Stem cells are tough to culture. They are delicate, finicky and don’t always behave the way they should. Scaling them for high-impact projects is even more challenging. Dr. A.J. Mellott knows this well. He spent six years growing billions of stem cells for his doctoral work, and through that process, he had an idea. While spending hours on end in the lab, he thought, “there has to be a better way to do this”. It was in that moment when all his training came into focus for a moment, and he realized that he could grow cells in 3D as they grow in the body. Furthermore, he applied principles of tissue engineering to conceptualize a platform where cells could be mass-produced by mimicking the body and creating a matrix that could be expanded on demand to keep the cells propagating. Dr. Mellott shared this idea with his closest colleagues, and they encouraged him to keep developing the idea. One of his colleagues, Ms. Heather Decker, suggested a few tests to validate the concept. Over the next four years, Dr. Mellott and Ms. Decker ran test after test and refined the technology, until they distilled it into what became the Tissue Block (T-Block). It was then that both realized they had something special that could help a lot of people. Together, they decided to start a company utilizing the T-Block technology platform at its core to develop products, tools, and services that would accelerate research for their fellow scientist. With an interest in healing and knowledge, Dr. Mellott and Ms. Decker decided that a Robin, which alleviates pain, and a Hawk, which has been represented as a messenger, were the symbols that best represented their goals. Hence, the name “Ronawk” was born, and so the company was named.
Ronawk LLC was formed by a group of engineers and scientists interested in developing options for patients that need tissue and organ transfers, but have limited options. Our goal is to efficiently expand a patient’s own healthy cells to engineer organoids or grafts that could be used in life-saving surgeries. We focus on using cutting-edge technologies to create life-saving opportunities for tomorrow from today’s resources.
Changing the Future of Cell Culture and Accelerating Next-Generation Therapies
Ronawk has developed a new 3D solution that enables the easy growth of large quantities of cells of a consistent phenotype. The company’s CEO and Founder A.J. Mellott, Ph.D., and Chief Revenue Officer Scott Leigh discuss the potential applications for the technology and their hopes for enabling significant advances in pharma manufacturing and beyond with Pharma’s Almanac Editor in Chief David Alvaro, Ph.D.
https://www.pharmasalmanac.com/articles/changing-the-future-of-cell-culture-and-accelerating-next-generation-therapies
by David Alvaro
Pharma's Almanac
The Ronawk team takes some time to talk with Pharma's Almanac Editor and Chief, David Alvaro, about the start of the company, the Bio-Block technology, and how the company plan to innovate cell culture using 3D cell culture.
"The eureka moment was when I had a very simple thought: Why can’t we grow cells in 3D from the beginning? When cells start growing in the body, they’re really growing in 3D. Nothing in the body — tissues and organs, etc. — is flat or 2D. It’s all contoured. If we could grow cells in a 3D format from the beginning, maybe we could we get higher-quality cells and create more accurate models.
The answer to the question was yes, but that then led to other questions, such as whether cells grown in a 3D format can expand, how nutrient diffusion and gas exchange could be handled, and so on, in order to provide an environment that closely mimics the original, natural cell environment." - AJ Mellott, CEO
Kansas Representative Sharice Davids Visits Ronawk
The Ronawk team was incredibly excited to host Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas with a tour and overview of how federal programs like the America COMPETES Act will impact small businesses locally and nationally. Ronawk currently sources all supply chain needs in the United States and manufacturers Bio-Blocks which will revolutionize the ability of life sciences and other science companies in the area of cell culture development.
“In science, and in particular cell culture, there are many hurdles in the supply chain that impact the speed, cost, and results. The opportunities the America COMPETES Act creates will help Ronawk as a manufacturer to supply customers in and outside of the US with a premium cell culture development technology. Additionally, it will help scientists all over the world accelerate research and potentially lower the cost of production for life science and pharmaceutical companies across the globe,” said Dr. A.J. Mellott, CEO and Co-Founder of Ronawk.
Additionally, Rep. Davids and the Ronawk team outlined how the growing needs of STEM education and the opportunities that Ronawk present to train and educate high school, undergraduate, and graduate-level students in the future are paramount to the future needs in science for young people.
