Page 8 - ME Newsletter Spring

innovative faculty innovative faculty
RESEARCH-LED STARTUPS
Successful engineering innovations start in University research labs.
ALLISON HUBEL | Evia Bio
Allison Hubel was in her office one February, looking out the window at a nearby tree. She thought, “How do trees survive Minnesota winters?” She decided to answer that question in order to inform cryopreservation methods, using nature as her guide.
WIth NIH funding, Hubel developed a method of preserving cells using naturally-occuring molecules that act in concert to stabilize biological systems and control the behavior of water. Hubel’s invention led to the formation of Evia Bio, a life sciences innvation company that develops osmolyte-based cryopreservation technology, non-dimethylsolfoxide (DSMO) cryopreservation solutions for the cell therapy industry. Hubel serves as founder and CSO of Evia Bio
DSMO is prevalent in current methods of cell preservation, despite being toxic to both the cells and the patients that receive them. Evia Bio’s method is the first-ever nontoxic cell preservation method, resulting in higher post-preservation yields, stronger cell function, and ultimately better long-term results and outcomes.
Evia Bio’s goal is to transform the preservation of cells across a variety of industries: cell therapy and regenerative medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, and reproductive health.
8 ME News Spring 2024