Exciting news from the international conference Foundations of Nanoscience (FNANO) at Snowbird, Utah! On Thursday, April 25th, Thom LaBean delivered a compelling talk titled “In Vivo Testing and Commercial Development of an RNA-origami Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Anticoagulant and DNA Reversal Agent for Human Health.” This annual meeting highlights the latest advancements in nucleic acid-based nanotechnology.

Thom's presentation not only detailed the development of the research project that led to the founding of Helixomer and the new in vivo data for the Hex01/Hex02 system but also shared valuable entrepreneurial experiences encountered along the way. It was inspiring to see a large number of young colleagues in the audience eager to learn how a professor can spin a startup biotech company out of an academic lab.

As a notable contributor to FNANO, Thom also chairs the Biomedical Nanotech session and serves as the past president of the International Society for Nanoscale Science, Computation and Engineering (ISNSCE), which sponsors the event. The society was founded by the late Nadrian (Ned) Seeman, a pioneer in the field.

One of the highlights of the FNANO meeting was a stunning talk on protein design by David Baker, who was honored this year with the Seeman Nanoscience Prize. His prize lecture was a definite hit among the participants.

Thrilled to see such groundbreaking work and entrepreneurial spirit showcased at FNANO 2024!