Date: Feb 05, 2010 Source: (
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COLLEGE PARK, Md.—Renova Life Inc. (www.renovalife.com), a company developing research and testing models for human cardiovascular disease, has joined the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute (Mtech) Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incubator, institute officials announce today.
The privately funded company, founded in February 2009, moved into TAP this month.
"The most important factors [for joining TAP] were its proximity to Washington, D.C. and its access to world-class university research resources," says Jie Xu, chief executive officer for Renova Life Inc. (RLI). "Other incubators simply do not offer these combined features."
RLI develops transgenic technologies for research and regenerative medicine related to human cardiovascular disease. The company's team is comprised of startup veterans who launched a biotech company, developed several key technologies and successfully sold these technologies before starting RLI.
An estimated 80 million American adults (one in three) have one or more types of cardiovascular disease, according to a 2009 report released by the American Heart Association. In almost every year since 1900, cardiovascular disease accounted for more deaths than any other single cause or group of causes of death in the United States, according to the same report.
Traditional, inexpensive research models can prove ineffective, as some animals, including mice, are not prone to cardiovascular disease. Widely used models that are susceptible are also more expensive.
RLI is developing models that are both effective and inexpensive. Company scientists are investigating technologies such as DNA microinjection, cloning and animal embryonic stem cells in mouse, rabbit and bovine models.
"Our goal is to develop novel biotechnologies that enable scientists to study inexpensively and effectively towards therapeutics for cardiovascular disease, and other human diseases," says Xu. "Our vision is to become the leader of research and innovation in animal embryo biotechnologies."
RLI has secured contracts, a federal grant, and a patent related to its technology.
About Mtech's Technology Advancement Program (TAP) (www.tap.umd.edu)
For over 20 years, TAP has helped entrepreneurs build some of the most successful technology companies in the mid-Atlantic region. TAP's staff is comprised of seasoned veterans of startups and venture capital firms who provide business advice and support, market intelligence, introductions, access to funding and other critical assistance that can accelerate the growth of technology ventures. TAP offers furnished offices and flexible lab space as well as a multitude of other benefits and services that can only be found at a technology business incubator situated right on the campus of one of the nation's top public universities, the University of Maryland. TAP was the first technology business incubator in the state of Maryland and is the birthplace of two of Maryland's billion dollar companies: Gaithersburg-based Digene Corporation (now part of Qiagen) and Columbia-based Martek Biosciences.
