Advancing Discovery, Strengthening Innovation and Growing Rhode Island

APRIL 2026 NEWSLETTER

Letter from the Interim President

Dear Rhode Island Life Science Community,

March was a month of strong momentum across Rhode Island’s life sciences sector, with new capital flowing to our portfolio companies, continued scientific progress, and growing visibility for the companies building and scaling here.


I am honored to step into the role of Interim President to help guide the progress underway here in the state. I want to thank Dr. Mark Turco for his contributions in establishing RILSH’s early foundation and positioning the organization for continued growth. I’d also like to welcome William Tsonos as the new Chair of our Board. Mr. Tsonos is the president of Beacon Bank (formerly BankRI) and brings deep financial leadership and economic development experience. We look forward to drawing on his insights as we continue to strengthen the life science ecosystem here in Rhode Island.


We are especially proud to see three RILSH portfolio companies announce a total of more than $16 million in new funding this month. These milestones highlight both the strength of Rhode Island’s emerging companies, and the confidence investors are placing in our ecosystem. The companies include:


  • Flourish Care: Raised $5.7M to expand its maternal health doula network nationwide.
  • Lenoss Medical: Secured $6M to advance its OsteoPearl® platform for osteoporosis treatment.
  • MindImmune: Received a $5M strategic investment from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation.


Across our portfolio, companies are reaching important research and clinical milestones, including PathMaker Neurosystems’ promising early clinical progress in ALS, detailed below in a Q&A with the company.


It was also a pleasure to join leaders from across the region at the Providence Business News Emerging Industries Summit, where we discussed the many ways Rhode Island is positioned for continued growth, from startup infrastructure to workforce development and advanced manufacturing.


We remain focused on what matters most: supporting companies, strengthening our ecosystem, and ensuring Rhode Island continues to grow as a hub for life science innovation.

Lilia Holt

Interim President

Rhode Island Life Science Hub

Company Spotlight

Q&A with PathMaker Neurosystems CEO, President, and Founder Nader Yaghoubi, M.D., Ph.D.


Tell us about your company, the problem you’re solving, and who benefits from your work. Why is it important?


PathMaker Neurosystems is a clinical-stage neuromodulation company developing non-invasive devices designed to calm overactive nerve cells and help clear harmful protein buildup associated with neurodegenerative diseases. 


The company’s lead program focuses on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a rapidly progressive disease with limited treatment options, with the goal of delivering a non-invasive, at-home therapy for people living with ALS. 


What milestones have you recently completed?


Over the past year, we completed our first-in-human ALS Early Feasibility Study, confirming the safety of the MyoRegulator® device, advanced into our second clinical trial, the CALM Study, and received FDA Breakthrough Device Designation. Our first-in-human clinical trial showed that treatment with PathMaker’s MyoRegulator® device was safe, tolerable, and feasible in people with ALS, with no unexpected detrimental changes in clinical endpoints.



During this period, we expanded into Rhode Island by opening an office at CIC Providence and hiring our first Rhode Island-based team member, Sydney Bartman, Ph.D., a neuroscience graduate from the University of Rhode Island (URI). RILSH funding supported this expansion and a collaboration with Rhode Island-based CDMO Veranex to advance development of this next-generation device. 


Why Rhode Island?


RILSH funding enabled our Rhode Island expansion, key hiring, and our product development partnership with Veranex. Being part of Rhode Island’s closely connected life sciences community, including collaboration with leaders at Brown University, has accelerated both our clinical and technology progress. These milestones move us closer to delivering a meaningful new treatment option for people living with ALS. 


What’s next for PathMaker Neurosystems? 


Over the next 6–12 months, we expect to complete our second ALS clinical trial, present new data at major scientific conferences, and prepare for a multi-center pivotal study, while continuing development of our next-generation, at-home MyoRegulator® device. 


Ecosystem Updates

Join RILSH and Organogenesis for a joint event to discuss the future of regenerative medicine. 


Date: April 14, 2026

Time: 8:30am-12pm

Location: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Register Here

Ocean State Labs has officially welcomed its first tenants.


We'll be announcing the date of the Grand Opening soon... stay tuned!


*Photo credit: CoStar

RILSH In the News

Flourish Care


3.18.2026 — Maternal Health Startup Raises $5.7M to Expand Doula Network Nationwide



READ MORE

Lenoss Medical 


3
.17.2026 — Lenoss Medical Announces Successful Close of $6M Growth Bridge Financing.


READ MORE

MindImmune 


3.10.2026 — MindImmune Secures $5 Million Strategic Investment from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation to Pioneer Immune-Driven Therapies


READ MORE

Symphysis


3.2.2026 — Irish medtech SymPhysis plans Providence move



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RILSH


2.16.2026 — Governor McKee nominates Beacon Bank president to chair RI Life Science Hub



READ MORE

RILSH


3.10.2026 — Lilia Holt named interim president of R.I. Life Science Hub


READ MORE

OncoLux


3.25.2026 — OncoLux Enters into Know-How Agreement to Advance Optical Theranostics in Robotic Bronchoscopy


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Ocean State Labs


3.2.2026 — What start-ups really want from an incubator lab



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EpiVax Acquired



4.2.2026 — SV Health Investors Acquires EpiVax





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