Connect with us

Technology

SCI Ventures Launches Venture Philanthropy Fund to Accelerate Restorative Treatments for Spinal Cord Injury and a Cure for Paralysis

Published

on

Global early-stage fund to catalyze development of the next generation of treatments

Backers include the leading spinal cord injury foundations in the U.S., U.K., and EU

NEW YORK and LONDON, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — SCI Ventures, a new venture philanthropy vehicle dedicated to funding and commercializing innovative treatments for spinal cord injury, today announced the launch of its first fund. SCI Ventures’ mission is to advance breakthroughs for people living with paralysis by supporting promising cure-oriented therapies and emerging technologies. The fund launches with $27 million in commitments and anticipates raising $40 million by year-end. 

Spinal cord injury (“SCI”) affects more than 15 million people globally, and options to address the dramatic impact on their quality of life are currently limited.1 Beyond the loss of movement, paralysis impacts bowel, bladder and sexual functions—and comes with massive financial costs. SCI is one of the most expensive medical conditions to manage: average lifetime costs range from $2.9 million for paraplegia and up to $6 million for high tetraplegia.2

SCI Ventures is led by a team of professionals with expertise in venture capital, technology, and science with deep personal connections to the cause and it’s advised by world-class neuroscientists. By serving as an early-stage investor with extensive sector expertise, SCI Ventures aims to catalyze funding for the SCI space. There are many commonalities between spinal cord injuries and adjacent conditions such as stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, SCI Ventures is confident the technologies backed by the Fund will yield high impact beyond the SCI community.

The launch of SCI Ventures marks the first time that five of the leading foundations addressing spinal cord injury in the U.S., U.K. and EU have come together in support of a novel investment vehicle. Co-Founders are the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Wings for Life, the International Spinal Research Trust (“Spinal Research”), the Promobilia Foundation and Shepherd Center. The venture philanthropy fund model was pioneered in SCI by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which led SCI Ventures’ first investments in the technology company ONWARD® Medical and AXONIS Therapeutics. SCI Ventures is building on this progress and industrializing the model.

“Recent scientific and technological advancements have made recovery from paralysis a real possibility for the first time in history. However, while treatments to restore function for people with spinal cord injury have shown promise in lab settings, transferring these treatments to clinical settings remains a stubborn barrier,” said Adrien Cohen, Founding Managing Director of SCI Ventures.

“We’re bridging that gap by providing financial and operational support to promising early-stage companies. As an expert investor, we plan to attract more capital to the SCI space by lowering the investment risk through the combined network and knowledge of our backing foundations,” he added.

SCI Ventures is an independently managed fund focusing on seed and Series A financing rounds. It will redeploy 100% of its investment gains into additional companies working toward the mission to cure paralysis. SCI Ventures plans to support up to 20 companies and has already established a growing portfolio of investments, including:

ONWARD® Medical, which provides targeted stimulation of the spinal cord to restore movement and other functions, alone or in combination with brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for thought-driven movementAXONIS Therapeutics, which focuses on advancing drug discoveries for neuron revival and neuromodulationSania Therapeutics, a gene therapy company that can selectively target dysfunctional neural circuits, starting with spasticityAUGMENTAL, which is developing the MouthPad^: an in-mouth interface for hands-free human-computer interaction

“We’re proud to continue innovating and leading in our shared mission to restore function to people with spinal cord injuries and eventually cure paralysis,” said Maggie Goldberg, President and CEO of the Reeve Foundation. “SCI Ventures is a unique model and an opportunity to bring together leaders from across the SCI and paralysis fields to offer resources and expertise that, when combined, can create lasting, positive impact.”

“We have experienced first-hand the immense challenges people with paralysis face each day, so Wings for Life is incredibly proud to be a co-founding member of SCI Ventures and an enabler of breakthrough treatments,” said Anita Gerhardter, Global CEO of Wings for Life. “We see great potential in the emerging companies in SCI Ventures’ portfolio, and we are more confident than ever that people who are injured today will be the first generation that does not have to live with paralysis for the rest of their lives.” 

