GelSana Awarded an AFWERX Phase II SBIR Contract to Develop Novel Polymers for Enhanced Wound Healing in Combat-Related Burn Injuries
(AURORA, CO) – April 10, 2024 – GelSana announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Phase II SBIR contract in the amount of $1.25M focused on novel polymers for enhanced wound healing of burns addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on March 14, 2024, GelSana will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. The Company will be collaborating with Walter Reed Medical Center as part of the contract.
“We are honored to have received this contract from AFWERX to develop our unique polymers for combat-related burn injuries,” said Melissa Krebs, CEO of GelSana. “Our polymers repel bacterial adhesion, reduce inflammation in the wound, and prevent the foreign body response. Their unique characteristics also enable sustained release of therapeutics – the combination of which could help reduce infections and recovery timelines, improving outcomes for burns sustained in combat.”
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.”
About GelSana
GelSana is developing ground-breaking polymers that offer enhanced wound healing and handling characteristics differentiated from other would dressings available today. GelSana’s patented polymers creates an anti-inflammatory environment and offers sustained drug delivery, reducing the need for repeated applications and making wound care more efficient and cost-effective. GelSana’s first product, Cleragel™, will be commercially available in 2025. For more information visit gelsanatherapeutics.com
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 6,028 new contracts worth more than $4 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: www.afwerx.com.