Four New York City scientists have been awarded a total of $1 million in research funding to develop biomedical devices and products as winners of the third annual BioAccelerate NYC competition. The Partnership for New York City (PFNYC) announced that each scientist will receive $250,000 to assist in the development of their products right here in NYC through the most risky stage for inventions when funding becomes sparse.

This year’s winners:

• Dr. Ramunaj Dasgupta, NYU School of Medicine, is developing a new treatment that could reduce the side effects of certain existing cancer drugs.
• Dr. Suzanne Maher, Hospital for Special Surgery, is developing an implant to treat and halt the progression of osteoarthritis, a condition in which the cartilage in your joints deteriorates.
• Dr. Michael Ohlmeyer, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is working on adapting a gene called FOX-1, which functions as a tumor suppressor.
• Dr. Alexander Travis, Cornell University, with his colleagues at the Baker Institute and Weill Cornell Medical College, is developing a diagnostic test to determine male fertility.

More than 200 scientists from 12 New York research institutions competed for the available funding signifying the prolific efforts in research in the life sciences going on here in New York City. Working together with NYCEDC, the Partnership for New York City and its nonprofit Investment Fund have directed efforts to nurture and expand the bioscience industry in NYC, resulting in a 74% increase in biotech and health sciences industry jobs from 2005 to 2010. Find out more about NYC's growing bioscience industry.