Weekly Quick Hits (BioHealth Capital Region) – Week of April 24, 2023 By Sarah Ellinwood, Alex Keown, and Mark TerryApril 28, 2023 Funding, Awards and Collaborations Quest Diagnostics Acquires Haystack [….]
Since its inception, MSCRF has invested over $170 million in over 500 projects to accelerate stem cell research, commercialization, and cures. With a 2023 fiscal year budget of $20.5M, MSCRF offers six funding opportunities to scientists and companies in the areas of clinical trials, discovery, commercialization, validation, launch, and post-doctoral fellowships. The fund has supported the creation and growth of many stem cell companies since launching the Accelerating Cures initiative in 2017.
After more than a year of searching and planning, Seraxis found a new home in Montgomery County. With the assistance of experienced life sciences logistics company BaneBio, Seraxis was able to seamlessly move into its new facility earlier this year without interrupting its plans to scale and guide its lead cell therapy into the clinic.
Three portfolio companies have graduated from the Germantown Innovation Center (GIC), Montgomery County’s business incubator program. The County’s incubator program started in 1999 to foster the growth and development of young technology companies. Akan Biosciences, Intelligent Fusion Technology and Seraxis are the three County-based companies graduating from the program this spring.
The Germantown Innovation Center is home to some of Maryland’s fastest-rising stars in the life sciences ecosystem. Multiple startups found a home in the Montgomery County incubator and benefit from the lab space and the strategic access to federal agencies, nearby thought leadership, and on-campus workforce access.
Seraxis, which is currently located at the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science & Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC) in the County-owned Germantown Innovation Center is developing its lead therapy, SR-01, to eliminate the need for type 1 diabetes patients to inject insulin. SR-01 is a revolutionary therapy that could impact more than 4.5 million people in the world.
Maryland is the epicenter of biotech and life science innovation in the BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR). The state is home to a burgeoning life science ecosystem, including a rapidly growing cell and gene therapy industry, a robust and growing advanced biomanufacturing environment, and a deep network of leading research universities and critical government life science research entities.
