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Upstate Biotech Ventures

In a partnership between Empire State Development, Upstate Medical University, the SUNY Research Foundation, and Excell Partners, the newly-launched Upstate Biotech Ventures invests in high-potential startups and small businesses affiliated with Upstate Medical University to drive research and technology innovation.

Recent Tech from SUNY Upstate

Lipid nanoparticles for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents in acute lung injury
January 15, 2026

This technology uses lung-targeting lipid nanoparticles to deliver a combination of anti-inflammator...

This technology uses lung-targeting lipid nanoparticles to deliver a combination of anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating drugs directly to the lungs, offering a more effective and targeted treatment for acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Background:
Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are severe, life-threatening conditions characterized by widespread inflammation and increased permeability in the lungs, often resulting from infection, trauma, or other critical illnesses. These syndromes lead to impaired gas exchange, hypoxemia, and respiratory failure, frequently requiring intensive care and mechanical ventilation. Despite advances in supportive care, mortality rates for ALI/ARDS remain high, underscoring the urgent need for more effective therapeutic interventions. The complexity of these conditions, which involve dysregulated immune responses and extensive lung tissue damage, has driven ongoing research into targeted therapies that can modulate inflammation and promote tissue repair directly within the lungs. Current treatment strategies for ALI/ARDS are largely supportive, focusing on mechanical ventilation and fluid management, with pharmacological interventions offering only modest benefits. Conventional drugs such as corticosteroids, neuromuscular blockers, and inhaled nitric oxide have shown limited efficacy in improving patient outcomes, and many promising agents—including antioxidants, statins, surfactant therapy, and cytokine inhibitors—have failed to demonstrate consistent clinical benefit. One major limitation of existing approaches is the lack of targeted delivery to lung tissue, resulting in suboptimal drug concentrations at the site of injury and increased risk of systemic side effects. Furthermore, most therapies address only a single aspect of the disease process, rather than the multifaceted immune and inflammatory pathways involved in ALI/ARDS, leaving a significant gap in effective, comprehensive treatment options.Technology Overview:  
This technology utilizes specialized lung-targeting lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) designed for the intravenous delivery of multiple therapeutic agents to treat acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The LNPs are engineered to transport a combination of an anti-inflammatory drug and immune modulators directly to lung tissue. By leveraging the unique properties of lipid nanoparticles, this approach enables precise targeting of the lung, ensuring that the therapeutic agents are delivered efficiently to the site of injury. Preclinical studies in mouse models have demonstrated that this multi-agent delivery system can enhance localized therapeutic effects, potentially offering a more effective treatment for ALI/ARDS compared to conventional therapies. What differentiates this technology is its multi-modal, lung-specific delivery strategy, which addresses several key limitations of current ALI/ARDS treatments. Traditional therapies often suffer from limited efficacy and significant systemic side effects due to non-specific drug distribution. In contrast, the LNP system’s ability to co-deliver  synergistic agents directly to the lungs allows for simultaneous suppression of inflammation, modulation of immune responses, and targeted inhibition of specific inflammatory pathways. This integrated approach not only maximizes therapeutic efficacy but also minimizes off-target effects, representing a significant advancement over existing non-targeted therapies. The innovation lies in the combination of targeted delivery, multi-agent synergy, and the potential for improved patient outcomes, positioning this technology as a transformative solution for severe lung injuries.                                                   https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_221990236.jpegAdvantages:  
•    Targeted delivery of therapeutic agents specifically to lung tissue enhances treatment efficacy for ALI/ARDS.
•    Combination of anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and pathway-specific inhibitors provides a multi-modal therapeutic approach.
•    Intravenous administration of lipid nanoparticles enables efficient and localized drug delivery.
•    Potential to reduce systemic side effects compared to conventional treatments.
•    Demonstrated promising efficacy in preclinical mouse models of lung injury.
•    Addresses significant unmet medical needs in treating acute lung injury and respiratory distress syndrome.
•    Innovative use of proprietary lung-targeting lipid nanoparticles as a delivery platform for multiple complementary agents in one system. Applications:  
•    ALI/ARDS hospital treatment enhancement
•    Targeted drug delivery for lungs
•    Acute respiratory failure emergency care Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application: 63/813,654, filed on 05/29/2025Stage of Development:
TRL 3Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

Rapid, robust, and near point-of-care saliva-based nucleic acid detection of dengue virus …
January 15, 2026

This technology enables rapid, non-invasive detection and differentiation of all four dengue virus s...

