BALTIMORE, Md., May 12, 2026 — The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) hosted its 3rd Annual Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Tech Showcase on April 30, 2026, at City Garage in Baltimore, bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders, including a keynote by Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, to highlight Maryland’s growing leadership in regenerative medicine. The event showcased companies such as Nanochon, Theradaptive, and Seraxis, and drew investors and advisors from J.P. Morgan, Anzu Partners, SOSV, and Newpath Partners, among others.
Hosted in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Commerce and Blackbird Laboratories, the full-day event welcomed more than 160 attendees and featured pitch presentations, keynote remarks, an Oxford-style debate, and a networking and poster reception. The program centered on advancing Maryland’s regenerative medicine ecosystem by connecting innovators with investors, industry experts, and partners who can help move promising technologies toward commercialization and patient impact.
Pitch presentations spanned the full arc of translational regenerative medicine and featured primarily MSCRF-supported awardees, including academic innovators, early-stage ventures, and growth-stage companies. Sixteen pitches from Maryland-based companies and academic researchers showcased technologies across the regenerative medicine pipeline. Academic presenters included Warren Grayson, Michael Anderson, Annie Kathuria, and Hee Chee Choi from Johns Hopkins University, as well as Miroslaw Janowski from the University of Maryland. Companies presenting included Caleo Biotechnology, Stemora Inc., Modelus, Phycin Inc., Nanochon, Inc., miRecule, Sereneuro Therapeutics, Theradaptive, HoH Cells, Diagnostic Biochips, and Seraxis.
“Maryland continues to demonstrate remarkable strength in stem cell and regenerative medicine. This showcase highlights the quality of innovation taking place across our state. By bringing the community together under one roof, we are helping to create the conditions for collaboration, investment, and long-term growth in this sector.” said Ruchika Nijhara, PhD, Executive Director of MSCRF
The event also reflected the shared commitment of MSCRF, Blackbird Laboratories, and the Maryland Department of Commerce to supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and life sciences development in Maryland.
“MSCRF is a crucial organization in our state’s life sciences funding ecosystem and a natural partner for Blackbird Laboratories,” said Matt Tremblay, PhD, CEO of Blackbird Laboratories. “We were delighted to co-host the 2026 Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Tech Showcase and support a platform that helps innovators gain visibility, receive meaningful feedback, and build the connections needed to move promising science closer to commercial and patient impact.”
“Maryland Department of Commerce was proud to support this year’s Tech Showcase, which brought together a wide range of partners to promote and advance life sciences in Maryland,” said Matthew Cimino, PhD, Senior Manager, Business Development, Life Sciences, Maryland Department of Commerce. “The event featured an inspiring group of spin-outs from our flagship universities, including companies attracting significant capital and improving the health and lives of people in Maryland and beyond.”
The event also included an Oxford-style debate on organoids versus animal models in drug discovery and testing, featuring Stephen Horrigan, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of Noble Life Sciences, and Annie Kathuria, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The discussion explored predictive value, ethical considerations, and translational relevance in advancing new approaches to drug discovery and testing.
In her keynote remarks, Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller highlighted the vital role of regenerative medicine in delivering life-saving treatments and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting MSCRF’s efforts to improve health outcomes, create high-quality jobs, attract investment, and strengthen Maryland’s life sciences economy.
MSCRF also recognized this year’s review panelists for contributing perspectives from venture, strategic, nonprofit, and institutional investment organizations. Participants included Matt Tremblay, Blackbird Laboratories; Deborah Hemingway, Ecphora Capital; Bob Storey, LaunchPort; Eddie Cherok, Blackbird Laboratories; Prateek Katti, Newpath Partners; Cathryn Paine, Anzu Partners; Brett Shealy, J.P. Morgan; Parsa Amiri, SOSV; Tien Wong, Opus8; Sara Dauber, J.P. Morgan; Julie Lenzer, ADJ Celebration; Chris Steele, MTEC; Calvin Aubrey, Broadoak Capital Partners; John Dierkes, Pickwick Capital Partners; Sammy Datwani, Life Science Angels; and Jack Miner, TEDCO.
Special thanks are due to the event sponsors, whose generous support helped make the Showcase possible.
The Tech Showcase is one of the ways MSCRF supports Maryland’s regenerative medicine ecosystem—from a researcher’s earliest grant to the companies that spin out of the lab and the financing rounds that follow. Through funding, convening, and ecosystem-building efforts, MSCRF continues to help advance promising science, support commercialization, and strengthen Maryland’s position as a leader in stem cell and regenerative medicine.
About the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund
The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund supports stem cell and regenerative medicine research, innovation, and commercialization in Maryland. Through its funding programs and ecosystem-building activities, MSCRF helps advance promising technologies and strengthen Maryland’s leadership in regenerative medicine.