Mari Anne Snow

The clock is ticking on SBIR reauthorization. Unless Congress acts, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program will expire on September 30th. For Massachusetts’s biotech startups and the entire U.S. life sciences ecosystem, SBIR isn’t just another program—it’s a lifeline for early-stage innovation that can lead to breakthrough therapies for patients Over the past year, MassBio has been laser-focused on advocating for SBIR’s renewal: 🔷 We convened members with Senate Small Business Committee Chair Sen. Joni Ernst and Ranking Member Sen. Ed Markey to share real-world impacts. 🔷 We surveyed our member companies and used their feedback to shape formal testimony on the program’s importance. 🔷 We worked with Biotechnology Innovation Organization's Council of State Bioscience Associations (CSBA) to circulate a joint sign-on letter urging swift reauthorization. 🔷 Just last week, we were back in conversation with Chair Ernst’s office about the latest redraft of the INNOVATE Act - which would expand Strategic Breakthrough Awards, empowering NIH and other agencies to make transformative investments in capital-intensive fields like biotech and medtech.  🔷 And we’ll be in D.C. in two weeks to continue our advocacy. The U.S. cannot afford to let SBIR lapse for even one day. MassBio calls on Congress to come together to prioritize American innovation by delivering on SBIR reauthorization before the September 30 deadline. As valued MassBio members, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our policy team with questions (policy [at] massbio.org). We’re actively following debate and competing proposals and will provide updates as needed in this final stretch. And don’t forget to share your stories about what SBIR has meant to you, to your company, and to the patients you’re in the lab fighting for. #SBIR #INNOVATEAct #Bioeconomy #MassBio #Startups #Biotech

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[The Briefing Room] #VirtualSalon: Policy Pressure: Communicating at the Speed of Change with Virginia Amann, Founder & CEO, ENTENTE Network moderating a conversation with Annalee Armstrong, Senior Editor, BioSpace; Maria Ghazal, President & CEO, Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC); and Michael Heifetz, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services. Q&A Section - Sara Jane Demy: "This relates to the biopharma space. It’s an issue you’ve all heard about, people not really understanding what it takes to develop an innovative drug. Most people have no idea about the research, the challenges, the failures, and the costs that go into bringing a new drug to market. I don’t think pharma or biotech have effectively communicated this, and I’m not even sure how we would. How would we explain to the general population the level of risk and the financial investment required to produce innovative drugs?" Annalee Armstrong: "There are different estimates, but I’ve seen numbers as high as $1 billion for a single drug. The timeline to develop a drug is roughly a 10-year process, preclinical testing, human testing (two phases), clinical trials, it’s a long journey. And then you still have to go through the FDA approval process. It’s a real challenge, but there’s also a strong movement, such as "No Patient Left Behind," that champions the fact these are true innovators. These drug companies are creating life-changing therapies, and it’s important to highlight the origins of those drugs. They come from universities, research centers, and in-house pharma and biotech labs, etc. Some of my favorite stories are about the people who have those ‘aha’ moments that lead to new treatments. Drug development is an incredibly difficult business." Join the conversation and get your questions answered 👉 >>  https://lnkd.in/ebkah4Ym 

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A 2024 McKinsey Health Institute study estimates that addressing the women’s health gap could boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040. So I’m delighted to see THENA Capital raise £27M to scale innovation in Medtech and women’s health. The data is clear: women’s health remains dramatically underfunded and underserved, despite its global importance. A mere 2% of healthcare investment is dedicated to women’s health solutions. Founded by Tatum Getty, Pamela Walker Geddes, and Esther Reynal de St Michel Richardot, THENA’s fund is a bold step forward in the right direction. Backed by major investors such as the British Business Bank, Firebird Collective, and This Day Foundation … THENA is focused on early-stage ventures that are not only tech-enabled but also deliver better health outcomes for women. We need more capital, more founders, and more ambition in this space. Proud to see the UK leading the charge. Congratulations to the THENA team. And let’s keep pushing to make VC more diverse!

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Companies Innovating in Rural Health must be Tech-Enabled, Not Tech-Dependent Investments in rural healthcare technology are accelerating worldwide, but tech-first, tech-only wearable and RPM companies in this space are missing a key ingredient to improving outcomes.  In rural communities—both in the U.S. and globally—access to care is limited, but the real challenge is adherence. Patients often don’t follow through on chronic disease management, medication adherence, or lifestyle modifications due to cultural barriers, distrust in the system, or lack of infrastructure. Impact in this space will be a combination of remote patient monitoring, analytics, AI, and perhaps most importantly - behavioral modification. Some recent examples: ✅ RPM (U.S.)  In Mississippi’ a diabetes telehealth program saw improved outcomes only when paired with health coaches who regularly checked in and nudged patients to adhere to treatment. Without that human element, device adoption and compliance were low. ✅  AI Chatbots & Digital Nudges (India) In Karnataka, India, AI-powered chatbots have been deployed to provide maternal health guidance. However, adoption skyrocketed only after integrating behavioral nudges—such as reminders in regional dialects and SMS check-ins from local community health workers. Tech alone wasn’t enough; trust and habit formation were key. ✅  Medication Adherence (Africa) In Kenya, a mobile platform helping HIV patients track their meds was initially ineffective. But when combined with gamification and peer support, adherence rates improved significantly. The behavioral component turned compliance into a community-driven effort, making tech a tool, not the solution itself. Innovative technologies like AI, wearables, and digital health platforms must integrate behavioral science to drive real change. If we fail to design engagement-first solutions, billions in health tech investments will lead to underutilized tools rather than healthier communities. What are some successful rural health tech + behavioral change strategies you’ve seen? Let’s discuss. 👇 #HealthTech #RuralHealth #Venture #BehavioralScience #PatientEngagement#PhyCap

