Innovators in Regenerative Medicine Gathered to Drive Healing and Hope
BALTIMORE, MD. | May 6, 2025 – The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Commerce capped off a successful Tech Showcase featuring nearly 200 companies, entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, and other stakeholders from the regenerative medicine sector. All gathered to share breakthroughs and forge new collaborations within Maryland’s vibrant biotech ecosystem. The event spotlighted cutting-edge stem cell technologies poised to become the cures of tomorrow.
The day kicked off at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center in Baltimore with opening remarks from Ruchika Nijhara, MSCRF’s executive director. Nijhara emphasized Maryland's legacy of pioneering stem cell research and innovation. "Maryland has a proud history of leading groundbreaking discoveries in stem cell science. As the second-largest state-supported fund nationally, MSCRF is instrumental in funding innovators who are transforming research into real, impactful solutions, reinforcing our state's leadership in regenerative medicine."
Keynote addresses by Michael Lehmicke, Senior VP at the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, and Dr. Jay Perman, Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, highlighted the field’s promising future and underscored the critical role of public-private partnerships in accelerating breakthroughs.
The event featured a lively debate between Patrick Hanley from Children’s National Hospital and Jessica Carmen from RoslinCT on the merits of localized versus centralized manufacturing in regenerative medicine—sparking engaging discussions among attendees.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in dynamic presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, setting the stage for new partnerships. The showcase included 12 pitches from Maryland-based companies and academic researchers such as Theradaptive Inc., SereNeuro Therapeutics Inc., Agnos Therapeutics Inc., Diagnostic Biochips Inc. Secretome Therapeutics Inc., Lifesprout Inc., Nanochon Inc., Orgenesis, Inc., Britecyte Inc., Johns Hopkins University’s Warren Grayson, and the University of Maryland’s Michal Zalzman. These innovators presented their regenerative programs to a panel of seasoned investors.
Investor panelists, including Anthony Accorsi (Blackbird Labs), Deborah Hemmingway (Ecphora Capital), Ted Olsen (Blu Ventures), Tien Wong (Opus8, Inc.) Cathyrn Paine (Anzu Partners), Sam T (W Ventures), Sherman Williams II (AIN Ventures) and others, provided valuable feedback, fueling opportunities for growth and funding.
Ulyana Desiderio, Senior Director of the Office of Strategic Industries and Entrepreneurship at the Maryland Department of Commerce, highlighted the agency’s ongoing support of the life sciences community. “We are committed to supporting innovative research at our colleges and universities; to working with our partners in the public and private sectors to facilitate tech transfer and new business formation; and to meeting the needs of private companies working to harness the power of these discoveries with our programs like the Biotechnology Investor Inventive Tax Credit.”
In her closing remarks, Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller emphasized the crucial role of regenerative medicine in providing life-saving therapies and the significant contribution of MSCRF in achieving those advancements in Maryland.
Special thanks are due to our generous sponsors, whose support made this impactful event possible.
This year’s Tech Showcase reinforced the power of collaboration and shared vision in advancing health and science for all residents of Maryland. Together, we are building a healthier, more innovative future in Maryland!
About MSCRF
Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) was established by Maryland Governor and the Maryland General Assembly under the Maryland Stem Cell Research Act of 2006. It offers a range of basic research and translational grant programs to researchers and companies tailored to support every stage of technology development in Maryland. Visit us at www.mscrf.org to learn more about our funding opportunities.