CEWIT Medical Technologies and Healthcare Innovations Symposium

CEWIT, the Center for Biotechnology and Henry Schein, Inc., have joined forces to host an expert symposium presenting cutting-edge advances in biomedical and clinical-related technologies, digital health, and smart medical devices, focusing on the technology as well as the joint industry, academic, and R&D partnerships that are integral to major innovations in the healthtech domain — at Stony Brook University.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017, 9:30am-3:30pm
The Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) at Stony Brook University
1500 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook, NY 11794-6040

Event is free but registration is requires. View full agenda and register here: www.cewit.org/events/healthtech.html

Celmatix unveils Fertilome


New York City based start-up Celmatix has unveiled “Fertilome”, a DNA-based fertility test. The company describes Fertilome as the “first genetic screen that examines a woman’s genetic signature and how it may impact her reproductive health and ability to conceive, today and in the future.”

Fertilome looks at 49 variants in 32 genes associated with a broad spectrum of female reproductive conditions. Information derived from the test could allow women to see a broader picture of their fertility, allowing for a more proactive approach to planning their family and overcoming fertility issues. Click here to read more about Celmatix and Fertilome.

Congratulations 40 under 40 Winners!

Sincerest congratulations to our clients who are being recognized among Stony Brook University’s 40 under 40 for 2016.  Since earning their Stony Brook degree, they have gone on to pursue their passions, help others and lead positive change.

J. Robert Coleman ’08, PhD Molecular Genetics and Microbiology – Chief Operating Officer, Codagenix, Inc

Katarzyna M. Sawicka ’04, ’05, ’14, BS Engineering Chemistry, MS Chemistry, PhD Biomedical Engineering – Founder and President, ImmunoMatrix

Joseph Scaduto ’08, MBA Business Administration – Founder and CEO, Traverse Biosciences Inc.


libn40-40Additionally, warmest wishes of continued success to Stony Brook’s Director of Government Relations, Lauren Brookmeyer, who was recently named a Long Island Business News “40 under 40 Class of 2017” honoree.

 

Codagenix Inks Exclusive License Agreement

Codagenix, Inc. has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Stony Brook University, through the Research Foundation for the State of New York, to commercialize a platform technology to develop a pipeline of live attenuated vaccines against viral infections in people and animals. The technology relies on software to re-design the genomes of potentially harmful viruses to make them safe and effective vaccines. The technology stems from research in the laboratory of Eckard Wimmer, PhD, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology. The lead indication for vaccine development generated is a vaccine against Seasonal Influenza slated for Phase I human clinical trials in 2017.

Dr. Wimmer, along with Steffen Mueller, PhD, Codagenix President and Chief Science Officer, and J. Robert Coleman, PhD, Codagenix Chief Operating officer, worked as colleagues for years in Dr. Wimmer’s laboratory examining and experimenting with the genes of viruses. By collaborating with Stony Brook scientists Bruce Futcher, PhD, in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, and Steven Skienna, PhD, in the Department of Computer Science, they discovered a way using gene manipulation and computer algorithms to “re-code” the genes of viruses. This re-coding process makes viruses extremely weak and thus ideal candidates as ultra-low dose attenuated vaccines.

The licensing agreement enables Codgenix to develop and potentially market next generation vaccines using software-based gene design and whole viral synthesis to create low-dose, attenuated virus vaccines. The company expects to use this design to first test its vaccine against influenza; however, there are plans for human testing of their Zika and other vaccine candidates. Codagenix is also in partnership with a large agricultural company to make vaccines using the technology for companion and agricultural animals.

The technology has been shown to be effective against numerous viruses including ZIka, Dengue, and RSV all of which are in preclinical testing. The development of this pipeline of vaccines can be seen in numerous scientific papers since 2008, including a paper in Science, PNAS, National Biotechnology and most recently in 2015 in MBIo.

Read Stony Brook University’s full press release here.