Birmingham, AL / September 2022 – Reliant Glycosciences, LLC (Reliant) is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded an Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant for $247,500. This grant is one of the first of its kind in the state of Alabama and will support the company’s National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Award.

As stated in a press release by Gov. Kay Ivey, “The Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program is the latest way our state is creating an attractive business environment for pioneering ideas that will change our world. Alabamians have the grit, determination, and creativity to make these ideas a reality, and with Innovate Alabama’s supplemental funding, these small businesses will take their ideas from concept to commercialization.”

With a SBIR Phase II Award, Reliant was eligible to apply for matching funds to their award.

Dr. Kathy Nugent, the executive director of the UAB Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, commented in an UAB News Article, “The Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program is a fantastic opportunity for UAB-based start-ups who have already received SBIR and STTR funding to continue to develop their innovative technologies. These technologies have already passed muster with scientific experts, making them strong investments for state funding.”

Reliant was formed with the mission to develop assays for biomarkers of IgA nephropathy with the diagnostic and/or prognostic value that will enable the development and monitoring of future disease-specific therapies. IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease that often leads to kidney failure.

Reliant Co-Founder, Dr. Matthew Renfrow stated “This is a great opportunity for us and the state of Alabama. We are a local spin-off from UAB and we are so grateful to Governor Kay Ivey, Chairman Bill Poole, and all of the members of the Alabama Innovation Corporation Board of Directors for the vision and foresight of a program like Innovate Alabama to promote and support a small business that has the potential to have a big impact in the biotechnology sector.”

https://www.reliantglycosciences.com/

https://innovatealabama.org/

Written by: Tatum Street, MBA