Tag Archives: entrepreneurs

Long Island Bioscience Hub Announces Latest Funded Projects

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Innovative phase-0 proof-of-concept center continues advancement
of commercially promising biomedical innovations.

The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University, on behalf of the Long Island Bioscience Hub (LIBH), announced the recipients of the fourth round of funded projects under the Hub’s technology development and commercialization initiative. Funding for five projects totaling $400,000 has been awarded to applicants from the Hub’s partner institutions. Partner institutions include Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at Northwell Health. Over the last two years, more than $2.5M has been awarded to further the development of commercially promising technologies.

There are two categories of awards under the LIBH funding initiative – Feasibility and Proof-of-Concept. “Feasibility awards” are funded at up to $50,000 and designed to rapidly test the feasibility of new ideas in a “fail-fast-or-proceed” format, or to add value to existing intellectual property leading to new market applications. Proof-of-Concept awards provide up to $100,000 for targeted, milestone driven support for further development, testing, and analysis of existing intellectual property.

In this cycle, two feasibility awards have been given to Stony Brook University researchers exploring technologies that include a novel anti-fungal for life threatening blood infections and a new computational method for macrocyclic drug discovery. Proof-of-Concept projects this cycle include a drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB combination therapy, a novel therapeutic for the treatment of colorectal cancer, and a next-generation medical imaging tool with applications in mammography.

“While the Long Island Bioscience Hub is only two‐years in existence, it has already had major impacts including the establishment of four companies.” said Clinton T. Rubin, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, Chair, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Director, Center for Biotechnology. “Additionally, this round of funding further enhances the LIBH-REACH pipeline that already has resulted in eight patent applications, five options/licenses and more than forty SBIR/STTR applications related to REACH technologies and small business clients.”

“I applaud the efforts of the Long Island Bioscience Hub as they continue to draw out the cutting edge biomedical innovations that exist within our research labs and their work with faculty innovators and the local bioscience community to accelerate commercial development.” said Dr. Richard Reeder, Vice President for Research at Stony Brook University. “Stony Brook University is deeply committed to the translation of basic research and the Hub’s successes demonstrate that we need to continue to foster the activities of the Hub.”

The technology development awards made available by the LIBH are specifically aimed at growing a pipeline of commercially promising biomedical technologies that can be out-licensed for further development or serve as the foundation for new company formations in the region. The main goal of the LIBH is to foster the development of therapeutics, preventatives, diagnostics, devices and research tools emerging from LIBH partner institutions that address diseases within the NIH’s mission.

Funded Projects –May 2017 Awards

“A Small Molecule Drug for the Treatment of Systemic Candidiasis” Nicolas Carpino, PhD and Jarrod French, Stony Brook University – Feasibility Award

“BRIKARD, a Program for Macrocyclic Drug Discovery” Evangelos Coutsias, PhD, Stony Brook University – Feasibility Award

“Selenium multi-Well Avalanche Detectors for Medical Imaging Applications” Amirhossein Goldan, PhD, Stony Brook University – Proof of Concept Award

“Developing Novel miR-129 Mimic Based Therapeutics for Colorectal Cancer” Jingfang Ju, PhD, Stony Brook University – Proof of Concept Award

“Azasteroid for Combination anti-TB Therapy” Nicole Sampson, PhD, Stony Brook University – Proof of Concept Award

Download a PDF of the press release here.

Getting Serious About BioEntrepreneurship in New York

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Center for Biotechnology BioEntrepreneur-in-Residence and Founder and CEO of Traverse Biosciences, Joseph Scaduto, recently penned a powerful article discussing the importance of human capital to the growth and sustainability of New York’s bioscience ecosystem.

“…the prospect of “jumping ship” into a new bioscience venture is not just risky, it is downright scary, if not financially impossible, exacerbated further by the frightening lack of alternative job opportunities in the high-probability event of failure. In my opinion, this seemingly insurmountable and geographic “barrier to entry,” defined by the comparatively excessive risk of bioentrepreneurship, is a primary reason why New York continues to struggle to develop, cultivate and grow a vibrant, dynamic and self-sustaining bioscience industry cluster.”

Read the full article here.

 

Request for Proposals: Technology & Business Development Services

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The Center for Biotechnology (CFB) at Stony Brook University is a New York State Center for Advanced Technology and the lead institution of the Long Island Bioscience Hub. The CFB provides the cross-institutional infrastructure for technology development, technology transfer, strategic industry partnerships, new company formation, attraction of investment capital, and other commercialization activities.

The CFB seeks ongoing technology and business development consulting services for its faculty and small business clients. The CFB works primarily with faculty and emerging small businesses to help them develop their technology and business strategy to prepare them for strategic partnerships and/or investment.

Consulting services anticipated, but not limited to:

  • Conduct thorough due diligence on select technologies under consideration for investment by the CFB. Develop written assessments.
  • Participate in in-person meetings on a weekly basis with faculty innovators and emerging companies to provide strategic guidance in intellectual property, competitive analysis, regulatory strategy, manufacturing, company formation and other issues related to commercialization strategies.
  • Actively manage a project portfolio of funded technologies ensuring milestones are met and will add commercial value.
  • Assist faculty in the development of applications for funding.
  • Assist clients to develop effective fundraising strategies and materials.
  • Participate in CFB technology and business development initiatives including the Boot Camp, Strategy Sessions, Long Island BioMentor Service and Life Sciences Summit.
  • Help source and conduct due diligence on emerging company candidates for the Life Sciences Summit.
  • Consult with CFB on specific technologies regarding commercialization and viability for moving forward.
  • Consult with CFB clients on milestones required for licensing, strategic partnerships, investment, and/or manufacturing.
  • Consult with CFB staff on client work, intellectual property, as well as patent, regulatory, commercialization strategies as needed.
  • Consult on course content for CFB programs such as the Innovation Boot Camp and Fundamentals course. Serve as instructor or guest lecturer as needed.
  • Review, interpretation, and advice of patents, websites, articles related to specific technology.
    Required Qualifications:
  • Direct experience in the management of business and technical issues associated with advanced bio-based technology commercialization, including:
    •  Due Diligence
    •  IP Strategy
    •  Fundraising
    • Product development
    •  Regulatory
    • Manufacturing (preferred)
    • Sales and Marketing (preferred)
    •  Licensing
  • Technology development experience in working with faculty-members and entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize early-stage technologies.
  • Experience in technology development and initial IP landscape review and strategy development.
  • Experience in the grant application review and the management of approved grants, including the identification and achievement of milestones that have material commercial value.

Progress Reports

Progress reports detailing meetings held/attended, project development issues, priorities, and other issues of importance are required on a monthly basis.

Time Commitment

  • No less than one full day per week.
  • Must be available to meet onsite and in-person with CFB staff and clients as needed and required by the CFB.
  • Ability to respond to urgent requests and to fill in as needed is desirable.

Proposal Deadline
The CFB seeks proposals from qualified providers who have the expertise and desire to support the technology and business development objectives of the CFB. Interested parties should submit a proposal of no more than one page to Kristina Duryea at Kristina.Duryea@stonybrook.edu by 5p, May 26, 2017.

Celmatix unveils Fertilome

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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.