An Arizona-based bioscience company is developing blood tests to more quickly and accurately diagnose cancer and other diseases, AI tools to automate lab work, and alternative ways to treat itchy dogs. Selected for the 2024 Flynn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program.
4 of 6 early stage companies representing 11 companiesth The program’s cohort is based in Tucson, and two, including one from Carefree, are based in the Phoenix area.
Each startup will receive $30,000 in non-dilutive funding through the Flynn Foundation’s nonprofit partner, the Arizona Bioindustry Association. AZBio also assists in the creation of personalized learning plans and provides support services to participants. The benefits package also includes his one-year membership on the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, which guides the state’s long-term strategic plan, the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap; It also includes invitations to meetings with policy leaders.
“These are entrepreneurs who are dedicated to improving our health and quality of life, and these innovative technologies being developed right here in Arizona will have positive and lasting benefits not only for patients, but also for dogs and their owners.” “It can have a positive impact,” said Dr. Tammy McLeod. ., President and CEO of the Flynn Foundation. “The Flynn Foundation is proud to support bioscience innovation and entrepreneurship across Arizona and congratulates these six companies.”
Participants in the 2024 Flynn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program are:
Medical Corporation Biovolt (Tucson)
Tucson-based BioBolt Medical has developed surgical stapler technology with the goal of helping surgeons perform surgeries faster, more efficiently and accurately. The patented deployment system is designed to work with all mesh types, allowing surgeons to utilize biologic mesh more frequently to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care (Carefree)
Dr. Fossum’s Pet Care is a Carefree-based supplement company that provides alternative solutions to synthetic drugs, specifically for itch, which accounts for more than 50% of veterinary visits. This product is a topical and oral treatment for itching caused by atopic dermatitis in dogs.
Dx4Liver Co., Ltd. (Phoenix)
Dx4Liver aims to provide highly accurate diagnostic biomarker tests for liver diseases. The Phoenix-based company offers his MMP7 disease biomarker test for biliary atresia, a serious liver disease in children. Current tests can take days or weeks to receive. This product requires just one blood draw for him and results are available within the same day. It aims to simplify and speed up care while significantly reducing children’s medical costs.
macular visual system (Tucson)
Tucson-based Macula Vision Systems develops technology that fully automates clinical laboratory analysis and AI-based interpretation. This technology is designed to address critical labor shortages, testing costs, and availability of timely clinical information in medical testing laboratories.
Metphora (Tucson)
Tucson-based Metfora is developing a blood test that differentially diagnoses four lung diseases with a single blood draw. Diseases include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and asthma.
precision epigenomics (Tucson)
Tucson-based Precision Epigenomics Inc. develops blood tests to provide earlier and more accurate cancer diagnosis.episeekTM Multi-cancer detection tests detect more than 20 different cancers in a single blood draw.
The 2024 program received 38 applications from early stage companies in Arizona. Twelve of the startups were invited to pitch before the Flynn Foundation’s selection committee last month.
Since 2014, the Flynn Foundation has selected 66 Arizona bioscience companies for the program and provided nearly $2 million in funding.
For more information about the Flynn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program and selected companies, visit flinn.org/entrepreneur.
About the Flynn Foundation
The Flynn Foundation is a Phoenix-based private philanthropic grant-making organization founded in 1965 by Dr. Robert S. Flynn and Dr. Eileen P. Flynn with grants in four areas: biological sciences, Flynn Scholars, and arts and culture. and administers the program. Arizona Civic Leadership Center. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Arizona and benefit future generations. The foundation’s focus on health care and medical research stems from Robert Flynn’s career as a cardiologist who headed the cardiology and electrocardiography departments at St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix.
