Texas-Based Research Bridge Partners names new board leadership to drive ‘high-quality investment opportunities’ in biomedical innovation » Dallas Innovates

Texas nonprofit Research Bridge Partners has named three new board members and a new board chair following the appointment of Lydia McClure as CEO in June.

Known for its work supporting biomedical startups at Midwestern research universities, the organization focuses on transforming cutting-edge science into profitable biotechnology companies.

The leadership changes come after a significant investment in North Texas last year. In 2023, Research Bridge Partners partnered with Lyda Hill Philanthropies to inject $4 million into UT Southwestern Medical Center’s biotech spinouts.

The nonprofit says its goal is to develop “high-quality investment opportunities” by partnering with innovative academic researchers to “create startups that contribute to society and drive economic value.”

New management at the helm

After taking over as CEO this summer, McClure was also named chair of the board. She replaces co-founder Isaac Barchas, who currently serves as a special advisor and board member of Research Bridge Partners and a founding partner of Arsenal Bridge Ventures.

With a PhD in molecular biology, McClure brings a wealth of experience to her dual role. She joined Research Bridge Partners in 2017 as vice president after serving in various leadership positions at both the National Science Foundation and the Austin Technology Incubator. Prior to her appointment as CEO, she served as senior vice president, overseeing the organization’s partnership with Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

“Where Research Bridge Partners stands out—and where we remain extremely focused—is better dealmaking with better data,” McClure said in an announcement in June. “That starts with helping world-class innovators understand the difference between academic data, regulatory data, and the data most valued by venture capitalists.”

McClure outlined the future direction of the organization, saying, “We expect to expand into new geographies and partnerships in the next year while also serving as the official spokesperson for the Boston-based Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Investment Catalyst Center.”

Meet the new board members

Now with three new board members: Ann Arvin, Lydia Meyer-Turkson and Matt Tremblay, McClure is excited about what we can accomplish together.

The CEO and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board appreciated their “extensive experience in successfully developing and commercializing biomedical innovations, as well as their deep personal conviction in the need to save and improve lives in the process”

Ann M. Arvin, MD, A distinguished virologist and professor emeritus at Stanford University, Arvin brings extensive experience in pediatric infectious diseases and vaccine development. As the Lucille Salter Packard Professor of Pediatrics and professor of microbiology and immunology, Arvin has a deep understanding of herpes viruses and immune responses in children. She also served as vice provost and dean for research at Stanford University from 2006 to 2018.

“The mission of Research Bridge Partners to facilitate the transfer of knowledge created by talented researchers who may have limited resources to do so has my enthusiastic support,” Arvin said in a statement. “I look forward to contributing to many new initiatives.”

Lydia Meyer-Turksonformer head of North American public-private partnerships at Philips, adds expertise in new business development and commercialization in the life sciences sector. With experience scaling businesses and leading initiatives in the U.S., U.K. and Europe, Meyer-Turkson is well-positioned to help Mid-Continent research universities turn groundbreaking research into profitable life science startups.

Meyer-Turkson highlighted the unique role of the organization, noting that “some of the world’s best biomedical research is geographically locked down,” emphasizing Research Bridge Partners’ mission to make valuable scientific work available in underserved regions.

Matt Tremblay, Ph.D.., CEO of Blackbird Laboratories and Managing Director of Blackbird BioVentures, complete the trio. With a Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University, Tremblay brings extensive experience in drug discovery and biotechnology. He previously served as COO of The Scripps Research Institute and its drug discovery arm, Calibr.

Tremblay praised the organization’s accomplishments to date, noting the nonprofit’s “impressive track record of identifying and implementing breakthrough technologies that create and grow new biotechnology companies.”

Dual approach to financing
The nonprofit’s funding strategy leverages both tax-exempt and for-profit capital to maximize social impact while attracting additional investment resources.

The nonprofit says this approach is consistent with its mission of strengthening ties between midcontinent research universities and the commercialization resources concentrated in large hubs like Silicon Valley and Boston.

“We enable innovators to become scientific co-founders of successful spinouts,” McClure explained, “working with them to develop IP, regulatory, business development and product strategies. We also connect them with like-minded investors, scaling business talent and drug developers.”

A growing portfolio of innovative startups

Research Bridge Partners’ work is reflected in its growing portfolio of biomedical startups. In 2023, the organization made pre-seed and seed investments in Tetricus Labs, a Yale University spinout developing a machine learning platform for precision psychiatry.

The nonprofit’s portfolio also includes Asalyxa Bio, a subsidiary of the University of Michigan that is pioneering drug delivery technologies for inflammatory diseases, and Morphimmune, which develops highly targeted small molecules designed to reprogram immune cells to treat disease.

Another standout company in the portfolio is Novosteo, a company specializing in fracture therapy that supports bone healing.

The new board members join as co-founders Gil Cloyd, Linda Grais and Reid Hoffman step down from the board. Co-founder and former CEO Barchas will remain on the board, which currently consists of five members.

McClure summed up the organization’s mission and its practical approach to nurturing biomedical innovation: “We empower innovators to become scientific co-founders of successful spinouts, collaborating with them to develop IP, regulatory, business development and product strategies. We also connect them with like-minded investors, business scalers and drug developers.”