Trellis

STRAIN-INDEPENDENT THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR INFLUENZA

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODY FOR RSV

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR CMV

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR BIOFILM INFECTIONS

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODY FOR CMV

BIOFILM DISRUPTING ANTIBODY TO TREAT RESPIRATORY AND MUSCULOSKELETAL INFECTIONS

HCMV THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODY SAFETY TRIAL

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING, AND MISCELLANEOUS GRANTS

BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODY SAFETY TRIAL - ABSTRACT BIOFILM IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO CLINICAL ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE, AS BIOFILM-ASSOCIATED (SESSILE) BACTERIA SHOW UP TO 1000-FOLD LOWER SENSITIVITY TO ANTIBIOTICS THAN FREE GROWING (PLANKTONIC) FORMS. THE CDC ESTIMATES THAT 70% OF CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT ANTIBIOTIC FAILURE IS DUE TO BIOFILM, INCLUDING INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLANTS, CATHETERS, AND TISSUE ADHESIONS. TRL1068 IS A NATIVE HUMAN MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY (MAB) THAT IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FOR DISRUPTING BIOFILM AND THEREBY ENHANCING THE BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITY OF CONVENTIONAL ANTIBIOTICS. THE ANTIBODY TARGET IS CONSERVED ACROSS BOTH GRAM POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BACTERIA SPECIES. WITH PRIOR SBIR FUNDING, WE DEMONSTRATED EFFICACY IN FIVE RODENT MODELS. WITH CARB-X FUNDING, WE INITIATED CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH A PROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTION (PJI): TRL1068-101 (CLINICALTRIALS.GOV NCT04763759). STANDARD OF CARE FOR SUCH PATIENTS INCLUDES REPLACEMENT OF THE INFECTED IMPLANT WITH AN ANTIBIOTIC ELUTING SPACER FOR 8 WEEKS FOLLOWED BY A SECOND SURGERY TO IMPLANT A FRESH PROSTHESIS. A PLANNED INTERIM ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATED POSITIVE SAFETY DATA, AND ESTABLISHED THAT THE ANTIBODY PENETRATES INTO THE SYNOVIAL SPACE. THE BACTERIAL BURDEN ON THE EXPLANTED PROSTHESIS WAS QUANTIFIED FOLLOWING A STANDARDIZED SONICATION METHOD FROM THE MAYO CLINIC IN A STANDARDIZED VOLUME OF RINGER SOLUTION. AFTER 7 DAYS OF TREATMENT WITH TRL1068, 6 OF 8 PATIENTS (75%) HAD A BACTERIAL BIOFILM BURDEN BELOW 100 CFU/ML SONICATION FLUID, AND FOR 2 OF THEM THE ADHERENT BACTERIA WERE BELOW THE LIMIT OF DETECTION. THE REDUCTION AND REMOVAL OF BIOFILM IN THESE EIGHT PJI PATIENTS COMPARES FAVORABLY TO HISTORICAL DATA (N=60) FOR WHICH IMPLANTS FROM ONLY 15% OF PJI PATIENTS WERE BELOW 100 CFU/ML SONICATION FLUID. IN ONE OF THE ANIMAL MODELS ABOVE, TRL1068 WAS ADMINISTERED DIRECTLY TO THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND WAS SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR BACTERIAL PNEUMONIA. HERE, WE PROPOSE TO CONDUCT A PHASE 1 SAFETY TRIAL IN HEALTHY ADULT VOLUNTEERS FOR TRL1068 FORMULATED FOR NEBULIZED DELIVERY AS AN INHALED THERAPEUTIC TO TREAT BRONCHIAL INFECTIONS. WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED AN INHALED FORMULATION FOR OUR INFLUENZA THERAPEUTIC MAB PROGRAM (NEAR-IND). DIRECT ADMINISTRATION OF TRL1068 TO THE AIRWAYS SHOULD PROVIDE SUPERIOR EFFICACY AT A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED DOSE.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARD

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR BIOFILM INFECTIONS

HUMAN ANTIBODY FOR ACUTE INFECTION TREATMENT OF RSV - ABSTRACT RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS (RSV) IS A LEADING CAUSE OF SERIOUS LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASE. THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY (MAB) PALIVIZUMAB (SYNAGIS®) IS ONLY APPROVED FOR PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST RSV IN PREMATURE BIRTH INFANTS. NIRSEVIMAB (BEYFORTUS®) HAS RECENTLY BEEN APPROVED TO PREVENT RSV IN FULL-TERM INFANTS. NEITHER OF THESE MABS, OR NUMEROUS OTHER AGENTS TESTED OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES TARGETING THE SAME VIRAL PROTEIN (THE F PROTEIN), HAS YIELDED A DRUG APPROVED FOR ACUTE INFECTION TREATMENT. MOREOVER, ESCAPE FROM ANTI-F PROTEIN AGENTS HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED. PRECLINICAL RESEARCH HAS ESTABLISHED THAT THE OTHER MAJOR RSV ENVELOPE PROTEIN (THE G PROTEIN) IS THE KEY ATTACHMENT FACTOR FOR INFECTING AIRWAY EPITHELIAL CELLS. THE SAME PROTEIN, BOTH AS VIRAL ASSOCIATED AND AS A SOLUBLE FACTOR SECRETED FROM INFECTED CELLS, MODULATES THE HOST IMMUNE RESPONSE IN A MANNER THAT CONTRIBUTES SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PATHOLOGICAL AIRWAY CONGESTION. TRELLIS'S HUMAN MAB TRL3D3 AGAINST THE G PROTEIN IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AS AN ACUTE INFECTION THERAPEUTIC IN MODEL SYSTEMS. IT IS THE LEADING CLINICAL CANDIDATE FOR VALIDATING THE G PROTEIN AS A THERAPEUTIC TARGET IN HUMANS. IN THIS CRP PROPOSAL, WE WILL COMPLETE THE PREPARATION OF TRL3D3 FOR CLINICAL TRIALS (FILL/FINISH AND BIOANALYTICAL CHARACTERIZATION).

