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News Brief

Atsena Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation From the FDA for Novel Gene Therapy To Treat Genetic Eye Disease LCA1

UF startup Atsena Therapeutics, a clinical-stage gene therapy company focused on bringing the life-changing power of genetic medicine to reverse or prevent blindness, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for its investigational gene therapy product for the treatment of GUCY2D-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1), a genetic eye disease that affects the retina.

UF Researchers Aim to One Day Farm on Mars

UF researchers are playing a part in the future of space agriculture. One of the co-directors of the UF Space Plants Lab said all the research they do has one main goal, to one day grow plants on Mars.

Clearlake Capital and Siris-Backed Constant Contact Agrees To Acquire SharpSpring

Constant Contact, an established leader in online marketing, backed by Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. and Siris Capital, announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire UF startup SharpSpring, Inc., a leading cloud-based sales and marketing automation platform, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $240 million including outstanding indebtedness.

Gator Pale Ale Becomes First Beer Brewed Using Hops Grown Only in Florida

Scientists at UF's Gulf Coast Research and Education Center are trying to produce hops that can be grown under Florida conditions. "We are trying to find out not just if we can grow this crop, but we are trying to find out if it is going to be cost-effective," said Dr. Shinsuke Agehara, the lead UF researcher on the project.

Revolutionizing the Science of Nerve Repair and Regeneration

Peripheral nerve damage is estimated to affect more than 20 million people in the United States, causing symptoms that range from mild discomfort to severe disability. Damage is often undiagnosed or untreated, and the current standard of care procedures can be associated with limitations that impact the quality of life. UF startup and UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech alum Axogen, Inc., a company focused on the science, development, and commercialization of technologies for peripheral nerve regeneration and repair, aims to address these issues and provide more efficient treatment options to patients.

Robots May Eventually Help Kill Weeds That Impede Strawberry Yield

Think of University of Florida scientists Nathan Boyd and Arnold Schumann a bit like surgeons. Except, in this case, their operating room is a strawberry field. With their research, Boyd and Schumann hope to eventually help growers unleash surgical strikes on weeds – without vanquishing their fruit.