- Advaxis, Inc., a tenant at the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority's (EDA's) Commercialization Center for Innovative
Technologies here that is utilizing genetically engineered bacteria to
create vaccines for cancer and other diseases, has been awarded a New
Jersey Technology Fellowship by the New Jersey Commission on Science and
Technology.
The fellowship
is designed to help move cutting-edge research from the laboratory to
the marketplace by providing technology-based businesses in New Jersey
with up to $55,000 to hire post-doctoral graduates from the state's
research universities. Advaxis was one of six companies selected for
the second round of fellowships and is one of 14 firms chosen for the
program overall since it was established earlier this year.
Advaxis
has used the fellowship to employ Mariela Reyes-Reyes, who received
her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University
of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Formed in 2002, Advaxis is
poised to conduct clinical trials of a vaccine for late-stage cervical
cancer patients and is pursuing toxicology studies for a breast cancer
vaccine that may have applications for melanoma and pancreatic cancers.
Other therapeutic vaccines are in the pipeline aimed at prostate, colon
and brain cancers.
"We're
pleased that Advaxis has been selected to take part in this valuable
program," said EDA Chief Executive Officer Caren S. Franzini. "It's
another example of our state's commitment to supporting both scientific
discovery and the growth of emerging technology and biotechnology businesses."
The New
Jersey Technology Fellowship program fulfills several of the Commission's
goals: said Donald Drakeman, Commission chairman. "These fellowships
will encourage collaborations between our research universities and
our business community, provide needed talent to New Jersey's entrepreneurial
companies and help convert innovation into commercial products."
The EDA's
Commercialization Center is located at the Technology Centre of New
Jersey, which is now home to 20 growing early-stage and established
businesses that occupy about 400,000 square feet of top-quality, customized,
competitively priced laboratory, production and office space. More than
$100 million has been invested in facilities and improvements at the
50-acre former Johnson & Johnson site located within the Greater New
Brunswick Innovation Zone and along the Route 1 research and development
corridor between Rutgers and Princeton universities.
The EDA
is a self-supporting, independent state agency that works to stimulate
business development, job creation and community revitalization throughout
the state with financial assistance, technical assistance and real estate
development programs.
For more
information about the EDA's Technology Centre of New Jersey, visit www.njtechcentre.com.
To learn more about the Commission's Technology Fellowship program,
visit www.state.nj.us/scitech/postdoc.html.