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Vitatex Awarded NCI Contract

Vitatex, a Stony Brook-based biotechnology company located in the Long Island High Technology Incubator, has announced that it was awarded an SBIR Phase I/II Fast Track contract in September 2015 from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for its Vita-Cap™ CTC Capture and Preservation tubes. A modification to exercise the option for a two-year SBIR Phase II of the contract was executed on June 8, 2016.

Vitatex Inc. provides proprietary invasive circulating tumor cell (iCTC) enrichment technology and products to develop revolutionary cancer genetic and cell tests. These “liquid biopsies” focus on next generation sequencing (NGS) detection, gene expression profiling and flow cytometry and have recently been adopted by the clinical laboratory community to characterize cancer cells and/or their RNA/DNA in blood samples non-invasively and serially, and to acquire genetic alternations and drug resistance information, which have the potential to replace tests run on surgical biopsies.

Clinical metastasis of solid tumors is linked to blood-borne dissemination of viable tumor cells in the circulation and clinical instrumentation is now available to isolate, enumerate, culture, generate metastatic mouse models and perform molecular analyses on these circulating tumor cells (CTCs). However, CTCs are fragile and tend to degrade within a few days when collected in standard blood collection tubes.

“The functional CTC preparation tube is designed to collect, enrich and preserve the viability/functionality of cancer cells in blood all within a closed system” said Wen-Tien Chen, PhD., Chief Scientific Officer of Vitatex. “The goal is to define conditions of Vitatex CTC preparation tubes for capturing and preserving cancer cells in the blood of patients with breast, ovarian and other types for up to 96 hours of transit.”

Specific terms of the contract were not disclosed.

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Attention Stony Brook University Faculy and Staff: Applications for the second cycle of the President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) opened August 3, 2026. Open to all Stony Brook faculty and staff, this special initiative supports immediate-impact projects that can be launched quickly and deliver results within six to ten months.

The FIF provides awards of up to $300,000 focused on low‑investment, high‑reward initiatives that create visible, positive change. Examples of projects that would be considered include specialized equipment or technology acquisitions, pilot programs or proof‑of‑concept initiatives, targeted renovations or seed funding, among other opportunities.

All proposals must include a customized, high-level budget and be endorsed by the relevant vice president or dean with authority to implement the project. Applications for the August cycle will be available beginning August 3 with submissions due Friday, August 21 by 5 pm, ET. Please visit the Fast Impact Fund website for additional information and to submit an application.

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A new article from CFB Director Dr. Clinton Rubin and colleagues appears in the latest issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research from The American Society for Bone and MIneral Research (ASMBR). The article highlights the ability of low-intensity vibration (LIV) to combat skeletal decline in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) as evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Read the full article here: https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jbm4.10685

"Low-Intensity Vibration Protects the Weight-Bearing Skeleton and Suppresses Fracture Incidence in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial"

[post_title] => A new article from CFB Director in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research [post_excerpt] => "Low-Intensity Vibration Protects the Weight-Bearing Skeleton and Suppresses Fracture Incidence in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial" [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => a-new-article-from-cfb-director-in-journal-of-bone-and-mineral-research [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-07-10 12:41:34 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-07-10 16:41:34 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://centerforbiotechnology.org/?p=3949 [menu_order] => 14 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1483 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2015-04-09 12:45:15 [post_date_gmt] => 2015-04-09 12:45:15 [post_content] => 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®, SAFHS, Xiaflex®, Periostat® and Oracea®, new medical devices including 3Dvirtual colonoscopy and LivMD$reg, and new company formation including New England BioLabs, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Collagenex, Pharmacopeia, and Exogen. [post_title] => Center for Biotech Receives NIH Award to Develop a Bioscience Hub [post_excerpt] => 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). [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => center-for-biotech-receives-nih-award-to-develop-a-bioscience-hub [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2016-03-29 20:28:50 [post_modified_gmt] => 2016-03-29 20:28:50 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => http://centerforbiotechnology.org/new/?p=1483 [menu_order] => 205 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2210 [post_author] => 3 [post_date] => 2016-05-12 19:03:22 [post_date_gmt] => 2016-05-12 19:03:22 [post_content] => TheraSource LLC, a Feinstein Institute for Medical Research spin-out, has received a $3 million three-year Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant will support the development of human ghrelin as an innovative treatment to alleviate health damage caused by unintentional radiation exposure. TheraSource has been a client of the Center for Biotechnology and the organization is proud to have played an integral role in the helping the company advance their business and technology strategy. As noted by Diane Fabel, Director of Operations for the Center for Biotechnology, “The Phase II award for TheraSource is a significant landmark for the company and an important milestone for the region.” Ping Wang, MD, founder of TheraSource and Chief of Scientific Officer (CSO) of the Feinstein Institute has stated “Human ghrelin has been investigated in clinical trials of other indications.  With our new findings, we will soon be able to file an Investigational New Drug application to US Food and Drug Administration,” said Dr. Wang. “TheraSource has received investments to fund its various projects and is seeking strategic partnerships towards the goal of clinical development and commercialization.” For more details, read the company’s press release here. [post_title] => TheraSource LLC receives $3M SBIR Grant [post_excerpt] => TheraSource LLC, a Feinstein Institute for Medical Research spin-out, has received a $3 million three-year Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 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Attention Stony Brook University Faculy and Staff: Applications for the second cycle of the President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF) opened August 3, 2026. Open to all Stony Brook faculty and staff, this special initiative supports immediate-impact projects that can be launched quickly and deliver results within six to ten months.

The FIF provides awards of up to $300,000 focused on low‑investment, high‑reward initiatives that create visible, positive change. Examples of projects that would be considered include specialized equipment or technology acquisitions, pilot programs or proof‑of‑concept initiatives, targeted renovations or seed funding, among other opportunities.

All proposals must include a customized, high-level budget and be endorsed by the relevant vice president or dean with authority to implement the project. Applications for the August cycle will be available beginning August 3 with submissions due Friday, August 21 by 5 pm, ET. Please visit the Fast Impact Fund website for additional information and to submit an application.

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SBU President’s Fast Impact Fund (FIF)

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A new article from CFB Director in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research

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Center for Biotech Receives NIH Award to Develop a Bioscience Hub

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TheraSource LLC receives $3M SBIR Grant

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