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With the resources of the SUNY Research Foundation, and our history of successful partnerships, we are here to help move biomedical products and ideas to market.
Our scientists and core facilities can help move discoveries into practice and technologies into the marketplace.
Upstate is home to top research facilities with highly specialized equipment and advanced instrumentation, to support research and product development.
We are here to create the relationships and partnerships needed to move innovative ideas forward.
Upstate Biotech Ventures
In a partnership between Empire State Development, Upstate Medical University, the SUNY Research Foundation, and Excell Partners, the newly-launched Upstate Biotech Ventures invests in high-potential startups and small businesses affiliated with Upstate Medical University to drive research and technology innovation.
Recent Tech from SUNY Upstate
This technology is a computer vision-based software platform that enables real-time human movement a...
This technology is a computer vision-based software platform that enables real-time human movement analysis, providing physical therapists and trainers with objective feedback and progress tracking through a standard webcam. Background:
Traditional physical therapy and fitness training often rely on subjective visual assessments, which can limit the accuracy and consistency of movement analysis. Recognizing this challenge, the invention was developed to introduce an objective, data-driven solution that enhances motor learning and rehabilitation outcomes by leveraging advancements in computer vision and pose estimation technologies.Technology Overview:
This innovative software platform uses computer vision algorithms to analyze human movement in real time via a standard webcam. At its core, the system employs advanced pose estimation techniques, such as those found in open-source libraries like MediaPipe, to track joint angles and assess the quality of movements. By integrating theories of motor control and motor learning, the platform delivers precise feedback designed to optimize movement retraining, crucial for both rehabilitation and fitness improvement. The technology features automated repetition counting, detailed feedback on individual performance, and comprehensive summaries after each session, enabling users and professionals to monitor progress effectively. It supports use in both clinical environments and remote settings, offering accessibility and flexibility to a broad range of users. The platform's architecture primarily consists of newly developed code complemented by established video processing tools like OpenCV, ensuring robust performance and accuracy. Designed to address significant gaps in current physical therapy and fitness markets, this solution transforms subjective observations into actionable, evidence-based insights. Future enhancements include cloud-based scaling options and compatibility with health record systems and wearable devices, extending its applicability and integration within modern healthcare ecosystems. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1666031996.jpegAdvantages:
• Provides objective and precise movement analysis compared to subjective visual assessments.
• Real-time feedback facilitates immediate correction and more effective motor learning.
• Uses accessible hardware—a standard webcam—allowing broad adoption without specialized equipment.
• Supports both clinical and remote use cases, enhancing flexibility and convenience.
• Automated features such as repetition counting reduce manual tracking efforts.
• Comprehensive post-session data assists in monitoring long-term progress and rehabilitation outcomes.
• Incorporates scientifically grounded motor control theories to optimize movement retraining.
• Future cloud integration promises scalability and seamless interoperability with health technologies. Applications:
• Physical therapy clinics for precise movement assessment and rehabilitation monitoring.
• Fitness training environments where coaches can provide objective, data-driven feedback.
• Remote rehabilitation programs enabling patients to perform exercises at home with professional oversight.
• Sports performance analysis to optimize athletes' movement techniques and reduce injury risks.
• Integration with wearable devices and electronic health records for comprehensive health management.
• Research settings studying motor control and learning through consistent and repeatable movement data. Intellectual Property Summary:
Copyright, patents availableStage of Development:
TRL 6Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
This technology uses drugs that stabilize β-catenin to boost protective immune cells in the lungs, r...
