Ora Biomedical, Inc. announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a SBIR Phase I contract in the amount of $75,000 focused on developing novel therapeutics to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on May 24th, Ora Biomedical will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.
“Ora Biomedical was founded on the understanding that age-targeting longevity interventions have a myriad of uses that all go toward promoting the healthiest, longest lives we can live. High-altitude pilots and astronauts are subject to high levels of radiation and other physiological stressors that longevity interventions have shown to be protective against” says Ora Biomedical CTO, Dr. Ben Blue. “We are excited to work with AFWERX and stakeholders in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force to develop longevity interventions for important new uses in maintaining health and maximizing readiness of service-members. This is the first step forward in an innovative project to translate longevity research into real-world applications while meeting the needs of the next era of space exploration”.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.
About Ora Biomedical, Inc.
Ora Biomedical, Inc. is a longevity biotechnology company headquartered in Tukwila, WA. Launched out of the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2022, Ora Biomedical develops interventions that maximize readiness and healthy lifespan by targeting the molecular mechanisms that drive aging itself. Ora uses best-in-class robotics and AI to perform high-throughput, high-precision phenotypic testing in live animals with lifespan, healthspan, and stress resistance as primary endpoints. www.orabiomedical.com.
About Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit www.afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 325 military, civilian and contractor personnel at six hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 4,697 contracts worth more than $2.6 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.
Company Press Contact:
Dr. Mitchell Lee
CEO & Co-Founder, Ora Biomedical, Inc.
