Entrepreneurial Training
The ASCEND Hub provides resources, advising, and mentoring to aid in the translation of promising innovations from academia to the market.
The Ascend hub difference
Mentoring
Mentors can help first-time entrepreneurs navigate the complex commercialization process and ASCEND can help you find a good match.
Technology Development
Funding for biomedical technologies for preclinical development can be difficult to identify and difficult to obtain, but ASCEND will help you navigate this process.
LATEST NEWS
STTR Award Boosts Research for UNM-based Therapeutic
With a newly awarded research grant, the GPER G-1 Development Group will continue to develop a novel therapeutic for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The technology comes out of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences center with research led by Eric Prossnitz, PhD, a professor in and chief…
Montana-based Company Inimmune Secures $22M Investment
Inimmune, a biotechnology company based in Missoula, Montana, has accomplished its first outside investment with $22 million in Series A funding. Inimmune participated in the ASCEND Business Advising Cohort in 2019 where executives received technology review and pitch preparation. The investment will fund the advancement of Phase I human clinical…
Barati Medical Wins People’s Choice at AAC
UAF scientist turned startup-founder Bahareh Barati took her company, Barati Medical, to the finals of the 2020 Alaska Angel Conference on May 21 and won the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Alaska Airlines. Barati Medical participated in the ASCEND 2020 Business Advising Cohort where executives received technology review and pitch…
Take your technology to market
Business advising for ASCEND innovators and their technologies is available to researchers at all of the ASCEND partner institutions. Advising will include a technology review, assignment of a technology readiness level, suggested next steps, and ASCEND resources that can help move the technology forward.
testimonials
The grant will help accelerate and expand educational programs in translational medicine and career development in health care and pharmaceutical industries across Montana and the Mountain West Region.
Jay Evans, PhDASCEND Academic LeadUniversity of Montana
This is a significant opportunity for small businesses, academia, and the federal government to partner in two critical areas: boosting high-tech innovation and tackling biomedical research needs.
Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D. NIGMS Director
The goal is to educate faculty within the various institutions on how to commercialize their research, including startup funding and finding business partners.
Eric Prossnitz, PhD UNM’s principal investigator
It is exciting to be selected by the NIH to lead this important initiative in the Western region. We look forward to working on this with University of New Mexico and other research institutions in the Western region.
Neil Fanger, PhDCEO of Virtici and Prinicipal Investigator for ASCEND
The Ascend Hub gave me an opportunity to develop a pitch to showcase our technology. By working with the Ascend team and mentors I was able to take the next step towards bringing our life saving technology to the clinic. Thank you Ascend!
Kelly Drew, PhDCEO of BeCool PharmaceuticsUniversity of Alaska Fairbanks
[The ASCEND Team] met with me weekly, answering questions I had about the process of starting up, what is necessary and what is not, and how to proceed. During these meetings, we developed a terrific side deck for use at the BIO International Conference, and one for a MicroGrant pitch sponsored by ASCEND. Being a part of the cohort was a great help to me during this difficult and sometimes confusing time as I start my biotech business.
Elizabeth Corbin, PhD CEO of Optima LabsMontana State University