News

April 2025. Life Science Works announces a Preferred Partnership with Ravelin US LLC, offering our clients a discounted rate to expert services in Foreign Ownership, Control, or Interest (FOCI) risk management.

FOCI concerns are receiving heightened scrutiny by federal agencies, including those that fund the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, and by Congressional oversight committees.

“An important part of our mission is to help entrepreneurs secure non-dilutive SBIR and STTR funding,” said Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, Life Science Works’ President and CEO. “It is devastating for entrepreneurial scientists to go through the labor-intensive SBIR/STTR grant preparation process, only to learn that their highly competitive grant could not ultimately be funded due to FOCI concerns. Federal agencies do not/rarely share with the applicant what the specific FOCI concern(s) were which caused grant disqualification, nor that there is a rehabilitation process, so innovators are left wondering whether to re-apply or pivot. Good science may well be left uncommercialized. Our partnership with Ravelin US empowers our clients to proactively address and resolve potential FOCI risks before applications are submitted, or to find ways to cure them after the fact if needed.”

Cyrus Miryekta, CEO of Ravelin US LLC, notes, “Ravelin US LLC has a track record of success in helping companies find and cure FOCI risks. We look forward to expanding our work in the healthcare sector with Life Science Works — building on our success in the defense sector.”

Life Science Works is pleased to announce that Rich Giersch has joined the executive team as Senior Vice President.   Rich will oversee the SBIR/STTR business unit and LSW’s work to strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems in and around universities more broadly.  Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, LSW President, said, “Rich brings immense expertise and experience in technology commercialization and the whole entrepreneurship ecosystem, having founded his own life science company; grown the life science ecosystems in both Washington state and West Virginia, including at two R1 universities; and, helped countless entrepreneurs in securing SBIR/STTR non-dilutive funding.  His vast knowledge base and network coupled with his passion for helping entrepreneurs are invaluable as LSW continues to grow.”

Rich commented, “I am honored and delighted to join Life Science Works and partner with Sharon to build a company that delivers meaningful results for our clients. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing entrepreneurs and organizations across the globe and learn from many talented mentors and colleagues. I can’t imagine a better positioned organization to spend my time with and am excited about the team and our future.”

Join us in welcoming Rich to LSW in his new role!

“I am delighted to welcome Dr. Florence Haseltine PhD MD to our Advisory Board,” said Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, LSA Founder and President. “Dr. Haseltine brings a unique blend of intellect and passion to all that she does. Our community of entrepreneurs in the life science and all of us at LSA who will collaborate with Dr. Haseltine in one way or another will benefit immensely.”

Dr. Haseltine is a world recognized leader in women’s health research and an advocate for advancing women’s health globally. Dr. Haseltine currently serves as the Jenkins Garrett Professor and Presidential Distinguished Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington with an appointment in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Her prior roles include Associate Professor for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine, where she and her Yale colleagues were at the forefront of IVF, and as Director of the Center for Population Research at NIH’’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Dr. Haseltine founded the Society for Women’s Health Research, a non-profit group that worked with Congress and the federal government to allow women’s participation in federally funded clinical trials. Prior to 1993, women did not have such access. That achievement quite literally changed the face of medicine for women in the US. Dr. Haseltine has received many awards and recognitions for her service to society, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Health and Dignity of Women and Girls from the Friends of the United Nations Population Fund and the Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman Award. She is an elected member of The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Medicine, and the National Academy of Inventors.