Gulf Coast Region ETF Awardees

ETF awards have been announced to thirty-five Gulf Coast region companies, eligible to receive up to a total of $38,229,520.  Pre-Seed Awardees receive an initial award of $250,000 and are eligible to receive up to a total of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 from the ETF.  All Gulf Coast region awardees are able to take advantage of one year of Client Services from the Houston Technology Center.

Animal Innovations - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 29, 2009

Animal Innovations has received a Pre-Seed Commercialization Award completion and commercialization of its automatic syringe filling and data collection system for animal medication, allowing the safe and efficient administration of drugs to animals through its patented, back filling syringe.  The company is partnering with Texas A&M University to commercialize the product.

Apaxis Medical (SEMMT) - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 5, 2009

Apaxis Medical (formerly known as SEMMT) is developing tools and techniques that revolutionize current surgical methods of implanting left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) in the heart.  The technology allows surgeons to implant LVADs on a beating heart rather than putting the patient on a bypass, making the procedure safer and reducing the risk of bypass-related deaths.  Apaxis is collaborating with Rice University and the Texas Heart Institute.

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals - $1,450,000 - October 9, 2007

Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, was awarded $1,450,000 to help develop its next generation therapeutic vaccines for the treatment of cancer, based on technology developed at Baylor College of Medicine.  Bellicum's BP-GMAX-CD1 lead product candidate incorporates a pharmacologically regulated switch designed to generate a substantially more potent and durable immune response against the patient's cancer cells than seen with other vaccines in development.  Bellicum's collaboration partners are Baylor College of Medicine and the Greater Houston Partnership.  Click here for more...

BetaBatt - $250,000 Pre-Seed - October 3, 2008

BetaBatt^® develops long-lasting, reliable power sources. It has researched and patented a novel 3D energy conversion architecture based on nano-scale porous silicon. The company's first commercial product has a 12-20 year lifespan and mission-critical reliability. The BetaBattery^™ addresses current issues faced by the medical implant, oil and gas, and remote sensing industries, as well as military and space organizations. "BetaBatteries^™ will open up other new applications that require compact, long-life, low-power sources, such as performance monitoring of electronics in difficult-to-maintain locations," said Larry Gadeken, president of BetaBatt. He added: "Our ongoing relationship with Rice University makes key expertise available that is contributing to our success." BetaBatt has been awarded a $250,000 Pre-Seed Commercialization Award and is eligible to receive up to a total of $1,000,000 from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.  Click here for more...

Castle Biosciences - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 5, 2009

Castle Biosciences has received a Pre-Seed Commercialization Award for the development of its biomarker based cancer detection system.  The technology focuses on identifying aggressive, underserved or "orphan" cancers that have a relatively low occurrence rate, and whose course of treatment depends on swift and accurate information.  Castle Biosciences is collaborating with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

CNAP/CNI - $975,000 - October 4, 2006

The Carbon Nanotube Acceleration Project (CNAP), an operating division of Carbon Nanotechnologies, Inc. (CNI) has been awarded $975,000 to help bring to market a new fuel cell technology that is expected to power the next generationof portable and wireless electronic devices.  The technology was developed by the late Nobel Prize Laureate in Chemistry, Professor Rick Smalley, at Rice University.  CNAP's collaboration partners are Rice University and the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County.  Click here for more...

CorInnova - $500,000 - June 1, 2006

CorInnova has been awarded $500,000 for the development of heart assist technologies that lead to heart recovery rather than heart replacement.  The core technology is a device that enhances heart recovery through restoration of proper cardiac motion.  This is a Texas A&M University technology invented by Dr. John Criscione, CorInnova's CEO.  CorInnova's application was sponsored by the Research Valley Partnership.  Click here for more...

