Startups at Colorado State:
Samples of University Success

Company: Advanced MicroLabs LLC
Technology: Lab-on-a-Chip
Lead scientist: Professor Charles Henry
College of Natural Sciences

Advanced MicroLabs LLC commercialized methods to rapidly test blood for signs of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which could save patients and physicians significant time and money. Blood from a simple finger prick instead of a blood draw can be analyzed for markers of health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The company is focusing on the growing market called "lab on a chip" - a field that promises to perform complicated diagnostic analyses on a small format, rapidly and inexpensively.

Company: Aurogen, Inc.
Technology: IGF treatments for neurological disorders
Lead scientist: Professor Doug Ishii
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Created in 1996, Aurogen's technology involves breakthrough medicine that can reduce health care costs in global markets with multibillion dollar potential. The lead products are patented pharmaceutical treatments for the use of neurotrophic insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) to treat Alzheimer's disease and diabetic neuropathy in humans. IGF-I and IGF-II are neurotrophic proteins that are normally produced in the body to maintain the nervous system and regulate learning and memory.

Company: Mycos Research LLC
Technology: Development of vaccines for tuberculosis and other diseases
Lead scientist: Professors Ian Orme and John Belisle
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Founded in 1997, Mycos Research provides mycobacterial-derived biochemicals to the research community, contract research, animal models for tuberculosis and other BSL3 organisms, and novel monitoring or vaccine products in the area of mycobacterial infection.

Company: Cytomation GTX Inc.
Technology: Genotoxicity assays
Lead scientists: Professors Michael H. Fox and retired Professor Charles Waldren
College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Cytomation GTX was established in 2000 as a collaborative enterprise between scientists at Colorado State University and business leaders at Dako (formerly Cytomation). The technology measures mutations in cells. Genotoxicity is the ability of a chemical or physical agent to directly or indirectly induce genetic damage in cells. Compounds or agents that test positive in genotoxicity assays have the potential to be carcinogens or mutagens. The FDA and EPA require drugs and chemicals to be tested for genotoxicity when humans are exposed.