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARD

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR RABIES

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR BACTERIA

LOW TRELLIS PRODUCTION, HARVESTING SYSTEM AND MARKETING TOOLS FOR LOCALLY-GROWN HOPS AND VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS

MODULAR SHADING STRUCTURE FOR HIGH VALUE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

MODULAR TRELLIS SYSTEM FOR BRAMBLES

STTR PHASE I: FAST NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION OF CONFINED-SPACE INDUSTRIAL ASSETS WITH A NOVEL VINE ROBOT -THE BROADER/COMMERCIAL IMPACT OF THIS SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PHASE I PROJECT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH ADVANCED ROBOTIC INSPECTION. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES HOW AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS CAN DETECT EARLY-STAGE FAULTS IN PIPELINES BEFORE THEY ESCALATE INTO FAILURES, COSTLY SHUTDOWNS, OR DANGEROUS INCIDENTS. BY ENABLING PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE, THE SYSTEM REDUCES OPERATIONAL DISRUPTIONS AND DELIVERS ECONOMIC BENEFITS ACROSS INDUSTRIES INCLUDING ENERGY, MANUFACTURING, WATER SYSTEMS, AND SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTION. IT ALSO HAS STRONG PUBLIC IMPACT BY PROTECTING WORKERS IN HIGH-RISK CONFINED SPACES. THE TECHNICAL INNOVATION IN THIS SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PHASE I PROJECT LIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRESSURE-DRIVEN SOFT EVERSION ROBOT CAPABLE OF CONTROLLED GROWTH, NAVIGATION, AND RETRIEVAL WITHIN SUB-6-INCH PIPE NETWORKS, AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH THAT TIGHTLY COUPLES COMPLIANT MATERIALS, FLUID-DRIVEN ACTUATION, AND EMBEDDED SENSING IN WAYS THAT ARE DIFFICULT FOR COMPETITORS TO REPLICATE. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES FUNDAMENTAL CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING RELIABLE LOCOMOTION AND SENSING IN CONFINED, TORTUOUS, AND CONTACT-RICH ENVIRONMENTS WHERE CONVENTIONAL RIGID OR TETHERED INSPECTION SYSTEMS FAIL. THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT IS TO DESIGN, PROTOTYPE, AND VALIDATE A SOFT ROBOTIC INSPECTION PLATFORM THAT GROWS FROM ITS TIP THROUGH EVERSION OF A THIN-WALLED TUBE, CARRYING MINIATURIZED SENSORS FOR REAL-TIME INSPECTION AND LOCALIZATION. THE INTELLECTUAL CONTRIBUTION INCLUDES ADVANCING THE UNDERSTANDING OF FRICTION-LIMITED SOFT ROBOT PROPAGATION, IMPROVING MANEUVERABILITY IN COMPLEX GEOMETRIES, AND DEVELOPING NEW STRATEGIES FOR INTEGRATING SENSING AND MAPPING WITHIN SEVERE SIZE AND POWER CONSTRAINTS. THIS WORK WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE BROADER FIELDS OF SOFT ROBOTICS, AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE MONITORING. THE PROPOSED METHODOLOGY COMBINES MECHANICAL DESIGN OPTIMIZATION, CONTROL STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION. FIRST, THE PROJECT WILL ENHANCE NAVIGATION AND RETRIEVABILITY BY REFINING MATERIAL PROPERTIES, PRESSURE REGULATION, AND OPERATOR CONTROL SCHEMES TO BETTER HANDLE BENDS, DIAMETER TRANSITIONS, AND VARIABLE SURFACE CONDITIONS. SECOND, IT WILL DEVELOP A COMPACT LOCALIZATION AND MAPPING SYSTEM THAT INTEGRATES EMBEDDED SENSORS WITH ALGORITHMS TAILORED TO LOW-DIAMETER, GLOBAL POSITION SYSTEM-DENIED ENVIRONMENTS. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

TO EXPAND ON EXISTING SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS BY TRELLIS FOR TOMORROW ANDPARTNER ENTITIES TO IMPROVE FOOD JUSTICE AND FOOD SYSTEM SUSTAINABILITYBY DEVELOPING CLOSED LOOP FOOD SYSTEMS IN TWO URBAN CLUSTERS WITH HIGHPERCENTAGES OF PEOPLE FACING FOOD INSECURITY AND INADEQUATE ACCESS TOHEALTHY FOOD

CN FARM TO SCHOOL GRANT

THERAPEUTIC ANTIBODIES FOR BIOFILM INFECTIONS

LOW TRELLIS PRODUCTION AND HARVESTING SYSTEM FOR HOPS

MODULAR TRELLIS SYSTEM FOR BRAMBLES

AN ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY STUDY OF ESTABLI

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

THIS GRANT SUPPORTS THE COSTS INCURRED TO IMPLEMENT MEASURES TO RESPOND TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS 2019 (COVID-19), WHICH MAY INCLUDE WORKPLACE SAFETY, MARKET PIVOTS, RETROFITTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, WORKER HOUSING, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. IT PROVIDES NEEDED RELIEF TO THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS FOR THEIR COSTS INCURRED BETWEEN JANUARY 27, 2020, THE DATE UPON WHICH THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE (HHS) UNDER SECTION 319 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT, AND DECEMBER 31, 2021. BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE EMPLOYEES OF THE FOOD PROCESSORS, DISTRIBUTORS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND PRODUCERS.

SBIR PHASE I: IMPROVED SIGMA DELTA MODULATORS FOR RADIO FREQUENCIES