University of South Alabama

Funding will support automation and large-scale fabrication of nanomatrix vascular sheet with atherosclerosis (VSA) functional assay plus its evaluation for use in drug efficacy and safety research Three-layer nanomatrix VSA innovation described in Biomaterials BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endomimetics, the developer of Bionanomatrix™, a peptide-based biomaterial to promote healing and improve outcomes following medical device implantation and other procedures, today announced the awarding of a $300 thousand Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to support automation and evaluation of a novel 3D in vitro functional assay for use in atherosclerosis drug discovery and development. The underlying innovation is a three-layer nanomatrix vascular sheet with atherosclerosis (VSA) that was described in Biomaterials (2024 Mar:305:122450. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122450. Epub 2023 Dec 27). “Current In vitro atherosclerosis drug discovery models have significant limitations, such as the lack of a three-layer vascular architecture and limited atherosclerotic features,” said Ho-Wook Jun, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Endomimetics, Professor in the University of Alabama (UAB) Department of Biomedical Engineering and corresponding author of the Biomaterials paper. “Moreover, no scalable, high through-put 3D atherosclerosis assay is available for the evaluation of potential therapeutics. Availability of an automated approach for rapid and large-scale fabrication of a VSA assay should provide drug developers a highly reproducible functional assay to test their drug candidates in development to treat atherosclerosis.” The Phase I SBIR grant provides funding to support further advancement of the VSA technology by developing a novel automated approach for rapid and large-scale fabrication of VSA using a 3D printer and 96-well plate with high reproducibility for manufacturing VSA-based functional assays for evaluation of drug efficacy. In addition, the assay will be evaluated by assessing how it assesses for efficacy and cytotoxicity of drugs designed to treat atherosclerosis. “Development of this drug candidate evaluation assay leverages our expertise in bionanomaterials,” said Joseph Garner, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Endomimetics. “The SBIR grant enables us to fully fund this development work so that no resources are diverted from development of applications for our core Bionanomatrix™ platform. If this research is successful, we plan on working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to validate the assay and partner with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to speed up and streamline the atherosclerosis drug development process. About Endomimetics:Endomimetics is a privately held Company founded to develop applications for its proprietary Bionanomatrix™ technology. The Bionanomatrix™, invented by bioengineering scientists and physicians at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), is a peptide-based coating that can be engineered to perform a variety of functions, which may have broad application in medical device implantation and other surgical procedures. Endomimetics’ plans to develop different applications through the preclinical stage and then partner with medical device companies whose technology could benefit from Bionanomatrix™. The Company’s lead indication is the AVF GEL, which is designed to improve the maturation of arteriovenous fistulas. Other indications include coatings on stents and angioplasty balloons, dental direct pulp capping (DPC) and flow diverters. Additional information may be found on the Company’s website https://endomimetics.com/. About the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) ProgramThe Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, created in 1982 through the Small Business Innovation Development Act and reauthorized in 2011, is one of the largest public–private partnerships in the United States. The SBIR program encourages U.S. small businesses with fewer than 500 employees to provide quality research and to develop new processes, products and technologies in support of the missions of the U.S. government. Administered by DHS S&T, the DHS SBIR Program, supports a full spectrum of SBIR initiatives serving all components. Contact Details:Company Contact:EndomimeticsDr. Joseph GarnerChief Executive Officerjng@endomimetics.com Investor Contacts:Eric Ando / Cameron RadinovicBurns McClellaneando@burnsmc.com / cradinovic@burnsmc.com Media Contact:Robert Flamm, Ph.D.Burns McClellanrflamm@burnsmc.com