About SCI Ventures
SCI Ventures is the first venture philanthropy fund focused on innovative therapies for people living with paralysis. Co-founded by leading global foundations and advised by world class neuroscientists, SCI Ventures aims to catalyze the development of the next generation of treatments with an emphasis on technology to restore function and cure-oriented therapies. The fund shares the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt registration of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. To learn more about SCI Ventures, please visit https://www.sciventures.com. Follow us on LinkedIn here.

Media Contact
Prosek Partners
Pro-SCIVentures@prosek.com

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/spinal-cord-injury
https://www.nscisc.uab.edu/public/Facts%20and%20Figures%202024%20-%20Final.pdf 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sci-ventures-launches-venture-philanthropy-fund-to-accelerate-restorative-treatments-for-spinal-cord-injury-and-a-cure-for-paralysis-302167597.html

SOURCE SCI Ventures

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Rio Tinto and AMG Metals & Materials to assess low-carbon aluminium project in India

Published

on

By

LONDON, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rio Tinto and AMG Metals & Materials (AMG M&M), an energy transition solutions provider, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly assess the feasibility of developing an integrated low-carbon aluminium project powered by renewable energy in India. AMG M&M is promoted by the two founders of Greenko and AM Green.

Together, the parties will consider the potential development of up to a 1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) primary aluminium smelter and 2 Mtpa of alumina production, both powered by renewable wind and solar energy firmed by pumped hydro storage. The development will comprise a study to evaluate a potential first phase 500,000 tonnes per annum primary aluminium smelter in a favourable location in India.

Rio Tinto Aluminium Chief Executive Jérôme Pécresse said: “This study is an important step in our ambition to grow our global, low-carbon aluminium footprint while exploring new project delivery approaches and opportunities in emerging markets. Partnering with AMG Metals & Materials enables us to assess how we can develop low-cost responsible aluminium production powered by renewable energy. With its rapid economic growth and strategic position, India is a compelling location for this potential project and aligns with our long-term vision for a globally more diverse and resilient aluminium business.”

As part of the study, AMG M&M will examine a firmed renewable energy solution with Greenko, while Rio Tinto will explore a commercial alumina solution. The study will also assess smelting technology options to determine the most cost-effective solution for the project.

Group President of AMG Metals & Materials and Greenko Mahesh Kolli said: “Over the last few years, we have been able to deliver a multitude of decarbonization solutions comprising electricity, molecules, chemicals and fuels. We are excited to expand that further to the materials space. This MOU could deliver much needed low-carbon metal at scale to propel decarbonization initiatives in global supply chains across auto, construction, consumer packaging and many more segments.”

About AMG Metals & Materials

AMG Metals & Materials is incorporated by Anil Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli, the founders of Greenko Group, one of India’s leading energy transition solutions providers, and AM Green, a global decarbonization solution provider. Greenko has a near-term operational renewable energy capacity of 10 GW across solar, wind and hydro and is building 100 GWh of single cycle storage capacity across India. AM Green is developing low-carbon ammonia projects across multiple locations in India with a goal to reach 5 Mtpa of green ammonia capacity by 2030. Its first plant currently under construction in Kakinada with a projected capacity of 1 Mtpa of green ammonia will be one of the world’s largest RFNBO compliant green ammonia facilities, supporting efforts to achieve net zero targets both in India and OECD markets. AM Green is also developing production capabilities for other net zero molecules and chemicals including green caustic soda, e-methanol, olefins & biofuels for decarbonization in hard to abate industries. Further information at www.amgreen.com

Contacts

AMG Metals & Materials

Suheil Imtiaz
Public Affairs & Strategic Communication
suheil.m@amgreen.com

Rio Tinto
media.enquiries@riotinto.com

 

