Innovate Arkansas Client BioStrategies Awarded $700,000
Innovate Arkansas client BioStrategies LC was recently awarded a $700,000 SBIR Phase II grant from the USDA to commercialize its novel vaccine that will combat avian influenza.
BioStrategies, a biotechnology-oriented company founded by Dr. Carol Cramer and based on technology developed at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, is developing antiviral vaccine systems that can be produced in modified crops, such as flax seed. Feeding the modified flax seed directly to poultry would then confer immune resistance to avian influenza. The technology may also be expanded to produce effective antiviral vaccines in other commercially important birds, as well as in mammals.
The SBIR program is designed to provide funding to novel research projects that have the potential to produce commercial products. Companies owned by U.S. citizens that have fewer than 500 employees are eligible to apply for funding. About one in 15 proposals are funded in a highly-competitive evaluation process that is heavily weighted towards scientific and commercial merit.
Phase I grants provide funding to prove product feasibility. BioStrategies has already successfully completed a Phase I project for this antiviral agent. Phase II funding will provide resources to allow the company to complete a commercialization plan for the new product over a two-year period.
Innovate Arkansas is a program managed by Winrock International that works with Arkansas-based entrepreneurs in an effort to help them build new companies into viable commercial enterprises.
Innovate Arkansas will continue to assist BioStrategies throughout its development as it expands its R&D of the avian influenza immunization and finalizes a detailed business plan. The ultimate goal of Innovate Arkansas is to help the entrepreneur acquire the necessary resources to allow the new company to become a successful member of a new high technology sector located within the state of Arkansas.
