Two Purdue-affiliated life sciences startups receive Foundry Investment Fund support for detection technologies

Amplified Sciences, which is working on advancing technology for earlier detection of cancer and other diseases, received approval for $250,000, of which approximately $185,000 has already been invested. Pictured are Stephan Koenigsfest, Anuraag Yachamaneni, Fredrik Jansson-Knodell, Diana Caldwell, Vincent Jo Davisson and Ananya Sheth. (Image provided) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Two Purdue University-affiliated startups have received approvals for up to $250,000 each from the Purdue Foundry Investment Fund to help continue their missions of advancing life science technologies.

The investments awarded by the fund will support Purdue-affiliated Amplified Sciences LLC and Brightlamp Inc., both of which are focused on health care technologies.

“The Foundry Investment Fund provides an important avenue for attracting interest in Purdue-affiliated life sciences companies like Amplified Sciences and Brightlamp to help them take their technologies to the market,” said John Hanak, managing director of Purdue Ventures.

The Foundry Investment Fund, established in 2014, is a Purdue Research Foundation asset with the goal of adding critical capital for the transition from the discovery of a promising technology to founding a viable life sciences company. The funds are partial matching investments following investments made in the companies by institutional and other investors.

Amplified Sciences, which is working on advancing technology for earlier detection of cancer and other diseases, received approval for $250,000, of which approximately $185,000 has been invested already.

Brightlamp, a startup that uses machine learning and computer vision to improve health care and detect concussions, received approval for $250,000 in matching investment dollars, of which approximately $130,000 has closed. (Image provided) Download image

“I often tell people that we wouldn’t be here without the support from the Purdue Foundry and other components of the Purdue entrepreneurship ecosystem,” said Diana Caldwell, president and CEO of Amplified Sciences. “This latest support will help us continue our work to develop and commercialize lifesaving in vitro diagnostic tests that leverage our novel technology licensed from Purdue.”

Vincent Jo Davisson, a professor in Purdue’s College of Pharmacy and the co-founder of Amplified Sciences, connected with Caldwell through the Purdue Foundry. The Purdue Foundry is housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, a 400-acre, $1 billion-plus purpose-driven community on the western edge of campus that will include laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities, offices, retail shops, restaurants, housing, green space, trails and an airport with a 7,000-foot runway.

Brightlamp, a startup that uses machine learning and computer vision to improve health care and detect concussions, received approval for $250,000 in matching investment dollars, of which approximately $130,000 has closed.

The company has been advancing its Reflex app, a diagnostic tool for traumatic brain injury that allows a broad spectrum of medical professionals to capture critical diagnostic optical data securely in about five seconds.

A doctor downloads the app on their phone, holds it at the optimal distance from the patient’s eye and Brightlamp’s machine learning algorithm takes it from there to provide data to help diagnose a possible concussion or traumatic brain injury.

“The latest funding helps us intensify our connections with the medical community as we work to make this the standard of care for this technology,” said Kurtis Sluss, CEO and founder of Brightlamp. “We take an interesting approach to the clinical problem, in that we work directly with medical professionals to learn and use our technology.”

Sluss said the company also plans to develop the technology for use as a broader assessment tool for things such intoxication or drug use detection.

The Foundry Investment Fund has invested nearly $5 million in 13 companies in the past five years. Those companies have secured capital from venture funds and other institutional and professional investment sources.

About Purdue Foundry Investment Fund

The Foundry Investment Fund was established in 2014 through a partnership between Purdue Research Foundation and Cook Medical. The $14 million fund invests in Purdue-based or Purdue-connected companies commercializing select life science technologies. The fund co-invests or otherwise stimulates outside parties to invest in Purdue-based life sciences businesses; provides critical capital funds to entrepreneurial ventures that originate from Purdue innovation or expertise; and aims to become self-sustaining through returns from prudent investments. Non-Purdue entities, such as venture capital firms, corporations, angel groups or qualified individuals, are encouraged to be matching investors. For more information, contact Purdue Venture’s managing director, John Hanak, at jmhanak@prf.org.

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org 

Sources: Kurtis Sluss, ksluss@brightlamp.org

Diana Caldwell, diana.caldwell@amplifiedsci.com 

John Hanak, jmhanak@prf.org