IBRI Members

Adipo Therapeutics is a biotech start-up founded by Purdue Professor Meng Deng, PhD. Adipo is developing a breakthrough technology platform of locally delivered Noth-inhibiting nanoparticles to transform fat, converting energy storing white fat to energy burning brown fat. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize treatment for type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

Amplicore develops injectable therapeutics for degenerative musculoskeletal disorders to serve unmet medical needs. Unlike current treatments, we take a regenerative approach to joint osteoarthritis, cartilage damage, degenerative disc disease, and acute meniscus tear. Amplicore is committed to addressing the underlying causes of joint discomfort, in addition to relieving pain. Our mission is to translate scientific innovation into effective but minimally invasive products that can be easily delivered to patients.

Cascade Metrix is a medical technology company working within critical care. The company will introduce an Automated Multiplex Analyzer that will revolutionize the bedside testing of hospitalized patients whose care and recovery is dependent on repetitive, around-the-clock measurements of critical blood parameters. 

There is an urgent unmet need for non-invasive, inexpensive bladder cancer (BC) follow-up tests to distinguish healthy vs. oncogenic phenotypes more specifically than cystoscopy. Early Is Good is developing a highly sensitive point-of-care BC test “BCDx” that quantifies disease biomarkers. BCDx will ultimately improve patient outcomes through improved patient testing compliance and frequency.

Entomol® is the exclusive producer of the EPA-registered insect repellent Refined Oil of Nepeta cataria. As effective as synthetic repellents with a safety profile permitting unlimited application, even to children. Our process starts with a sustainable feedstock, the essential oil of the catmint plant, Nepeta cataria, which we source directly from a network of small farmers in the western US and Canada. After enrichment in the active molecule, the plant natural product dihydronepetalactone, the oil is formulated into a range of skin-applied products. On the market in 2024, you will find our products in select retail outlets and on Amazon.com.

Firelight Biosciences is deploying novel tools and techniques to substantially reduce bioproduction costs and timelines. Firelight's state-of-the-art microbial engineering platform is delivering on the promises of synthetic biology by enabling clients to get from concept to scale-up at the speed of the market.

Gate Neurosciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation therapies that address synaptic dysfunction in neuropsychiatry and cognitive disorders. Gate was founded by a world-class neuroscience team with the goal of applying precision medicine approaches to a portfolio of novel molecules acquired from AbbVie and Eli Lilly and Company. The company’s lead drug candidate, zelquistinel, is in Phase 2 development for depression and has transformative potential to meet urgent and growing needs in mental health.

Kovina Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing first-in-class antiviral therapies to treat cancers and premalignant infections caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Kovina has assembled a team of scientists and industry leaders with expertise in HPV and small molecule drug design to advance its pipeline of drug candidates.

Luson BioVentures focuses on venture creation of biotechnology and pharmaceutical drug discovery and development companies. Its philosophy is based on the fundamentals of venture creation and due diligence to launch relatively mature and vetted start-up companies. Luson builds value with experienced executives and drug development teams, focused scientific and development milestones, active advisors, and a virtual or quasi-virtual business model for capital efficiency.

Maple Flavored Solutions develops and executes methods to quantify metabolites so clients can answer biological questions. The company has analyzed thousands of samples from labs around the world. As biologists and analytical chemists, Maple Flavored Solutions will measure what matters most in client samples.

Research is embedded within the academic programs and culture of Marian University as an opportunity for students to engage with faculty mentors in inquiry-based learning. The collaboration with the Indiana Biosciences Research Institute (IBRI) is especially beneficial for expanding the research environment and capabilities for teams engaged in biomedical research from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Arts & Sciences. In particular, the MU Satellite Lab at the IBRI will provide access to cutting-edge instrumentation and animal facilities that will enrich the student experience, while also advancing faculty research programs and increasing competitiveness for extramural funding.

Monument Biosciences is an early-stage biotech looking to bring forward the next generation of disease modifying drugs for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Our discovery programs are anchored in human patient genetics, recent discoveries around tau homeostasis and tau seeding, and the role of microglia in neuroinflammation. Our approach relies on translational biomarkers to treat the right patients and follow their disease progress in response to therapy – informing clinical strategy, safety, and patient benefit. The team is comprised of leading neuro focused scientists, clinicians, and entrepreneurs with a proven track record in venture creation and drug development.

NERx Biosciences is dedicated to the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for cancer. Formed in 2009, NERx specializes in the discovery and early development of novel biopharmaceutical compounds. NERx builds its pipeline through internal research and collaboration with other discovery partners. NERx is focused on a new generation of cancer drugs that target specific cellular processes not currently being exploited as cancer therapies.

Ourobio is a young synthetic biology and circular economy company. We develop engineered microorganisms to turn industrial byproducts into targeted, low-footprint additives for the chemicals/materials and CPG industries. Our vision is for biomaterials to replace toxic, petroleum-derived chemicals/materials that are difficult to recycle and contribute to many of our world’s environmental and human health issues.

P2K Dynamics primary mission is to develop next generation drugs that target novel mechanisms for the treatment of Multiple Myeloma and other cancers that have become resistant to available treatment or have limited therapeutic options. P2K's founding leadership blends deep therapeutic and clinical expertise from the Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (IUSCCC) with significant pharma drug discovery and development experience. Core to our translational medicine driven approach is the ability to leverage the company's direct access to the IUSCCC to inform and run investigator led proof-of-concept clinical studies.

Teichos Laboratories, LLC, is a business-to-business biotechnology company that employs chemoenzymatic synthesis to access its platform of macromolecular biologics for diverse applications in immunotherapy and vaccine development. Collectively, Teichos members possess deep experience in human and veterinary drug discovery and development with start-up and large pharmaceutical organizations. Teichos partners with academic collaborators to generate proof-of-concept data for specific disease applications with the goal to establish developmental agreements with immunotherapy-focused partners for commercialization. Our products offer disruptive innovation in immunotherapy with broad applications in human and animal disease prevention and treatment.

Xylogenics, Inc. is a synthetic biology company that creates valuable, non-consumed, yeast to enable fermentation based production of natural products. Xylogenics is redefining fermentation, starting with a flagship product for the fuel ethanol market. Xylogenics intends to be at the forefront of the bio-chemical movement creating sustainable solutions for a variety of rapidly expanding markets.