GRIP Molecular Announces BLUE KNIGHT™ Acceptance

GRIP Molecular Healthtech J&J BlueKnight Acceptance Announcement

GRIP Molecular’s participation in this selective program is another step toward realization of the transformative potential of its next-generation diagnostic technology.

ST. PAUL, Minn.,/PRNewswire/ — GRIP Molecular Technologies, Inc. (‘GRIP’) (www.GRIPMolecular.com), an early-stage diagnostic company, announced that it has been accepted into Blue Knight, a joint initiative between Johnson and Johnson Innovation – JLABS (‘JLABS’) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Through Blue Knight, GRIP will receive fee assistance towards its JLABS residency at JPOD @ Boston, located at the Cambridge Innovation Center’s (CIC) location in Kendall Square, Cambridge Massachusetts.

GRIP is developing a novel graphene-based electronic biosensor technology that aims to provide rapid, simultaneous, lab-grade accuracy detection of an array of infectious diseases, anytime, anywhere, by any user. Using GRIP’s disposable cartridge and a standard cell phone, the device will provide results in minutes using easy to gather samples, e.g. nasal or saliva. Unlike other diagnostics, GRIP’s first product aims to simultaneously and accurately detect a wide variety of upper respiratory infection pathogens, including Influenza, COVID-19, RSV and other common diseases, with one sample and one test that takes minutes to perform. The GRIP platform technology eliminates the need for multi-step chemical-based sample preparation and the wires, batteries, chargers, and other equipment associated with today’s diagnostic tests. The samples are gathered, immediately mixed with a solution and injected into the GRIP cartridge. When the cartridge is brought into proximity with a standard cell phone, the results are automatically displayed and can be securely transmitted to a clinician to make treatment decisions virtually. New pathogens are expected to be readily added to the panel of diseases the single-use cartridge can detect to address new disease threats.

As part of Blue Knight, GRIP will gain access to the Johnson & Johnson Innovation ecosystem through physical residency and virtual opportunities, as well as customized programming and dedicated mentorship from BARDA and the Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies.

According to Edward Gillen, GRIP’s CEO, “GRIP is at the intersection of biology, electronics and digital health. We have synergistically assembled a variety of relatively new technologies in a unique manner to put lab-grade diagnostics literally into the hands of the end user in a way that the results can be immediately shared with others to facilitate rapid diagnosis and the application of appropriate therapy. We view admittance into Blue Knight as further recognition of the potentially transformative impact the GRIP diagnostic technology could have on healthcare.”

About GRIP Molecular:
GRIP Molecular was founded in 2019 with the mission of transformatively enhancing healthcare by putting actionable diagnostic results directly into the hands of the end user. The patent-protected technologies they utilize have yielded extraordinary levels of diagnostic performance in carefully controlled experiments. GRIP is preparing to initiate clinical validation of these performance results later this year.

For more information about GRIP Molecular and associated investment opportunities please contact:
Richard G. Minicus
Chief Financial Officer
GRIP Molecular Technologies, Inc.
Richard.Minicus@GRIPMolecular.com

Stasia Ogden, JD

Stasia Ogden recently joined GRIP in a General Counsel role with a particular expertise in Intellectual Property Law.  Stasia has over 20 years as a practicing attorney in law firms and major multi-national corporations and 9 years with Baxter Healthcare Corporation and 4 years with BD.  Her focus on healthcare industry global IP strategy, transactions, licensing, litigation and global portfolio management will help GRIP navigate global IP issues and maximize existing rights to 3+ patent families that provide the foundation for GRIP’s novel electronic biosensor.  Stasia has a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University, an MBA from University of Missouri – St. Louis, and a BA in Biochemistry from Northwestern University in Chicago.

