October 20, 2017
Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Awards $50,000 to Holobiome for Novel Microbiome-based Therapeutic
Massacahusetts Life Sciences Center(MLSC) awarded $50,000 this week  to Holobiome for the company's promising ideas and innovation in the microbiome field during J&J's QuickFire Challenge at the "Bugs, Drugs, and Beyond:Translational Approaches to Microbiome" conference. The event was held at the Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School, with sponsorhip from JLABS, and the Janssen Human Microbiome Institute.
MLSC VP of Industry Programs & Relations Jennifer Griffin with Holobiome Founder & CEO Philip Strandwitz
The "Bugs, Drugs & Beyond" event explored the ways in which innovators from Boston and beyond are harnessing the human microbiome and advancing novel therapeutics, diagnostics and other health products. The event was a funding follow on by the MLSC in the microbiome space after an investment in the Biobank for Microbiome Research in Massachusetts (BIOM-Mass) collaborative through a $4.9 million grant for the T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health. These strategic investments highlight the strong public-private partnership unique to the life sciences ecosystem in Massachusetts.

"As a Wisconsin-to-Boston transplant, I've been continuously impressed with how supportive the biotech community has been in Massachusetts."
- Philip Strandwitz, Founder & CEO, Holobiome

  Holobiome was selected as the recipient for the $50,000 award based on their microbiome-based therapeutic which provides a novel and safe treatment of diseases of the central and enteric nervous systems, with an initial focus on treatment-resistant depression, visceral pain, and sleep disorders. There were five judges including Jennifer Griffin, Vice President of Industry Programs & Relations, on the panel for the QuickFire Challenge and six companies "pitched" to win the coveted award. 
 
"The panel was impressed with Holobiome's innovative approach to treating mental health disorders, an area with significant unmet need, by developing therapeutics that modulate relevant neurotransmitters. We see the microbiome space as a nascent area full of potential, a space that Massachusetts is uniquely positioned to bring to the next level."
-Jennifer Griffin, Vice President of Industry Programs & Relations
 
More than 200 attendees took part in event sessions during the daylong program which focused on the challenges in advancing to market - from IP protection to commercialization, potential solutions and pathways currently being pursued across the field - and provided opportunities for collaboration with all who attended. MLSC's President & CEO, Travis McCready contributed to an engaging panel discussion on the 'The Microbiome & Massachusetts: Maintaining Our Edge in Life Sciences Innovation. With the four largest microbiome ventures in the world located in Massachusetts, the event was a powerful spotlight on the work being done in this innovative field.