WET LAB AND STARTUP BUSINESS INCUBATOR

BRINGING A DRUG TO MARKET

Motivation for a Cure with Alice McConnell of SperagenDeveloping a drug for a disease is more complicated and arduous than you may think. It all starts with basic research on how the body works and uncovering the functionality of specific cellular pathways. Without that initial framework, it is difficult to see what problems the disease causes, and how to prevent them.What we call a drug can be any number of things, such as molecules that block binding of receptors, or those that activate genes to overcome or bypass the problem, or a drug can be an artificial supply of a missing or inactive enzyme. Once a solution has been identified, it must be tested to prove effectiveness in the laboratory, and then in an animal model, and eventually in humans. There is generally a step in this process in which the expertise transitions from the scientist familiar with the disease and the corresponding drug, to a team that understands how to get that drug into the hands of those who need it. This commercialization step is really where the ACC Bioscience Incubator gets involved. It is extremely expensive and complicated, so generally one really has to have a strong motivation to go down this path. For Alice McConnell, founder of Speragen, that motivation is her two children, both born with the same rare metabolic disorder. Finding a way to get a known drug out of the research lab, so that her kids and those in her close network of affected families can use it, has become Alice’s mission since leaving her profession and founding Speragen several years ago. Listen as she shares what that journey has involved, from understanding the science, researching regulations, writing grants, and the process of getting the disorder added to the newborn screening panel, all while advocating for fellow families and being a mother to two kids with extensive health issues. What you will hear is someone who approaches difficult tasks with tenacity and focus and, most importantly, a positive attitude with a great amount of dedication and love. Nancy LyonInterim DirectorListen on your favorite platform:Acast // SoundCloud // Spotify // iTunes // Google Play // Stitcher

Newormics awarded SBIR Phase II grant from the NIMH

Newormics core focus is to facilitate the use of C. elegans as a model organism for life-science research and drug and toxicology screening through its innovative microfluidics-based platform. This platform allows researchers to rapidly immobilize thousands of microscopic animals for fast and high-resolution imaging within minutes. The high-density information and an automated image acquisition approach facilitate the quantification of different phenotypes caused by chemical exposures or disease-related mutations.Newormics was awarded the Phase II SBIR grant to further develop the automated microfluidic platform and DNT assays.Read the full story.

SAVE YOUR SPOT

Join Capital City Innovation and Affinity Partners for the fourth installment of the Launch & Learn series Friday, Sep. 11th. Ashley Schlosser, Founder and CEO of Live Out Loud, Inc., is a PR whiz and will be talking all about branding with the segment

You Are Your Brand: PR Tips from a PR Pro.

Registration is free and the event starts at 12 pm. You can share the link and RSVP below. 

The University of Colorado Boulder is a helpful resource during these unprecedented times. Watch the replay of their latest live stream above: 

COVID Research Solutions for Campus: Aerosols, HVAC, Buildings & Classrooms

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ABI & partners launch a consortium to support innovators fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics

The Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS) is a consortium between academia, public sector, and private sector partners to coordinate efforts to support companies working towards pandemic preparedness and response in Texas.

Organized by the Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin, TEXGHS is leading the creation and long-term growth of a health security innovation ecosystem that supports innovators and innovations fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics.

FOX 7 Discussion: Innovation consortium formed to fight COVID-19

The Director of Healthcare at the Austin Technology Incubator at UT Austin, Lisa Mcdonald, joined FOX 7 Austin to speak on finding solutions to COVID-19.

ABI Companies Working on COVID-19

\We would like to take a moment to applaud and to thank the following member companies for stepping up to the plate to come up with a resolution to fight COVID-19.