Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1489717
3 4 C T I N N O V A T O R S , 2 0 2 2 In 2018, Connecticut Innovations invested $500,000. Two years later, NASA provided $5 million as a commercialization grant to explore the idea of manufacturing in space over a series of flights. One of LambdaVision's extraterrestrial experiments arrived back on earth in August, with more planned in the near future, explains Jordan Greco, the company's chief science officer. With the return of each experiment from space, there's progress in the layering of bacteriorhodopsin. No final decision has been made on committing to manufacturing in microgravity, but "we're getting close," he says. Greco, who holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from UConn, joined LambdaVision in the fall of 2013. He met Wagner when she was a teaching assistant in a class he was taking. He points to "a good synergy" between her biology background and his chemistry background. While Wagner has taken on the CEO role, he's led the scientific effort, although Greco says she's still integrally involved in the science. "We're like a family." Birge agrees. e firm's founder confirms he officiated at Wagner's wedding. All it took was being named a justice of the peace. He adds that Wagner insisted her salary and Greco's would be equal. at's very family-like but it also is good business. Both are indispens- able to LambdaVision's success, he says. Industry recognition Today, Wagner is on the hunt for an additional $20 million to $25 million in funding. And she'll need to find even more aer that. She says it will likely take into the next decade before a commercial product is ready. Testing in animals lies ahead in 2023 with the multistage Food and Drug Administration approval process aer that. Birge is less diplomatic, expressing frustration that the FDA is demanding LambdaVision achieve approval both as a therapy and a device. at's a long, expensive road that's delaying treatment to millions, he says. Still, Wagner is well positioned to make it happen. Birge says Wagner's blend of charm and good humor gives her a unique ability to say "no" while retaining a strong working relationship. He points to Axiom Space, a private flight operator based in Houston, as an example. Axiom wanted to buy a share of LambdaVision but Wagner said "no" in such a way that Axiom remains interested. With Russia pulling out of the International Space Station, Axiom will fly the next stage of LambdaVision's in-space manufacturing, Birge says. Role model e unique pace of LambdaVision's research — launch it and wait — leaves Wagner some time to pay it forward. She's on the boards of CTNext, New England Women in Science Executives Club, and the Connecticut Tech Council; she has participated in the Accelerator for Biosciences in Connecticut, the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and MassChallenge. She's a subcommittee chair of the National Lab User Advisory Committee for the International Space Station and she was chosen as a panelist at Ascend, one of the most prestigious forums for the space industry. And then there's the mentoring. She's both a high-energy advocate and role model for women in STEM education. She works with entrepreneurs and startups across the spectrum of support organizations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. She has authored 19 scientific articles and holds two patents related to protein-based artificial retinas. Industry and public recognition has followed. She won the CT Technology Council's Women of Innovation Award and the 2020 Women in Aerospace Achievement Award. Connecticut Magazine named her to their 40 under 40 list, and BioCT recognized her as the 2021 Rising Entrepreneur of the Year. About the only thing missing from that resume is a herd of alpaca. Don't bet against her closing that deal before spring. I Continued from page 32 PHOTOS | STEVE LASCHEVER