Earlier this year, Emory University launched the Emory BioFoundry Institute (EBFI) to support researchers and encourage investment in developing medical device and diagnostic technologies. EBFI aims to help university-based startups move from early-stage development to market readiness by providing targeted support and investment, while also offering potential returns for external funders. The institute operates alongside Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory (DRIVE) and the Emory Drug Development Fund as part of Emory Innovations, Inc.
“A breakthrough discovery doesn’t guarantee real-world impact,” said Nassir Mokarram, executive director of EBFI. “We’re closing the loop in the innovation ecosystem by providing strategically staged capital investments while connecting entrepreneurs and investors to our ecosystem, essential elements for successful translation of world-class academic research to tangible, societal outcomes.”
EBFI has announced its first investment in TopoDx, a MedTech startup that is developing a platform technology for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing. TopoDx was founded through a collaboration between researchers at Emory University and Georgia Tech within the Georgia Tech Quadrant-i. The company brings together expertise in pathology, physics, and artificial intelligence to address the slow process of identifying drug-resistant infections—a key barrier in fighting antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance poses an increasing threat to public health worldwide. Unlike fast-moving pandemics like COVID-19, resistant bacteria often spread without detection until treatments fail. This issue affects not only individual patients but also the broader medical system, as effective antibiotics are essential for procedures such as surgeries and cancer treatments.
David Weiss, PhD, co-founder of TopoDx and director of the Emory Antibiotic Resistance Center, explained that current methods for determining effective antimicrobial agents have changed little over decades. He noted that hospital microbiology labs can take three to five days to process cultures—delays that can lead to ineffective treatment and increased risk of complications.
To improve testing times, Weiss partnered with Peter Yunker, PhD, a physics professor at Georgia Tech. They used white-light interferometry to measure bacterial colonies more quickly. By growing bacteria on a device for several hours and imaging them with an interferometer, their team developed Cosmos—an AI platform capable of delivering pathogen identification and antimicrobial susceptibility results directly from patient samples in as little as four hours.
“Cosmos replaces labor-intensive steps, easing the burden on understaffed, 24/7 microbiology labs and accelerating results to curb infection progression. It also opens a multi-billion-dollar market ripe for innovation,” said Yogi Patel, PhD, CEO of TopoDx and an alumnus of both Emory and Georgia Tech. “With EBFI’s investment, we’ve validated our core technology on direct-from-patient samples with stakeholders, secured foundational IP, and built a working prototype. We’ve defined a clear regulatory path, advanced partnerships with leading diagnostics companies, and confirmed Cosmos’ value in clinical settings.”
Patel added that TopoDx is now preparing real-world pilot studies while moving toward FDA clearance and commercial deployment.
For EBFI leadership, this initial investment marks only the beginning. Michael Cassidy, executive director of Emory Innovations Inc., stated: “The Emory BioFoundry Institute is igniting a new era of innovation — attracting elite talent and empowering our Emory innovators to transform ideas, knowledge, and intellectual property into real-world solutions. By unlocking our MedTech potential we are paving the way for stronger relationships that elevate patient outcomes and expand investment.”
Wilbur Lam—Emory’s vice provost for entrepreneurship—added: “EBFI is a vital component of the innovation ecosystem Emory is building to pave the way for more faculty staff and students to deliver breakthrough ideas and technologies. We look forward to the solutions EBFI will help deliver for patients and clinicians in the years to come.”
Additional investors in this funding round include MedTech angel investors Portal Innovations and Invest Georgia. The company has also received significant support from grant programs run by Atlanta-based Georgia Research Alliance designed to help turn university innovations into startups.
