Long Island Bioscience Hub is seeking experienced BioEntrepreneurs-in Residence

The Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH) is seeking experienced BioEntrepreneurs-in Residence (BEIRs) to launch new bioscience ventures in the Long Island, New York region. Company formation will be based upon commercially promising biomedical technologies emerging from Stony Brook University (SBU), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

To help facilitate this process, the LIBH will provide:

  • modest retainer/milestone payments to BEIRs for a predetermined period of time
  • access to technology development funding on a competitive basis
  • senior staff support to assist with commercialization strategies
  • office space
  • access to experienced industry advisors
  • introductions to investors and professional services

BEIRs will also have access to the resources of the LIBH including: faculty expertise, core research and engineering facilities, libraries, business incubators, the 245-acre Research Park, and a suite of end-to-end economic development programs. BEIRs will be responsible for evaluation of biomedical technologies available for license from LIBH partner institutions. BEIRs will ultimately select specific technologies to form the basis of a company, and will be required to develop detailed commercialization strategies, business plans and investor presentations. BEIRs will negotiate and execute option and/or license agreements with LIBH partner institutions as may be appropriate, secure capital from both public and private sources, and exit the BEIR program to lead the Long Island- based company as CEO. BEIRs will also provide guidance to entrepreneurial faculty members and participate in technology reviews and other meetings as deemed appropriate.

The most compelling BEIR candidate(s) will possess domain expertise and technical proficiency in the life sciences or engineering, as well as business acumen and industry experience, particularly in early stage technology commercialization, new venture creation, and fundraising. Advanced degree in life sciences, engineering, business and/or law are preferred. Terms of engagement dependent upon individual circumstances. BEIRs will report to the Center for Biotechnology Advisory Board.

Interested parties should contact to Eleanor Allen, with a statement of interest and resume. Inquiries will be considered on a rolling basis until appropriate candidates are identified.

The LIBH, was established by the Center for Biotechnology (CFB), a New York State Center for Advanced Technology, in collaboration with Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory, and with additional support provided by the National Institutes of Health REACH initiative (Research Evaluation And Commercialization Hub), Research Foundation for SUNY, and Empire State Development. The LIBH will foster the development of therapeutics, preventatives, diagnostics, devices and research tools emerging from LIBH partner institutions that address diseases within the NIH’s mission.

Center for Biotech Receives NIH Award to Develop a Bioscience Hub

STONY BROOK, N.Y., April 8, 2015 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has granted Stony Brook University’s Center for Biotechnology a three-year $3 million award through the SUNY Research Foundation to establish the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH). The award is part of the NIH’s Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program and one of only three granted nationwide.The hub will be a collaboration between Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory and is designed to help accelerate the translation of biomedical discoveries into new drugs, devices, and diagnostics to improve patient care and enhance health.

Stony Brook’s Center for Biotechnology will lead the efforts of the LIBH, coordinating its comprehensive technology commercialization efforts across the three partner institutions. Such activities include technology development programs, establishing strategic partnerships, recruiting experienced entrepreneurs to provided experienced company management, and providing services such as education and mentoring that will help faculty innovators move their academic innovations into the commercial sector via a start-up company, licensing opportunity, and/or a strategic partnership.

The Long Island Bioscience Hub will build upon Stony Brook’s existing strengths in translational research and commercialization to develop an infrastructure across partner institutions, which will accelerate the yield of new healthcare innovations, said Samuel Stanley Jr., MD, President of Stony Brook University. This partnership will advance New York State’s ever-expanding bio-based entrepreneurial ecosystem with new discoveries that fuel new company formation and jobs in biotechnology.

With this award, the NIH recognized the great potential for translational research and technology development that resides in our region, says Clinton T. Rubin, PhD, Principal Investigator, Distinguished Professor, Chair of the Department Biomedical Engineering, and Director of the Center for Biotechnology. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to enhance what is already a bourgeoning innovation economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The REACH program is based on the NIH Center for Advanced Innovations (NCAI) initiative created the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The three hubs established under the REACH program will work collaboratively with the NCAIs to develop best practices and share resources where appropriate. REACHs will also be able to take advantage of unique partnerships with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the United States Patent Office, and the Center for Medicare & Medicade Services.

Each NIH REACH hub will provide funding for feasibility studies and coordinate access to expertise in areas required for early stage technology development, including scientific, regulatory, business, legal, and project management. Skill development and providing hands-on experience in entrepreneurism are also aims of the hubs.

The Greatest Hits How Success Breeds Success

Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory have a demonstrated capacity for bioscience innovation that has advanced the course of biomedical science and contributed to improved healthcare through FDA approved therapies including ReoPro&reg, SAFHS, Xiaflex&reg, Periostat® and Oracea&reg, new medical devices including 3Dvirtual colonoscopy and LivMD$reg, and new company formation including New England BioLabs, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Collagenex, Pharmacopeia, and Exogen.

Millennial Materials and Devices Presenting at NY Business Plan Competition Finals

Gaurav Lalwani, PhD, Biomedical Engineering department at Stony brook University and Center for Biotechnology Fundamentals Program alumnus, has Co-founded Millennial Materials and Devices, a company which was recently awarded second place in the Stony Brook Entrepreneurs Challenge 2015, with a cash reward of $10,000 and $3000 prize in ‘DARE to RISK’ Business Plan Competition at Farmingdale State University, Long Island Regional Affiliate of the New York State Business Plan.

Millennial Materials will now be presenting at the Finals of New York Business Plan Competition (NYBPC) in Albany on April 24, 2015 in the Nanotechnology/Advanced Technology category. The NYBPC is the only leading collegiate business competition that is a regionally coordinated, collaborative statewide program representing over 75 colleges and universities, which sets it apart from all other competitions in the nation. Millennial Materials and Devices is working towards the commercialization of a novel proprietary formulation and method to fabricate large-area transparent conductive films for applications ranging from the fabrication of flexible unbreakable displays to electromagnetic shielding and biomedical coatings.

Traverse Biosciences Executes Exclusive, Worldwide License Agreement

Traverse Biosciences, founded by Joseph Scaduto – one of the Center for Biotechnology’s first BioEntrepreneurs-in-Residence, announced today that it has executed an exclusive, worldwide license agreement with the Research Foundation for the State University of New York (RF/SUNY) for access to the animal health applications of a proprietary library of polyenolic zinc-binding agents. The license agreement also extends Traverse Biosciences the exclusive option to license the human health applications of these promising drug candidates.

The drug compounds were invented by Lorne Golub, DMD, MD (Honorary), Distinguished Professor in the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology in the Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine, and Francis Johnson, PhD, President of Chem-Master International Inc. and Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacology at Stony Brook. The drugs were developed in concert with the the Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University. The Center provided financial support to help the inventors develop their lead compound and for follow-on animal studies.

Click to read the press releases from Stony Brook University and Traverse Biosciences.

The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Workshop – April 21, 2015

The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit Workshop is the next installment of how to workshops for entrepreneurs, early phase companies, inventors, and anyone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur. Technology agnostic information on topics such as Seed Funding, Crowd Funding, What is the profile of a fundable company? Protecting my edge in intellectual property? What type of incorporation is right for me? will be presented. View complete agenda here.

This event will be taking place April 21, 2015 at the Center for Wireless and Information Technology at Stony Brook University. View event flyer – Registration for this singular event is at no charge, but space is limited – please reserve your seat here: http://www.cewit.org/newsevents/EntrepreneursToolkitInterestForm.html