Sparking Federal Funding Opportunities through CRI’s Spark Fund

Jan 17, 2025 | Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Spark Fund

Northeastern University spinout company pacDNA is pioneering a new era in oligonucleotide delivery technology for gene therapy. The company has made remarkable strides since receiving the CRI Spark Fund award in 2023, culminating in a recent $490,000 grant from the Department of Defense (DOD) under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).

“The Spark Fund helped us get into this field and generate the first batch of preliminary data. It has truly been a ‘spark’ for us,” says Dr. Ke Zhang, the founder of pacDNA and a Northeastern professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology.

DOD Grant Fuels Development of Mouse Models for DMD Research

The DOD’s CDMRP grant, awarded to pacDNA over two years, supports its innovative efforts to develop oligonucleotide delivery systems for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare genetic disorder that affects muscle function. pacDNA’s project focuses on a subset of DMD patients who require dual exon skipping.

With this funding, a key goal is to demonstrate the technology’s efficacy in generating functional dystrophin, a critical protein for muscle health, in mouse models.

The Technology Behind the Breakthrough

pacDNA’s proprietary Brushield™ platform revolutionizes oligonucleotide delivery by addressing inefficiencies in targeting muscle cell nuclei. Traditional approaches struggle to deliver multiple oligonucleotides simultaneously to the same cell. Brushield™ overcomes this challenge by using a common carrier, ensuring simultaneous delivery and increasing treatment effectiveness.

With the DOD-funded project underway, pacDNA aims to demonstrate proof of concept within two years and transition the company’s projects into development, either independently or through partnerships.

Beyond the DOD-funded work, pacDNA is seeking institutional investment and exploring opportunities to license additional programs. These steps will bring the company closer to human clinical trials and commercialization.

The Role of Northeastern’s CRI and the Spark Fund

Dr. Zhang credits the Spark Fund and the CRI with providing valuable feedback and refining pacDNA’s commercial strategy. He emphasizes the importance of de-risking projects with limited resources before pursuing larger grants.

In addition to financial support, CRI helped pacDNA expand its network and visibility, leading to connections with Portal Innovations, an incubator where it is now a resident company. Through Portal, pacDNA recruited its CEO and a Northeastern Alum, Dr. Carl LeBel, solidifying its leadership team.

The $490,000 DOD grant is a testament to pacDNA’s potential to revolutionize gene therapy. With support from CRI and the Spark Fund, the company is well-positioned to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in genetic medicine, exemplifying the CRI’s mission to transform academic research into real-world solutions. By fostering innovation and commercialization, the fund helps startups like pacDNA make meaningful progress toward addressing critical healthcare challenges.

Written by Elizabeth Creason