Maureen Rinkunas

Excited about the work that BlueRock Therapeutics, a pioneering Massachusetts-based company led by CEO Seth Ettenberg, is doing. BlueRock is at the forefront of creating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to combat diseases in neurology, cardiology, and immunology. 🔬 What They Do: iPSC Technology: They reprogram mature cells into iPSCs, unlocking their potential to treat degenerative diseases. Advanced Therapies use bioprocessing techniques to redifferentiate these iPSCs to replace damaged or diseased cells. Focus on Degenerative Diseases: Cell therapies aim to help those with Parkinson’s, heart disease, and inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). 💡 Innovative Approach: Creative Science: BlueRock combines scientific rigor with creativity and passion to develop therapies that can have lasting impact. Core Therapies: Their portfolio includes therapies such as bemdaneprocel for Parkinson’s and BR-CM01 for heart repair, both of which aim to replace lost cells and restore function. 🤝They collaborate with industry leaders such as Bayer for large-scale manufacturing, Opsis Therapeutics for ocular therapies, and Editas Medicine for CRISPR-based genome editing. 🌟 BlueRock Therapeutics is transforming the future of healthcare by making significant strides in regenerative medicine. I invite you to follow their work as they push the boundaries of what’s possible with cell and gene therapy! #CellTherapy #Innovation

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Good WBJ article below summarizing a report on a Regional Biomanufacturing Strategy centered in Worcester and central Mass. Key to the report in my mind is how we can leverage the "collaborative ecosystem" that " includes universities and community colleges, accelerators and incubators, non-profits, and existing company partners, all committed to supporting innovation and workforce development." Looking forward to seeing those collaborations and partnerships deepen in this community! I know from the work of David Ortendahl, EdD, Catherine D. Bouthillier, and Debora Jackson, and others that WPI is likely at the forefront here! See the WBJ article here (the report is linked there too!): https://lnkd.in/gNsyX299

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I think it's under appreciated that state R&D investments have a broad and meaningful impact, including to hundreds of Maine businesses (and their employees) that build, operate, supply, and provide critical services to organizations like The Jackson Laboratory. The BDN calls this out in their endorsement of Question 2, writing that as a result of a 2017 voter-approved bond, "[JAX] purchased more goods and services from Maine-based vendors and suppliers after the bond funding. In 2022...the laboratory spent $60 million with almost 600 Maine-based vendors from 116 towns — including wood pellets from Athens, insurance coverage from Bangor, and boiler mechanics from Lincoln.” Yes, Question 2 is a targeted investment in Maine's technology sectors, but the impact will be widespread. https://lnkd.in/dZExzAFy

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If you're an emerging company looking for expansion or getting started out, make sure to register for this webinar next week. September 10, 2024 10am PT / 1pm ET From Funding to Footprint Finding the right lab space to grow your company https://lnkd.in/g5XiA-Ke In this webinar, learn the latest real estate trends and current market conditions while gaining insights from investors, promising start-ups and real estate professionals on the best approach to finding the right space for your company and considerations for planning for growth.

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🔥🔥🔥 Superluminal Medicines has just secured $120 million in Series A funding, positioning itself as a groundbreaking force in drug discovery. This Boston-based company is revolutionizing the field through its unique fusion of generative biology, chemistry, machine learning, and advanced big data infrastructure. The funding round, led by RA Capital Management and joined by investors like Insight Partners, NVIDIA’s NVentures, and Eli Lilly, will propel its lead programs into clinical development and expand its portfolio of small-molecule drug discovery initiatives, particularly focusing on G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPCRs are integral to human cell signaling and are already targets for 35% of approved drugs. Yet, 70% of these receptors remain unexplored, presenting a vast frontier for drug innovation. Superluminal’s platform is designed to exploit this potential, dynamically interrogating protein structures to design highly selective compounds. This leap in drug development could unlock treatments for complex, previously untreatable diseases at an unprecedented pace. What sets Superluminal apart is not just the speed of its discovery engine but its ability to precisely model and target protein structures for therapeutic benefits, leveraging predictive pharmacokinetics and toxicology capabilities. This funding round signals confidence from both legacy investors and new power players like Catalio Capital, suggesting Superluminal's approach could dramatically reshape the pharmaceutical landscape

