Pioneering UNC startups showcased at CED Life Science Conference

Published Feb. 22, 2018

Nine startup companies affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill will participate in the Council for Entrepreneurial Development’s (CED) 2018 Life Science Conference, renowned as the premier life science event in the Southeast.

The conference, held February 27-28 in Raleigh, will feature a diverse group of life science sectors, including agbio, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare/IT/digital health. Each UNC-Chapel Hill company participating will have the opportunity to share its story and progress with a diverse audience, including industry entrepreneurs and visionaries, investors and corporate leaders.

Many of the participating companies from UNC-Chapel Hill receive support through Innovate Carolina, a cross-campus alliance of people and programs that helps students, faculty and alumni turn their ideas into innovations. This alliance includes UNC’s KickStart Venture Services. Faculty-founded and faculty-led, KickStart provides coaching, mentoring and high-impact, early-stage funding for UNC spinout companies – filling the gap between when companies have the initial concept but aren’t mature enough to get a federal grant.

“UNC-Chapel Hill is home to an impressive group of life science startups that are pushing the edge in terms of bringing new drugs, devices to the market,” said Don Rose, director of KickStart Venture Services. “Our partnership with CED to showcase this critical work at UNC along with promising ventures from other universities creates a unique opportunity for the investment and entrepreneurial communities to get a powerful snapshot of the advances that faculty are cultivating.”    

Zhen Gu, professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering, co-founded Zenomics, a company that is developing smart insulin patches for diabetes patients.
Zhen Gu, professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering, co-founded Zenomics, a company that is developing smart insulin patches for diabetes patients.
AnelleO, a company founded by Rahima Benhabbour, a faculty member at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, is developing the first 3-D printed intravaginal ring designed to treat a women’s health condition.
AnelleO, a company founded by Rahima Benhabbour, a faculty member at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, is developing the first 3-D printed intravaginal ring designed to treat a women’s health condition.
Shawn Hingtgen, an assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, founded startup company Falcon Therapeutics, which is working on a therapy that turns a person's own skin cells into stem cells that hunt down the remnants of invasive brain tumors.
Shawn Hingtgen, an assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, founded startup company Falcon Therapeutics, which is working on a therapy that turns a person's own skin cells into stem cells that hunt down the remnants of invasive brain tumors.
Ribometrix was launched by Katie Warner, co-founder and director of research, and Kevin Weeks, a Kenan Distinguished Professor of chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Ribometrix was launched by Katie Warner, co-founder and director of research, and Kevin Weeks, a Kenan Distinguished Professor of chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Nancy Allbritton (left), Kenan Distinguished Professor and chair of the UNC-Chapel Hill/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering, co-founded startups Cell Microsystems and Altis Biosystems.
Nancy Allbritton (left), Kenan Distinguished Professor and chair of the UNC-Chapel Hill/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering, co-founded startups Cell Microsystems and Altis Biosystems.

Carolina companies that will present as part of the conference showcase

Seven UNC companies will participate in the conference showcase, where they have the opportunity to introduce themselves, share their progress, and discuss funding raised and potential funding needed.

● Cell Microsystems. The company is developing, manufacturing and marketing innovative products for single cell biology. Most recently, the company was awarded a $1.5 million NIH grant for its innovative single-cell RNA-Seq platform. Cell Microsystems was founded by Nancy Allbritton, chair of the UNC-Chapel Hill/NC State Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering (UNC/NCSU BME). Visit Cell Microsystems’ CED profile here.

● Clinical Sensors. This company develops a near-patient test for early detection of sepsis based on nitric oxide measurements from blood. The company was founded by Mark Schoenfisch, a professor of chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill, who also founded Novoclem Therapeutics. Visit their CED profile here.

● Falcon Therapeutics. This pre-clinical engineered cell therapy company is targeting solid tumors throughout the body, including Triple Negative Breast Cancer and Glioblastoma. Falcon was founded by Shawn Hingtgen, assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. Visit their CED profile here.

