Moving innovative technologies to the animal health market.

1. BIO CORNER website
Moving Concepts
to Market
Center for Animal Health Innovation guides new ideas
related reading
Story by Susan Fotovich McCabe | Photo by Gary Rohman
Innovative concepts in animal health are to ‘de-risk’ it as much as possible so that it strengthen the region by finding new products
inching closer to reaching the market, thanks can move forward in development. Being and services for commercialization, which
to support from the Center for Animal Health awarded the Center’s proof-of-funding will further strengthen the research base
Innovation, located inside Kansas State grant is a little like receiving the Good in the Corridor. This fits perfectly with the
University’s Olathe satellite campus. The Housekeeping Seal of Approval.” Corridor’s strategic priorities and fills a gap
Center, created by the Kansas Bioscience According to Boily, when the Center in services to academics and entrepreneurs
Authority and a key player in the Kansas announced the grant last October, it received in the animal health industry.”
City region’s Animal Health Corridor, is 28 applications from across the U.S. and Beyond receiving a share of the grant money,
supporting the growth of several projects abroad, 19 of which came from the academic the Center’s proof-of-concept grant recipients
represented by its first proof-of-concept grant community and nine from small companies. will be paired with members of its board, who
winners. The grant is designed to assist the Boily says the grant is appealing because it will serve as mentors, provide guidance to
academic community and entrepreneurs in reduces an innovator’s financial risk of accelerate the process of the various projects
moving breakthrough animal health-related converting an idea from lab to market. Grant and establish key relationships to catalyze
products, services and technology toward a submissions were vetted by outside advisers successful commercialization outcomes.
bright commercial future. to determine “the scientific robustness of the “The funding and the guidance these
Winners will share the $300,000 grant, product and its commercial success down the recipients get from senior R&D and C-level
though not evenly, says the Center’s CEO, road,” he says. executives from leading animal health
Jeff Boily. Funding amounts depend on the The Center’s work further raises awareness companies that make up our board is
project’s stage of development at the time of Kansas City’s role in the animal health invaluable,” Boily says. “Recipients would
of submission and on what it will take to industry, according to KC Animal Health not be able to go to the bank for an unsecured
garner attention for additional investment Corridor CEO and Ceva Animal Health CEO/ loan for these projects in their early stages
and commercial promise. North America Zone Director Craig Wallace. of development.”
“When we fund a project, it’s still too early “Innovation is critically important to the Boily, who brings 30 years of global life
to say whether it will go the distance,” Boily animal health industry,” Wallace says. “The sciences experience in clinical research
says. “Yet, by investing in it, we’re attempting Center for Animal Health Innovation will informatics, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology
and drug delivery, says the Center is unique in
that extra spark4 that it pairs financial support with mentoring
The word is out among members of the academic, research and entrepreneurial community concerning from some of the industry’s leading companies.
the vast resources the Center for Animal Health Innovation has to offer. Its unique ability to fast-track a And he adds that innovation in animal health
concept to the marketplace gives innovators access to leading animal health CEOs and top-level executives might one day translate to breakthrough
from companies like Bayer Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., Centaur Inc., CEVA products for human health as well.
Biomune Company, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health and senior executives of the Kansas “The attention the Center has garnered so far
Bioscience Authority and the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute Inc. is amazing,” says Boily. “In just the short period
This collection of business, technical and scientific guidance includes project management assistance of time we’ve been here, I have had significant
to deliver successful results and support to connect with investors and businesses that can help innovators inquiries from life science companies that didn’t
identify and secure commercial partners. realize what was going on in Kansas.”
52 KC Business | KCBCentral.com