MOBILE, Ala., Sept. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Lee C. Ferguson, DO, FACS is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member for his contributions as a Vascular Surgeon. Continue Reading Lee Ferguson Dr. Ferguson, a distinguished dual board-certified vascular surgeon and endovascular specialist, has been transforming vascular care in Mobile, Alabama, and its surrounding regions. He is a key member of Vascular Associates of South Alabama, LLC, renowned for his expertise in advanced, minimally invasive, endovascular techniques and traditional open surgery. Dr. Ferguson's unwavering commitment to patient-centered care reflects his belief in treating each patient as he would want his own family to be treated. His practice covers a wide spectrum of vascular conditions, including peripheral arterial disease, limb salvage, aortic aneurysms, carotid disease, varicose veins, and more. With years of dedication to the field of medicine, Dr. Ferguson holds a distinguished educational background, including a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Monticello and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine. His training includes a general surgical residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile and a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. As a testament to his expertise, Dr. Ferguson is dual board-certified in vascular surgery and general surgery, a Diplomat to the American College of Surgeons (ACS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He is also a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI) and holds certifications in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Life Support (BLS). Dr. Ferguson's commitment extends beyond his practice, as he actively engages with professional organizations and medical societies, including the Alabama Medical Society, Mobile County Medical Society, American College of Surgeons, and Society of Vascular Surgeons. He shares his knowledge as a presenter at various medical conferences and co-authored a poster presentation for The Southeastern Surgical Congress meeting in 2013. Outside of medicine, Dr. Ferguson finds solace in the great outdoors. He enjoys hunting, fishing (both inshore and offshore), and sporting clays. His dedication to community service shines through his involvement with his local Mardi Gras Association, the Broad Street Restoration Society, and his role as a Mobile City Police Surgeon, where he volunteers his services for the local law enforcement community. Dr. Ferguson's family is a pillar of support, with his wife, Mrs. Kim Ferguson, and their two teenagers standing by his side. As a leading figure in vascular surgery, Dr. Ferguson's commitment to excellence in patient care and his contributions to the medical field continue to elevate the standard of vascular care in Mobile, Alabama, and the surrounding areas. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE The Inner Circle WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

New research examines how the bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli -- responsible for most UTIs -- is able to use host nutrients to reproduce at an extraordinarily rapid pace during infection despite the near sterile environment of fresh urine. Through a quirk of anatomy, women are especially prone to urinary tract infections, with almost half dealing with one at some point in their lives. Scientists have been trying to figure out for decades how bacteria gain a foothold in otherwise healthy people, examining everything from how the microbes move inside and stick to the inside of the bladder to how they deploy their toxins to produce uncomfortable and often painful symptoms. Research published in PNAS examines how the bacteria Escherichia coli, or E. coli -- responsible for most UTIs -- is able to use host nutrients to reproduce at an extraordinarily rapid pace during infection despite the near sterile environment of fresh urine. Investigators working in the lab of Harry Mobley, Ph.D., at the University of Michigan Medical School began by looking at mutant strains that weren't as good at replicating in mouse models to identify bacterial genes that may be important for establishing infection. Doing so, they identified a group of genes controlling transport systems as critical. "When bacteria need something to grow, say an amino acid, they can get it in two ways," explained Mobley, who is the Frederick G. Novy Distinguishes Professor of Microbiology and Immunology. "They can make it itself, or they can steal it from their host using what we call a transport system." Their previous gene expression screen revealed that nearly 25% of bacterial genes were dedicated to replication tactics including transport systems for specific amino acids, which E. coli use to bring in thousands of molecules per second, said Mobley. First author Allyson Shea, Ph.D., a former member of Mobley's lab and now assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of South Alabama, cross referenced a library of transport proteins from E. coli against other species of UTI pathogens to see which were important for infection. She discovered that a type of transporter called ABC (for ATP-binding cassette) transporters appeared to be critical. Then using organ agar made from the mouse urinary tract, she confirmed that ABC transporters were essential for infection. Many bacteria strains lacking these nutrient import systems were defective for growth on bladder and kidney organ agar. "It appears bacteria make an investment into these energy expensive ATP transport systems in order to have a higher affinity for the energy sources they are interested in," said Shea. "These systems are very, very good at getting nutrients inside the cell." The findings, Mobley notes, open avenues for the development of new therapeutics -- which is especially important in an era of increasing antibiotic resistance. "If you inhibit these transport systems, maybe you can inhibit the rapid growth of these bacteria," he said. Doing so won't be easy, notes Shea, as bacteria have evolved multiple backups systems for this important class of transporters. "What's nice about this ATP-binding family is they all have an ATP binding subunit which gives the transport system the energy it needs to get nutrients across the cell membrane." This subunit could potentially be a target to make the entire family of transporters dysfunctional. While this wouldn't necessarily replace antibiotics, she says, it could slow down growth so that antibiotics and the host immune system could do a better job at stopping the bugs.