Two startup companies connected to UNMC are included among the “Best University Startups for 2016” by the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2), an association of university startup officers.
The two companies – Calidum Inc. and Orion BioScience Inc. – will be recognized at the first University Startups Demo Day at Congress on Sept. 20 in Washington, D.C.
Calidum Inc. is based on a technology made by Janina Baranowska-Kortylewicz, Ph.D., professor, radiation oncology. The company was created by UNeMed, UNMC’s technology transfer company. It makes compounds that are directed to cancer cells via active transport mechanisms and are unique in that they can serve as a vehicle for targeted diagnostic radionuclides (SPECT and PET imaging) as well as targeted therapeutic radionuclides allowing the creation of multiple product lines of truly personalized medicine “theranostic” solutions.
Orion BioScience Inc. is a biotechnology company that works with Quan Dong Nguyen, M.D., professor, ophthalmology and visual sciences. It is focused on developing innovative therapies to provide both immediate relief and long-term solutions to devastating autoimmune and autoimmune-associated eye diseases.
“This is fantastic news,” said Michael Dixon, Ph.D., president and CEO of UNeMed. “The competition is pretty fierce in the world of startup companies. This speaks volumes for the quality of these two companies and the cutting-edge therapies that they are delivering.”
Universities create over 800 startups each year around the country, and 200 companies were submitted and screened to find the “Best University Startups for 2016.” These are some of the most exciting early-stage investment opportunities presented by the country’s great universities.
Universities, with deep networks of students, alumni, researchers, faculty and staff, are uniquely positioned to create the world’s most important new companies. These companies create high-value jobs and solve real problems with great promise to have a major impact on the world.
The University Startups Demo Day is the university community’s opportunity to show investors and Congress the jobs and companies they help create.
All the selected companies were scored by a selection committee made up of 25 Fortune 500 corporate representatives.