Entrepreneurs developing fabrics that filter viral matter like SARS-CoV-2, and therapeutic peptides from cow milk, are among the four startup companies from around Virginia invited to RAMP’s Spring 2021 cohort focused on health and life sciences.
The companies were selected in a rigorous application and interview process by RAMP, the Regional Accelerator and Mentoring Program for Southwest Virginia, to receive expert mentoring and other resources in the intensive 12-week program starting March 15.
“We are impressed by these entrepreneurs’ talent, research, creativity and drive, and are eager to support them as they work to bring their ideas to market,” said RAMP director Dr. Mary Miller.
- Tiny Cargo is a spinoff from the lab of Dr. Rob Gourdie in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke. Led by Dr. Spencer Marsh, Tiny Cargo has developed and patented protocols to isolate and purify exosomes from cow milk in large quantities. The exosomes can then be used to deliver a therapeutic peptide developed by the Gourdie lab for reducing radiation injury – a cause of severe bodily harm with no current treatment.
- Based currently in Charlottesville, HAVA, Inc., has developed a cost-effective process to rapidly apply a new material known as a MOF, or metal organic frameworks, to fabrics, making it possible for the fabric to filter particulate and viral matter, be antibacterial, reduce odor, and become colorimetric sensors.
- Jeeva Informatics seeks to accelerate human-centric clinical research with software that decreases timelines for participant recruitment by 58 percent, and reduces the logistical burdens on study teams and subjects by up to 70 percent, resulting in enhanced user experience. Based in Vienna, Jeeva is currently conducting early sales with clinical research investigators, hospital sites, patient foundations, and academic medical centers
- KinergyCare, currently based in McLean with plans to move to Roanoke, has designed a platform to better track and manage patients across acute, ambulatory and home care settings, expertly guiding a non-clinical community health worker at every step in delivering care coaching and coordination, enabling a cost effective and scalable solution.
RAMP invites the community to participate in a “Meet the Cohort” online session that will be held March 29 at 12 noon. To learn more and register for the event, please visit http:ramprb.tech.
This is RAMP’s fifth cohort since 2017. Previously held once a year, a recent $982,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration allows RAMP to expand to two cohorts per year with a spring focus on health and life sciences and a fall program for technology startups. RAMP program partners include Roanoke City, Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council and Virginia Western Community College.
RAMP is an affiliate of Verge, a collaborative strategic alliance established to grow the region’s innovation economy.