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🎙️ Diving into real leadership and the science behind quality testing. 🌿 Had the privilege of joining Maggie Jaqua and Todd Pauli on The Natural View podcast with WholeFoods Magazine to talk about why leadership that prioritizes people is key to sustainable success. We also explored how testing labs like NJ Labs are playing a pivotal role in ensuring quality in today's rapidly evolving industry. 🔍 Check out the episode to hear more about this intersection of leadership, science, and business strategy. https://lnkd.in/ery2q2ex #PeopleFirstLeadership #Innovation #TestingLabs #BusinessStrategy #IndustryEvolution #Sustainability #Podcast #Nutraceuticals

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Massachusetts unlocked its next big economic opportunity. I'm talking about alternative proteins 👇 The state's sweeping economic development bill includes a new $10 million investment to support the rapidly growing alternative protein industry. This makes a boatload of sense for a state with a powerhouse biotech industry and excellent research institutions. It could attract a lot of new talent and capital into the state as demand for meat alternatives only grows stronger. Greenline Insights authored a report to help deep dive into why Massachusetts is perfectly poised to lead in this field. The potential impact is monumental: 🍽️ $10 million invested = $425 million in economic growth over 10 years 👩‍🔬 4,000+ new jobs across research, agriculture, food services, and manufacturing 📈 6x more jobs created per dollar invested compared to traditional state expenditures Massachusetts' blend of top-tier academic institutions, biotech innovation, and strong state support make it a powerhouse for alternative protein development. This is yet another moment where economic development and sustainability align perfectly. The alternative protein industry is projected to reach over $1 trillion in value by 2050. What slice of that will happen in your state? #mapoli #alternativeproteins #altproteins #food #research #economics #stateinvestment #statepolicy #sustainability #jobs #economy #investment #statepolitics #nonpartisan

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Check out this great review article on the use of #AI and #digitaltwin on #arrhythmia management!

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Loved chatting with Kian Sadeghi, the founder and CEO of Nucleus Genomics, a leading biotechnology company revolutionising DNA analysis and health insights through affordable whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Kian doesn’t have a PhD, is actually a Penn dropout and is only 24. He’s raised $18 million from the likes of Peter Theil’s Founders Fund and Alexis Ohanian Sr.'s Seven Seven Six 7️⃣7️⃣6️⃣ to capitalise on the plummeting costs of DNA sequencing from $1 billion in 2001 to well below $1,000 today. Nucleus offers whole-genome sequencing for just $399, plus a $39 annual membership fee, delivering detailed reports on over 800 health conditions, including various cancers, heart diseases, and mental health disorders. We spoke about → his marketing stunt at the Tyson vs Paul fight → the importance of intellectual alpha and innovators dilemma → the cost of healthcare administration → and the future of consumer health companies Be sure to check out the full conversation here! → https://lnkd.in/gUKd6TCV

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Great insights from this panel, Bret Worley! It's exciting to hear about the discussion on the versatility of hemp products compared to marijuana. The emphasis on accessibility and expansion in the emerging drink products industry is particularly compelling. I agree with your advocacy for the hemp-derived market, focusing regulatory attention on issues like age restrictions rather than limiting availability. The market's value in the billions underscores the positive impact of these products on people's lives. Looking forward to more impactful conversations in this space!

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Where have you seen innovation and new approaches that create more opportunity, access, and inclusion for women and people of color within the venture funding model? I see examples all the time - including the one from Harlem Capital - that I share in this week's Substack article for LabCentral Funding Innovation Lab. We can use these "Artifacts from the Future" as inspiration and starting points for the kinds of new best practices the Funding Innovation Lab's experiments. https://lnkd.in/g2g998JK

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BIO International Convention was a huge opportunity and learning experience. My key takeaways from attending for the first time last week: 🍻 Satellite events are where the real value is. We spent time on the exhibition floor and at satellite events, and hands down, made more meaningful connections at satellite events. This was because most people on the conference floor were salespeople, and we were more focused on having conversations about the science and business problems. At events run by Bullpen and several other organizations we were able to meet with decision makers, founders, and investors that gave great insights we'll be taking home with us, and will ideally lead to partnerships and deals in the coming weeks. 💰 Commercialization is king. The founders and CXOs we met all had amazing scientific and technological innovations at the core of their companies, but the problems everyone was looking to solve were around money and market. How do you fund the science? How do you get it in the hands and bodies of users? How can we make the business growth align with the mission? When you're learning to be a scientist most of the emphasis is on the hard scientific problems, but once you step into the business of science, it's all about engineering human systems. 🤝 The best way to form relationships is in person. Ontologic was founded post-pandemic, and as a software company, most of our work can be done remotely. But when you're limited to a 1h virtual panel or a 30m zoom meeting you don't make the same personal connection that you do in person. I was so happy to run into friends coincidentally on the conference floor and have conversations I likely wouldn't have purposely sought out with people I just happened to meet at satellite events. It strengthens relationships in a very human way that isn't captured in a virtual setting, and I plan to make time for in-person social events as much as possible moving forward. Would love to hear others' takeaways!