This technology uses drugs that stabilize β-catenin to boost protective immune cells in the lungs, reducing damage from pulmonary hemorrhage and inflammatory lung diseases by activating a novel immunomodulatory pathway. Background:
Pulmonary hemorrhage and other inflammatory lung diseases represent significant clinical challenges due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. These conditions are characterized by excessive inflammation and immune dysregulation within the lung tissue, leading to tissue damage, impaired gas exchange, and life-threatening complications. Current therapeutic strategies primarily focus on symptomatic management, such as corticosteroids and supportive care, but these approaches often fail to address the underlying immune mechanisms driving disease progression. As a result, there is a pressing need for innovative therapies that can modulate the immune response more precisely, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue repair, thereby improving outcomes for patients affected by these severe pulmonary conditions. Despite ongoing research, existing treatments for inflammatory lung diseases and pulmonary hemorrhage remain inadequate. Corticosteroids and broad-spectrum immunosuppressants, while effective at dampening inflammation, carry significant risks of systemic side effects and increased susceptibility to infections. Moreover, these therapies do not selectively target the specific immune pathways implicated in lung injury, leading to suboptimal efficacy and frequent relapses. Attempts to modulate regulatory T cell (Treg) populations have been limited by challenges in achieving tissue specificity and sustained functional enhancement. Consequently, there is a critical gap in the development of targeted immunomodulatory therapies that can provide durable protection against lung inflammation and hemorrhage without compromising overall immune competence.Technology Overview:
This technology utilizes β-catenin agonists to pharmacologically stabilize β-catenin, offering a novel therapeutic approach for protecting against pulmonary hemorrhage and other inflammatory lung diseases. The treatment works by inducing a specialized phenotype in tissue-resident regulatory T cells (Tregs) within the lung. In preclinical studies using a mouse model of lung injury, administration of β-catenin agonists led to increased lung Treg populations and significantly reduced lung damage, as evidenced by pathology and histological analysis. This method demonstrates the potential for a targeted, immune-based intervention in the management of inflammatory lung conditions, with applications for clinicians, pharmaceutical developers, and researchers in immunology and pulmonary medicine. What differentiates this technology is its ability to pharmacologically mimic the protective effects seen in genetic models of β-catenin stabilization, offering a practical and scalable therapeutic strategy. Unlike conventional anti-inflammatory treatments that broadly suppress immune responses, this approach specifically enhances a beneficial immunoregulatory pathway thereby promoting tissue protection without compromising overall immune function. The elucidation of this pathway provides a unique target for drug development, setting the technology apart from existing therapies by focusing on the modulation of tissue-resident Tregs and their role in lung repair. This targeted mechanism not only addresses a critical unmet need in pulmonary hemorrhage treatment but also opens avenues for broader applications in inflammatory disease management. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_282277137.jpegAdvantages:
• Provides pharmacological protection against pulmonary hemorrhage and inflammatory lung diseases.
• Induces a specialized tissue-resident regulatory T cell (Treg) phenotype to modulate immune response.
• Recapitulates protective effects observed in genetic β-catenin stabilization models without genetic modification.
• Demonstrated efficacy in preclinical mouse models with significant reduction of lung damage.
• Potentially applicable to broader inflammatory disease management beyond pulmonary conditions.
• Offers a new therapeutic approach for clinicians and pharmaceutical developers targeting lung inflammation. Applications:
• Pulmonary hemorrhage therapeutic development
• Inflammatory lung disease treatment
• Immunomodulatory drug discovery
• Acute lung injury intervention Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application 63/922,548 filed on 11/21/2025Stage of Development:
TRL 3. The technology is currently at a preclinical development stage, with proof of concept demonstrated through pharmacologic β-catenin stabilization and validation in relevant in vitro and in vivo lung injury modelsLicensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
This technology is an advanced CAR T-cell therapy for triple-negative breast cancer that uses engine...
This technology is an advanced CAR T-cell therapy for triple-negative breast cancer that uses engineered T-cells to recognize and kill cancer cells regardless of HLA status and includes a built-in IL-15 signal to boost T-cell survival and effectiveness. Background:
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors, making it unresponsive to many of the targeted therapies available for other breast cancer types. This leaves chemotherapy as the primary systemic treatment, which often results in high relapse rates and poor long-term survival, especially among high-risk populations such as U.S. servicewomen and veterans. The emergence of immunotherapies, particularly Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, has revolutionized the treatment of certain blood cancers, offering the promise of highly specific and durable anti-tumor responses. However, translating this success to solid tumors like TNBC has proven challenging, underscoring a critical need for innovative approaches that can overcome the unique barriers posed by these malignancies. Current CAR T-cell therapies for solid tumors face two major obstacles: immune evasion by tumor cells and rapid T-cell exhaustion within the tumor microenvironment. Many solid tumors, including TNBC, downregulate Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I (HLA-I) molecules on their surface, which are essential for recognition by conventional CAR T-cells. This allows tumor cells to escape immune detection and destruction. Additionally, the tumor microenvironment in TNBC is highly immunosuppressive, leading to rapid functional exhaustion and loss of persistence of infused CAR T-cells. Attempts to overcome these issues, such as systemic cytokine support, have been hampered by severe toxicities and limited efficacy, while alternative targeting strategies often lack the specificity or durability needed for effective tumor control. As a result, there remains a significant unmet need for CAR T-cell therapies that can both recognize tumor cells independently of HLA-I status and maintain robust, sustained activity within the hostile tumor microenvironment.Technology Overview:
This technology is an advanced CAR T-cell therapy specifically engineered for the treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). It features a dual-action design: first, the CAR T-cells are equipped a receptor, enabling them to recognize and attack cancer cells by detecting stress-induced ligands on their surface, independent of the tumor’s HLA-I status. Second, the CAR T-cells are further enhanced by the expression of a membrane-bound superagonist, which delivers a continuous, localized survival and proliferative signal. This modification boosts the persistence and cytolytic activity of the T-cells within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, preventing exhaustion and loss of function. What differentiates this solution is its comprehensive approach to overcoming two of the most significant barriers in solid tumor immunotherapy: immune evasion and T-cell exhaustion. The therapy bypasses the need for HLA-I-mediated recognition, directly addressing a common escape mechanism in TNBC. The addition of the superagonist ensures sustained T-cell activity without the systemic toxicity associated with external cytokine administration. Preclinical data demonstrate superior tumor control, enhanced T-cell persistence, and reduced exhaustion in both in vitro and in vivo models. This modular platform not only offers a promising new treatment for TNBC but also sets the stage for adaptation to other hard-to-treat cancers, marking a significant advancement in the field of cellular immunotherapy. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1642156830.jpegAdvantages:
• Enables HLA-independent recognition and killing of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) cells by targeting stress-induced ligands, overcoming tumor immune evasion.
