Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures

- Initial areas of focus include novel therapeutics across a range of modalities and indications BALTIMORE, Nov. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackbird Laboratories, Inc. ("Blackbird Labs"), a next-generation life sciences accelerator, today announced that it has launched with a $100 million founding grant from The Stephen and Renee Bisciotti Foundation and research collaborations with Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Blackbird Labs' mission is to accelerate the development and commercialization of novel medicines and cutting-edge technologies to enhance the well-being of patients facing unmet medical needs. Blackbird Labs identifies innovative technologies within its partner institutions that require additional experimentation and business ideation in order to be ripe for start-up creation and investment by the broader venture capital and biopharma communities. Blackbird Labs provides capital, program management, and strategic scientific and business input from its newly recruited team of life sciences professionals, seeking to bridge the gap between pioneering academic science and industry. Initially, Blackbird Labs is focused on advancing innovation across a wide range of therapeutic modalities and indications, including inflammation and immunology, neurological diseases, genetic diseases, and cancer. Blackbird Labs is led by Matt Tremblay, Ph.D., the CEO and a founding member of the board of directors since Blackbird Labs' creation in January 2023. Formerly Chief Operating Officer of The Scripps Research Institute and its drug discovery division, Calibr, Tremblay brings a wealth of experience in early-stage technology research and business strategy. Together with Point Field Partners, the family office of Steve Bisciotti, Tremblay simultaneously created and serves as Managing Director of Wolf Point, LLC, which will provide early-stage venture capital co-investments as part of an integrated approach to fostering the biotechnology start-up ecosystem in Baltimore. "We are thrilled to launch Blackbird Labs, a next-generation life sciences accelerator with a vision to develop new technologies and therapies emerging from premier research institutions here in Baltimore and across the country," said Matt Tremblay, Ph.D., CEO. "We look forward to utilizing our collective expertise in academic translation, company creation, and drug development and leveraging our academic partnerships to lay the groundwork for the biotech companies of the future." Blackbird Labs launches with a world-class group of advisors spanning the global life sciences venture investment community and business leaders. "I'm excited that Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland have a strong ally in Blackbird Labs to further unlock their potential to contribute to biotech innovation on the national stage," said Josh Resnick, Senior Managing Director, RA Capital Management, who serves as an advisor to Blackbird Labs. Underlying Blackbird Labs' approach is a value-driven model focused on several core principles: de-risking innovative technology for commercialization; attracting investment and creating start-ups; entering into meaningful public-private partnerships; and fostering a success-based ecosystem in Baltimore that provides access to domain expertise, community resources, industry connections, and entrepreneurship/fellowship programs. "Blackbird Labs is an exciting new element of our innovation ecosystem, a unique resource for funding and expertise to help bring Johns Hopkins technologies to market. Its focus on therapeutic assets – one of our strengths – and on Baltimore-based start-ups is well-aligned with our mission," said Christy Wyskiel, Senior Advisor to the President of Johns Hopkins University for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Executive Director of Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. "Blackbird Labs is a transformative initiative for Baltimore. By accelerating commercialization of UMB technologies and helping to keep our startups in Baltimore, Matt and his team will have a meaningful impact on the Baltimore region and life science industry as a whole," said Jim Hughes, Senior Vice President for Economic Development at University of Maryland, Baltimore. Blackbird Labs has already funded and established a portfolio of collaborations with its partners, including a novel oral therapeutic for Crohn's and colitis; an RNA-based therapeutic platform targeting mRNA upregulation; a cell type-specific gene therapy platform technology; a multi-modal approach to schizophrenia; and a patient-facing digital platform aimed at accelerating clinical trial enrollment. About Blackbird Labs Blackbird Labs is a next-generation life sciences accelerator dedicated to engineering a better future for patients facing unmet medical needs. Blackbird Labs is focused on collaborating with academics and investors to launch world-changing companies and technologies. Blackbird Labs has entered into foundational collaborations with Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the Lieber Institute for Brain Development to translate today's science into tomorrow's groundbreaking discoveries. Blackbird Labs is headquartered in Baltimore, MD. For more information, please visit and engage with us on LinkedIn. Media & Investor Contact Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] SOURCE Blackbird Laboratories, Inc.

