Auxigen: BIO - an adaptive, AI-driven commercialization training platform for biomedical researchers

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded Auxigen LLC $308,890 on September 1, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to develop AUXIGEN: BIO, an artificial intelligence-driven educational platform that delivers personalized commercialization training to biomedical researchers.

The platform integrates biomedical-specific commercialization pathways with established entrepreneurial best practices and employs adaptive AI technology to dynamically adjust learning content based on the needs of individual biotech ventures. The system tailors training modules for different innovation types—such as regulatory strategy guidance differentiated for therapeutic versus diagnostic innovations—to accelerate progress toward actionable milestones including SBIR submission, licensing readiness, and customer discovery.

Auxigen LLC will develop and validate the platform in collaboration with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, using UAMS's entrepreneurial network of faculty, investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students as an initial test-bed. Phase I focuses on three objectives: developing biomedical-specific training modules informed by industry leaders, regulatory experts, and experienced entrepreneurs; enhancing AI-driven tools to provide real-time, venture-specific commercialization support; and implementing a validation assessment system using a novel Biomedical Entrepreneur Readiness Scale to measure participant progress.

Performance location is Conway, Arkansas. The period of performance runs through February 28, 2027.

Abstract

Biomedical researchers often lack the entrepreneurial training needed to successfully commercialize their innovations, hindering the ability to translate scientific discoveries into market-ready healthcare solutions. This phase i sbir project will develop auxigen: BIO, an AI-enhanced educational platform that builds upon auxigen's proprietary entrepreneurship training tools to create a specialized learning track for a test-bed of university of arkansas for medical sciences (uams) researchers. The platform integrates biomedical-specific commercialization pathways with established entrepreneurial best practices. Auxigen: BIO employs adaptive AI technology to personalize training by dynamically adjusting learning pathways based on the specific needs of each biotech venture. This approach ensures that researchers receive only the most relevant, stage-specific guidance - for example, tailoring regulatory strategy modules for therapeutic VS. Diagnostic innovations. The platform raises the likelihood of successful commercialization by reducing time spent on irrelevant content and accelerating progress toward actionable milestones such as sbir submission, licensing readiness, or customer discovery. The platform and modules will be developed and validated in collaboration with uams, leveraging its entrepreneurial network of faculty, investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students for initial testing. Phase i will focus on three key objectives: (1) developing biomedical-specific training modules informed by industry leaders, regulatory experts, and experienced entrepreneurs, (2) improving AI-driven tools to provide real-time, venture-specific commercialization support, and (3) implementing a validation assessment system to measure participant progress using a novel biomedical entrepreneur readiness scale (bers). Success metrics for phase i will be user engagement rates, improvements in commercialization knowledge, and early-stage commercialization activities (e.g., team formation, identification of regulatory pathways, and participation in follow-on funding opportunities). Phase II will extend the program by continuing to monitor and support uams researchers as they advance their commercialization efforts, incorporating user feedback to refine the platform. Additionally, phase II will scale auxigen: BIO statewide and then nationally by integrating IT as a licensed training resource for existing entrepreneurial support organizations (esos), specialized coaches, and direct entrepreneur engagement. By equipping biomedical researchers with targeted commercialization training, this project aims to accelerate the translation of biomedical innovations into real-world healthcare solutions, ultimately improving public health outcomes and bolstering entrepreneurial activity on uams and similar campuses.