The Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator (WCBA) has selected new group of 12 entrepreneurs to participate in the program that runs at least six months and provides guidance that includes developing a fundable business plan. All startups receive an entrepreneur coach, access to active bioscience business professionals and preparation to pitch to investors.
According to Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, “Westchester County is home to a dynamic life sciences community that ranges from enterprising startups to internationally-known researchers and innovators. We are proud to offer a competitive entry accelerator program to life sciences entrepreneurs and look forward to witnessing the evolution of these startups.”
Westchester County Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Deborah Novick said, “We look forward to introducing the newest cohort to the education, mentorship and networks that make the Westchester life sciences community a great place to launch and scale.”
The new businesspeople invited to participate in the program include:
- Atsuo Ochi, who is working on a way to turn body cells into stem cells to reverse aging and support regenerative therapies;
- Dov Biran, who is working on MDinsight, an artificial intelligence platform designed to help physicians make data-driven clinical decisions for patient care;
- Eric Bouhassira of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine who is working on cultured red blood cells;
- Fawaz Al-Mufti of New York Medical College who is working on developing a medical device to help treat strokes;
- Funda Suer, who is working on a noninvasive whole genome test that detects genetic diseases of the fetus at 10 weeks by testing the mother’s blood;
- Jui Chaugule, who is working a minimally invasive treatment for pst-traumatic osteoarthritis;
- Justin Burdge of Columbia University, who is working on way to apply artificial intelligence to handling pain;
- Lea Sanford of Cornell Tech, who is working on a project dealing with cell membranes;
- Lisette Fernandez, who is working on a medical device for preventing bed sores;
- Manija Kazmi of The Rockefeller University who is working on tools to detect and eliminate amyloid aggregates in blood that might be associated with Alzheimer’s;
- Marian Okondo, who is working in the women’s health field;
- Mehek Bapna, who is working a once-weekly female contraceptive pill without synthetic hormones.
WCBA is supported by the Westchester County Office of Economic Development and corporate supporters: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; JP Morgan Chase; C3 Medical Device Consulting; Atostek; and Westchester Medical Center.