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Remind: Join the conversation and hear Angela Roberts discuss the importance of soft skills.

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Accelerating Innovation The UConn Foundry Story | The Hidden Power of University Startups 🎓🚀 Join us as we dive deep into the world of university startups with Professor Ryan Coles and his talented students, Masil Mallem and Peter Goggins. Discover how the UConn Foundry is transforming groundbreaking research into real-world solutions. Listen now on Substack: https://lnkd.in/erjDz_aW #startup #innovation #entrepreneurship #university #UConn #technology #AI #science #business #investment #venturecapital #angelinvesting #startupfunding

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Truly comprehensive, differentiated AI foundation models for human cellular and tissue biology are a material breakthrough for advancing anti-cancer and related therapies Great to see this progress from DCVC-backed NOETIK

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Reflecting on my time at the RNA Leaders Conference last week, here are my top takeaways: 1) Excellent talks and panels. The PolymerRAISE series was on another level of conference pitches. Especially loved the talks from Rabia T. K. at Serna Bio and Carter Palmer at Third Element Biosciences. Also really resonated with the corporate values reflected by execs at Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk. 2) The RNA space is moving beyond the liver and CNS, where delivery was most straightforward in early days, and I’m excited to see where innovative targeting platforms take mRNA and saRNA therapeutics and vaccines, and how that effects dosing. 3) Storytelling is as important as ever in partnering in this space as in others. Platform companies need to make a compelling case for how the technology they’re using fits the indication and population they’ve chosen for their lead asset. This helps decision makers in pharma really see how a deal with you will fit into their portfolio and have impact on the market Excited to fold what I’ve learned into the work we do! 🧠 📓 #biotech #rna #therapeutics #computationalbiology #conferencereflections

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Tesi's portfolio company Onego Bio, a Finnish-U.S. #food #ingredient company, has submitted a #GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) notification to the #FDA for #Bioalbumen®, a non-animal ovalbumin produced via #precision #fermentation using #Trichoderma #reesei. Bioalbumen® replicates the amino acid sequence of natural #egg #white #protein, offering a #sustainable and scalable alternative to conventional egg production. It reduces #greenhouse gas #emissions by 89%, land use by 95%, and water consumption by 87%, while addressing global supply chain challenges and mitigating risks like #Avian #Influenza. Bioalbumen® is designed as a drop-in solution for applications such as baked goods, pasta, confectionery, and ready-made meals. The $300 billion egg market stands to benefit from its #environmental advantages, cost stability, and versatility.

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This is exciting! Prolific Machines, Inc. based in Emeryville, California, has raised $55 million in a Series B round led by Ki Tua Fund. The company, founded in 2020 by Deniz Kent, PhD, Max Huisman, and Declan Jones, focuses on using light to optimize cell growth for producing proteins used in food and medicine. Traditional methods of growing cells involve expensive and hard-to-control molecular processes. Prolific Machines believes light offers a cheaper and more precise alternative. Their bioreactors use light to direct cell growth, potentially reducing costs and improving consistency. The new funding will help Prolific Machines commercialize their technology and acquire customers. The company is already engaging with commercial partners and aims to make their bioreactors available for producing high-value bioproducts like nutritional proteins and antibodies. What do you think? https://lnkd.in/dkSbZ_wQ

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The CHAIMELEON Project aims to build an EU-wide cloud-based infrastructure for health imaging data to facilitate and contribute to developing and validating AI tools for improved cancer management. Key points: 💡 We have built a pan-cancer repository guaranteeing data standardization and image harmonization of patient data from different European hospitals to facilitate the development of reproducible and generalizable AI models. 🔏 We apply the European data privacy standards to avoid patient re-identification. 📈 We have built an infrastructure that combines storage and processing capabilities to train and validate AI solutions to accelerate lab-to-market transition. 🏆 We have organized an Open Challenge to open the developed infrastructure to the research community. More info: https://lnkd.in/dudFz-Kn 🎥 Do not miss the following video if you want more details of the project 👇 👇 👇

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