Media Relations,

Media Relations,

Media Relations,

United Kingdom

Australia

Canada

Matthew Klar

Matt Chambers

Simon Letendre

M +44 7796 630 637

M +61 433 525 739

M +1 514 796 4973

David Outhwaite

Michelle Lee

Malika Cherry

M +44 7787 597 493

M +61 458 609 322

M +1 418 592 7293

Rachel Pupazzoni

Vanessa Damha

M +61 438 875 469

M +1 514 715 2152

Media Relations,

US

Jesse Riseborough

M +1 202 394 9480

Investor Relations,

Investor Relations,

United Kingdom

Australia

Rachel Arellano

Tom Gallop

M: +44 7584 609 644

M +61 439 353 948

David Ovington

Amar Jambaa

M +44 7920 010 978

M +61 472 865 948

Laura Brooks

M +44 7826 942 797

Weiwei Hu

M +44 7825 907 230

Rio Tinto plc

Rio Tinto Limited

6 St James’s Square

Level 43, 120 Collins Street

London SW1Y 4AD

Melbourne 3000

United Kingdom

Australia

T +44 20 7781 2000

T +61 3 9283 3333

Registered in England

Registered in Australia

No. 719885

ABN 96 004 458 404

riotinto.com
Category: General

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2490224/5271756/AM_GREEN_Logo.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2666530/Rio_Tinto.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rio-tinto-and-amg-metals–materials-to-assess-low-carbon-aluminium-project-in-india-302430747.html

Continue Reading

Technology

Beat Inflation and Tariffs: Monport’s Prime Day 2025 Delivers Free Lasers, Big Discounts, and Creator-First Deals

Published

on

By

As inflation lingers and tariffs affect import costs, Monport empowers creators and small businesses to beat the system with powerful Prime Day savings — and a final opportunity to lock in current prices before upcoming increases.

NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Monport Laser is making a bold statement this Prime Day 2025 with its biggest giveaway and discount campaign ever — it’s giving creators a critical window of opportunity. In the face of growing tariffs, increased supply chain costs, and inflationary pressure, Monport is offering free engraving tools, deep discounts, and community-exclusive rewards — before pricing is set to rise later this year.

As a massive thank-you to its growing engraving community, Monport is giving away a free 40W CO2 desktop laser engraver and free Black Laser Marking Spray with select purchases — an unprecedented move in the laser market, especially during a time when many manufacturers are raising prices due to international trade costs.

A Smarter Investment in a Shifting Market

This Prime Day, we’re not just offering deals — we’re showing our appreciation to the people who built this community with us, according to a Monport CEO. Our goal is to equip our customers with the tools they need to succeed — and reward them along the way.

At the center of Monport’s Prime Day campaign are two major giveaways:

A free 40W Pro CO2 Desktop Laser Engraver with purchase of select GA or GPro Series fiber laser machinesA free can of Black Laser Marking Spray with every CO2 laser machine purchase

These gifts are designed to enhance productivity and creative output without adding to the customer’s bottom line.

The 40W Pro CO2 engraver provides compact, high-efficiency cutting and engraving for a wide range of materials, including wood, leather, acrylic and glass. Meanwhile, the high-contrast Black Laser Marking Spray allows for detailed, permanent metal markings using CO2 lasers — a professional finishing touch for any project.

Monport Mega Facebook Group Exclusives

In addition to the Prime Day sitewide offers, Monport is spotlighting its fast-growing online community with exclusive giveaways and member-only rewards inside the Monport Mega Laser Facebook Group.

Among the highlights:

60/40 Split Payment Option: Selected participants in the Monport Mega Giveaway can pay 60% upfront on a machine and receive it immediately, with the remaining 40% due within 30 days.Group Giveaway: Members can enter to win free laser marking spray or even a free laser engraver by commenting on the official giveaway video hosted by The Laser Channel on YouTube.500 Followers Promo: Facebook group members who have 500+ followers on any social platform can message the Monport team with a screenshot to unlock a 70% off code for marking spray.

These community-focused offers aim to reward engagement and build momentum across the Monport ecosystem.

Shop Monport Mega 70W CO2 Laser Here.

Why Laser Engraving is a Profitable Power Move

Laser engraving has evolved from a creative hobby into a lucrative business tool for entrepreneurs and side hustlers alike. With the ability to customize everything from tumblers and signs to jewelry, leather, and tech accessories, laser engravers have become a cornerstone of modern product personalization.

Low material costs, high markups: Laser-cut wood signs and engraved gifts can sell at 5x or more their production cost.Quick turnaround, big results: With Monport’s high-speed fiber and CO2 lasers, creators can complete dozens of personalized items per hour.Diversified income streams: From Etsy and Shopify to pop-up markets and wholesale orders, laser-engraved products are in demand year-round.Tax-deductible equipment: For many small businesses, a new laser machine purchase may qualify for Section 179 tax deductions.