“It is important to encourage and train the next generation of young midwestern scientists. At Ronawk, we understand this, and that is why we are investing our own resources to provide opportunities for the talented individuals in the area that want to go into science. We hope to help create new jobs in manufacturing and research and development for next-generation Kansans to help benefit the region and our future property, in keeping with our state's motto,” said Heather Decker, CTO and Co-Founder of Ronawk.
To see more about the recent event featuring Rep. Davids, look to the link below with additional details.
DAVIDS TOURS LOCAL MANUFACTURER TO PROMOTE SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTIONS, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
February 23, 2022 Press Release
Today, Representative Sharice Davids toured local biomanufacturer Ronawk, continuing her efforts to meet with local businesses and promote investment in supply chains, innovation, and American manufacturing. Ronawk’s unique technology helps scientists advance cutting-edge research, such as the COVID-19 vaccine, and their use of domestic materials has helped them navigate ongoing supply chain issues. Davids joined leaders from Ronawk and Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS) after the tour to discuss how to address inflation and help American industry compete on a level playing field against countries like China.
See more: https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-tours-local-manufacturer-promote-supply-chain-solutions-workforce
Graduate Student Summer Internship
Position Number: TBD
Employer Name:
Ronawk
Department:
Research & Development
Stipend:
TBD
Overtime Status:
Exempt
Classification:
Unclassified
Position Reports to (Classification Title):
Chief Technology Officer
Regular Hours of Work (Classified Jobs Only):
40 Hours
Length of Employment:
10 Weeks – Summer of 2022
90-Day Probationary Period:
N/A
Location of Position:
500 N. Rogers Rd. Suite 500-B20, Olathe, KS 66062
Position Summary:
This position requires an individual that is highly independent and self-motivated. The individual will be assisting Ronawk researchers to execute a variety of experiments related to 3D bioprinting, 3D printing, cell culture, and biologics production. These experiments are approved by Ronawk’s CTO and advance Ronawk’s strategic plans, complete client service projects, or improve Ronawk’s products. The position requires an individual that is well-versed in a variety of biological skills as well as a willingness to learn and develop new skills to complete projects. The individual will be responsible for submitting regular scientific reports to management, presenting scientific data to management, writing and submitting
manuscripts, contributing to scientific grants, and presenting at scientific meetings. The individual will be responsible for conducting his/her/their own literature reviews to justify scientific proposals to management and to support scientific presentations externally.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in biological sciences or related field with 2 years or more experience, or a Master’s
degree in biological.
Preferred Qualifications (1 or More):
-Proficiency with culturing primary cells isolated from tissue
-Proficiency with culturing immortalized cell lines, either adherent or non-adherent
-Proficiency with measuring biological factors via standard bioassays
-Mechanical testing experience
-Familiarity with 3D bioprinting (Design or Operations)
-Familiarity with 3D printing (Design or Operations)
Instructions for Applying:
Email Ms. Heather Decker (hdecker@ronawk.com) a Resume or CV, and cover letter on 1) why you would like to be a summer intern at Ronawk and 2) what you hope to gain out of your internship experience by no later than Friday, March 18th. A letter of recommendation from an individual familiar with your qualifications is highly encouraged, but not required.
Duties (1) Essential:
Data processing and analysis (imaging and numerical)
Duties (1) Essential:
Writing, constructing, and presenting scientific information for grant proposals, conference presentations, and manuscripts.
Mental/Cognitive Requirements:
Communication: YES
-Comprehend and use basic language, either written or spoken, to communicate information and ideas
-Comprehend and use technical or professional language, either written or spoken, to communicate complex ideas
Calculation: YES
-Perform numerical operations using basic counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing
-Perform complex quantitative calculations or reasoning using algebra, geometry, statistics, or abstract symbols
Problem Solving: YES
-Formulate and apply the appropriate course of action for routine or familiar situations
-Use logic to define problems, collect information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, interpret information, and deal with abstract variables for unique or unfamiliar situations
Physical Activities & Requirements:
Light Activity:
-Kneel
-Crouch/Squat
-Sit
-Stand
-Walk
-Lift – Raise or lower object & 20 lbs from one level to another
-Carry
– Transport an object
-Push
-Pull
-Turn/twist
-Bend
-Balance
-Reach
-Handle