

[post_title] => BioREACH: Translational Research Funding Opportunity [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => bioreach-translational-research-funding-opportunity [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-04 11:55:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-04 15:55:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=5065 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1009 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2014-04-11 06:04:29 [post_date_gmt] => 2014-04-11 06:04:29 [post_content] => New research has found that it is possible to cut down the growth of cancer cells at their earliest stages with a new drug. Research conducted by leading cancer metabolism researchers at Stony Brook University, Paul M. Bingham and Zuzana Zachar, is showing promise in this approach with their clinical investigation of a new class of compounds that disrupt cancer cell mitochondrial metabolism. In collaboration with Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals, Drs. Bingham, Zachar and colleagues at Stony Brook University are evaluating the basic mechanisms of actions behind this class of agents. The relationship with Cornerstone has its roots within Stony Brook's Center for Biotechnology. Read more here. [post_title] => SBU Researchers Developing Drug to Cut Down Growth of Cancer Cells [post_excerpt] => New research has found that it is possible to cut down the growth of cancer cells at their earliest stages with a new drug. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => sbu-researchers-developing-drug-to-cut-down-growth-of-cancer-cells [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2014-06-16 06:29:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2014-06-16 06:29:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/new/?p=1009 [menu_order] => 225 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2332 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2016-06-01 17:08:34 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-06-01 17:08:34 [post_content] => The Center for Biotechnology is seeking one or more qualified and motivated high school students interested in learning about and supporting technology development and commercialization of new biomedical innovations on behalf of the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH). The LIBH is a National Institutes of Health-designated Research, Evaluation, and Commercialization Hub (REACH), one of only three such centers in the country. The LIBH supports the development and commercialization activities of its partner institutions including Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Candidates for the Fellowship will have completed their sophomore year in high school, have a GPA of no less than a 3.0, and have an interest in exploring careers in a biomedical field. The Fellowship will run from August 1 - August 31. Some flexibility possible. Interested candidates should send a one-page statement of interest detailing their academic accomplishments and describing what they would like to gain from the Fellowship experience, along with a transcript to: Kristina Duryea kristina.duryea@stonybrook.edu. Selection Process: Deadline for application materials is July 15, 2016. Additional admissions procedures (including interviews, by telephone or in person) may be required. Notification: Applicants will generally be notified by July 22, 2016. One-two applicants are expected to be selected. [post_title] => Commercialization Fellowship for High School Students 2016 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => commercialization-fellowship-for-high-school-students-2 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-07-11 14:00:52 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-07-11 14:00:52 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=2332 [menu_order] => 173 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2253 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2016-06-16 16:15:26 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-06-16 16:15:26 [post_content] => regenix_web1Rgenix, a cancer therapeutics company developing first-in-class drugs targeting novel cancer pathways, announced a $33 million Series B financing led by Novo A/S and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from existing investors including Partnership Fund for New York City, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Conegliano Ventures LP. The financing will support clinical development of Rgenix’s lead drug candidates, RGX-104 and RGX-202, as well as further development of its therapeutics pipeline. In connection with the financing, Nilesh Kumar of Novo Ventures and Antoine Papiernik of Sofinnova Partners will join the Rgenix Board of Directors together with existing members, including Executive Chairman Eric Rowinsky, M.D., Masoud Tavazoie, M.D. Ph.D., Nancy Chang, Ph.D., and Saeed Tavazoie, Ph.D. Read the full press release about Rgenix’s financing here. [post_title] => Rgenix Announces $33M Series B Financing [post_excerpt] => Rgenix, a cancer therapeutics company developing first-in-class drugs targeting novel cancer pathways, announced a $33 million Series B financing led by Novo A/S and Sofinnova Partners, with participation from existing investors including Partnership Fund for New York City, Alexandria Venture Investments, and Conegliano Ventures LP. The financing will support clinical development of Rgenix’s lead drug candidates, RGX-104 and RGX-202, as well as further development of its therapeutics pipeline. [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => rgenix-announces-33m-series-b-financing [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-06-16 16:17:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-06-16 16:17:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=2253 [menu_order] => 176 [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] => 5065 [post_author] => 4 [post_date] => 2026-09-01 14:03:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-09-01 18:03:32 [post_content] =>

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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