This technology enables rapid, non-invasive detection and differentiation of all four dengue virus serotypes using saliva samples, with advanced qPCR and RT-LAMP assays, making dengue diagnosis easier, faster, and more accessible without the need for blood draws. Background:
Dengue virus (DENV) is a major global health concern, with hundreds of millions of infections occurring annually, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for effective patient management and for controlling outbreaks, especially since infection with one DENV serotype can increase the risk of severe disease upon subsequent infection with a different serotype. Traditionally, DENV diagnostics have relied on blood-based methods, which require trained phlebotomists, specialized equipment, and can be invasive and uncomfortable for patients. This reliance on blood samples poses significant challenges in resource-limited settings, where access to healthcare infrastructure and skilled personnel may be limited, and where rapid, large-scale testing is often needed during outbreaks. Current diagnostic approaches for DENV, such as conventional PCR and serological tests, face several limitations. Blood-based PCR assays, while sensitive, often require complex sample preparation, including RNA purification, and are susceptible to inhibitors present in crude samples, which can compromise accuracy. Serological assays, on the other hand, may not reliably distinguish between DENV serotypes or between primary and secondary infections, leading to potential misdiagnosis. Furthermore, the need for cold chain storage, specialized reagents, and laboratory infrastructure restricts the deployment of these tests in field or point-of-care settings. These challenges highlight the need for more accessible, rapid, and non-invasive diagnostic solutions that can be implemented widely, particularly in outbreak-prone and resource-constrained environments.Technology Overview:  
This technology provides a rapid, non-invasive diagnostic solution for detecting and differentiating all four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes using saliva samples. It integrates two advanced nucleic acid testing methods: a multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay and a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay. The multiplex qPCR can simultaneously identify DENV1–4 and a human internal control in under 90 minutes, with high sensitivity down to 3–5 viral RNA copies per microliter, and is compatible with both purified and crude saliva samples. The RT-LAMP assay, operating at a single temperature, delivers serotype-specific results in as little as 7–15 minutes and supports simple colorimetric or lateral-flow readouts, making it suitable for point-of-care settings. Both methods use standard commercial reagents and are designed for ease of use, eliminating the need for trained phlebotomists and enabling deployment in resource-limited environments. This technology is differentiated by its comprehensive approach to dengue diagnostics, leveraging large-scale genomic analysis to design highly specific primers and probes that ensure accurate serotype identification directly from saliva. Unlike traditional blood-based tests, this solution offers a non-invasive alternative that is easier to administer and more acceptable to patients, particularly in mass screening or pediatric contexts. The assays have been validated through rigorous human challenge studies and transcriptomic analyses, demonstrating comparable sensitivity and specificity to blood-based methods while also providing insights into host immune responses. Its compatibility with digital PCR and whole-genome sequencing further enhances its utility for research and epidemiological surveillance. The combination of rapid turnaround, high accuracy, non-invasive sampling, and adaptability to point-of-care use positions this technology as a significant advancement in global dengue management and public health diagnostics. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_349162542.jpegAdvantages:  
•    Non-invasive detection of all four Dengue virus serotypes using saliva samples, eliminating the need for blood draws.
•    Rapid results with multiplex qPCR providing detection in under 90 minutes and RT-LAMP assays delivering results within 7–15 minutes.
•    High sensitivity and specificity by targeting conserved, serotype-distinct genomic regions, with detection limits as low as ~3 copies/µL.
•    Compatibility with point-of-care settings due to tolerance of crude saliva inhibitors and use of standard commercial enzymes and reagents.
•    Supports multiple readout formats including fluorescent, colorimetric, and lateral-flow assays for flexible diagnostic use.
•    Enables viral RNA quantification and whole-genome sequencing directly from saliva, facilitating detailed viral analysis and surveillance.
•    Reduces reliance on trained medical personnel and specialized equipment, improving accessibility in resource-limited environments.
•    Potential to enhance understanding of host immune responses through saliva transcriptomic analysis alongside viral detection. Applications:  
•    Point-of-care dengue screening
•    Rapid outbreak surveillance
•    At-home dengue self-testing
•    Clinical trial participant monitoring
•    Travel health screening Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application filed: 63/924,381, filed on 11/24/2025
Know-how basedStage of Development:
Design of highly specific primers and probes in hand, that ensure accurate serotype identification directly from saliva. TRL level 4.Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
 

Sulfonium Lipid Nanoparticles for Intranasal mRNA Delivery to Lung Epithelial and Immune C…
January 09, 2026

This technology uses specially designed sulfonium lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA directly to lu...

