Led · Grant · Oct 2023

Innerworld provides 24/7 peer-to-peer support groups in social virtual worlds, where users interact as anonymous avatars and receive live, evidence-based tools from guides trained in Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI). The platform combines immersive technology with live cognitive behavioral therapy techniques and was beta-tested with over 10,000 people during development. CEO and founder Noah Robinson authored studies published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research and Games for Health showing CBI is linked to reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms and benefits people with substance use disorders. Innerworld was co-founded by singer-songwriter Jewel, who serves as Chief Strategy Officer. The company is advancing clinical validation: it recently received a $2.0M grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to fund a randomized controlled trial at the University of Southern California. That trial will be led by Robinson as Principal Investigator with USC co-investigator Dr. Iony Ezawa.

Led · Grant · Feb 2021

Limbix develops prescription digital therapeutics for adolescents, delivering its first product via smartphone. Last month the company launched SparkRx, a CBT-based program focused on behavioral activation for adolescent depression. Limbix reported positive clinical-trial results showing a statistically significant reduction in depression symptoms for users who completed the program as recommended. The company raised $15 million in a Series A2 and has $31 million in total funding to date. Proceeds will be used for commercialization and to double staff to approximately 60 employees by Q2 2022. With an expanded product and research team, Limbix plans to accelerate development and testing of new digital therapeutics targeting other common adolescent mental health disorders. Limbix develops Limbix Spark, a self-guided, cognitive behavioral therapy–based mobile program designed to treat adolescent depression and to be prescribed by pediatricians. The program was developed with clinical experts and direct input from teens and aims to reach the roughly 60% of teens with depression who do not receive care. The company says Limbix Spark could become the first prescription digital therapeutic for adolescents if cleared by the FDA. Limbix has partnered with the Duke Clinical Research Institute to run a large-scale pivotal clinical trial, with recruitment scheduled to begin later this year. The trial is described as a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized controlled trial to evaluate safety and efficacy. Limbix is headquartered in San Francisco and emphasizes a cross-functional team of clinicians, product designers, researchers, and engineers. Limbix develops prescription digital therapeutics to treat adolescent mental health disorders. Its flagship product, Limbix Spark, is a multi-week cognitive behavioral therapy program focused on value-based activities that aim to elicit feelings of pleasure or mastery. Limbix Spark is positioned as the first prescription digital therapeutic designed to treat adolescents with depression and is intended for pediatrician prescription once FDA clearance is obtained. The company raised $9M in a Series A round led by GSR Ventures with participation from Sequoia Capital, Storm Ventures, NextGen Venture Partners and BIXINK Therapeutics. Limbix intends to use the funds for research and development of Limbix Spark. Ben Lewis is CEO and co-founder and the company is based in Palo Alto, California.

Led · Grant · Oct 2009

Galenea develops tools and therapeutics targeting synaptic transmission using its proprietary MANTRA™ (Multiwell, Automated NeuroTRansmission Assay) system. MANTRA enables direct high-throughput screening of synaptic function in cultured primary neurons from mice and rats and in neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. The company uses the platform to characterize synaptic dysfunctions in disease models and to identify signatures of therapeutic compound classes. Galenea is advancing a pro-cognitive discovery program aimed at treating schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders and plans to select a clinical candidate from that program. The program includes a proteomics collaboration with the Broad Institute and receives significant support from the NIMH. The company recently received a $6M equity investment from The Stanley Medical Research Institute to support these efforts and advance a candidate toward IND submission. Galenea is a Cambridge, MA-based fully-integrated central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery company. The company develops analytical tools and models to measure neuronal function and predict activity of potential treatments for impaired cognition. It was awarded a two-year NIH Challenge Grant (RC1) from the National Institute of Mental Health under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, providing approximately $1m. The grant will support development of an innovative model aimed at predicting treatment activity in diseases such as schizophrenia. Founder and VP of CNS Research David Gerber said the award endorses their approach and increases the likelihood that viable drug treatments will reach the market.