Seattle (formerly Redmond)
http://www.healionics.com
Healionics in the WTC news forum
About Healionics Corporation
Healionics is a privately held biomaterials company founded on technology developed by Dr. Buddy Ratner and Dr. Andrew Marshall at the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials center and licensed from UW. Our mission is to be the leading provider of tissue regeneration and device bio-integration solutions to healthcare manufacturers. The flagship STAR - Sphere Templated Angiogenic Regeneration - biomaterial scaffold is a paradigm shift in biocompatibility. Healionics Corporation is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, please visit http://www.healionics.com.
Research & Technology Development (RTD) Award: Phase II
Project Title: "Spherically Templated Angiogenic Regenerative (STAR) Materials for Reduced Infection and Improved Function of Percutaneous Devices"
Research Partner: Dr. Philip Fleckman, Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Department of Medicine, University of Washington
Project Began: 2009
Healionics, a startup biomaterials company in Redmond [note: company is now located in Seattle], is partnered with the University of Washington Division of Dermatology in the Department of Medicine, in the School of Medicine to commercialize UW technology that will reduce infection from skin-breaching devices such as catheters. Healionics expects this technology will enable the company to capture a significant part of a $100-200 million market resulting in the creation of 50 new technology jobs during the next five years.
Max Maginness, Ph.D., Healionics Chief Technology Officer, stated, "We are very pleased to be able to again thank WTC for their support. The Phase 2 RTD grant allows us to continue the productive relationship with Dr. Fleckman and his team at UW in further developing the STAR biomaterial scaffold applications towards improved patient care and quality of life."
UW will receive $82,500 in Phase II Research and Technology Development funding from Washington Technology Center and $16,500 from Healionics for the project titled "Spherically Templated Angiogenic Regenerative (STAR) Materials for Reduced Infection and Improved Function of Percutaneous Devices."
Medical devices that breach the skin play an essential role in patient care. They deliver drugs and fluids to the body and have a variety of other uses. However, because the body's natural barrier to disease is broken by these devices, patients are predisposed to bacterial infection. For example, infections from central venous catheters are attributed to more than 30,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Despite the risks, the medical use of these devices is expected to grow.
In this Phase II project, Healionics will continue a collaboration with UW Professor Philip Fleckman, M.D., to further develop and characterize Healionics' prototype catheter technology. The prototype's use of precisely-engineered biomaterials could help to maximize skin healing and thus reduce the risk of infection. Additional studies should help Healionics bring this promising medical technology to market.
"We are excited to continue our studies of the biology of the skin interface with STAR materials in collaboration with Healionics," Dr. Philip Fleckman said. "Support from the Washington Technology Center has fostered significant progress in studies that has advanced our understanding of the biology of the interaction and demonstrated the usefulness of these materials. The possibility of evolving this technology to a product that will help people by reducing morbidity while building the Washington state economy makes this a win-win project."
"As someone who's had a long-term catheter, I really understand the importance of developing this technology to reduce infections," said state representative and cancer survivor Ross Hunter (D-Medina). "Healionics and the researchers at the University of Washington are demonstrating how the private sector can work effectively with the public sector on advances in health care. I look forward to seeing the results of their collaboration."
Research & Technology Development (RTD) Award: Phase I
Project Title: "Spherically Templated Angiogenic Regenerative (STAR) Materials for Reduced Infection and Improved Function of Percutaneous Devices"
Research Partner: Dr. Philip Fleckman, Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Department of Medicine, University of Washington
Project Began: 2008
Healionics Corporation, a start-up biomaterials company in Redmond [note: company is now located in Seattle], is partnered with the University of Washington Department of Medicine to commercialize technology that will reduce infection from skin-breaching devices such as catheters.
UW will receive $82,500 in Phase I Research and Technology Development funding from Washington Technology Center and $16,500 from Healionics for the project titled "Spherically Templated Angiogenic Regenerative (STAR) Materials for Reduced Infection and Improved Function of Percutaneous Devices."
Medical devices that breach the skin play an essential role in patient care. They deliver drugs and fluids to the body and have a variety of other uses. However, because the body's natural barrier to disease is broken by these devices, patients are predisposed to bacterial infection. For example, infections from central venous catheters are attributed to more than 30,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Despite the risks, the medical use of these devices is expected to grow.
In this Phase I project, UW Professor of Medicine Philip Fleckman plans to evaluate healing responses and bacterial reduction attained with a prototype catheter technology developed by Healionics. The prototype's use of precisely-engineered biomaterials could help to maximize skin healing and thus reduce the risk of infection. Additional studies should help Healionics bring this promising medical technology to market.
"We are very pleased WTC recognized the potential of our next generation STAR biomaterial scaffold technology to advance patient care and improve quality of life. We look forward to expanding our strong relationship with Dr. Fleckman and his team at the UW."
Max Maginness, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer, Healionics
"We are excited about the opportunity to extend our studies of the biology of the interface of the skin with STAR materials and continue our collaboration with Healionics. The possibility of evolving this technology to a product that will help people by reducing morbidity while building the Washington state economy makes this a win-win project."
Dr. Philip Fleckman, Professor of Medicine, University of Washington
"I am so pleased with the quality of these research and development partnerships. The funds are clearly encouraging work with enormous potential to provide good jobs. Hospital-based infections are a growing problem, so this grant could have wide public benefit, too."
State Rep. Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland)
"I congratulate Healionics Corporation and the University of Washington research team for their technology to improve patient care. This kind of innovation not only helps Washington lead in global health, it helps to keep our local economy diversified and strong."
State Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina)
Labels: District_43, King_County, Life_Sciences, Puget_Sound_A-K, Quote-Company, Quote-Legislator, Quote-Researcher, RTD_Grant_Program_A-K, Seattle, UW, WTC_Angel_Network_Funding
