HARTFORD–U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that LambdaVision, based in Farmington, was named “Innovator of the Month.” LambdaVision is a biotechnology company developing the first protein-based artificial retina to help restore vision to those who are blind due to retinal degenerative diseases.  LambdaVision has secured over $10 million to date in funding, including NASA funding to conduct nine flights to the International Space Station in low-Earth orbit, where they are exploring the benefits of microgravity for on-orbit production of this revolutionary retinal technology.

“Losing your sight can be devastating, especially when there are so few effective treatments for retinal degenerative diseases. I am proud to recognize LambdaVision for rethinking how we tackle this problem. Their innovative approach has restored hope to so many families, and I look forward to seeing their continued success in Connecticut,” said Murphy.

“As a UConn Technology Incubation Program company deeply embedded in our community and the thriving Connecticut biotech ecosystem, it is an honor to be recognized by Senator Murphy for our innovative work. Our hope is that our pioneering efforts in biotech research in space will lay groundwork that will improve the future for patients and change the trajectory for many industries,” said Nicole Wagner, Ph.D., CEO of LambdaVision.

LambdaVision’s artificial retina is one of the first technologies being evaluated on the International Space Station that has potential for clinical use, and the established microgravity manufacturing processes, quality control methods, and laboratory techniques provide a foundation for future clinical research in space.

Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies—the Angel Tax Credit Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.

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