Long Island Bioscience Hub Appoints Additional BioEntrepreneurs-In-Residence

Seasoned Industry Veterans Join Long Island Bioscience Hub’s BioEntrepreneur-in Residence Initiative

The Long Island Bioscience Hub, a collaboration between Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and the Feinstein Institute at Northwell Health, announced the appointment of Dr. Boris Shor and Mr. Peter Young as its newest BioEntrepreneurs-In-Residence (BEIRs). Dr. Shor and Mr. Young have extensive bioscience industry experience affording them unique perspectives in the role of Bio Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Each will work with the Center for Biotechnology to identify commercially promising academic technologies that have the potential to support company formation.

Dr. Shor has nearly 15 years of experience in leading oncology programs and external R&D partnerships at the large pharmas and biotech companies, with specific focus on preclinical development of small molecule kinase inhibitors and biologics. Previously at Pfizer, Dr. Shor led internal and external collaboration project teams to develop novel antibody-drug conjugates and supported BLA filing for Inotuzumab, which was approved for the treatment of leukemia in 2017. Prior to that, he was a project team leader at the Oncology Unit of Wyeth, managing the discovery of novel kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. He currently serves on the executive management team of early-stage biotech companies and is a founder of BioIDEA, a biotech pitch event in New York City. Dr. Shor received a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and performed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Inflammation Research team at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D prior to joining Pfizer.

Mr. Young is an experienced life science industry consultant with over thirty-five years experience and currently serves as an executive-in-residence with Pappas Capital, where he leads the firm’s initiatives in translational research. He also serves on the Oversight Committee for the University of Miami Wallace H. Coulter Center for Translational Research and the Long Island Bioscience Hub External Review Board. He is a past member of the BIO board and chairman of NCBIO, the North Carolina industry trade association. Mr. Young earned a BA in History and an MBA from Indiana University.

“We couldn’t be more delighted to add Boris and Peter to the Center for Biotechnology’s roster of BioEntrepreneurs-in-Residence. The ongoing expansion of the BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence program is critical for the continued development of the bioscience industry in the region” Diane Fabel, Director of Operations at the Center for Biotechnology said. “The attraction and retention of skilled bioscience management talent is an important component of ensuring companies can be launched and also grow here.”

“I am thrilled to join the Center for Biotechnology as a BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence” Dr. Shor stated, “and I have already begun the work of assessing technologies and building a company. I appreciate the resources the Center for Biotechnology offers through their many programs not only to me, but to emerging companies throughout New York.”

“Having worked with the Center for Biotechnology as an advisor for several years, I am pleased to formally join the Center as BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence” Peter Young stated. “There is an incredible amount of activity related to bioscience development currently taking place right now in the region, and the Center’s many entrepreneurial programs provide a great springboard for significant industry expansion – I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

In their roles as BEIRs, Dr. Shor and Mr. Young will work to identify a technology or technologies from within partner institutions that will create the foundation for licensing and company formation. They will have the support of the Center for Biotechnology business and technology development staff, as well as the support of external industry advisors to develop successful commercialization strategies. Ultimately, the goal is to help the company position itself prepare for SBIR/STTR grant opportunities, and Angel and VC investment.

Dr. Shor and Mr. Young join the eight BEIRs already working with the Center for Biotechnology who collectively have launched ten new companies in the last five years.

Celmatix awarded $4.5M to expand in NYS

Celmatix, a next-generation women’s health company, has been awarded $4.5 million from Empire State Development’s New York City Regional Economic Development Council (REDC), to expand its headquarters in Manhattan.

Piraye Yurttas Beim, PhD, Founder and CEO of Celmatix stated “New York State has been there for Celmatix every step of the way as we’ve transitioned from ambitious startup to innovative next generation women’s health company. From the training I received through New York State’s Center for Biotechnology program at Stony Brook University, to the support we received from the Empire State Development START-UP New York program when it was time to build our first lab, and now, with this award as we prepare to take the next step in the evolution of our company, we are honored to have continued support to grow and thrive in New York.”

Additional Articles: pharmiweb

Call for Papers: CEWIT2017

Call for Papers: The 13th International Conference & Expo on Emerging Technologies for a Smarter World (CEWIT2017)
November 7 & 8, 2017
The Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT) at Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY, USA
www.cewit.org/conference2017

CEWIT2017 is the premier international forum for presentations of original research results as well as the exchange and transfer of innovative, end-to-end solutions, applications, and systems of emerging technologies in infrastructure, healthcare, and energy – three of the most critical components of a smarter global world. Specific topics of interest include but are not limited to, the Internet of Things; Cybersecurity; Big Data Analytics and Visualization; Health Technologies and Medical Devices; Smart Energy; and Smart Urban Systems, as well as Technological Applications and Tech Entrepreneurship.

Organized by the NYSTAR-designated New York State Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), CEWIT2017 is a destination for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, across borders and disciplines, to exchange ideas, build valuable partnerships, and bring cutting-edge technology to the marketplace. The 2017 program will feature a series of research and entrepreneurial-focused tech talks, workshops, and keynote plenaries at CEWIT’s next generation research and educational facility at Stony Brook University.

