Team: Weiqiang Chen (Tandon Faculty), Lunan Liu (Tandon Ph.D. ’25), Ayesa Siddeky (Tandon B.S. ’26), Cansu Altintas (Tandon B.S. ’27), Jaren Buliyat (Tandon B.S. ’25), Briana Lopez (Tandon B.S. ’26)
About the Venture: VITROMNI’s CAR-T chip technology revolutionizes B-ALL therapy by replicating patient-specific bone marrow environments for high-throughput screening, enabling personalized, cost-effective treatments and real-time insights into CAR-T efficacy.
VIRTOMNI aims to revolutionize disease modeling with a high-throughput microfluidic-based platform within an Organ-on-a-chip system to allow for more efficient, effective therapy and drug screening for cancer patients. By mimicking human physiology along with integrated AI that identifies therapeutic response, our technology aims to enhance drug testing accuracy, reducing reliance on animal and in-vivo models.
What started as a Vertically Integrated Project at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, VITROMNI has become a growing startup focused on revolutionizing disease modeling and cancer research. As a team of students at Tandon under the guidance of Dr. Weiqiang Chen, we connected over our research interests and desire to innovate in disease modeling. Our shared vision drives us to develop cutting-edge technology to advance therapy screening and make drug discovery more efficient and precise.
VITROMNI stands out with its scalable Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platform for precise disease modeling. Our current chip isolates and analyzes dynamic interactions between B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia subtypes and their diverse bone marrow niches, unlocking unprecedented insights into cancer behavior for more effective, personalized treatments. Unlike current methods, we offer a high-throughput multi-well plate with integrated OoC technology for faster therapy testing, AI-driven real-time analysis and patient-specific bone marrow microenvironments, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in drug development.
As a young company, applying to the NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge stemmed from our drive to refine VITROMNI’s business model and operations and pitch to potential investors. As a team of motivated undergraduates, we are constantly seeking opportunities to learn and grow, recognizing that mentorship and collaboration are essential to our success. The Berkeley Center offers invaluable resources that can help us navigate the complexities of building a biotech startup. We are eager to gain insights from experienced entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and fellow startups, learning from their successes and challenges. Exposure to this environment will not only refine our strategic vision but also provide the connections and knowledge needed to scale VITROMNI effectively. By participating in this challenge, we aim to position Vitromni as a leader in disease modeling.
The transition from a project to a startup marked a significant milestone for VITROMNI. Our team recognized the opportunity to apply our work on Organ-on-a-chip technology to address critical challenges in disease modeling and cancer research. This shift in focus encouraged us to refine our vision and embrace the entrepreneurial journey. As we evolved from a research project to a startup, we gained invaluable experience in product development, business strategy, and navigating the complexities of biotech entrepreneurship. The transition also fueled our determination to make an impact, pushing us to continuously learn, innovate, and seek out opportunities for growth in the startup world.
As a team of primarily undergraduate students, gaining financial support in the competitive biotech space has required us to refine our pitch, demonstrate the viability of our platform, and prove its impact on disease modeling. Without established industry connections or prior startup experience, we’ve had to actively seek mentorship, apply for grants and awards, and engage with investors to gain the necessary resources. This challenge has pushed us to think strategically, improve our business acumen, and continuously improve on our technology to showcase its value. Despite these hurdles, our persistence has allowed us to make meaningful progress, bringing us closer to developing a fully validated Organ-on-a-chip platform that can transform cancer research and drug screening.
Recent milestones include the continuous improvement of our high-throughput multi-well plate and AI-driven analytics, refining their accuracy and scalability for real-world applications. We have validated key aspects of our prototype, enhancing its ability to replicate patient-specific bone marrow environments for more precise disease modeling. Each achievement reinforces our vision, bringing us closer to making VITROMNI’s technology a transformative tool in cancer research and drug screening.
To aspiring entrepreneurs, especially students like us: Embrace failures as an opportunity for growth. Each and every setback provides valuable lessons that help you refine your approach. The startup journey is filled with uncertainty and chaos, so staying adaptable and open to feedback is essential. Surround yourself with a strong network of mentors, advisors, and teammates who can offer guidance and have your back when challenges arise. Seek mentorship early and do not be afraid to ask questions, as experienced entrepreneurs can help you avoid common mistakes and accelerate your progress. The path to success is never linear, but persistence and passion will set you apart.
