Indianapolis is positioning itself as a significant player in the bioscience sector following the announcement of a new startup cohort from IU LAB and Plug and Play, a venture capital firm. This initiative aims to enhance bioscience investing in Indiana and globally, featuring twelve startups dedicated to innovation in health.
Innovative Startups Join the Cohort
Among the selected startups is Intero Biosystems, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company specializes in creating miniature human organs for preclinical testing. Founder and CEO Charlie Childs explained, “We make miniature human organs for preclinical testing, so anything that you test on animals – like chemicals or drugs or food – you can test on our organs instead of using animals and get a more human-relevant response.”
Childs recently presented her business to IU LAB and Plug and Play, and she believes the support from this program will significantly advance her company’s goals. “They’re concentrating so hard in that area on getting the resources that we so desperately need in the Midwest. I think it’s really exciting, and it really bodes well for a booming biotech startup ecosystem in the Midwest,” Childs remarked, commending Indianapolis for taking a leadership role in this sector.
Another notable participant is Modella AI, founded by Jill Stefanelli. This startup utilizes artificial intelligence to interpret medical images, particularly in the field of pathology. Stefanelli stated, “We’re very focused in the field of pathology, and really helping to improve the diagnostic accuracy, but also informing potential prognosis, how aggressive a disease is, and even informing what type of drug a patient would respond to, all from images, which is pretty incredible.”
According to Stefanelli, the resources provided through this program will be instrumental in commercializing their product, potentially transforming patient care. “This has the opportunity to really shorten the turnaround time, making sure that nothing was missed, helping every single patient, no matter where they live,” she added.
Full List of Selected Startups
The cohort reflects a diverse range of innovative solutions aimed at addressing various health challenges. The complete list of selected startups includes:
- AGED Diagnostics
- Amplicore
- Amplified Sciences
- Door Pharma
- Grannus Therapeutics
- Intero Biosystems
- Modella AI
- OmniSpirant Therapeutics
- OsseoLabs
- OsteoCure Therapeutics
- Scioto Biosciences
- Synch Neuro
As these startups begin to develop their technologies, Indianapolis is increasingly recognized as a key player in the bioscience landscape. The combination of innovative ideas and supportive resources could lead to significant advancements in healthcare, both locally and beyond.
