“Leading the way for Entrepreneurs.” ECI Biotech President Dr. Mitchell Sanders is appointed to the Executive Board of Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Venture Forum.

DATELINE: WORCESTER, MA…
Dr. Mitchell Sanders, the President of ECI Biotech of Worcester, MA, an innovative biotech company that is at the forefront in the research and development of new protein technologies, has been appointed to the Executive Board of Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Venture Forum.

The all-volunteer Executive Board of WPI’s Venture Forum, which is made up of WPI alumni and other leaders of regional businesses and service organizations, is responsible for directing the many entrepreneurial focused activities conducted by the forum.

Dr. Mitchell Sanders
Dr. Sanders, who demonstrates corporate philanthropy in action, has helped to propel ECI Biotech into the limelight, most recently as a recipient of the prestigious 2005 New England Innovation Award presented by the Smaller Business Association of New England and a 2004 TechCitizenship award from Mass High Tech.

Recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as one of the top CEOs in the region, Dr. Sanders founded ECI Biotech in 1998, and also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Quinsigamond Community College and WPI. He holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from WPI, and completed postdoctoral training at MIT in protein biochemistry and host pathogen interactions.

In the past few years ECI Biotech has raised $5 million in seed and early stage funding, signed collaborative partnerships ($6.5M) with Fortune 500 companies and secured Small Business Innovative Research Funding (SBIR, 1999 & 2004, $198,000). In addition ECI Biotech has 17 patents pending and one patent issued.

About WPI’s Venture Forum
The Venture Forum, as part of the Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation in the Department of Management at WPI, serves individuals who are seeking to begin their own technology-based businesses; founders, presidents and senior managers of start-up or early-stage companies; senior managers of companies that are restarting or making a transition from one mode of operation to another; and employees leaving large companies due to a reduction in force or to start businesses. Its members are all volunteers from the local business community, including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, accountants, lawyers, consultants, and other service providers who work with entrepreneurs, as well as several members of the WPI faculty, staff and alumni.

Innovations and Applications
ECI Biotech maintains executive offices and research facilities located at 6 Park Avenue, in Worcester, Massachusetts. The company, founded in 1998, engages in breakthrough research on protein design and expression. ECI is developing and licensing its protein technologies for use in a wide range of industries with unmet needs, including nosocomial infections, medical diagnostics, industrial chemistry and consumer goods. ECI Biotech's product pipeline currently includes a diagnostic sensor for urinary tract infections, as well as advanced wound care systems designed to provide early warning of emergent infections and to promote healing. ECI presently also has 2 corporate partnerships with Fortune 100 companies in the medical device industry.

For more information, visit www.ecibiotech.com or contact Dr. Mitchell Sanders at (508) 752-2209.