BY SILVIA CERNEA CLARK

To be on the cutting edge of biotech means creating something brand-new — and at Rice, that’s not only devices, but the means to take those life-saving technologies to market as quickly as possible.

The pioneering RBL LLC, launched last fall, is committed to rapidly building companies based on the tech developed at Rice’s very own Biotech Launch Pad.

RBL’s mission is to fast-track the journey “from bench to bedside” by leveraging a large portfolio of over 100 patents from Rice faculty, bringing together world-class scientists and engineers with experienced business executives to launch companies in Houston’s thriving biotech innovation environment.

The Rice Biotech Launch Pad, also established last year, will continue to provide RBL with fully developed and de-risked technologies from Rice’s life sciences portfolio, serving as a steady pipeline of biotech innovations for new ventures.

“This is a pivotal moment for Houston and beyond,” said Paul Wotton, executive director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad and RBL’s managing partner. “Houston has rapidly emerged as a global life sciences powerhouse, blending cutting-edge research with early clinical applications at Rice and the city’s world-renowned hospital systems.”

Located in the Texas Medical Center’s dazzling new Helix Park, RBL bridges the gap between academic biotech discoveries and the clinical care market. This location offers a wealth of opportunities to collaborate with the world’s premier clinical centers, corporate partners and global investors — all within the same complex.

Investors from across the nation are recognizing Houston’s potential, and with RBL, we’re building on that momentum.

—Paul Wotton

“Investors from across the nation are recognizing Houston’s potential, and with RBL, we’re building on that momentum,” Wotton said. “We’ll not only amplify the work of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad but expand our reach across Texas, creating opportunities for biotech ventures statewide and driving growth for the biotech industry as a whole.”

RBL was co-founded by an elite team of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and investors, including Wotton; Omid Veiseh Rice professor of bioengineering and faculty director of the Rice Biotech Launch Pad; Jacob Robinson, Rice professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Dr. Rima Chakrabarti, a physician scientist and venture capital investor with KdT Ventures.

RBL will have a far-reaching impact, said Rice President Reginald DesRoches, as it opens a “new chapter” in how universities engage with the biotech industry.

“By forging a direct pipeline between our world-class research with clinical and commercial experts, we’re at the forefront of life sciences innovation,” said DesRoches. “RBL will enable us to tackle some of the most pressing health care challenges globally by working with our partners in the Texas Medical Center to make therapeutics more accessible and affordable, while strengthening our leadership in Houston’s dynamic biotech innovation ecosystem.”

The creation of RBL at Rice was spearheaded by Paul Cherukuri, Rice’s chief innovation officer, and Veiseh, who recognized the need for launching a commercial entity to create multiple startup companies faster from newly developed biotechnology.

“RBL provides a powerful platform to translate high-impact scientific discoveries into therapies that will dramatically improve patient outcomes,” Veiseh said. “Our goal is to rapidly bring Rice’s pioneering research into the clinic, delivering lifesaving solutions to patients around the world.”

It’s a venture that not only accelerates the commercialization of our innovations but also sets a blueprint for other universities looking to maximize the real-world impact of their discoveries, said Cherukuri — and one that universities everywhere should aspire to replicate.

“RBL is a game-changer,” Cherukuri said. “For Rice, Houston and the entire global biotech community.”