MADISON, Wis. – Semba Biosciences, Inc., a life science company based in Fitchburg, has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant of $107,000 by the National Institutes of Health. The grant is to construct and test a new instrument for purifying proteins. The instrument will be used for medical research and pharmaceutical development.
According to Semba President and CEO Robert Mierendorf, PhD, improvements in purification technology are needed to help researchers determine the structure and function of enzymes and other proteins that play key roles in diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
“New purification methods are also needed to increase the safety and lower the cost of new protein pharmaceuticals, such as antibodies. This peer-reviewed federal grant helps validate our scientific approach and provides a strong foothold for our early stage efforts,” he said.
Semba Biosciences, located in the New Venture Center in the Fitchburg Technology Campus, began operations in 2005 and is a Kegonsa Capital Partners portfolio company.