Abstract Submission Deadline: August 1, 2017
More Information and to Submit Your Contribution: www.cewit.org/conference2017
Contact: 631-216-7000; conference@cewit.org

Annual Applied Research And Development Awards Announced

Awards Support Innovative Research Collaborations Between Academic Faculty and Regional Bioscience Companies

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University has announced the recipients of the 2017-2018 Applied Research & Development (ARAD) awards. The ARAD Program is designed to help bridge the gap between the early-stage technology discovery and development capabilities of the academic community, and the later-stage commercial development interests of the bioscience industry.

The program currently provides matching funds on a competitive basis to support collaborations between Stony Brook University faculty and New York State corporate partners in all areas of medical biotechnology. The primary interest is in supporting development of technologies that will help companies hit commercially relevant milestones, and that have the potential to positively impact the New York State economy.

Projects supported this year include the furthered development of an ICU temporary pacemaker, a novel Lymphoma treatment, a novel synthetic peptide based therapeutic for Osteoporosis, further development of an fMRI Dynamic Phantom, development of novel vaccines, third generation taxoid based nanomedicine for chemoresistant cancer, development of a polymeric heart valve, a drug delivery technology for treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, and the development of skin brightening agents.

“The Center’s Applied Research and Development Program speaks to the core of what our organization does – collaborate with New York State companies to help them develop commercially promising technologies that will lead to strategic partnerships, investment, corporate revenues, and job creation” said Diane Fabel, Director of Operations for the Center for Biotechnology. “Our academic institutions are incredible resources for bioscience companies to tap into when it comes to technology development, and promoting interactions between the two helps fuel the overall bioscience ecosystem in the region.”

The ARAD Program is part of a suite of programs and services provided by the Center for Biotechnology (CFB) focused on accelerating the development of biomedical technologies in order to have a positive impact on human health and society. The CFB is also the lead administrative institution for the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH) an NIH-designated Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) established with a National Institutes of Health grant in 2015.

2017-2018 Applied Research and Development Awards 

“Synthetic Osteogenic Peptide for Treatment of Osteoporosis” Ajes Life Sciences & Dr. Srinivas Pentyala

“fMRI Dynamic Phantom for Improved Detection of Resting State Brain Networks” ALA Scientific Instruments & Dr. Helmut Strey

“Continued Development of ICU Temporary Pacemaker” Avery Biomedical Inc & Dr. Wei Lin

“Novel Pleiotropic Skin Brightening Agents” Biocogent, LLC & Dr. Sanford Simon

“In vivo Testing of Vaccine Candidates” Codagenix, Inc & Dr. Eckard Wimmer

“A Novel Polymeric Valve for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement” Polynova Cardiovascular, Inc. & Dr. Danny Bluestein

“Imaging the Targeted Delivery of Biologic Agents to the Colon for Local Therapeutic Action” Symbiotic Health Inc. & Dr. Peter M. Smith-Jones

“Eradication of an Oncogenic Herpesvirus as a Novel Intervention for Lymphoma” Theragnostic Technologies, Inc. & Dr. Laurie T. Krug

“Novel Cancer Stem Cell Cytotoxic Agent: Nano-Formulation IND-Enabling Studies” TargaGenix Inc. & Dr. Galina Botchkina

Download a PDF of the press release here.

 

BIO 2016

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The Center for Biotechnology team recently ventured out to San Francisco for BIO’s annual International Convention. Through the support of Empire State Development and the Long Island Bioscience Hub, the Center for Biotechnology was able to support six Long Island emerging biotech companies to attend the meeting: Alpha-1 Biologics Corporation, Codagenix, Inc., DepYMed, Inc., iCell Gene Therapeutics, PhD Skin Care LLC and Vela Therapeutics. These companies were joined in the New York Pavilion by more than two dozen other companies and entities representing New York State.

Long Island and New York City regional companies Alpha-1 Biologics, Vela Therapeutics, Intrommune Therapeutics, PainQX, Serendipity Biotech, ENB Therapeutics, and QuickSilver Biosystems all were recipients of grants from Empire State Development and NewYorkBio which also assisted their participation in the event. These companies were tapped to present in the New York Pavilion along with six other companies from upstate New York.

Envisagenics, ENB Therapeutics, PainQx, QuickSilver and Abcombi BioSciences, all New York State Companies, were invited to participate in the BIO 2016 “Start-Up Stadium” which provide start-up companies with the opportunity to pitch to key members of the investment community, venture philanthropy groups, and BIO attendees. The participating investors provided live feedback and judged the sessions.

In addition, six Long Island Bioscience Hub faculty members were invited to participate in the meeting for the first time. These NIH-REACH program supported faculty attended with the goal to learn more about the commercialization process, how it applies to their translational research, and to engage in the partnering process and meet with potential strategic contacts. Center staff met with over 40 strategic partners over the course of the meeting and follow up is underway.

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