Michael Osterholm PhD

University of Minnesota Regents Professor 
  • McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health 
  • Author
  • University of Minnesota
  • Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP)
  • Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering,
  • Medical School – Adjunct Professor
  • Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the US Department of State 2018-19
  • Numerous national/global Advisory Board appointments on Biosecurity, Health Research and Pandemics

Steven Koester PhD

Professor Electrical & Computer Engineering
University of Minnesota

Research Areas:

  • Graphene Biosensors
  • Biomedical & Biological Computational Methods
  • Energy Systems & Power Electronics
  • Micro and Nano structures 

Michael McAlpine, PhD

Professor Mechanical Engineering University of Minnesota

Research Areas:

  • 3D printing functional materials & devices
  • Advanced manufacturing using nanoscale inks
  • Biomedical devices
  • Bioelectronics

Edward Ludwig

  • 45+years of senior executive medical industry leadership experience
  •   Numerous Board roles, including with; Boston Scientific, CVS, Aetna, AdvaMed (Chairman), Johns Hopkins Michael Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hackensack University Medical Center, College of Holy Cross, Columbia Business School, The Center for Higher Ambition Leadership 
  • MBA – Columbia University

Laurie Knutson MBA

Vice President of Marketing

Laurie Knutson is GRIP’s VP of Marketing.  She bring over 30 years of healthcare strategy, product development and systems transformation experience across Fortune 50 to pre-revenue companies. Laurie has held C-level roles healthcare services, products, insurance, financial services and consulting, and was founder or C-level at 4 tech startups.  Laurie’s focus on commercializing products in the healthcare sector is based on her unique ability to assess the market and product adoption variables in areas of unmet needs. Laurie also has 10+ years analytics with care model development for seniors, commercial and vulnerable populations.  Laurie has her MBA in Finance from the University of Minnesota and her BA in Biology from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Richard G Minicus MBA, MS

Rich Minicus is seasoned Chief Financial Officer with over 30 years in M&A, venture capital investment, and capital markets transactions. Rich brings 21 years in medical technology business development with Becton Dickinson, BD Ventures, and Pfizer which has enabled GRIP to quickly formulate a detailed financial plan beyond what most startups provide to investors. Rich also has 9 years in finance with Merrill Lynch Capital Markets, ML Venture Capital, and JP Morgan. Rich earned his MBA at Harvard Business School, and holds a MS in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Caroline Popper

Caroline Popper, MD is the Co-Founder and President, Popper & Co. healthcare consultancy. Caroline has the perfect combination of 30 years’ experience in medical diagnostics and drug discovery, combined with extensive direct clinical experience. She has held many senior managerial and advisory positions with numerous global diagnostics companies, including BD, bioMérieux and MDS Proteomics. Caroline was also an attending physician at the Department of Emergency Medicine at Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she completed residencies in internal medicine and pathology.

Edward Gillan

CEO, CCO

Ed Gillen is GRIP’s CEO and brings over 30 years medical device industry experience, including point-of-care diagnostics.  Ed enjoyed a successful 23-year career at Becton Dickinson (BD) holding many positions globally including WW Senior Director – Strategy & Business Development – Diabetes Care Division, Global VP/GM – Surgical and Anesthesia Systems ($200M P&L), Advanced Drug Delivery, Global Business Leader – Vaccine Delivery.  Ed’s startup experience includes his most recent role as CEO Medality Medical. Ed has his MBA from Penn State University.

disease diagnosis Grip molecular

Bruce Batten

Founder/Chairman/President

Bruce Batten has been founder / CEO of four technology startups including C-level roles at Thermo Instruments, CyberOptics and Advantek. Bruce started his career in Academia earning a Ph.D. in Anatomy & Cell Biology at the Medical College of Virginia, post-doctoral work at Harvard Medical School. He was Faculty member at Harvard, Tufts and The Ohio State medical schools and later ran the MBA Program at Augsburg University. Bruce has over 10 years of molecular diagnostic development, including detailed work on a POC Zika virus assay. Bruce founded GRIP Molecular to commercialize breakthrough solid state bioelectronic technology that will disrupt the diagnostic industry and empower consumers and doctors with fast, accurate and comprehensive information.

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