PlatformSTL landed a Phase II $811,695 STTR grant from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. The small software company works with a portfolio of partner scientists in universities. While the scientists continue to develop the underlying technology, PlatformSTL engineers build out products for commercialization. CEO Victoria Swamidass tells the 4thEst8 that the equity-free Small Business Technology Transfer grant puts her startup on solid ground as she moves to get her first paying customers.
Victoria Swamidass, PlatformSTL CEO
“This grant is shared with our researchers at Wash. U…. we have a really clear idea of the work that they’re doing for the next two years… and we know what we’re funded to do for the next two years,” she said. “We were at ‘zero funding.’ By that, I mean, we were subsisting off of our PPP loan. Through the grant, we’re able to fund one full-time engineer, a part-time user interface designer… and our senior business analyst on a part-time basis.”
The company employs another full-time engineer and Swamidass. The company landed a much smaller grant in 2018, but has largely funded its research and development through side-work in software services.
The Tech:
The grant fuels research into a type of machine learning called ‘deep learning’ that uses algorithms inspired by the structure and function of the human brain – an artificial neural network. Specifically, research into how to use such a technology to quickly and accurately evaluate donor kidneys prior to transplantation. Right now someone has to look in a microscope and count a bunch of stuff – taking a great deal of time and resulting in errors.
Good kidneys are being thrown out. People waiting for them are dying. The product Swamidass and her team are hoping to get to market with clinicians this year is called Trusted Kidney. It uses this deep learning technology to examine frozen slides from kidney biopsies.
Founded in 2017, PlatformSTL is headquarted in BioGenerator Labs and is a member of ITEN in St. Louis.
