The state of Wisconsin has tremendous capacity for scientific discovery, transformative research advances, and technological innovation in biomanufacturing. Wisconsin’s research institutions are among the largest in the world in terms of total research scope and intellectual property generation. A driving force behind our success is the vibrant spirit of collaboration between leading scientists and clinicians from multiple disciplines. Building on this foundation, the Forward BIO Institute was created to catalyze innovation in biomanufacturing research through transdisciplinary collaboration, with the goal of “catapulting” technologies out of universities and into the private sector though a series of supportive initiatives.
Catapult Program
The Institute has established a program to support the effective translation of new discoveries into innovative technologies with commercial impact. Our Catapult Program identifies high value technologies, and creates value propositions and preliminary business cases for these breakthroughs. Business cases are pre-incorporation, and we will connect investigators with entrepreneurs and investors to accelerate research innovations on the path to commercial impact. Through collaboration with our Forward BIO Initiative partner, Forward BIOLABS, we will assist in converting valuable technologies into start-up companies.
Technologies Being Developed as Part of the Catapult Program
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Efficient, inexpensive, and scalable technology for tissue repair
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Genome editing-based therapeutic for inherited retinal disease
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Exosome-mediated therapy for treatment of acute radiation syndrome
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A hydrogel device enabling efficient allogeneic tissue transfer
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Human tissue screening systems to advance neurodegenerative drug discovery
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Cancer therapy mediated via intra-tumoral protein delivery
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Coated microcarriers for serum-free human cell manufacturing
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Endogenous signal-based cell enrichment for immunotherapy applications