BREONICS announces the award of a NIH $2.9 Million
Albany, New York (September 01, 2010) BREONICS, INC., announced today that it has been awarded a $2.9 million research grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK). The funding represents an initial investment from the National Institute of Health (BRDG-SPAN) RC3 Pilot Program to demonstrate the clinical and commercial value of BREONICS’ new breakthrough technology, which was created to exponentially increase the number of viable kidneys for transplantation. The RC3 grant is the second award made to BREONICS by the National Institutes of Health within the past year. In 2009, BREONICS was awarded $400,000 for a special emphasis grant by the National Institute for Immunology, Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for its immunocloaking technology to protect kidney grafts from rejection.
“We congratulate our newest tenant in the Harriman Technology Development Center, BREONICS, Inc.,” said Harriman Research and Technology Development Corporation President and ESD Capital Region Regional Director Peter Wohl. “The company has been working tirelessly towards its goal to provide this cutting edge technology that will have tremendous medical benefits for the public. With the NIH research grant, BREONICS can now take its work to the next level, continuing to grow its research and development initiatives. HRTDC and Empire State Development are pleased to support the company’s start-up within the Harriman Campus, as BREONICS’ focus aligns well with our current redevelopment plans and will help position the Capital Region and New York State as a leader in 21st century technology.”
BREONICS is currently engaged in the research and development of products designed to increase clinical organ transplants. Exsanguinous Metabolic Support (EMS) is BREONICS’ most advanced technology that consists of the solutions and equipment designed to maintain an organ in a metabolically active state while outside of the body. By overcoming the technical barriers that limit organ donor criteria, BREONICS’ EMS technology has the potential to more than double the number of deceased donor kidneys available for transplant each year. Dr. Lauren Brasile, BREONICS’ Chief Scientific Officer and Principal Investigator, has successfully assembled a partnership with three nationally renowned transplantation programs that include the University of Michigan, the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to support the project.
“The grant being awarded to BREONICS exemplifies the vision that drives HRTDC by supporting a technology-based business model that will help grow our economy and attract jobs to the Capital Region,” said John C. Egan, HRTDC Chairman and New York State Office of General Services Commissioner. “The fact that their research may result in saving the lives of many people waiting for kidney transplants makes it even more important. We are very proud that BREONICS selected this location for their business and we congratulate them on the excellence of their achievement. We look forward to a long partnership with BREONICS as their business continues to grow.”
Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings said: “As Tech Valley continues to expand, I congratulate BREONICS for being awarded this most prestigious grant. Their commitment to medical advances, coupled with their demonstrated allegiance to our community, is truly exemplary of what the Harriman Business model is. New York’s All-America Capital City joins with others to recognize this achievement, as this is yet another tangible example of our City’s importance in the technology arena.”
BREONICS President Ernie Green said: “We are absolutely delighted as the competition for this grant was ferocious, and only 10 were awarded throughout the United States. This award gives us the opportunity to begin transitioning our technology into the clinical arena where we believe it will provide an immense medical and economic benefit.”
HRTDC Vice President Richard Usas said: “Since initially occupying space in the Business Center in January 2010, BREONICS has been continually expanding their research capacity. They are rapidly becoming one of our larger tenants and it is our expectation that with this additional funding they will continue to grow. We are very excited about the company’s presence in the technology sector of the Capital District and the support that HRTDC has been able to provide to this thriving business.” BREONICS is a biomedical research and development company headquartered in Albany, New York. BREONICS’ focus is to apply its novel bioengineering technologies to create innovative medical products for the clinical organ transplant and tissue replacement markets. BREONICS, Inc. leased lab and office space at the Harriman Business Center incubator in January, occupying 4,700 square feet and housing eleven employees. The Company intends to increase its space requirement and add new employees as its technology development program expands.
The Harriman Business Center highlights the role of the overall Harriman Campus in stimulating the innovation economy of Tech Valley and New York State. The Harriman Research and Technology Development Corporation is working in close partnership with the University at Albany to build on its leadership in scientific research and technology development as the basis for attracting business to the Harriman Campus. HRTDC, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, is also a founding member of the Business Incubator Association of New York State, a state-level association dedicated to promoting incubation statewide.
Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, committed to being recognized on a global scale as the economic development engine driving job growth, strategic investment and prosperity in New York State. ESD is intent on paving the way for New York State to become the leader of the innovation economy and one of the most business friendly, productive and competitive economic development climates in the world. ESD also oversees the marketing of “I LOVE NY,” the State’s iconic tourism brand.