BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. has been awarded a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I grant for $256,000. The funds will be used specifically to evaluate the therapeutic effects on the Company's hypoxic cultured bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BRTX-100) after encapsulation with a PEG-peptide hydrogel. The work is being done in collaboration with Dr. Lori Setton, Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St.

Louis. Dr. Setton developed the hydrogel from a PEG backbone conjugated with a proprietary formulation of peptides mimicking laminin and other matrix proteins selected for their ability to modulate cell phenotype and biosynthesis. The STTR aims to define the therapeutic potential and mechanism by which the newly synthesized hydrogel can optimally support the therapeutic delivery of hypoxic cultured bone marrow-derived stem cells.

All proposals submitted to the NIH SBIR/STTR program undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $256,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.