• Improves cytolytic activity and anti-tumor efficacy without the need for systemic cytokine administration, minimizing associated toxicities.
• Demonstrates superior tumor control and prolonged survival in preclinical humanized mouse models of TNBC.
• Reduces expression of exhaustion markers (e.g., PD-1) on tumor-infiltrating CAR T-cells, maintaining sustained immune response.
• Offers a modular platform adaptable to other CAR T-cell therapies and solid tumors beyond TNBC. Applications:
• Triple-Negative Breast Cancer therapy
• Solid tumor CAR T-cell treatment
• Personalized immunotherapy for veterans
• Next-generation cell therapy platform Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application 63/922,634 filed on 11/21/2025Stage of Development:
TRL 3. Based on current progress, the technology is at a preclinical development stage, demonstrating proof of concept and initial validation of the dual enhanced CAR T cell design in early in vitro and in vivo models.Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.
This technology offers a novel, mechanism-based therapeutic method using oxytocin and specific compo...
This technology offers a novel, mechanism-based therapeutic method using oxytocin and specific compounds to treat social-affective deficits in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Background:
Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a prevalent form of dementia characterized by severe social and emotional impairments, significantly impacting patients’ quality of life. Despite the high incidence of bvFTD, no effective cure or targeted treatment currently exists. Research into the neural mechanisms underlying these deficits revealed potential therapeutic targets within the brain regions responsible for social behavior. This unmet medical need and scientific insight motivated the development of a new treatment approach leveraging neuropeptides and receptor- and channel-modulating compounds.Technology Overview:
This innovative technology employs a mechanism-based method to address the social-affective challenges observed in bvFTD patients. Central to this approach is the nasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin, known for its role in social bonding and behavior modulation. In conjunction, two compounds are directly infused into the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC), a brain area critical for regulating social and affective functions. These compounds act on neural receptors and channels to restore disrupted neuron activity. The combination of a non-invasive nasal delivery system for oxytocin and targeted infusion of receptor-modifying compounds distinguishes this method from existing treatments. This strategy harnesses both peripheral and central nervous system deliveries, and encompasses neuromodulator, receptors, and channels, maximizing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects and invasiveness. The technology offers a promising avenue for disease modification in bvFTD by directly targeting the underlying neural mechanisms rather than merely alleviating symptoms. Additionally, this approach has potential applications beyond bvFTD, including treatment of autism and related neuropsychiatric disorders, where social-affective dysfunctions similarly impair patient outcomes. https://suny.technologypublisher.com/files/sites/adobestock_1859187070.jpeg
Picture for reference only, not a depiction of the invention.Advantages:
• Non-invasive administration of oxytocin via nasal delivery enhances patient compliance and reduces treatment burden.
• Mechanism-based approach focuses on restoring neural circuitry, offering potential for lasting therapeutic effects rather than symptomatic relief.
• Demonstrated efficacy in a validated animal model supports translational potential for human clinical use.
• Potentially applicable to other disorders involving social-affective deficits, expanding its clinical impact. Applications:
• Treatment of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) to improve social and emotional functioning.
• Therapeutic intervention for autism spectrum disorders and other neuropsychiatric conditions with social-affective impairments.
• Research tool for investigating neural mechanisms underlying social behavior and neurodegenerative diseases.
• Potential development platform for new drugs and approaches targeting neural receptor and ion channel pathways involved in social cognition. Intellectual Property Summary:
Patent application 63/935,562 filed on 12/10/2025Stage of Development: 3
The technology is at an early preclinical stage, reflecting proof of concept for the dual modality (intranasal oxytocin + intra-dmPFC infusion) approach, with anticipated validation in relevant in vivo models.Licensing Status:
This technology is available for licensing.

