Earlier this year, Emory University launched the Emory BioFoundry Institute (EBFI) to support researchers and encourage investment in projects that could lead to improvements in patient care and public health. The institute provides targeted support for medical device and diagnostic technologies at critical development stages, aiming to help university-based startups move from early-stage development to market readiness. EBFI is part of Emory Innovations, Inc., which also includes Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory (DRIVE) and the Emory Drug Development Fund.
Nassir Mokarram, executive director of EBFI, said, “A breakthrough discovery doesn’t guarantee real-world impact. We’re closing the loop in the innovation ecosystem by providing strategically staged capital investments while connecting entrepreneurs and investors to our ecosystem, essential elements for successful translation of world-class academic research to tangible, societal outcomes.”
EBFI’s first investment has been made in TopoDx, a MedTech startup developing rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing technology. TopoDx was created through collaboration between researchers at Emory University and Georgia Tech at the Georgia Tech Quadrant-i. The company aims to address challenges related to antibiotic resistance by speeding up the process of identifying drug-resistant infections.
David Weiss, PhD, co-founder of TopoDx and director of the Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, explained that current methods for determining effective antimicrobial agents have not changed significantly in decades and can take three to five days for results. He noted that delays can result in patients receiving ineffective treatments and contribute to increased resistance.
To address this issue, Weiss partnered with Peter Yunker, PhD, a physics professor at Georgia Tech. They used white-light interferometry technology to measure bacterial colonies more quickly. Their team developed Cosmos, an AI platform capable of analyzing patient samples directly and delivering pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility results within four hours.
Yogi Patel, PhD, CEO of TopoDx and an alumnus of both Emory and Georgia Tech stated: “Cosmos replaces labor-intensive steps, easing the burden on understaffed, 24/7 microbiology labs and accelerating results to curb infection progression. It also opens a multi-billion-dollar market ripe for innovation… With EBFI’s investment, we’ve validated our core technology on direct-from-patient samples with stakeholders, secured foundational IP, and built a working prototype. We’ve defined a clear regulatory path, advanced partnerships with leading diagnostics companies, and confirmed Cosmos’ value in clinical settings.” Patel added that they are preparing real-world pilots as they move toward FDA clearance and commercial deployment.
Michael Cassidy, executive director of Emory Innovations Inc., commented: “The Emory BioFoundry Institute is igniting a new era of innovation — attracting elite talent and empowering our Emory innovators to transform ideas, knowledge, and intellectual property into real-world solutions… By unlocking our MedTech potential we are paving the way for stronger relationships that elevate patient outcomes and expand investment.”
Wilbur Lam—Emory’s vice provost for entrepreneurship—said: “EBFI is a vital component of the innovation ecosystem Emory is building to pave the way for more faculty staff and students to deliver breakthrough ideas and technologies… We look forward to the solutions EBFI will help deliver for patients and clinicians in the years to come.”
Other investors involved include MedTech angel investors Portal Innovations as well as Invest Georgia. Additional support came from grant funding provided by Atlanta-based Georgia Research Alliance.
