Immunology/Inflammation (Host-Directed)

Georgia Southern University is a vibrant institution with over 26,100 students across three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville. The university offers 132 degree programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels, emphasizing student success, community impact, and research excellence. With a commitment to inclusivity and engagement, Georgia Southern fosters a supportive environment for diverse learners, including military-affiliated and adult students. The university is dedicated to transforming lives through education and community engagement, aligning its programs with regional needs. Additionally, Georgia Southern provides accelerated pathways for students to fast-track their master's degrees, enhancing educational opportunities. The university also emphasizes career readiness and public impact research, preparing students for successful careers and contributing to community development.

Volatylix, a Cambridge, MA based startup, is dedicated to early diagnosis enabling timely and appropriate treatment benefiting the patient, physician, provider and payor. Our patent pending platform – DECIPHER – and unique detection sensor technology – OFIS - combine to identify various disease states and conditions via proprietary breath biomarkers, volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). DECIPHER is disease agnostic and will speed diagnosis, while improving accuracy over currently available diagnostic methods. The tests use a noninvasive 4-minute breath sample with analysis taking ~15 minutes on our portable, battery powered platform. Initial products include fungal pneumonias, lung cancer (staging, monitoring, differential diagnosis and screening) and C. difficile.

FiteBac Technology/FiteBac Pharma's K21 uniquely targets the underlying disease state, given that most diseases involve microbial-associated inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. FiteBac Technology innovations stem from the work of numerous international academic research scientists. FiteBac Pharma K21 is the blockbuster antimicrobial small molecule designed to modulate biological, immunological, and metabolic systems for treating a wide range of infectious and inflammatory diseases. This patented drug substance has demonstrated the ability to safely eliminate bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, enhance innate immunity, induce mitophagy while improving mitochondrial and cellular metabolism, accelerate wound healing, and even promote the development of zebrafish and chickens, leading to increased adult mass. Rigorous research from Dr. Bhupesh Prusty's laboratory and Dr Christopher Rongo's laboratory is focused on various aspects of mitochondrial remodeling and reprograming, as well as mitochondrial-to-nuclear signaling with K21.

Humanetics Corporation is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused on developing and commercializing products to enhance human health and wellbeing. Founded in 1988, the company specializes in radiation modulators, adjunctive oncology therapies, and pulmonary protective therapies, particularly for COVID-19. Humanetics is known for its lead drug candidate, BIO 300, which is being developed as a radioprotectant for military and civilian use, as well as a treatment to improve outcomes in cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. The company is actively engaged in research programs for non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and head and neck cancers.

The National Foundation for Integrative Medicine (NFIM) is dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovative solutions and technologies. With a mission to shorten the technology transition cycle and improve health outcomes, NFIM focuses on patient care innovation and supports various populations, including veterans and clinicians, in accessing safer and more effective healthcare options.

Armata Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to developing pathogen-specific bacteriophage therapeutics to combat antibiotic-resistant and difficult-to-treat bacterial infections. With a focus on addressing the global antibiotic resistance crisis, Armata leverages its proprietary bacteriophage-based technology to develop high-impact, best-in-class phage therapeutics. The company operates from a 56,000 square foot facility in Los Angeles, California, equipped for phage product development from bench to clinic. Armata's team of microbiologists and scientists work on discovering natural phages and enhancing them through synthetic biology and engineering to create tailored drug products for clinical trials.

Auburn University Research & Economic Development is dedicated to advancing research and economic growth through a collaborative effort among its various colleges and departments. The organization focuses on fostering innovation, supporting faculty and student research, and facilitating partnerships with industry and government to address societal challenges and enhance the quality of life. Recent initiatives include the launch of the Team Science Series to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and the development of the Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station to address coastal environmental challenges.

The Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I3R) at the University of Arkansas is dedicated to pioneering solutions to complex societal challenges through convergence research. With a mission to advance research excellence and stimulate economic development, I3R focuses on deploying innovations at scale through collaboration across various sectors, including academia, industry, and government.

The University of Chicago is a prestigious urban research university committed to rigorous inquiry and intellectual freedom. Founded in 1890, it has produced numerous Nobel laureates and is known for its transformative education and groundbreaking research across various fields. The university fosters an inclusive and diverse learning environment, encouraging participation from all community members.

Harmac is a global contract design and manufacturing organization specializing in single-use medical devices. With over four decades of experience, Harmac provides comprehensive services including product design and development, advanced manufacturing, automation, value engineering, quality assurance, and packaging and sterilization. The company is known for its operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and commitment to sustainability and community engagement. Harmac operates facilities across the United States, Ireland, and Mexico, supporting customers worldwide and across a range of clinical applications. ISO 13485 Certified and FDA Registered.

Boston University is a major research institution committed to leading breakthroughs across various disciplines. The Office of Research supports and advances research excellence, fostering collaboration among researchers, industry partners, and government leaders to address significant societal challenges.

Cooper University Health Care is a regional academic health system recognized for comprehensive clinical services, advanced multidisciplinary care, specialized surgery, and robust research in South Jersey. It provides integrated healthcare across general and specialty domains, including cancer, neurosciences, cardiology, trauma, genetics, addiction medicine, and complex surgical procedures, supported by leading technologies and a network of modern facilities.

Baylor University is a preeminent Christian research university committed to addressing the world's most meaningful challenges through top-tier research and scholarship. Recognized as an R1 research institution, Baylor focuses on infusing its distinct Christian mission into its research initiatives, fostering a commitment to excellence and innovation.

Evimero is an interdisciplinary company focused on understanding the interactions between microorganisms and human health, agriculture, and the environment, utilizing Systems Biology and AI/ML. Evimero applies molecular principles to infectious disease and microbiome science to improve health outcomes and environmental sustainability through targeted interventions in dysbiotic microbiomes and in people with infectious disorders. Evimero has an infectious disease product pipeline including both prophylactic and diagnostic assets against common causes of Travelers' Diarrhea, including a unique approach to preventing infection with human Norovirus, enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and others. Evimero's pipeline of drugs targeting human and animal microbiomes includes early-stage assets aimed at generalized microbiome-driven inflammation and gut leak, and specific disease-targeted disorders including Parkinson Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Evimero's platform also makes possible a suite of point-of-care diagnostics that can be used for patient cohorting (infectious diseases), risk stratification, and ultimately informing therapeutic decision-making. The nature of Evimero's platform assures a steady stream of novel assets targeting both infectious diseases and chronic disorders with roots in microbiome dysfunction.

Innospera Pharma is a privately held biotechnology company based in Montreal, focused on developing small-molecule modulators targeting G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), particularly GPR84 and GPR40, for the treatment of chronic, fibrotic, inflammatory, and metabolic diseases. Its pipeline includes next-generation lipid-mimetic compounds designed to address unmet medical needs, with lead candidates intended for conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and various cardiometabolic disorders. The company leverages extensive scientific expertise and preclinical data and is supported by investors such as Investissement Québec, Seido Capital, and Anges Québec.

IntegerBio is at the forefront of Immunovirology, committed to combating serious viral diseases by pioneering the intersection of immunology and virology. The company focuses on developing broad multi-viral therapeutics using cutting-edge biology and data-focused approaches. Their mission is to harness the power of science to design therapeutics with durable responses across multiple viruses, aiming for a future without the fear of viral disease.