Portfolio Companies

Location & Contact

6431 Fannin Street,
Houston, Texas 77030

PO Box 20708,
Houston, Texas 77225

713.500.4472

EMIT Corporation

Emergency Medical Interventional Technologies Corporation, better known as EMIT Corporation, is developing trauma care products based initially on the innovative devices developed by UTHSC-H’s Drs. Charles Cox, Jr. and Brijesh Gill from the Departments of Pediatric Surgery and Surgery, respectively. EMIT’s first product includes a novel, patented, portable fluid warmer to deliver therapeutic temperature management to patients experiencing hypothermia anywhere and much sooner after injury.

 

Leonardo Biosciences, Inc.

Leonardo Biosystems uses multi-stage nanovector drug delivery technology, based on research by UTHSC-H’s Dr. Mauro Ferrari and colleagues, to facilitate chemotherapy and biological anti-cancer agent delivery. The company’s first target market is refractory breast cancer.

 

NanoMedical Systems, Inc.

NanoMedical Systems (NMS) is developing novel implantable nanochannel-based drug delivery systems developed by Dr. Mauro Ferrari and colleagues. Nano-channel chips allow for controlled drug release from subcutaneous reservoirs. NMS is pioneering personalized medicine by integrating semiconductor, biotechnology, MEMS/NEMS, and pharmaceuticals.

 

Windmill Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Windmill Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (WCS) is commercializing a left ventricular assist device and a total artificial heart, in addition to other cardiovascular and non-biomedical devices. The WCS blood pump, TORVADTM, eliminates inlet and outlet valves while providing capability for control and synchronization with the native heart over a wide range of blood flows from near steady flow to pulsatile flow. WCS raised over $1.7 million with a commitment of approx. $3 million through 2010.

 

Vanjan, Inc.

Vanjan, Inc. is developing a novel treatment to control mycobacterium tuberculosis infections (MTB) based on discoveries by UTHSC-H’s  Dr. James Stoops and collaborators.  The treatment is ideal for use in third world countries because of the inexpensive cost.  Vanjan is currently beginning clinical trials to test treatment efficacy .

 

SES

SES's innovative web-based disaster exercise technology targets health care responders and other vital response sectors in areas where they have health related responsibilities, such as law enforcement, EMS, fire services, preparedness training in bioterror, mass casualty, natural disaster, and pandemic flu. SES webinars feature nationally known speakers dealing with topics pertinent to the disaster preparedness community to provide exercises and assessment needs.

 

Marval Biosciences, Inc.

Marval Biosciences Inc (est. 2007) is developing next generation contrast agents for high speed, high resolution CT scanners based on discoveries by UTHSC-H’s Dr. Ananth Annapragada. Marval’s agents remain in the circulation for hours, facilitating continuous follow-up imaging in patients with evolving vascular crises including myocardial infarcts, stroke, and pulmonary emboli. Marval recently completed a Series A funding of $1.4 Million as well as SBIR Phase II funding from the NIH.

 

Advanced Guidance Systems, LLC

Advanced Guidance Systems, LLC specializes in improving the delivery of medical knowledge in situations where trained physicians and nurses are not easily available. Dr. Sriram Iyengar has developed GuideView: A System for Developing and Delivering Structured, Interactive, Multi-Modal Clinical Guidelines. The guidance system is a cross-platform system which integrates concepts from several medical disciplines coupled with voice navigation.

 

TexTeach, LLC

TexTeach, LLC develops and markets products in the field of elder care based on research by UTHSC-H’s Dr. Nancy Bergstrom and colleagues. TexTeach’s products include instructional videos titled “How to Predict and Prevent Pressure Sores” and “Elder Loving Care Oral Hygiene: Caregiver Training.

 

Telemedicus, Inc.

Telemedicus, Inc., (TMDI) UTHSC-H and Texas A&M University spin-off develops advanced onboard communications and data systems for emergency vehicles and portable military installations. It targets a market of 40,000 ambulances nationwide, as wel as emergency care facilities and remote or dislocated medical facilities. The Telemedicus technology operated in New Orleans after Katrina and is in operation in Houston and in Liberty Counties.

 

Endothelix, Inc.

Endothelix, Inc., an early stage medical company, was awarded a $1 million grant from the State of Texas Emerging Technologies Fund for the development of its VENDYS™ system, for the measurement of vascular reactivity, and endothelial dysfunction. Recently VENDYS™ was approved by the FDA for commercial sale.

 

Your Doctor Program

Your Doctor Program, co-founded by UTHSC-H’s Dr. Kim Dunn and Kevin Dunn in 2001, is a system that provides a patient assured healthcare access whether or not a patent has insurance. The system promotes a culture of accountability for treatment outcomes, improved communication among medical practitioners and translation of medical care for family and friends.

 

PLx Pharma, Inc.

PLx Pharma Inc. specializes in developing new formulations of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) pioneered by Dr. Lenard Lichtenberger. PLx completed four clinical trials with two lead products, and a third product recently received IND approval. PLx raised over $11 million, and has sponsored $4M in research to UTHSC-H and UT Medical Branch.

 

Volcano, Inc.

Volcano Inc., (VOLC: NASDQ) est. in 2001, specializes in the manufacture of intravascular ultrasound and other devices for use in the assessment of heart and vascular disease. Volcano had an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in June 2006, based, in part, on the value of technology pioneered by UTHSC-H faculty Drs. James Willerson and Ward Casscells in the area of thermal detection of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque.  Volcano currently has over 500 employees with worldwide sales approaching $100 million.

 

IsoVax Therapeutics

IsoVax Therapeutics is an early stage, drug-discovery biotech company involved in the identification and production of conformational protein isomers of important proteins involved in the diagnosis and/or treatment of disease which are unique targets for developing diagnostic and therapeutic antibodies and vaccines.

 

Ampholife Technologies, Inc.

Ampholife Technologies, Inc. is commercializing technology for large-scale purification of biological materials. It currently manufactures the ATIsolator, a high-volume protein purification instrument that utilizes a fluid-phase isoelectric focusing format for high-resolution preparative purification of biomolecules and manufactures a series of ampholyte compounds which are used in the ATIsolator.

 

LifeCell

LifeCell (LIFC) develops and markets products in the field of regenerative medicine for use in reconstructive surgical procedures. LIFC’s products include ALLODERM® regenerative tissue matrix, for plastic reconstruction. LIFC had an IPO in 1992, and in 2008, projected revenues are estimated at $233.0 million. LIFC recently announced its acquisition by Kinetics Concepts Inc. for $1.7 B.