Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/297333
Faces of Technology Cheryl H. Baker, Ph.D. BioCurity Inc. | www.Biocurity.com Founder, Chief Scientific Officer Education: B.S. in Chemistry, Rollins College; Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Company: BioCurity Inc., an early-stage startup biopharmaceutical company has developed a novel, platform biotechnology that effectively protects against and treats healthy tissue from the harmful side effects of radiation in cancer therapy. Cancer. The word carries a different meaning based on personal experience. For some, it means being aware of a health concern, dealing with the disease every day or remembering a loved one. For Cheryl H. Baker, Ph.D., it means research to make the term irrelevant. Baker is founder and chief scien- tific officer of Orlando-based BioCu- rity. Her work is not in finding a cure for cancer, but fighting the severe side effects that hinder doctors from administering effective doses of radi- ation. Radiation is often a part of the treatment regimen; however, healthy body tissues are affected along with cancerous cells during treatment. For example, almost every patient undergoing radiation treatment for head or neck cancer will endure a level of permanent damage to the salivary glands which contribute to talking, swallowing and taste. Patients often request a lower dosage of radiation to preserve quality of life, which risks leav- ing more cancer cells to be removed by surgery and/or chemotherapy. After training at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Baker returned to Orlando and conducted research at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando and the University of Central Florida. The result is BioCu- rity's Sentry Injectable and Sentry Topical products. The topical cream shields the skin from radiation burns, while the injectable product works to shield healthy tissue inside the body. Cancer cells stay unprotected and vulnerable allowing for a higher and more effective dosage of radia- tion. By curbing damaged healthy cells, both products also prevent long-term side effects resulting from healthy cells replicating with defects. "There is nothing like this in the marketplace," said Baker. "Both products are heading into clinical trials and the Federal Drug Administration is excited about what this will mean for patients. I am very adamant about getting the technology into the hands of patients and preventing a loss in quality of life from treatment alone." BioCurity needs to raise $3 million to bring the products to clinical trial. With secured funding, this could be achieved in about a year. The company has received awards from the Technological Research and Development Au- thority and Space Florida, plus the Rollins College Venture Plan Competition. "While there is still more money to raise, the funding that we have received has shown us that Florida does commit to applicable research," said Baker. "Research and development is expensive for a biotechnology company and I'm glad to see partners throughout the state step up to the plate." florida.HIGH.TECH 2014 53