East Lansing, MI – Iaso Therapeutics (Iaso) has received a selective invitation to participate in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Translational Resources to Expedite Commercialization Success Workshop (TRECS WORKSHOP). Iaso will participate in the National workshop on TRECS throughout the month March 2021. The workshop will provide SBIR-funded companies, like Iaso, the opportunity to learn how to utilize various federal and non-federal resources to advance the commercialization of their cancer technology. This year, the NCI has invited speakers and panelists from a wide range of federal and private organizations. Iaso will have the chance to meet one-on-one with our program officers, Kory Hallet, as well as speakers of our choice.
“Iaso’s disruptive vaccine technology was developed by Dr. Xuefei Huang at Michigan State University (MSU). The company has gained rapid traction with 2 Phase I SBIR grants and has developed a strong leadership team that has the potential to grow and create important high-tech jobs in the all-important health care space,” said Frank Urban, Director of Life Sciences at Spartan Innovations (SI). “We are excited for IASO Therapeutics to have the opportunity to participate in the TRECS Workshop. SI has been supporting the research and business efforts of Iaso through resources such as the Entrepreneur-In-Residence program and investments from the MSU Foundation venture arm, Red Cedar Ventures.”
“Iaso’s team very much appreciates all that the NCI has created to provide access to many different types of resources,” said Robert Forgey, President and CEO at Iaso Therapeutics. “Programming such as TRECS could lead Iaso advancing the platform more quickly. The various entrepreneurial programs sponsored by both federal and state really make a difference to start-up technology companies!”
About Iaso Therapeutics: Iaso Therapeutics, Inc. is a start-up company spun out from Michigan State University. The company was founded in 2018 by Dr. Xuefei Huang. Dr. Huang is a MSU Foundation Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University. In addition, he is a member of the newly formed Institute for Quantitative Health Science & Engineering. With over 25 years of experience, his research program is focused on the development of novel technologies for next generation vaccines, including vaccines targeting both cancer and infectious diseases. Iaso Therapeutics, Inc. aims to translate the cutting-edge technologies developed in the Huang laboratory to promote human health and treat diseases.
About Spartan Innovations: Spartan Innovations (SI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation (MSUF). SI’s objective is to help drive MSU entrepreneurs to develop their ideas, create business plans and successfully launch highly technical businesses. SI sources its inventions through its close relationship with the MSU Technologies, the technology transfer arm of Michigan State University, which receives 175-200 unique invention disclosures every year from MSU faculty.
About Red Cedar Ventures: About Red Cedar Ventures: Red Cedar Ventures is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation. Founded in 2014, RCV is proud to be the first venture fund in Mid-Michigan. RCV’s objective is to help accelerate commercialization of startups creating opportunities for MSU affiliated partners and technologies. Our vision is to be impactful early-stage Midwest Venture Fund providing economic impact for the region and the state with new jobs, new companies and value-added partnerships.
Acknowledgements: Dr. Huang received funding from the Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC) Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) program. Further support for IASO Therapeutics was provided by the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Michigan’s Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) and the MEDC’s Tech Transfer Talent Network (T3N) program.
