Current tenants
The Initiative is proud to host high-technology and life science companies that provide world-class products and services to the life science and technology industries. Our tenants showcase the breadth and depth of the region's presence in these industries.
WMSTI now offers an affordable “mini-lab” option that provides early-stage companies bench space and access to nearly 100 pieces of sophisticated lab equipment and instrumentation, in addition to offering the services provided by WMSTI’s valuable “Virtual Company Alliance,” a program that provides business development resources, such as: general legal, marketing and design, intellectual property, and investor and public relation services.
Current tenants include:
Avalon Laboratories is a leading supplier of disposable surgical components and a global leader in the manufacture of cardiopulmonary vascular cannulae - the medical devices that provide blood and oxygen connections between patients and life support systems. Avalon joined the Venture Center in 2004 and has grown to employ more than 10 engineers. In 2007, the company obtained more than $60 million in private equity investment to expand manufacturing and support new product development. In 2008, the company celebrated the launch of the first Avalon-branded medical devices, new catheter devices used in medical life-support systems.
MSU Neurotrauma Research Laboratory, under the direction of Kenneth Strauss, Ph.D., is engaged in state of the art traumatic brain injury (TBI) research. There is no effective drug treatment for TBI. Brain inflammation after TBI may cause edema, swelling, cell death, and progressive neurological deficits. Inflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase-?2 (COX2), can modulate neuroinflammation and brain cell death. Animal models are used to investigate molecular, cellular, physiological, and behavioral recovery after brain injuries. We elucidate changes of inflammatory effector genes in response to injury at the level of DNA, RNA, protein expression, and metabolism. We have initiated drug studies using pharmaceuticals that affect these genes, using recovery of neurological function as the primary criterion to support further preclinical and clinical investigations.
Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine is a company committed to providing the best genetic analysis products that translate the results of genomic science into solutions for noninvasive prenatal diagnostics, biomedical research, translational research and molecular medicine applications, and for research conducted in the agro (agricultural and livestock) industry. The company operates an advanced molecular pathology laboratory which started as a first-of-its kind joint venture between the Van Andel Institute, a leading independent medical research organization, and Spectrum Health, a nationally recognized health care delivery system with seven hospitals and 140 service sites.
Syzygy is a new company with a unique leadership team that brings a diverse and impressive array of experience and education to the table. Our products are fundamental components of life science activities involving DNA and our ongoing success in new product development is a direct result of our strong investment in research. Syzygy’s proprietary methods, discoveries and intellectual property support products and services that improve research results and save money. Our first commercial product (Taq Polymerase) is used by labs, universities and others to amplify DNA for use in research, testing and experimentation. We are building a successful company founded on an efficient organization and cost structure, dependable quality control and an innovative culture. Our vision is to lower the cost of biological reagents to foster life science research and education and discover, develop and produce biochemical solutions useful for the advancement of science and the creation of high quality life science jobs in Michigan.
Tetra Discovery Partners LLC provides consulting services in drug discovery and development. We partner with Universities to commercialize intellectual property and conduct proprietary research on diseases affecting the central nervous system. Our research focuses on developing new treatments for depression and schizophrenia. Severe forms of depression affect 2–5% of the US population, while mood disordersimpact 7% of the world’s population and rank among the top ten causes of disability.
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Along with access to world-class lab space, the Initiative offers entrepreneurial support services and connections to regional high-tech manufacturers. We are here to accelerate the commercialization of your idea into a market reality! |