Cormedics - $250,000 Pre-Seed - October 3, 2008

Cormedics Corporation develops novel technologies and therapies that selectively treat the entire heart by introducing them into the pericardial space which surrounds the heart. Using this new approach, the entire heart is treated from the outside-in. Cormedics plans to first employ this minimally invasive intrapericardial access device for current standard-of-care applications for the removal and diagnosis of pericardial fluid. Cormedics also plans to use the intrapericardial access device to deliver a variety of other electrophysiology and echocardiography devices, and drug therapies to the heart. Cormedics has been awarded a $250,000 Pre-Seed Commercialization Award and is eligible to receive up to a total of $1,000,000 from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.  Click here for more...

DNAtriX - $250,000 Pre-Seed - November 19, 2008

DNAtriX is a Houston-based biotechnology company focused on the development of an oncoloytic virus platform initially for the treatment of malignant glioma.  DNAtriX's lead product, delta24RGD, is a next-generation adenovirus invented by company founder Dr. Juan Fueyo and Dr. Frank McCormick.  Click here for more...

Endothelix - $1,000,000 - July 21, 2006

Endothelix has been awarded $1,000,000 for the development of its low-cost non-invasive VENDYS procedure, a new technology for the measurement of vascular reactivity, a marker of endothelial dysfunction, by monitoring temperature at one's fingertips.  Endothelix's first technology was licensed from the Texas Heart Institute and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston.  Researchers from the University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M University are also actively involved with Endothelix.  Click here for more...

Ensysce Biosciences - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 4, 2010

Enscysce Biosciences has received an initial Pre-Seed Commercialization Award of $250,000 for development in identifying carbon nanotube complexes that improve cancer therapy, and is eligible to receive up to a total of $1,500,000 from the TETF.  Ensysce is collaborating with Rice University and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Click here for more.

Halsa Pharmaceuticals - $250,000 - March 24, 2008

Halsa Pharmaceuticals has been awarded $250,000 for the development and pilot manufacturing of a therapeutic drug treatment for obesity.

itRobotics - $750,000 - July 21, 2006

itRobotics has been awarded $750,000 for the development of robotic in-line inspection systems for tubular plant equipment and non-piggable pipelines, developed in collaboration with Rice University.  itRobotics' application was sponsored by the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council.  Click here for more...

Laser Tissue Welding - $160,000 - October 9, 2007

Laser Tissue Welding, Inc., a biotherapeutic company, was awarded $160,000 to help develop its innovative sutureless surgical therapies using human serum albumin based biodegradable biomaterials to join, repair and create homeostasis on surfaces of solid viscera organs such as the liver, spleen and kidney involved in trauma, cancer and transplantation even in the presence of coagulation failure or therapeutic anticoagulation.  Laser Tissue Welding's collaboration partner is Baylor College of Medicine.  Click here for more...

LaserGen - $250,000 Pre-Seed - October 21, 2009

LaserGen has received a Pre-Seed Commercialization Award for the commercialization of its DNA sequencing technology.  The system reduces the cost and time of DNA sequencing, and can be used in medical research fields.  LaserGen is partnering with Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University.

Leonardo Biosystems - $2,500,000 - June 4, 2010

Leonardo Biosystems was awarded $2,500,000 to pursue development of multi-stage mesoporous silicon particles for the delivery of cancer drugs and other agents for the treatment of cancer.  Leonardo is collaborating with Rice University, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health Science Center and UTMB at Galveston.  Click here for more.

Lynntech - $600,000 - May 9, 2007

Lynntech, Inc., has been awarded $600,000 to help develop its high power, hydrogen/air fuel cell technology.  Click here for more...

Molecular LogiX - $794,520 - March 16, 2007

Molecular LogiX has been awarded $794,520 to develop a "first in class" therapeutic cancer treatment.  This treatment will optimze the company's Pan-HER Anti-Cancer Ligand, a genetically engineered version of the naturally occurring growth hormone that blocks the cell receptor necessary for growth of tumor cells.  In addition to providing oncologists and their patients with a new, more robust drug to treat cancer, this drug has the potential to be the first of a new family of drugs to treat other diseases resulting from abnormal ligand receptor interactions.

