HealthTech: RNA sequencing at St. Jude | Tumor profiling | Stem cell therapy

  • ANN ARBOR, MI—Strata Oncology is also looking deeply at tumor profiling. Researcher Dan Rhodes noticed that the best chance for a cancer cure is not only through targeted therapies but also through tumor profiling, which looks at biomarkers in a sample of the tumor tissue. Strata Oncology has just announced a $90 million Series C funding round that it will use to build out a commercial team and fuel clinical trials for new RNA-based treatment selection tests.
  • RALEIGH, NC—Health care startup Nicotrax uses predictive, behavioral analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) to help people stop smoking. They developed a smart cigarette case that attaches to a cell phone and is combined with an app. The program monitors smoking behaviors, and the information is combined into a dashboard to provide methods to decrease — and eventually eliminate — smoking habits.