This technology uses specially designed sulfonium lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA directly to lung cells through the nose, offering a non-invasive, more effective and targeted treatment for pulmonary diseases like asthma and cystic fibrosis. Background:
The field of pulmonary medicine faces significant challenges in the treatment of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome, all of which involve complex interactions between lung epithelial and immune cells. Advances in genetic medicine, particularly messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics, have opened new avenues for treating these conditions by enabling the direct modulation of gene expression within target cells. However, the success of mRNA-based therapies hinges on the ability to deliver these fragile molecules efficiently and specifically to the relevant lung cells. Intranasal administration is a promising route due to its non-invasiveness and direct access to the respiratory tract, but it requires delivery systems that can protect mRNA from degradation and ensure its uptake by the desired cell types. Current approaches to mRNA delivery, such as conventional lipid nanoparticles, face several limitations when applied to pulmonary diseases. These formulations often lack the specificity needed to target lung epithelial and immune cells, resulting in suboptimal therapeutic outcomes and potential off-target effects. Furthermore, many existing nanoparticles struggle to traverse the mucus barrier and are rapidly cleared from the respiratory tract, reducing the amount of mRNA that reaches the intended cells. Inefficient encapsulation and delivery can also lead to degradation of the mRNA payload before it exerts its therapeutic effect. As a result, there is a pressing need for more effective and targeted delivery vehicles that can overcome these biological barriers and improve the efficacy of mRNA-based treatments for lung diseases.Technology Overview:  
This technology introduces a new class of sulfonium lipid nanoparticles specifically engineered for the intranasal delivery of mRNA molecules to lung epithelial and immune cells. These nanoparticles are carefully designed and synthesized to encapsulate and protect mRNA, ensuring efficient transport and localized release within the lungs. By optimizing the formulation, the technology achieves superior performance compared to existing lipid-based delivery systems, providing enhanced targeting and uptake by the intended lung cell populations. The system is designed to address the longstanding challenge of delivering genetic material directly to the respiratory tract, which is crucial for treating pulmonary diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. What differentiates this technology is its unique chemical structure and formulation, which enable highly specific and efficient delivery of mRNA to lung cells via the intranasal route. Unlike conventional lipid nanoparticles, the sulfonium-based design offers improved stability, cellular uptake, and targeting capabilities, resulting in higher therapeutic efficacy and reduced off-target effects. The technology fills a critical gap in the market by providing a non-invasive, localized delivery method that can be readily adapted for a variety of mRNA-based therapeutics. Its development, supported by NIH funding and validated through rigorous experimentation and peer-reviewed disclosure, positions it as a leading solution for advancing pulmonary drug delivery and gene therapy. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1237485827.jpegAdvantages:  
•    Enables targeted and efficient intranasal delivery of mRNA to lung epithelial and immune cells
•    Optimized sulfonium lipid nanoparticles outperform existing benchmark lipid formulations for mRNA delivery
•    Facilitates localized gene expression critical for treating pulmonary diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and acute respiratory distress syndrome
•    Non-invasive administration route through intranasal delivery improves patient compliance
•    Supports development of novel mRNA-based therapeutics for a wide range of lung diseases
•    Innovative chemical design avoids reliance on existing intellectual property, allowing for broad application and further development Applications:  
•    mRNA therapeutics for cystic fibrosis
•    Asthma gene therapy delivery
•    Acute respiratory distress treatment
•    Targeted lung cancer mRNA therapy
•    Vaccines for respiratory infections Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application: 63/783,376, filed on 4/4/2025
Issued patent
Know-how based
CopyrightStage of Development:
TRL 3 
Sulfonium lipid nanoparticles are specifically engineered for the intranasal delivery of mRNA molecules to lung epithelial and immune cells Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

Optimized Ureteroscope Shape to Reduce Intrapelvic Pressure
May 13, 2025

­A method for improving fluid flow around or through an endoscope using radially oriented projection...

­A method for improving fluid flow around or through an endoscope using radially oriented projections. Background:
During ureteroscopy, the irrigation fluid used to distend the kidney and make stones easier to extract can also cause problems. It can cause a buildup of pressure in the pelvis, and any bacteria which are present can get pushed up into the kidney with the fluid, placing patients at risk for sepsis and pain.Intrapelvic pressure is directly related to fluid inflow and outflow. Mathematical models examining fluid flow patterns within the pelvis and ureter during ureteroscopy suggest that the diameter of the endoscope is a critical parameter in fluid flow rate. Lower pressure is thought to reduce bleeding and sepsis.
Technology Overview: 
SUNY Upstate Medical University researchers have determined the optimal shape of a ureteroscope for reducing intrapelvic pressure. They found that by offsetting the endoscope to the side of the access sheath, fluid outflow was improved and pressure was reduced. In order to achieve this displacement in a stable way, they added small, radially emanating, collapsible projections either to the inside the ureteral access sheath or to the shaft of the ureteroscope itself. Any endoscope or catheter can be adapted with these projections, including bronchoscopes. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_337037079_(1).jpegAdvantages: 
 
•    Reduces pressure that can cause infection, injury, and pain.
•    Modifications can be used to adapt any endoscope or catheter. Applications: 
 
•    Reduces pressure buildup during endoscopic procedures.  Intellectual Property Summary:

•    Provisional Filed 63/150,163
Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.