News

The National Small Business Association (NSBA) today announced the appointment of Dr. Sharon Hrynkow, founder and CEO of Life Science Works, to its prestigious Leadership Council. The NSBA, the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization, operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis, championing the interests of small businesses across the country.

Dr. Hrynkow, a recognized leader in the small-business community, joins an elite group of advocates dedicated to promoting small-business priorities to policymakers in Washington, D.C.

“As a small-business owner and former senior executive in federal service and in a clinical biotech company, I see the importance of being involved and active when it comes to laws and regulation affecting the life science community,” stated Dr. Hrynkow. “Joining NSBA’s Leadership Council will enable me to take our collective small-business message directly to those who need to hear it most: Congress.”

With over two decades of leadership spanning federal service, including at the NIH, and in the biotech arena, Dr. Hrynkow brings unparalleled expertise to the life science business community. A neuroscientist by training, she raised over $30 million to support and lead clinical trials for a rare disease, and she is an inventor on an Alzheimer’s disease patent. At NIH, she brokered international agreements on biomedical research with counterparts worldwide and she supported the research community to advance discovery on medical challenges facing the US and the global community. Her extensive experience in accelerating early-stage life science companies, exemplified by her work as founder and CEO of Life Science Works, coupled with her robust corporate board service and deep scientific acumen, positions her as an invaluable asset to the NSBA.

“I am proud to have Sharon as part of our Leadership Council,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “She came to us highly recommended, and I look forward to our coordinated efforts for years to come.”

The NSBA Leadership Council is dedicated to fostering valuable networking among small-business advocates nationwide, ensuring that small businesses have a prominent voice as Congress and regulators consider key proposals.

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!