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Episode 252: Expanding BlueCube Bio’s Ecosystem Karen Dodson, Katie Hornberger, Dr. Allison Hubel, Rui Li According to National Geographic, an ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms and weather and landscapes, work together to form a bubble of life. At BlueCube Bio, the geographic area, expands the globe as their role is to “spread cell therapies throughout the world,” says Karen Dodson, President and CEO. They are doing groundbreaking research and product development to help get us out of this pandemic bubble and get on a path to cure inflammation, trauma, and injuries where storing cells can mean the difference between a cure and ongoing treatment. Founder and CSO Allison mentions a friend who had the coronavirus and what he found out later of his lungs’ damage. Mesenchymal Stem Cell is a term to know. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) can repair damage to the lungs, cancer, and other life-threatening diseases. MSC is in one of BlueCube Bio’s product line solutions: mCube. Allison uses pneumonia as an example of how mCube can work. The MSC-type is being used in clinical trials to treat acute lung injuries like pneumonia and multi-inflammatory diseases in children with the coronavirus, explains Allison. Scientists are trying to determine what therapeutic effects MSC-type have on resolving some of these lung injuries that are being observed right now. They know MSC is really important in treating the consequences from the coronavirus infection. The timing of their product launch could not be better. BlueCube Bio’s four-person team is ready to expand into the next growth-phase to secure seed monies and increase sales and marketing efforts. The methods required in maintaining cell viability can be adapted to the long-term viability and sustainability of their venture. “Part of the reason we are so committed to this path is we see cell therapies as the future of medicine. It is essential to understand that unlike a drug or medical advice, cell therapies are meant to be curative and regenerative. What we are hoping to support is a future where disease can be cured and not just managed. This is why we are excited, and this is why we are committed to this path,” says Allison. Allison, Karen, Rui Li, and Katie Hornberger are improving cell manufacturing and the cryopreservation process by making it safe, efficient, and scalable. We discuss their teams’ philosophy, core values, and the management of time constraints. In the Midwest, if you are talking about manufacturing, a popular system for accountability in teams is EOS (entrepreneurial operating system). Find out what they are learning. We briefly discuss the four products they manufacture. These products are divided into two types of off-the-shelf Cryopreservation Solution Kits. Included in each Kit is a solution, cell collection buffer, a comprehensive technical manual, and quick start study guide. The therapies are for academic researchers and cell manufacturers. 1st Type: The MSC (Mesenchymal Stem Cell) with two mCube options; GLP and GMP. 2nd Type: The stem cell therapy PSC (Pluripotent Stem Cell) with iCube options; GLP and GMP. Karen Dodson said, “I felt like our podcast conversation was a warm invitation to share our BlueCube Bio story. Hopefully, we’ve inspired listeners to learn more about the role of cryopreservation of cells and how that supports cellular therapies for patients with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.” If you are a private investor, they are looking for a $550,000 1st-round seed investment. If not, you can provide a resource to support them in their journey. Or, if you are looking to be part of this expanding entrepreneurial team, they are hiring. DOWNLOAD Podcast Sponsor Strategies to Grow Your Business Monthly Bookkeeping Payroll Services Back Office Strategies and Support Contact Us Now Episode Resources EcoSystem Definition