● Novoclem Therapeutics. This startup venture is focused on developing nitric oxide-based solutions to treat severe lung infections in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. CEO Anne Whitaker is scheduled to present. Novoclem Therapeutics is the fourth startup company for founder and UNC-Chapel Hill Chemistry Professor Mark Schoenfisch. He is also founder of Clinical Sensors. Visit their CED profile here.

● Redbud Labs. This microfluidic chip manufacturer is pioneering a new category of consumable components with MXR, the world’s first fully modular microfluidic mixer. For critical capabilities across the life science industry, Redbud Labs develops and delivers advanced microfluidic technologies that boost assay performance. The company was co-founded by Richard Superfine, professor of physics astronomy and applied physical sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Richard Spero, CEO. Visit their CED profile here.

● Ribometrix. Recently closing on a $7.5 million round of funding, this platform therapeutics company is discovering novel, small molecule drugs that target functional 3D RNA structures to treat human diseases, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease and multiple sclerosis. The company was founded by Katie Warner, director of research, and Kevin Weeks, a Kenan Distinguished Professor of chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill. Visit their CED profile here.

● StrideBio. This gene therapy company is focused on creating and developing novel adeno-associated viral vector technologies. This powerful new approach has broad application, enabling gene addition, gene silencing and gene editing modalities for rare diseases. The company was founded in the labs of Aravind Asokan at UNC-Chapel Hill and Mavis Adbandje-McKenna at the University of Florida. Visit their CED profile here.

Don Rose, director of KickStart Venture Services
"Our partnership with CED to showcase this critical work at UNC along with promising ventures from other universities creates a unique opportunity for the investment and entrepreneurial communities to get a powerful snapshot of the advances that faculty are cultivating."

Carolina companies featured in the conference Innovation Room

Attendees will have the opportunity learn more and network with other groundbreaking companies in the Innovation Room. Carolina companies include:

● Altis Biosystems. A company that develops next-generation stem cell technologies to test the effects of medicines, diseases and more on human biology. Altis Biosystems was also co-founded by Nancy Allbritton, chair of the UNC-Chapel Hill/NC State Department of Biomedical Engineering. Visit their CED profile here.

● Zenomics. This startup develops innovative drug delivery systems that enhance health and improve quality of life, focusing on the development of the transformative glucose-responsive insulin delivery devices for intelligently controlling release of insulin and regulating blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. Zenomics is also part of the UNC/NCSU Visit their CED profile here.

● Cell Microsystems. See profile above

● Clinical Sensors. See profile above

● Falcon Therapeutics. See profile above

● Redbud Labs. See profile above

Additional Add-on Event Hosted by Innovate Carolina

Prior to the start of the conference, Innovate Carolina will host a free University Event on-site, which will feature two, startup life science companies each from UNC, NC State, Duke University and Wake Forest University. The panel will explore how each company leveraged their university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, sharing their success stories as well as any setbacks or lessons learned from their innovation journey. The North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Vice President of Emerging Company Development Vivian Doelling will moderate the panel.

Carolina companies featured at the University Event include:

● AnelleO. The company is developing AnelleO PRO, which is the first 3D printed intravaginal ring to treat a wide range of women’s health conditions. AnelleO was founded by Rahima Benhabbour, professor at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy and graduate student Rima Janusziewicz from the chemistry department.

● Spyryx Biosciences. Currently in phase 2 clinical trials for their Cystic Fibrosis drug, Spyryx is pioneering the use of inhaled peptides to treat severe pulmonary diseases where mucus accumulation and obstructions are key to disease progression.

Register today for the free pre-conference session on university life science startups, which will be held Tuesday morning, Feb. 27, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Raleigh Convention Center. The university event will be followed by networking and all conference participants are welcome to attend.

For more information about the conference, including the agenda and how to register, visit the CED Conference website. Follow UNC companies during the conference @UNC_KickStart and the CED event conversation @CEDNC or via hashtag #InnovationDelivers.