Monthly news, events & updates
Building a Rainforest in the Desert | December 2021
UNM Inventor’s Cancer Vaccine Research Published in Prestigious Science Journal
Rita Serda, research assistant professor at the University of New Mexico, and her colleagues have been researching ways in which cancer cells can be transformed into stable, pathogen-mimicking cells in order to create personalized cancer vaccines. Earlier this month, their innovative research was featured in the prestigious science journal, Nature Biomedical Engineering, along with their research article, “Cancer vaccines from cryogenically silicified tumor cells functionalized with pathogen-associated molecular patterns.”

Dr. Serda and her team have been working towards developing a personalized cancer vaccine that could utilize a person’s immune system to attack cancerous tumors. Tumor cells are made up of unique proteins that vary from person to person which can allow the immune system to sometimes distinguish between tumor cells and non-cancerous cells. By collecting cells from an individual’s tumor, they could then create an individualized treatment to target the same cancer.

Read more about Dr. Serda’s research in the November 4 article, “Dressed-up tumour cells make up a personalized cancer vaccine"

UNM Rainforest Innovations Welcomes New Chief Financial Officer
Brian Mirabal – Chief Financial Officer

H. Brian Mirabal joined the organization in November 2021 as the Chief Financial Officer. He is originally from Taos Pueblo, but now resides in Albuquerque. He has served in various accounting roles over his career with experience in the venture capital, non-profit economic development and various tribal and state entities.

He holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from New Mexico State University. H. Brian has over 23 years’ experience in the Accounting field.

In his spare time, he enjoys road cycling, hiking, traveling and entertaining with his German Shepard, Mia.
In the Spotlight - Featured UNM Inventor

Professor and Vice-Chair of Research
Department of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine
The University of New Mexico
New Mexico VA Health Care System Research Physiologist
AIM Center Affiliate
Active Startup: VIC Foundry, Inc.
The goal of Dr. Westlund High’s work is to unravel molecular mechanisms of nociception and chronic pain in pre-clinical models and in human patients with the aim of developing novel non-opioid treatments to address the national and global health crisis of opioid drug abuse hat is driven by chronic pain.
UNM Rainforest Innovations 2022 Calendar Has Arrived
The UNM Rainforest Innovations 2022 calendar is now available. Twelve UNM faculty members from both HSC and Main Campus are highlighted with information on their technologies and research areas. Congratulations to our featured inventors!

We will be mailing out these calendars to our UNM inventors and business community. To ensure that you receive a calendar or if your address has changed, please contact: Savanah Romero at sromero@innovations.unm.edu.
UNM Team Receives $2 Million from the Department of Energy for Enhanced Geothermal Systems Research Project
John Stormont, a UNM professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, and his team were selected by the Department of Energy for a $2 million grant to further develop their geothermal energy research project. In total, the Department of Energy committed $12 million to seven research projects around the country in order to advance the commercialization of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). This clean and reliable energy source would allow the U.S. to expand its clean energy market and will help achieve the DOE’s efforts to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Researchers at UNM Discover Sars-Cov-2 Coronavirus Interferes with Autophagy Process
A team at the University of New Mexico recently published a paper in the science journal, Cell, which helps explain how autophagy, the fundamental biological process by which cells break down and destroy old or damaged cells, functions in mammalian and human cells and how the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can interfere with this process.

The UNM team is led by Dr. Vojo Deretic, a distinguished professor and director of UNM’s Autophagy, Inflammation & Metabolism (AIM) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence. In their paper, “Mammalian hybrid pre-autophagosomal structure HyPAS generates autophagosomes,” they describe how two proteins found on separate cell membranes merge together to form hybrid pre-autophagosomal structures (HyPAS). This process is key in developing autophagosomes, which contain cellular material slated to be degraded by autophagy. Until now, the process of HyPAS formation was not well understood, and their findings help map out key details of how autophagy functions.

New Mexico College Students Bring New and Exciting Business Ideas
From self-supporting micro-habitats to water monitoring technology, New Mexico college and university students brought their best business ideas to the Fall 2021 Rainforest Pitch Competition. In this latest competition, students created a 90-second elevator-style pitch for their business idea for a chance to win a share of a $5,000 prize pool. This event was once again held virtually and received more than 70 video entries. Industry expert judges selected the top 10 pitches to win seed funding for their ideas.

Prior Art Searching for Your Technology & Startup
NM Rainforest Webinar
January 26, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MST)
Hear from our very own, Dr. Gregg Banninger, Innovation Manager, Life Sciences at UNM Rainforest Innovations on what a prior art search is, how to conduct a prior art search, and why it's important when developing your technology/business.

Gregg joined UNM Rainforest Innovations as an Innovation Manager-Life Sciences in May 2019. Prior to joining UNMRI, Gregg held positions as patent coordinator at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Patent Agent at an IP law firm, and a Technology Manager at Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation.

Gregg has a Ph.D. in Genetics and a B.S. in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY), and is a registered Patent Agent.
The 7-Pillars to a Healthy, Thriving Business
NM Rainforest Webinar
February 16, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (MST)
In this virtual seminar, A.J. Mirabedini will discuss how your business is an interconnected organism and how you can achieve success by nurturing each of the seven critical pillars:
  1. Your Finances
  2. Your Team
  3. Your Products/ Services
  4. Your Marketing
  5. Your Sales
  6. Your operations
  7. YOU!
While the world is full of business leaders focused on the bottom-line success of their own companies, A.J. is dedicating his nearly 30 years outstanding success history to studying, learning, mentoring and advising mid-market businesses and private equity firms interested in them. A.J. is building a movement focused on holistic health of client companies, with deep focus on their finances, HR, marketing, SOP and products and services. He is a consummate business executive and serial entrepreneur, with deep ties to private equity and investors interested in mid-market founder led organizations.
Advanced Economic Development Leadership Program - Spring 2022 Class Accepting Applications
Program dates and location:
May 16-19, 2022 | Gulfport, Mississippi
The Advanced Economic Development Leadership (AEDL) executive education program is one-of-a-kind, with applicants needing five years professional economic development experience and completion of a basic certificate. The program is online and will provide an engaging and immersive experience. Apply now to reserve your spot for the next two-week learning experience that is becoming the standard for advanced EcD training. All economic developers who successfully complete the program earn an Economic Development Master Practitioner diploma from the four partner universities.