Flightpath Biosciences is advancing narrow-spectrum, gut-sparing antibiotics for treating spirochetal infections like Lyme disease. The company’s innovations are based on groundbreaking research conducted by Dr. Kim Lewis, Professor of Biology at Northeastern and supported by federal funding from the National Institutes of Health. This federal investment was instrumental in advancing preclinical proof-of-concept studies, which provided the scientific foundation for Flightpath’s licensed antibiotic drug candidate.
Scipher Medicine is a biotech spinoff from Northeastern University that applies network medicine approaches to precision medicine, which helps tailor the most effective therapies for patients with autoimmune diseases. Founded in 2014 by Dr. Albert-László Barabási, Professor of Network Science at Northeastern University, and Dr. Joseph Loscalzo, Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Scipher’s Disease Module Detection was created from a Northeastern-developed algorithm that identifies disease-associated genes and discovers therapeutic protein targets. This novel technology was created with federal funding and later licensed to Scipher, enabling the company to advance its research into patient and molecular data analysis.
MatrixSpace, co-founded by Northeastern University alumni Greg Waters and Professor Jose Martinez Lorenzo, leveraged federal funding to develop cutting-edge sensing and AI technologies that are crucial for national defense. The company’s initial project was funded by a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Air Force in 2021. MatrixSpace’s AI sensing systems revolutionize outdoor monitoring by combining radar, optical sensors, and AI for real-time object detection and tracking. This technology enables smart sensors to visualize and identify objects, their distance and speed, and collect and report that data in real-time, providing information that supports security, safety, and autonomy applications.
Metamagnetics Inc., founded by Northeastern University Distinguished Professor and William Lincoln Smith Chair Professor Vincent Harris, builds upon research funded by the Office of Naval Research at the Naval Research Laboratory and Northeastern University. The company specializes in developing advanced radio frequency materials for the aerospace and defense sectors. Metamagnetics’ journey from relying on SBIR grants to working on larger Department of Defense programs showcases the importance of sustained federal support in nurturing defense technology innovation. As a veteran-owned small business, Metamagnetics exemplifies how federal funding can support both technological innovation and veteran entrepreneurship in the defense sector.