Over the last decade, the Nevada Center for Applied Research (NCAR) has integrated dozens of biotech startups into its incubation spaces at the 69ÀÏʪ»ú¸£Àû, fostering industry-academic collaborations. Part of the University’s Innovation Ecosystem within the Research and Innovation division, NCAR provides faculty and students with unique opportunities while offering startups access to high-end lab equipment and tailored facilities within the Applied Research Facility.
Beyond incubation, NCAR connects clients, including these companies, to more than 60 labs across the University’s campus and offers support from University staff and services such as chemical and biological waste management.
“NCAR equips biotech startups with the resources and expertise to scale innovations,” said Mridul Gautam, vice president for research and innovation. “By connecting them with University researchers and students, we’re advancing healthcare, biotechnology and life sciences while strengthening Nevada’s role in scientific discovery and economic growth.”
A decade ago, Gautam established the NCAR to foster collaboration between industry and the University, creating a dynamic hub where innovative solutions are developed to address real-world challenges.
The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) helped establish the center in 2015 with support from the state’s Knowledge Fund, which aims to strengthen Nevada’s startup economy. Today, it supports 36 companies, with more than 30 percent operating in biotechnology, said Rebecca Albion, NCAR’s shared research facilities coordinator.
“NCAR has quickly turned into one of the Knowledge Fund’s most compelling success stories,” said Karsten Heise, senior director of strategic programs and innovation at GOED. “Their Biosciences Entrepreneurial Lab has been a core instrument to attract startups in biotech to northern Nevada.”
“This is a portal for industry to access University resources,” said NCAR Director Carlos Cardillo. Companies collaborate with faculty, hire students and secure grants. “It’s a mutually beneficial collaboration,” he added.
Incubating startups
One of those companies is Phigenics, a water management biotech business, which provides water planning and testing services. Large buildings have intricate plumbing systems that can be vulnerable to the buildup of illness-causing bacteria. It’s especially a risk at hospitals, where patients may be immunocompromised. “In a six-story building, there’s a lot more opportunity for stagnant water, and that’s where these pathogens really thrive,” said Leah Wickenberg ’11 (biochemistry), ’13 M.S. (biochemistry), product research and development supervisor at Phigenics. They also test for chemical and bacterial contaminants at their NCAR laboratory. The company, headquartered in Chicago, was attracted by NCAR when looking for a West Coast location. “The opportunity to lease lab space at a competitive rate allowed for that to happen,” said Wickenberg.
Following suit, Zhittya, a biotech startup based in Las Vegas, has also benefited from NCAR’s support. Researchers at this startup are studying whether a protein called FGF-1, which promotes blood vessel growth and other cell functions, could benefit stroke and cardiovascular disease patients. The team is also running a medical research study with more than 200 patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Recently, the company hired two master’s students from the University — Tezo Albarran Martinez ’11 (biotechnology), ’24 M.S. (biotechnology), and Megan Kruitsbosch ’23 (biology) — to expand their NCAR laboratory. “It’s been fantastic,” said Sergiy Montano, Zhittya’s vice president of marketing. “We were impressed with the quality of the students.”
At another company, TAG Reagents, researchers have used NCAR equipment to develop chemicals that keep blood and tissue samples stable at room temperature for much longer than standard reagents. One product they are working on can stabilize a blood sample for up to seven days at room temperature. The team is testing if this reagent can be used in a noninvasive cancer test called a liquid biopsy, explained Alex Melchor, a senior R&D scientist at TAG Reagents.
In addition to the benefits of laboratory space and equipment, NCAR has enabled startup companies to collaborate with each other. Emily Medina ’20 (biochemistry and molecular biology), ’24 Ph.D. (biochemistry), an R&D scientist at TAG Reagents, has enjoyed this benefit: “If you need help in a certain aspect, you can go to a different company, and they can help.”
The support and resources provided by NCAR have enabled startups to “graduate” from University facilities and advance toward commercialization. LactaLogics, a company developing human milk-based products available at hospitals for premature infants, is one success story. “Working with NCAR allowed us to validate and optimize our production processes, bringing us closer to commercialization,” said Glenn Snow, CEO and co-founder of LactaLogics.
Growing opportunities in northern Nevada
Since its inception, NCAR companies have provided opportunities for student employment. However, the recent formalization of the internship program has made it easier than ever for biochemistry and molecular biology students to access work and collaboration opportunities — and for companies to hire skilled workers. Not only do startups need infrastructure and equipment, they also need a workforce. “That’s where the biotechnology [internship] program comes in,” said Karla Hernández ’10 B.S./’10 M.S. (biotechnology), ’15 Ph.D. (cellular and molecular biology), director of the biotechnology program and a teaching assistant professor. “We’re able to recommend, screen and prepare those qualified candidates.”
Companies offer interns competitive salaries, and many students transition into full-time roles after their internships. In addition, students can earn course credit for their experience.
By fostering collaborations between researchers, students and companies, Cardillo believes NCAR will continue to strengthen northern Nevada’s biotech ecosystem. A promising indicator of this growth is the recent arrival of several Bay Area companies, which have relocated to the Applied Research Facility at NCAR.
“We will keep responding to the needs of current companies along with the needs of the market,” Cardillo said.
“They will look at northern Nevada as a place to live, work and play.”