Prime Day is the smartest time to invest, as Monport is not only slashing prices but also giving away key equipment to help makers hit the ground running. Whether launching a side business or scaling an existing shop, buyers can secure serious profit potential at a fraction of the usual startup cost.

Prime Day Deals Built for Creators

Beyond the giveaways, Monport is also launching Prime Day limited-time discounts across its full range of laser engraving machines, including:

$50 off orders over $999
$200 off orders over $3,999
$300 off orders over $5,999
Exclusive bundle deals with free accessories

Limited-Time Laser Machine Offer, High Impact

As engraving tech demand soars and global costs climb, Monport is putting power back in the hands of the maker. Prime Day 2025 deals are limited-time and only available while supplies last. Shop at www.monportlaser.com and join the Monport Mega Laser Facebook Group for exclusive deals, real-time support, and community rewards.

Why Now: Prices Are Going Up

Due to rising international tariffs and global manufacturing costs, Monport will be adjusting product prices in the coming months. Prime Day 2025 is your best chance to buy at today’s rates — and get rewarded with bonus tools and accessories.

Whether you’re launching a side hustle or scaling a production business, now is the time to secure the laser equipment you need at unbeatable value.

About Monport

Monport Laser is a leading provider of precision laser engraving and cutting machines for makers, small businesses, and industrial professionals. Known for quality, innovation and community-driven service, Monport offers a full range of CO2 and fiber laser systems built to empower creators at every level.

Media Contact

Company: MonportLaser

Email: official@monportlaser.com

Website: https://www.monportlaser.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beat-inflation-and-tariffs-monports-prime-day-2025-delivers-free-lasers-big-discounts-and-creator-first-deals-302431056.html

SOURCE Monport Laser

Continue Reading

Technology

GAC Exhibits at Canton Fair in Spring, Writes a New Chapter on Ecosystem Globalization

Published

on

By

GUANGZHOU, China, April 16, 2025 /CNW/ — On April 15th, the 137th Canton Fair officially opened. As a long-standing and valued participant, GAC returned to the global stage with three debut models — the GAC S7, HYPTEC HL, and AION UT — alongside a showcase of its cutting-edge innovations, including the GoMate Humanoid Robot, A480 Supercharger, and 7kW AC Charger. With revitalized product strength, continuous technological breakthroughs, and a distinctive cultural identity, GAC proudly unveils its new brand vision of “Tech GAC” to the world,leading the way toward a future-ready, eco-globalized development model.

At this year’s Canton Fair, GAC showcases its elevated brand identity through a powerful synergy of product innovation, advanced robotics, and a forward-looking eco-globalization approach. The exhibition booth integrates cutting-edge technology with lifestyle-inspired scenarios, creating an immersive smart mobility experience. This attracted buyers from Europe, Middle East, South America, and other areas, who engaged in active discussions and expressed strong interest in future collaborations.

The three showcased models—GAC S7, AION UT, and HYPTEC HL—represent flagship vehicles from GAC’s three major product lines—GAC, AION, and HYPTEC. They embody GAC’s cutting-edge technologies and innovative vision, reinforcing the global brand value of “One GAC” with a promise of “Top-tier Quality and Pioneering Technology.” Meanwhile, the VR interactive zone immersed attendees in the future of transportation through an experiential glimpse of flying cars.

The booth features an “ADiGO Space” intelligent cockpit experience area and a trunk-themed “Pet Birthday Party” scene, vividly showcasing GAC’s vision for a new human-vehicle lifestyle ecosystem. These creative displays attract significant attention from overseas visitors. One buyer comments, “This is more than just a car—it presents a vibrant, multifaceted lifestyle that’s truly captivating.”

Leveraging the platform of the Canton Fair—China’s Premier Trade Fair—GAC is driving a strategic shift from “selling products” to “building ecosystems” under its “One GAC 2.0” framework, accelerating the global expansion of its energy ecosystem. Through deep localization, technological empowerment, and cultural integration, GAC creates high-quality mobility experiences for global consumers, contributing to the development of a more sustainable future.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gac-exhibits-at-canton-fair-in-spring-writes-a-new-chapter-on-ecosystem-globalization-302431076.html

SOURCE GAC

Continue Reading

Trending