UMSL ITE opened its doors in 2008 as an embodiment of the university and UM System’s mission to drive economic development in the St. Louis region and beyond. (Photos courtesy of UMSL ITE)

An analytical chemist, a leading researcher in the field of mental health and a scientist searching for ways to improve cancer diagnostics all sit down to lunch.

No, that isn’t the start of a really smart joke. It’s a regular opportunity for a meeting of the minds at the University of Missouri­—St. Louis high technology incubator Innovative Technology Enterprises – one that happens just about every day.

UMSL ITE is a community of scientists and researchers, located less than 3 miles from UMSL’s campus, who have access to state-of-the-art lab facilities, meeting and presentation spaces and more.

Located just down the road from UMSL’s campus, UMSL ITE opened its doors in 2008 as an embodiment of the university and UM System’s mission to drive economic development in the St. Louis region and beyond. Since then, it has only continued to grow.

Offering its tenants 55,000 square feet of state-of-the-art, technology-driven space that includes wet and dry lab facilities, a high performance data center, meeting, presentation and event facilities and more, UMSL ITE’s main mission is to foster the development of ideas and business ventures in the fields of chemistry, nanotechnology, life sciences and information technology.

It’s a mission that’s working well for companies like E.K.G. Life Science Solutions, an analytical services laboratory that supports medical device and pharmaceutical development. E.K.G., which was founded by UMSL alumna Jennifer Eagan in partnership with co-founders Allen Kesselring and Katie Grayson, has seen continual growth since joining UMSL ITE in 2013 and has recently announced plans to expand their analytical lab space in order to support further research initiatives as well as a growing client base. The company is also a participant in Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Small Businesses Program.

Some of the other entities currently at work in the incubator include PharmaRen, Traxxsson and the Missouri Institute of Mental Health (UMSL MIMH).

PharmaRen is focused on the development of heparin-like drug candidates which have the potential to positively affect cancer and nervous system disorder treatments.

FlipZone is a joint initiative between UMSL ITE and Gateway Venture Mentoring Services meant to foster and help grow small business entrepreneurial efforts in the St. Louis region.

Traxxsson founder Robert Puskas set out in 2009 to address flaws in the cancer diagnosis process by developing more effective blood tests for multiple types of cancers. The work of Puskas and his team is directly linked to reducing cancer screening costs and minimizing patient anxiety due to wait time and other factors; it has resulted in two successful patents with four more pending in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

UMSL MIMH’s mission is to improve and transform mental health outcomes in St. Louis, the state of Missouri and across the nation by way of extensive and collaborate research initiatives, program evaluation and development, professional training and community outreach. Their work informs the Missouri Department of Mental Health, as well as multiple other state agencies, mental health service providers and community organizations across the region.

In addition to continuing to support these already thriving businesses, UMSL ITE aims to keep an eye out for future business ventures with the potential to enhance the St. Louis region.

Toward that end, this spring, UMSL ITE, in collaboration with Gateway Venture Mentoring Service, will launch FlipZone, a comprehensive and interactive training program designed to help small businesses who are looking to grow. The initiative is made possible thanks to a grant from the Missouri Technology Corporation.

Such bustling activity at UMSL ITE is of great benefit to all parties involved according to William Lemon, ITE’s director of scientific and computing services.

“It’s a really productive and energetic space to come to work in each day,” says Lemon. “Not only do we have the collaborative environment in the ITE facilities, but the companies can benefit from university resources, like access to faculty and student research support. Meanwhile, the university gets to be a part of fueling that core mission of developing economic strength and growth in the St. Louis region.”