Innovation in Action: How 6 BLUE KNIGHT™ Resident QuickFire Challenge Awardees Are Shaping the Future of Health

At the start of June, the 2024 BLUE KNIGHT™ Symposium in San Diego saw Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JLABS) and BARDA unveil the winners of the BLUE KNIGHT™ Resident QuickFire Challenge: Partnering for Preparedness, aimed at advancing health security innovations.

July 30, 2024

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At the recent 2024 BLUE KNIGHT™ Symposium in San Diego, Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JLABS) and BARDA announced the awardees of the BLUE KNIGHT™ Resident QuickFire Challenge: Partnering for Preparedness. 

Blue Knight is a joint initiative created between Johnson & Johnson Innovation and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Blue Knight is a collaboration dedicated to anticipating potential health security threats, activating the global innovation community, and amplifying scientific and technological advancements to prepare for and respond to our rapidly evolving global health environment. Blue Knight offers physical residency at select Johnson & Johnson Innovation — JLABS (‘JLABS’) locations, including the Blue Knight hub at JLABS @ Washington, DC, as well as a virtual engagement option.

The challenge was the third in a series of BLUE KNIGHT™ Resident QuickFire Challenge opportunities geared towards supporting current or alumni Blue Knight companies in meeting crucial inflection points in the commercialization process. Learn more about the challenge:

The awardees include: Acclinate, Avecris Pte Ltd, Decoy Therapeutics, Jurata Thin Film, Inc., Immunyx Pharma (partnering with Akagera Medicines), and Neuroene Therapeutics (partnering with Epiloid Biotechnology). The selected awardees will receive award funding to help them reach their next critical development milestones. More information on the awardee companies is included below:

1. Acclinate: Revolutionizing Genomic Research and Clinical Trials

Acclinate, resident of JLABS @ Washington, DC, developed e-DICT, a HIPAA-compliant platform utilizing predictive analytics & ML to identify diverse members who are most likely to participate in genomic research and clinical trials. Health equity is at the core of their platform and value-proposition is their education and longitudinal engagement.

2. Avecris Pte Ltd: SPRING DNA and the mRNA Market Disruption

JLABS Singapore’s, Avecris, is developing SPRING DNA, a novel non-viral gene delivery platform, with the potential to disrupt the $100 billion mRNA market by solving the challenges of 1) long-lasting and 2) cell-type specific gene expression.

3. Decoy Therapeutics: AI-driven Antiviral Solutions

Decoy Therapeutics, resident of JLABS @ NYC, uses AI to engineer broad-acting antiviral peptide conjugates that aim to both target the viruses of today and pre-emptively protect against the viruses of tomorrow.

4. Jurata Thin Film, Inc.: Thermostabilizing for Global Accessibility

Jurata Thin Film, resident of JLABS @ TMC, develops technology that thermostabilizes vaccines and biologics at ambient temperature, making them more accessible for patients around the world.

5. Immunyx Pharma in partnership with Akagera Medicines 

Immunyx Pharma, a resident of JLABS @NYC, in partnership with Akagera Medicines, aims to combine their proprietary platform technologies to develop novel therapies to modulate toxic neutrophil function in disease.

6. Neuroene Therapeutics in partnership with Epiloid Biotechnology

Neuroene Therapeutics, resident at JLABS @ Washington, DC in partnership with Epiloid Biotechnology aims to combine their proprietary platform technologies to develop brain-penetrative mitochondrial therapeutics for difficult-to-treat neurological diseases.

Blue Knight aims to stimulate early-stage companies, with a particular interest in multi-use technologies with commercial and preparedness applications. Through initiatives like this, we hope to support companies in fostering ecosystem collaborations that may expedite the path to commercialization for Blue Knight companies.

Are you interested in learning more about Blue Knight? Please feel free to submit this brief Meet With form on the Blue Knight website.