Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/489418
ishoe TM Laser Tissue Welding t m c » p u l s e | a p r i l 2 0 1 5 6 I N A U G U R A L T M C | X C L A S S C o m p a n y D e s c r i p t i o n Develops absorbable medical devices that serve a purpose and then vanish without intervention Developed the first fully automated glucose control system specifically for the needs of hospital and surgical care Mobile measurement of brain function A better way to clean your ears Online marketplace connecting freelance bioinformatics scientists with custom projects in academia and industry Through their PHP technology, provides 24/7, real-time disinfection of air and surfaces where people live, work, and play; ideally suited for office and health care environments as it provides safe, continuous treatment with no disruption to daily routines Catalyzing discovery and empowering people through interactive data visualization Commercializing Designer Collagens, a versatile medical device platform, for biomedical needs The world's first FDA-approved real-time monitor for surgical blood loss A balance diagnostics company that quantifies balance, empowering users to be proactive about their health Non-ablative surgical hemostasis for highly accurate sutureless and surgical repair using human serum albumin-based materials Next generation surgical adhesives In navigating the rigorous applica- tion and interview process—one that included an online peer-review eval- uation that ranked all 260 companies followed by a more comprehensive examination by a multidisciplinary team—a cross-section of advisors from Texas Medical Center institutions and the Houston community all provided equal input. "Having broad representation from across the medical center is absolutely critical to our success," noted George L. McLendon, Ph.D., the Howard R. Hughes Provost and professor of chem- istry at Rice University, who acted as an advisor during the selection process. "All of us tried to review companies as thoroughly as we could so that we could get good collective input on not only the strength of their organization, but the fit to what we were trying to accom- plish within the Texas Medical Center." Those sentiments were echoed by Alexander Izaguirre, Ph.D., vice president and chief technology officer of information technology at Baylor College of Medicine, who also lent his expertise. "I think there's a hidden gem here that hasn't been talked about— these companies are seeking out oppor- tunities among all of us, and they're the ones who are going to hear what our needs are," he said. "Inherently, in the process, they're going to shine a spotlight on all of these collaborative opportunities. I'm really excited to see how this plays out." Thorsten Melcher, senior director of new ventures and partnerships at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, as well as a TMC|X advisor, provided some input on the qualities that pave the path to commercialization for aspiring startups. "Success is really dictated by the three 'T's: technology, team and timing," he observed. "Those things have to come together in some sort of productive configuration and it has to be something that is financeable. By being a part of TMC|X, and paying close attention during the selection process, hopefully we'll be able to avoid some common pitfalls that entrepre- neurs encounter." The Texas Medical Center and Johnson & Johnson Innovation continue to solidify their relationship, sowing the seeds for the arrival of JLABS @TMC—an addition to Johnson & Johnson's network of life science incubators that will include a new facil- ity located within the Texas Medical Center's Innovation Institute. TMC|X will provide a comprehen- sive and practical curriculum to assist participating founders on their entre- preneurial path. Startups will spend the first two weeks of the program in Lean Launch Boot Camp—an intensive series of workshops, presentations and hands-on events to crystallize their value proposition, determine their mar- ket fit and glean insights through cus- tomer discovery. LaunchPad Central, an organization striving to accelerate THE COMPANIES COME FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE, INCLUDING GERMANY, ISRAEL, AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. Delafield Solutions, whose technology aims to safely control microbial threats in all types of environments, get settled into their new space at TMC|X.