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💡How VC Can Help Cut Health Costs Venture capital has poured billions into biotech, wellness apps, and futuristic longevity startups 🚀—but some of the most urgent health challenges are still being overlooked. Addiction recovery. Maternal health. Chronic disease management. These are the problems that affect millions of lives—and where Genevieve LeMarchal, managing partner of @Suncoast Ventures, is betting big. “I’ve made worse mistakes than most of my founders,” she said. “Nothing shocks me. I’m here to help them fix it.” Suncoast, a women-led venture capital firm, invests in healthcare startups solving real-world problems rather than chasing trends. From life-saving maternal health devices to digital addiction recovery tools, LeMarchal’s model demonstrates that health innovation and financial performance can be mutually beneficial. Emerging funds like Suncoast are also showing that early-stage VC funding doesn’t have to come from mega-firms—it can come from investors who lead with empathy, insight, and conviction, and often outperform larger VCs. 👉 Read my latest Forbes article on how one VC is redefining what it means to invest in the health problems venture capital overlooks. https://lnkd.in/e2m37yqH #VentureCapital #HealthcareStartups #HealthInnovation #WomenInVC #Investing #Entrepreneurship

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🤝 The future of ophthalmology is shaped through collaboration. The future of ophthalmology and health tech belongs to teams that collaborate strategically across disciplines, institutions, and geographies. Silos slow progress; partnerships accelerate it. How collaboration works in our industry: 1️⃣ Align on clinical impact: The strongest partnerships begin with shared goals, better outcomes, improved patient experience, and solutions that work in real-world practice. 2️⃣ Share insights and data responsibly: When clinicians and industry partners exchange outcomes, feedback, and clinical insight, innovation becomes more effective and more scalable. 3️⃣ Invest in long-term relationships: In ophthalmology, trust is everything. Networks aren’t just connections, they’re engines for mentorship, co-development, clinical research, and sustained progress. 💡 The smartest innovations aren’t just technically advanced, they’re co-created by diverse minds working together to improve outcomes for patients and providers. Who have you collaborated with recently to advance patient care or innovation in ophthalmology? 📚 Sources: • “Collaboration in Healthcare: How Interdisciplinary Teams Improve Patient Outcomes” — NEJM Catalyst. (catalyst.nejm.org) • “The Power of Collaborative Innovation in Health Tech” — Harvard Business Review. (hbr.org) #Collaboration #HealthTech #Ophthalmology #Leadership #InnovationStrategy #VisionCare #Partnerships #Teamwork #ClinicalInnovation #DigitalHealth #InterdisciplinaryTeams #Ophthalmology #EyeVare #VisionCare #HealthTech #MedicalInnovation #ClinicalInnovation #HealthcareLeadership #Collaboration #Partnerships #MedTech #DigitalHealth #PatientOutcomes #ClinicalResearch #HealthcareInnovation #IndustryCollaboration #HealthcareTechnology #MedicalDevices #FutureofHealthcare #InnovationStrategy

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🌟 Health Ecosystem: 2025 Harvard University President’s Innovation Challenge 🌟 Having had a privilege of attending 2025 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge in person, and as someone deeply committed to healthcare transformation, I’m energized by these ventures tackling big problems with bold ideas: 🧬 🏆 Grand Prize Winners - Regatta Bio redesigning cellular therapies to restore immune tolerance - PeriPeach a device to reduce the severity of perineal tears during childbirth - GurusInc.com providing vulnerable populations with housing, education, mentorship, and support services - HaloBraid an AI-powered robotic hair braider that reduces braiding time from hours to minutes, empowering hair stylists to double their business - The Paal improving financial outcomes for smallholder livestock farmers 🧠 🏅$25K Awardees - Modulate Bio engineering next-gen therapies for neurological disorders - Radiate Biosciences: a blood test for early colorectal cancer detection with colonoscopy-level performance - Brain Exercise Initiative Initiative: fighting memory loss through accessible cognitive stimulation - Adaptive Reader reimagining books so that every learner is able to engage with rigorous content, using AI to personalize languages and reading levels - HydroHaul a safer, more reliable, and cheaper solution for transporting hydrogen 💡 🏅Ingenuity Awardees - Sami: AI-powered ultrasounds for prenatal care - SpiroSniff: an AI-driven breathalyzer to detect lung cancer early - Pythia Diagnostics: a wearable sensor that predicts epileptic seizures - Wyndergy: harnessing wind power to increase range for electric vehicles and eliminate range anxiety - AIRQUA: flood relief with air-generated water technology, delivering clean, safe water to families in urgent need during crises 🔑 Key Takeaways: - AI, biosensors, and biotech are redefining early detection and access to care, especially in underserved regions - Founder-led innovation is closing real-world gaps in maternal health, neurology, oncology, and diagnostics 🙌 Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for reimagining what's possible in health and tech - thank you for reminding us that the future of healthcare lies at the intersection of science, technology, and compassion. Which of these innovations do you think will be first to scale?  ⬇️ #Innovation #HealthTech #Biotech #DigitalHealth #MedTech #Startups #Transformation #Access #WomensHealth #Health #Healthcare Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) American College of Healthcare Executives Healthcare Leaders of New York (HLNY) Baruch College

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