Welcome to Oklahoma BioScience Association

Bio in Oklahoma

Overview

From Ardmore to Stillwater and Tulsa, Oklahoma’s rapidly-growing bioscience and life science sector is emerging as one of the key economic forces in our state. With more than 500 bioscience and life science-related businesses or organizations, Oklahoma sees more than a $6.7b economic impact from this industry.

Oklahoma is fertile ground for bioscience growth, talent and premier facilities:

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) has seen 41 new companies formed in Oklahoma as a result of their programs in the past five years. More than 2000 new Oklahoma jobs have been created and the average salary of employees working for OCAST client companies is approximately $60,000. In 2021, 129 new patents were granted to OCAST client companies, with a total value of $96,950,00. The total financial impact of OCAST programs is $1,002,255,392.00 with a return on investment of 20:1.

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is dedicated to both basic and translational research, with patient-centered care and research ongoing at the Stephenson Cancer Center, the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center and the Dean McGee Eye Institute.

The University Research Park is part of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The complex consists of more than 700,000 square feet of modern biomedical research lab and office space supported by state-of-the-art communications and infrastructure systems.

The Noble Research Institute is the largest private foundation in the country conducting plant science and agriculture research. The Noble Research Institute offers no-cost consultation and education to farmers, ranchers and land managers, and educates students of all ages about science and agriculture.

Oklahoma State University has leading expertise in biological and chemical processes with basic and applied researchers in areas ranging from pediatric psychology to respiratory infectious diseases. Multiple researchers across many departments and colleges are also focusing R&D efforts on developing and enhancing drug delivery methods in both humans and animals.

One of OKC’s newest districts, the Innovation District, houses internationally-acclaimed research and technology professionals, and encompasses about 1.3 square miles east of downtown Oklahoma City and south of the State Capitol.

In the past 2 years, i2E, Inc. has invested nearly $7 million in 8 bioscience or life science companies and over has invested at total of $35 million the past 22 years.

Bioscience in Oklahoma truly is driving innovation that is improving lives and creating jobs! Here is a look at some of our emerging bio companies:

• Ascend BioVentures is a pharmaceutical accelerator that guides promising drug candidates through the riskiest, early stages of development. ABV helps identify innovative and transformative therapeutics and works to efficiently launch companies focused on preclinical drug development.
• Linear Health Sciences is a medical device company that has developed a proprietary, breakaway safety valve technology designed to improve the use of medical tubing in hospitals. Recently, Linear received U.S. FDA clearance and Health Canada approval of its Orchid SRV™, a tension-activated breakaway safety release valve designed to reduce the risk of IV catheter failure and replacement in hospitals.
• Moleculera Labs is a pioneer in infection-induced autoimmune conditions that disrupt neurologic function. The company currently markets next-generation antibody tests that detect whether an autoimmune reaction is causing neurologic or psychiatric symptoms.
• Cytovance Biologics, Inc. is a pharmaceutical contract manufacturer producing biologics, therapeutic proteins and antibodies. The company employs more than 200, and their products are used globally for clinical trials and research.
• Immuno Mycologics is listed as one of Inc.’s fastest-growing private companies in the nation. IMMY is a diagnostic manufacturing company that has evolved from a company that filled a need in the infectious disease market to an organization with a global focus on saving lives through innovative products.
• MS Pen Technologies, Inc. is a medical device company commercializing innovative mass spectrometry solutions for molecular analysis at the point of need. The Preciso MasSpecPen, when exposed to a tissue surface and connected to a mass spectrometer can identify the molecular profile of cancerous tissues in real time. The technology is potentially extensible to pathology, robotics, forensic, botanical, and food safety applications, among others.
• Otologic Pharmaceuticals is developing pharmaceuticals to combat hearing loss and hearing-related disorders, like tinnitus. Otologic has two programs focused on therapeutics that protect and repair damage in the ear as well as a regenerative medicine approach focused on re-growing inner hair cells.  Otologic has a license deal with Oblato for the development of their clinical stage drug and they recently signed a research collaboration and license agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim to discover, develop, and commercialize transformative therapies for patients with sensorineural hearing loss.
• Progentec Diagnostics, Inc. has developed an advanced state-of-the-art Lupus flare diagnostic, which has potential to fundamentally change the current treatment paradigm for Lupus.  The company has partnered with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, a Center of Excellence for Lupus in the US and they are striving to accelerate commercialization of the patented diagnostic technology.
• Biolytx is a pharmaceutical technology company developing a novel antibiotic peptide for potential use in wound healing and treatment of serious hospital-acquired infections, including those resistant to current antibiotics. The technology was developed in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center laboratory of Dr. Anne Pereira and licensed from OU.
• Tetherex Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage drug development company, was formed to develop novel first-in-class therapeutics targeting cell adhesion proteins in thrombotic, inflammatory and oncologic diseases.

Oklahoma is recognized internationally for the strength of our research institutions:

• Hough Ear Institute
• Laureate Institute of Brain Research
• Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
• Oklahoma State University
• Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation
• University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Dean McGee Eye Institute
  • Stephenson Cancer Center
  • Harold Hamm Diabetes Center
• University of Tulsa

Our research institutions demonstrate excellence in select areas of human, plant and animal science, with strong emphasis in:

• Agricultural productivity
• Autoimmune diseases and Immunology
• Biofuels
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular Research
• Glycobiology and Carbohydrates
• Infectious Disease and Microbiology
• Natural Products for Health
• Plant Improvement
• Value-Added Food Product
• Vision Research

Innovative service providers facilitate the growth of Oklahoma biosciences:

• Ascend BioVentures
• Analytical Edge
• ARL/DNA Solutions
• Cytovance Biologics
• Emergent Technologies
• EyeCRO
• i2E, Inc.
• Lynn Health Sciences Institute
• OKBio Association
• Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology
• OKC Innovation District

CORE FACILITIES:

OMRF
https://omrf.org/research-faculty/core-facilities/

OUHSC
https://research.ouhsc.edu/Core-Facilities/Laboratory

OSU
https://research.okstate.edu/core-facilities.html

OSU Tulsa
https://tulsa.okstate.edu/helmerich/facility