Molecular LogiX has been working in collaboration with scientists from the Baylor College of Medicine and University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, assisted by the South Montgomery County Woodlands Economic Development Partnership.  Click here for more...

Nano3D Biosciences - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 4, 2010

Nano3D Biosciences has received an initial Pre-Seed Commercialization Award for development of its device to magnetically levitate cells to enable three-dimensional tissue growth using a propriertary combination of nanoparticle-based reagents and magnetic fields, and is eligible to receive up to a total of $1,000,000 from the TETF.  n3D is collaborating with Rice University and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Click here for more.

NanoComposites - $1,500,000 - October 4, 2006

NanoComposites has been awarded $1,500,000 to commercialize its proprietary process for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes.  In 2007, NanoComposites will be producing uniquely enhanced elastomers for use in mission critical seals used in upstream oil and gas drilling operations.  NanoComposites has been working in collaboration with Rice University and assisted by the Greater Houston Partnership.  Click here for more...

Nanospectra Biosciences - $1,250,000 - October 4, 2006

Nanospectra Biosciences has been awarded $1,250,000 to fund the clinical development of its AuroLease Cancer Therapy.  Nanospectra's primary focus is the development and commercialization of AuroLase, which is broadly applicable to virtually all solid tumors.  Nanospectra Bioscience's collaboration partners are Rice University, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTMB at Galveston and the Greater Houston Partnership.  Click here for more...

Noninvasix - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 5, 2009

Noninvasix is a Galveston-based company developing a device that relies on sound waves to measure hemoglobin and other blood components without requiring a blood withdrawal from the patient.  Current hemoglobin measurement procedures are painful, invasive and often severely lower hemoglobin levels, requiring the patient to receive a blood transfusion.  This device is a painless and more accurate means of measuring hemoglobin levels, particularly in neonatal intensive care units, where heel sticks are the current standard of practice  for hemoglobin measurement in infants.  Noninvasix is collaborating with UT Medical Branch-Galveston.

OrthoAccel - $750,000 - February 28, 2008

Houston-based OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc., was awarded $750,000 to further develop and commercialize its orthodontic device, the Celerect.  The Celerect is a revolutionary device, based on a technology that cuts treatment time for braces in half.

OrthoAccel was the winner of BioHouston's 2007 Michael E. Debakey Life Science Award, and is a joint client of both the Houston Technology Center Acceleration program and BioHouston.  Click here for more...

PLx Pharma - $2,000,000 - March 16, 2007

PLx Pharma, a pharmaceutical company, has been awarded $2,000,000 to help develop new formulations for safer and more effective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) currently on the market, such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen.  PLx will use a platform technology licensed from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and will focus on reducing the potential life threatening gastrointestinal toxicities related with chronic use of NSAIDs.  Click here for more...

Pulmotect - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 5, 2009

Pulmotect is developing product that boost the innate immune system to protect against a wide range of airborne diseases.  The technology simulates the body's natural defenses to provide safe, fast-acting protection against diseases such as pneumonia, influenza, anthrax and staph, and can potentially be used to help prevent infection in immune-compromised cancer patients, military personnel, first responders and the general population.  Pulmotect is collaborating with the Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and UTMB-Galveston.

Qcue - $250,000 Pre-Seed - October 21, 2009

Qcue has received a Pre-Seed Commercialization Award for the development of an innovative software program to estimate demand and pricing for ticketed public events.  The program analyzes factors such as weather, demand and market conditions to adjust ticket prices, reducing lost revenue by allowing ticket sellers to tap into profits from previously unsold tickets.  Qcue is partnering with the University of Texas at Austin to further develop the software.

Salient Pharmaceuticals - $2,000,000 - January 28, 2010

Salient Pharmaceuticals has received a $2,000,000 Commercialization Award for the commercialization of its CASAD therapy, an all natural product used to prevent and treat some cancer therapy-induced side effects.  Salient is partnering with Texas A&M University and the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Click here for more.

