SURPASS Establishes the Surpass Award in Support of Early Stage Medical Innovation within the Stanford Biodesign Program
November 14, 2018
Preclinical Research Leader, SURPASS Establishes the Surpass Award in Support of Early Stage Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurs within the Stanford Biodesign Program.
OSCEOLA, WI and MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - Surpass, Inc. ("Surpass"), a recognized leader in translational preclinical research, today announced that it has established the Surpass Award in support of early stage medtech innovation and entrepreneurs within the Stanford Biodesign program.
As a committed partner in the medical innovation continuum, Surpass understands the challenges innovators face at the earliest stage of the cycle, when it comes to development experience and capital. In the current funding environment, early stage capital can be scarce. Many promising medical technologies fail to attract the necessary financial support to generate the required package, with risk-reducing preclinical data, to win potential investors and move these technologies forward through the "valley of death." It is for this reason that Surpass has established the Surpass Award, to provide medical innovators the support and resources needed to obtain their first preclinical data. "Surpass is committed to being an active member of the Biomedical Community by being present, visible, and involved. We are partnering with Centers of Biomedical Excellence and their entrepreneurs to support the future of biodesign and help advance life-saving medical innovations into the hands of physicians and patients," said Tim Pelura, President and CEO of Surpass. "Because Stanford Biodesign is a recognized pioneer and world leader in biomedical technology innovation training we are pleased to roll out this Award for their program."
"The Biodesign program is grateful to Surpass for their support of our program. These types of relationships are important to the development of projects that come out of the program and are vital to our fellows as they seek to translate their devices into patient care," said Gordon Saul, Executive Director, Stanford Biodesign.
The Surpass Award will provide Stanford Biodesign Awardees their first preclinical proof-of-concept data. Surpass will support the Awardees through the entire preclinical study process, as well as, provide assistance during the due diligence phase with investors to help optimize the chances of moving these life-saving technologies forward to the patients that so desperately need them.
The first Stanford Biodesign recipient of this award is Torix Medical, led by 2013-14 Biodesign Fellows, Shreya Mehta and Nick Damiano. Torix Medical is working on a device that will permanently relieve urinary obstruction related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a simple, office-based procedure that uses a flexible cystoscope to optimize patient comfort.
