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 of the Division of Molecular Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant was awarded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Dr. Prossnitz said the funding presents an incredible opportunity to present an innovative approach to treating and preventing diabetes and obesity. GPER G-1 participated in the ASCEND 2020 Business Advising Cohort where executives received technology review and pitch preparation.

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.

Virtici, LLC announced today that it has received a three-year, $3.5 million award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence. Virtici has been selected to create and operate a Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hub in the Western region (the ASCEND Accelerator Hub: NM, AK, ID, HI, MT, NV and WY).