SeprOx - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 5, 2009

SeprOx is a Woodlands-based company developing and commercializing its medical oxygen generator that separates pure oxygen from air.  The device is lighter and less expensive than existing home oxygen generators.  SeprOx is collaborating with the University of Houston.

Shape Memory Therapeutics - $250,000 Pre-Seed - October 21, 2009

Shape Memory Therapeutics has received a Pre-Seed Commercialization Award for the commercialization of their cerebral aneurism treatment.  The treatment is a less invasive alternative to neurosurgery that allows surgeons to deliver treatment to the aneurism through a catheter.  Shape Memory is partnering with Texas A&M University.

Smart Imaging Technologies - $250,000 Pre-Seed - November 19, 2008

Smart Imaging Technologies is a Houston-based company providing software for automated analysis of 2D and 3D images, featuring Natural Automation and enabling users without programming skills to automate extraction of information from digital images.  Main application markets include medical imaging diagnostics, nondestructive testing, semiconductors and nanomaterial research areas.  Click here for more...

StarVision - $750,000 - January 9, 2008

StarVision Technologies, Inc., a Research Valley-based aerospace research and development company, was awarded $750,000 to help complete its SpeedStar product, a revolutionary new altitude determination sensor system that improves the performance and reduces costs for satellites. 

The company will become a joint client of both the Houston Technology Center Acceleration program and the Research Valley Innovation Center, a science and technology incubator/accelerator recently established by the Research Valley Partnership and various Texas A&M University System entities.  Click here for more...

Sunrise Ridge Algae - $250,000 Pre-Seed - October 3, 2008

Sunrise Ridge Algae, Inc. is working to commercialize an algae-to-biofuel technology that converts waste water and waste CO2 to high-value biofuels and animal feeds. Norman Whitton, chief executive officer of Sunrise Ridge Algae, said: "We are very pleased to receive this award from the State of Texas. It demonstrates the state government's long-term commitment to maintaining Texas' position as energy supplier to the country, and their confidence in our company." Sunrise Ridge Algae has been awarded a $250,000 Pre-Seed Commercialization Award and is eligible to receive up to a total of $1,000,000 from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.  This ETF award has been issued through the Central Texas RCIC. Click here for more...

Thrombovision - $1,500,000 - October 9, 2007

ThromboVision, Inc., a biomedical diagnostics company was awarded $1,500,000 to help develop its ThromboGuide Platelet Function Analyzer.  The T-Guide is a risk assessment/risk modification platelet function solution that consists of a disposable test kit and a point-of-care base unit.  The system will help physicians individualize antiplatelet therapy that they use to prevent heart attacks, strokes and stent occlusions.  ThromboVision's collaboration partners are Methodist Hospital Research Institute and the Greater Houston Partnership.  Click here for more...

Veros Systems - $250,000 Pre-Seed - June 4, 2010

Veros Systems has received an initial Pre-Seed Commercialization Award of $250,000 to help develop and launch its intelligent software product for non-intrusive, real-time assessment of reliability and energy efficiency in electric machines, and is eligible to receive up to a total of $1,500,000 from the TETF.  Veros is collaborating with Texas A&M.  Click here for more.

Visualase - $750,000 - October 9, 2007

Visualase, Inc., a biomedical diagnostics company, was awarded $750,000 to help develop its Visualase Thermal Therapy System, a revolutionary tool for destructive treatment of cancer or other malignancies using patented laser and MRI-based guidance systems.  Laser-induced interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of solid tumors that uses laser light to heat and destroy the affected tissue.  Combining this therapy with MRI thermal imaging feedback allows physicians a level of targeting and control previously not possible, opening a host of tumor ablation applications in neurosurgical and other vital organ systems.  This therapy offers tremendous potential to minimize surgical complications, reduce recovery time and hospital stays, and decrease associated health care costs.  Visualase's collaboration partner is the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.  Click here for more...