The world’s first such robotic platform is intended to ease ear, nose, and throat surgical procedures, including instrument placement in combination with Microlaryngeal Alligator Forceps Galen ES Robotic System is designed for ENT surgeons. (Credit: National Cancer Institute on Unsplash) Galen Robotics has secured the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) De Novo classification grant and authorisation to commercialise the Galen ES Robotic System for rigid microlaryngeal procedures usage. Galen ES Robotic System is a cooperatively powered surgical assist device for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery. The robotic platform, said to be the first of its kind, is intended to ease ENT surgical procedures, including instrument placement in combination with Microlaryngeal Alligator Forceps. US-based Galen Robotics, a Digital-Surgery-as-a-Service (DSaaS) provider, has designed the device to work in conjunction with the surgeon’s movements for precise and steady instrument positioning while maintaining the surgeon’s direct physical control over the tool. Galen Robotics president and CEO Bruce W Lichorowic said: “With our De Novo granted, Galen looks forward to further advancing the field of surgical robotics, revolutionizing surgical techniques, and providing innovative solutions to healthcare professionals.” “Achieving this milestone with $25m in funding during Covid is truly remarkable compared to other medical device companies who are spending hundreds of millions to achieve the same goal. “The Galen ES System holds great promise in revolutionising challenging ENT surgeries by providing existing surgical instruments with its advanced features that empower skilled ENT surgeons. We anticipate significantly improved surgical precision and better patient outcomes.” The robotic system has the potential to provide instrument stability in difficult microlaryngeal procedures, the company claimed. Its cutting-edge functionality and rapid setup time are designed to improve otolaryngologists’ abilities and result in better patient outcomes. The robotic system’s original technology is based on a license from a long-standing research partnership between Galen Robotics and Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. Galen Robotics anticipates using the De Novo approval from the American health regulator to advance surgical medicine, transform surgical methods, and offer advanced solutions to healthcare professionals. The DSaaS provider aims to offer practical support during surgeries performed in narrow corridors where delicate structures must be treated with extreme care. According to the company, the Galen ES is indicated to help move the specified Microlaryngeal Alligator Forceps to a position in the surgical field chosen by the surgeon and hold that position until the operator moves it to a different location.

BALTIMORE, Sept. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Galen Robotics, Inc., a leading medtech company specializing in advanced robotic surgical systems, today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) De Novo classification grant and authorization to market the Galen ES® Robotic System for use in rigid microlaryngeal procedures. This milestone achievement marks a significant step in Galen Robotics' mission to meet underserved markets with its surgical robotic assistant. The Galen ES is a cooperatively powered surgical assist device for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery. It facilitates ENT surgical procedures, including instrument placement in conjunction with Microlaryngeal Alligator Forceps. The device works in partnership with the surgeon's movements to assist with precise and stable positioning of an instrument while maintaining the surgeon's direct physical control of the instrument. "Our team is incredibly proud the Galen ES Robotic System was granted FDA clearance in record time," announced Bruce W Lichorowic, President & CEO of Galen Robotics, Inc. "With our De Novo granted, Galen looks forward to further advancing the field of surgical robotics, revolutionizing surgical techniques, and providing innovative solutions to healthcare professionals." Lichorowic continued, "Achieving this milestone with $25 million in funding during Covid is truly remarkable compared to other medical device companies who are spending hundreds of millions to achieve the same goal. The Galen ES System holds great promise in revolutionizing challenging ENT surgeries by providing existing surgical instruments with its advanced features that empower skilled ENT surgeons. We anticipate significantly improved surgical precision and better patient outcomes." Galen Robotics' Galen ES Robotic System offers the potential for instrument stability in challenging microlaryngeal surgeries. The system's advanced functionality and quick setup time aim to enhance the capabilities of otolaryngologists, with the intent of providing improved outcomes for patients. The original technology for the Galen ES is based on a license from a continuing research relationship between Galen Robotics, Inc. and Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. With the De Novo granted by the FDA, Galen Robotics looks forward to further advancing the field of surgical medicine, revolutionizing surgical techniques, and providing innovative solutions to healthcare professionals. Galen's primary purpose is to provide valuable assistance during narrow corridor surgeries where space is limited, and where delicate structures need to be handled with utmost care. "We are honored to introduce our innovative technology platform to the market," states David Saunders, Co-Founder and CTO of Galen Robotics Inc. "Galen will be the first surgical robotic company to launch as a service under the name Digital Surgery as a Service (DSAAS™). The development of DSAAS is the result of years of dedicated effort, focused on expanding to various microsurgical procedures, facilitating widespread adoption across the medical community." The Galen ES is intended to assist in the movement of the specified Microlaryngeal Alligator Forceps to a surgeon-selected position within a surgical field and remain in place until moved elsewhere by the operator. The Galen ES is indicated to be used in rigid microlaryngeal procedures where the specified Microlaryngeal Alligator Forceps would be utilized by an experienced trained otolaryngologist performing microlaryngeal surgery in an operating room environment in patients at least 18 years old. Available now, orders have already been accepted for the Galen ES and are being deployed to leading surgical centers nationwide. To learn more about the Galen ES and Galen Robotics, visit . About Galen Robotics Galen Robotics is the pioneer of Digital-Surgery-as-a-Service (DSaaS). Galen provides the world's first cooperatively powered robotic surgical assistant platform for Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgery. Galen Robotics was founded in 2016, bringing together Silicon Valley resources and the groundbreaking work and research in surgical robotics at Johns Hopkins University. Galen Robotics is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. "Galen Robotics" is a registered trademark of Galen Robotics, Inc. "Galen ES" is a registered trademark of Galen Robotics, Inc. For more information about Galen Robotics, please see For Public Relations: Ben Merrit [email protected] SOURCE Galen Robotics