The Company You Keep Makes the World a Better Place

Protecting People and the Environment from Explosives

At MuniRem Environmental, founded by Valentine Nzengung, a professor of Environmental Geochemistry, neutralizing explosives safely and efficiently solves multiple problems.

“For many years, the simplest and most common solution was to intentionally detonate or burn explosives in open fields, but that process leaves behind a variety of dangerous byproducts that can pollute the air and soil or leech into lakes, rivers and aquifers,” said Nzengung. “Explosives and some of their byproducts have been linked to a variety of human illnesses, including cancer and damage to the central nervous system.”

Recognized by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine, MuniRem’s chief product is a white nontoxic chemical mixture that, in its bulk form, looks a bit like flour. To use it, technicians combine it with water and introduce it directly to explosive materials. This begins a very fast chemical reaction that neutralizes explosives in mere minutes.

Most importantly to Nzengung, the byproducts of the reaction are all nonhazardous. So, not only are explosives easier to dispose, but MuniRem Reagents can also be used to decontaminate soil and water in places like bomb ranges, mines or munitions factories where dangerous residues have accumulated over many years.

“MuniRem is also particularly attractive because it is between 30 to 50 percent cheaper than other competing technologies,” said Nzengung.

Startup for a Stroke Solution

Aruna Bio, a research startup, creates therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including stroke, which affect nearly 800,000 Americans each year.

Steve Stice, director of the Regenerative Bioscience Center at the University of Georgia, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and a University System of Georgia Regents’ Entrepreneur, and his wife Tracey Worthington-Stice are the co-founders of Aruna Bio. The startup currently develops biologic therapies from cell lines originating in Stice’s UGA laboratory and commercially produces them through the company.

“Today, there is no cure for stroke,” said Worthington-Stice, Aruna Bio’s chief operating officer. “When a person has a stroke, neurons start dying and do so rapidly. The earlier a patient identifies stroke symptoms and seeks medical treatment, the better.”

Researchers at Aruna Bio have designed a new stroke treatment in the form of an injection that contains proteins and other biological material captured from neural stem cells. And the results speak for themselves. Trials conducted with the Augusta University/UGA Medical Partnership in a pig model showed that the injection slowed down and then stopped damage from stroke, repairing the hole left in the brain. Aruna Bio is hopeful that human trials are in the near future.

“We could touch a lot of people if this research is successful,” said Worthington-Stice. “The impact of these results affects not only patients, but their families and communities as well.”

Developing New Vaccines

Biao He, a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator and a University System of Georgia Regents’ Entrepreneur, has co-founded three companies, including current ventures CyanVac and Blue Lake Biotechnology. These companies develop human and animal vaccines, including an intranasal treatment against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. CyanVac began phase 1 clinical trials of this vaccine in humans in 2021.

He has additionally served on a White House panel to advise on the future of vaccines, like those for COVID-19, and, along with Stice, has been named both UGA Inventor and Entrepreneur of the Year.

“Since joining UGA in 2009, I have enjoyed working at the university,” said He. “I attribute the progress I have made to my wonderful collaborative colleagues and very supportive leadership from my department, the college and the university. They have encouraged and enabled me to pursue commercialization.”