UF researcher a finalist in Southeast competition

August 16, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Elena Kurenova, a research assistant professor in the department of surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine, was selected as one of 10 finalists in Southeast BIO’s first annual BIO/Plan Competition.

Southeast BIO is a nonprofit organization that fosters the growth of the life sciences industry in the southeastern United States through efforts that promote entrepreneurship and bring together companies, investors, universities and support organizations. As part of the competition, Kurenova and a team of mentors from the venture capital community will devise a business plan to raise money for the development of drugs that inhibit the focal adhesion kinase protein, which is associated with the growth of cancer. UF’s Office of Technology Licensing also has provided mentorship to Kurenova’s team for commercialization of the technology.

Kurenova will submit her business plan to a panel of judges Sept. 21. From there, three plans will be selected for presentation at Southeast BIO’s annual conference in November. The winner will receive an estimated $100,000 to implement the plan.

Kurenova leads the drug development project for focal adhesion kinase research in the laboratory of department of surgery chairman Dr. William G. Cance. Kurenova’s team includes Vita Golubovskaya, a research assistant professor in the department of surgery, and surgical oncology research fellow Dr. Darrell Hunt. They collaborate on the research with David Ostrov, an assistant professor in the department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine.