UNTHSC DESIGNATES CENTER FOR BIOHEALTH LAB SPACE FOR TECH FORT WORTH PARTICIPANTS
The Center for BioHealth at the University of North Texas Health Science Center is home to three labs newly designated for use by small start-up companies working with Tech Fort Worth. The labs, located in the newest building on campus, are approximately 400 square feet each and have fume hoods, wet areas, autoclaves and office space.
The labs are designated for use by companies doing research in healthcare and biotechnology that complement the main research focuses of the health science center, including aging and Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive disorders, diabetes, glaucoma and osteopathic manipulative medicine.
“When you have a technology that has broad implications in cancer or cardiovascular disease, for instance, you may want to start a company around it,” said Clyde Higgs, Tech Fort Worth executive director. “We are here to help increase the likelihood of success by providing a wide range of business services to those companies in their infancy.”
Tech Fort Worth offers extensive resources for its small business clients, such as support in developing business and technology plans and opportunities to exhibit at conferences and venture capital showcases. Each company can also tap into a network of business resources: affordable laboratory and office space, legal assistance, venture capital introductions, scientific consultant, equipment use, grant funding, marketing and e-marketing resources.
Some scientists at the health science center are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by Tech Fort Worth. Computer-based Anatomy Products, Inc. (CAPs) is a company started by faculty members in Department of Cell Biology and Genetics. The company creates computer products for instruction of the anatomical sciences at multiple levels—from high school to graduate level institutions.
“We know what we have with our product and where we want to go, Tech Fort Worth is providing ways for us to get there,” said Harold Sheedlo, PhD, assistant professor of cell biology and genetics and one of CAPs’ founders. “They have bent over backwards to help us succeed by providing us office space and furniture at a reasonable price and putting us in contact with venture capitalists and business plan consultants.”
Tech Fort Worth began in February 1998 in response to the devastating effects of national defense downsizing on the local economy. It invests time and expertise in emerging companies and entrepreneurs that demonstrate the potential for economic and commercial success in hope that the companies will one day have a positive economic impact in the community. Its partners include Alcon, Healthpoint, Medtronic, RadioShack, Texas Instruments, UNT Health Science Center and the City of Fort Worth.
For more information on Tech Fort Worth, visit www.techfortworth.org on the Internet or call 817-339-8968.
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Contact: Becky Purvis 817-735-5152, pager 817-216-0345, e-mail bpurvis@hsc.unt.edu.
The University of North Texas Health Science Center is composed of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Public Health and the School of Health Professions. The center’s Institutes for Discovery conduct leading-edge research on select health issues, including vision, aging, cancer, heart disease, physical medicine, and public health. A 100-member physician group practice, The UNT Physicians Group, manages nearly 200,000 Fort Worth-area patient visits yearly. The institution injects nearly $500 million into Tarrant County and Texas economies annually.
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