Tag Archives: news updates

Anton Xavier Joins CFB in Technology and Business Development Role

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Former Pfizer Senior Scientist and Scout Anton Xavier has joined the Center for Biotechnology in the role of Assistant Director of Technology and Business Development. Within this role at the Center, Anton will focus on the development and implementation of technology and business development strategies that will increase sponsored research, company formation, strategic alliances, and investment with external partners. Anton will also provide oversight to the Center’s Commercialization Associates offering technology / business development services and education to entrepreneurial faculty and emerging companies.

During his tenure at Pfizer, Anton had duties within the External Science and Innovation group (ES&I) focusing on sourcing, screening, and evaluating early through to late stage (inter)national biopharma ventures, entrepreneurial academic PI technology, private/public/local government funded life science initiatives, and funding vehicles which aligned with Pfizer’s R&D interest for investment and strategic partnerships. Additionally, Anton led efforts within Pfizer R&D from discovery through to late stage development of targeted therapeutics for oncology indications.

Prior to Pfizer, Anton’s experience was within a wider field of bioscience, including regenerative medicine, infectious disease, and cardiovascular biology where he developed multiple therapeutic, platform, and diagnostic innovations for military and industrial needs.

Anton is currently a mentor and adjunct faculty member for early stage life science ventures with E-Lab NYC, ABCT (Accelerator for Biosciences in Connecticut), NSF’s I-Corps program, the British Consulate NYC, Business France, and Cornell / Columbia University, where he provides critical industry based science, strategy, and business development input for bio-venture development.

Anton earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management, a Master of Science (MSc) in Toxicology from Imperial College London and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with Microbiology from Queen Mary University of London.

Anton can be reached at the Center for Biotechnology by emailing anton.xavier@stonybrook.edu

CFB Selected as DRIVe Accelerator

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The Center for Biotechnology at Stony Brook University has been selected as one of eight accelerators in the nation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to drive innovation in lifesaving medical technologies that solve challenging problems spanning modern health security threats and daily medical care.

Accelerators will scout out innovative technologies and products that can be developed to solve healthcare challenges that extend beyond traditional vaccine and drug development. To assist startups and other businesses in developing their technologies and products, accelerators will connect them with essential product development and business support services. This support could position innovative technologies and products for follow-on investment from the public or private sectors.

A new HHS unit called DRIVe – part of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) at the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response – will oversee the accelerator network and is recruiting a nonprofit partner that can work with private investors to fund innovative technologies and products to solve these and other systemic health security challenges. DRIVe also can invest in the projects using quick, streamlined funding methods. Read the full HHS press release here. 

DRIVe Announcement at 2018 BIO International Convention. L to R, Rick Bright, Director, BARDA, Diane Fabel, Director Operations, Stony Brook Center for Biotechnology, Patricia Beckmann, President and Executive Director and Jessica Roberto, Associate Director, Life Science Washington Institute, and Robert Kadleck, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response, HHS.

Additional Media Coverage:

Forbes – June 8, 2018 “An Unlikely Biotech Investor: The Government”

Newsday – June 5, 2018 “Stony Brook center tapped for federal anti-infection program”

Innovate Long Island – June 5, 2018 “SBU Joins Elite HHS Business-Development Task Force”

Chronus Pharmaceuticals Receives Phase I STTR

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Chronus Pharmaceuticals has announced that it has received a $299,172 Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award in partnership with the Department of Chemistry at Stony Brook University.

Funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be used to establish feasibility of an antibody diagnostic for detecting childhood tuberculosis. The research will be lead by LIBH Researcher Nicole S. Sampson, PhD in the Department of Chemistry, who will serve as principle investigator on the award and work in close collaboration with Chronus Pharmaceuticals.

Celmatix awarded $4.5M to expand in NYS

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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

CFB Director Elected Fellow, National Academy of Inventors (NAI)

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Clinton Rubin, PhD, Director of the Center for Biotechnology and Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Stony Brook University has been elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). According to the NAI, election as an NAI Fellow is a high honor bestowed upon academic innovators and inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions and innovations that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Dr. Rubin and fellow SBU Distinguished Professor Dr. Arie Kaufman will be inducted as NAI Fellows during its 2018 national meeting in Washington, DC, on April 5.

With the election of the 2017 class there are now 912 NAI Fellows, representing over 250 research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes. The 2017 Fellows are named inventors on nearly 6,000 issued U.S. patents, bringing the collective patents held by all NAI Fellows to more than 32,000 issued U.S. patents.

Professor Rubin, founding chair of Stony Brook’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, pioneered research in understanding the role of mechanical signals in the musculoskeletal system and has patented technology that includes use of low frequency mechanical signals (vibrations) to combat disease like osteoporosis and obesity.

More on Dr. Rubin’s election as an NAI Fellow can be access here and here.