Accelerating Cancer Therapeutics (ACT)
Accelerating Cancer Therapeutics (ACT) is an accelerator program designed to leverage Columbia’s proficiency in drug discovery and provide access to entrepreneurs and the pharmaceutical industry to advance novel cancer therapeutics from the lab towards the path of commercialization and clinical implementation. The program will provide education, mentorship and funding to help academic translational research projects move beyond the “valley of death” in therapeutic development and reach significant milestones. A key goal of this program is to accelerate translation of novel medical discoveries in cancer from the lab to the clinic by positioning the technology for commercialization. Researchers are also encouraged to submit their funded research outcomes for publication in academic journals, as usual.
2019-2020 Founders' Spotlights
Meta Test
Student Venture Associate Kush Mody interviewed cohort member Dr. Juan Arriaga of Meta Test. Based on research from the lab of Dr. Cory Abate-Shen which specializes in prostate cancer mouse models, Meta Test is a gene signature that will discern which patients are likely to develop metastases.
FAP
Student Venture Associate Grace Kim had a chance to virtually sit down with cohort member Dr. Yiping Han of FAP. Dr. Han's lab studies the role of bacterial pathogenesis in cancer.
Cumulative Success Metrics (ACT)
- 5 cycles administered
- 23 facutly led current and alumni teams
- $1,469,000 in total funding awarded by ACT and Columbia Partners to teams
- Over $3 million in funding awarded to teams by external sources