Life Sciences Innovation at UC Riverside
Advancing Life Sciences Innovation at UC Riverside
UC Riverside is a growing force in life sciences innovation, generating breakthroughs that address today’s most pressing global challenges in health, agriculture, and the environment. By combining world-class research, startup infrastructure, and commercialization pathways, UCR provides a launchpad for transformative ventures in the Inland Southern California region and beyond.
Why UC Riverside?
World-Class Research in Critical Life Science Areas
UCR is a global leader in foundational life sciences research, particularly excelling in entomology, plant and animal sciences, and agricultural technology. Our faculty are developing groundbreaking solutions in areas like sustainable agriculture, food security, plant resilience, and pest control—offering a rich pipeline of licensable innovations for agtech and biotech companies.
Dedicated Ecosystem for Life Sciences Startups
UCR actively fosters a supportive environment for life sciences ventures. Our on-campus Life Sciences Incubator provides state-of-the-art wet labs, equipment, and collaborative workspaces. This, combined with access to UCR's specialized facilities and faculty expertise, offers an ideal launchpad for startups in biotech, medtech, and environmental innovation within the Inland Empire.
Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Support & Funding Pathways
The Office of Technology Partnerships and its Entrepreneurial Proof of Concept and Innovation Center (EPIC) offer robust support to translate research into real-world impact. This includes dedicated mentorship from experienced Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, specialized entrepreneurial training, and assistance in securing critical early-stage funding through NSF I-Corps, Proof of Concept grants, and SBIR/STTR support.
Startup Success Stories
Xeno-Free Stem Cell Culture
Developed by former UCR Professor Noburu Sato, this innovation eliminates the use of animal- or human-derived components in the culture of human pluripotent stem cells. By using a chemically defined matrix and inhibiting myosin II to improve cell adhesion and survival, the platform provides a more controlled, contamination-free environment for stem cell growth—supporting scalable and reproducible cell therapy research.
Licensed in 2010, the technology has led to the development of multiple products in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) market and has generated over $850,000 in royalty revenue. Its adoption highlights UCR’s early leadership in enabling safer and more consistent stem cell manufacturing for therapeutic and research use.
Basilard BioTech – Celletto™ Nanoneedle Platform
Basilard BioTech, a startup spun out of UCR by Professor Masa Rao, is developing Celletto™, a precision nanomechanical gene delivery platform. Using nanoneedles to deliver genetic material non-virally into hundreds of millions of individual human cells, Celletto addresses major industry bottlenecks around scalability, nuclear delivery, and uniform poration—making it a breakthrough in cell and gene therapy manufacturing.
With $4.5M+ in seed funding, $500K from UCR’s Highlander Venture Fund, and support from the EPIC SBDC, Basilard has grown into a fully operational company. The platform’s impact is recognized in Nature Nanotechnology, positioning Basilard as a leader in next-generation biotech instrumentation.
Cadenza Bio – Multiple Sclerosis Therapeutics
Developed in part by UCR Professor Seema Tiwari-Woodruff, Cadenza Bio is advancing a novel class of compounds that promote remyelination and neuroprotection for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Unlike current MS treatments that only slow disease progression, Cadenza’s therapy targets the root causes—offering the potential for improved mobility and quality of life.
In 2023, the company raised $2.44M in seed funding to move its lead candidate, CAD-1, into non-clinical safety studies. The technology is backed by the NIH and the National MS Society, with strong potential to address other neurological and autoimmune conditions in future phases.
Featured Technologies
Explore a curated selection of high-potential life sciences innovations—available for licensing, startup formation, or investor collaboration.
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Targefrin™ for Pancreatic Cancer
A novel therapeutic addressing one of the most lethal cancers, supported by an NIH SBIR Phase I grant. Currently advancing toward clinical studies and incubating at UCR’s Life Sciences Incubator.
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Organ and Tissue Preservation
Technologies that “stop biological time” to preserve organ and tissue viability during transport, reducing ischemic damage and improving transplantation outcomes.
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GENEWRITE: Precision CRISPR Fusion Protein
A next-generation gene-editing platform that enables the insertion of large genetic payloads with high precision, paving the way for advanced gene therapies.
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Plants as Bioreactors
A sustainable molecular farming platform using nanoparticles to deliver genetic material into plants for the production of valuable compounds and diagnostics.
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Bioresorbable Medical Devices
Innovative bioresorbable materials designed for healing and mobility restoration, including spinal patches that aid in the recovery of spinal cord injuries.