Cure® Announces 2025 XSeed Award Winners, Advancing Minority- and Women-Led Life Science Startups in New York City

Teams led by Richard Nkulikiyinka, MB BChir, of GenKardia, and Maura Warner of Sidereal Therapeutics, each to receive $250,000 grants

NEW YORK, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cure, a premier healthcare innovation ecosystem headquartered in New York City, today announced  the two winning teams of the fifth annual XSeed Award, each set to receive a $250,000 grant. The XSeed Award is dedicated to supporting minority- and women-led life science startups in New York City by providing critical funding to bridge the gap from promising preclinical drug development research to the marketplace and commercial success.

"The XSeed Award reflects Cure's unwavering commitment to leveling the playing field in life sciences by visionary minority and women entrepreneurs with the resources they need to bring transformative solutions to market," said Seema Kumar, CEO of Cure. "At a time when healthcare challenges are increasingly complex and innovation is more urgent than ever, Cure is proud to support in those turning bold ideas into real-world breakthroughs and helping advance them from the lab into real-life healthcare solutions."

Cure is an affiliate of Deerfield Management Company, which founded and funds the award with support from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).   

The 2025 XSeed Award winners are:

• Sidereal Therapeutics: Maura Lane Warner, CEO and Founder; Jonathan Barasch, MD, PhD, Inventor and Scientific Advisor; and Andong Qiu, PhD, Inventor and Chief Science Officer.
• GenKardia Inc.: Richard Nkulikiyinka, MB BChir, Co-Founder, Chief Development Officer and Chief Medical Officer, and David C. Zebrowski, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer.

"The XSeed Award underscores Deerfield Management's commitment to advancing healthcare by investing in scientific talent and accelerating the development of evidence-based solutions," said James Flynn, Managing Partner at Deerfield Management. "By partnering with Cure and NYCEDC, we aim to help close funding gaps and ensure that promising innovations from underrepresented founders have a clear path to impact." 

"The XSeed Award reflects a steadfast commitment to fostering a life science sector as talented and diverse as New York City itself," said NYCEDC Chief Operating Officer Melissa Román Burch. "By supporting and empowering minority- and women-led startups right here in New York City, the XSeed Award will accelerate innovations that will transform the future of health care and ensure New York City remains a global leader in health and life sciences."

Kumar announced the two winning teams in a ceremony at Cure the evening of Tuesday, May 6. The ceremony included remarks by Burch and featured a panel discussion with the winners, Kumar and two life science entrepreneurs, Rekha Hemrajani, biotech board member and advisor, and Erika Smith, Chief Executive Officer of EpiTET and Chair of the Emerging Company Section and Executive Committee of BIO. 

Innovations with potential to become first-in-class therapies for forms of kidney and heart failure

The Sidereal Therapeutics team received its XSeed Award for the development of precision therapeutics for the protection of kidney and other major organ function. The initial indication they are pursuing is acute kidney injury (AKI), a common form of kidney damage for which there are no current treatments.  AKI is a form of kidney failure that occurs frequently in hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac surgery or taking neurotoxic medications and pushes patients further toward chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Potential additional applications include bone marrow and solid organ transplantation and transfusion-related iron overload seen often in thalassemia, sickle cell disease and myelodysplastic syndrome.

The GenKardia team received its XSeed Award for its development of targeted genetic tools into innovative therapies that address diastolic dysfunction and metabolic remodeling, key drivers of pediatric and adult cardiomyopathies and heart failure.

"It is critical that we support women and minority-led business endeavors" said Assembly Member Harvey Epstein. "Far too often, women and people of color are excluded from receiving much-deserved funding. Today, we congratulate the teams led by Richard Nkulikiyinka and Maura Warner on winning the XSeed Award"

"This year's XSeed award winners demonstrate the type of healthcare innovation that is possible when the life sciences are more reflective of New York's diversity," said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. "The life science industry is strong and growing in NYC, and I'm proud that Manhattan continues to be at the forefront of equitable healthcare innovation. I'm grateful to Cure and NYCEDC for their support of New York's life scientists and congratulate Sidereal Therapeutics and GenKardia on their awards."

"With continued investments, New York City is poised to expand its role as a leader in life sciences, and I commend Deerfield Management and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for their collaboration that has propelled innovation and strengthened the industry locally. I am happy to congratulate the Sidereal Therapeutics team and GenKardia team on winning the XSeed Award, which will help support meaningful research and work to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. The XSeed Award ensures that the life sciences industry reflects the great diversity of our city, and supports women and underrepresented populations to improve lives and move life sciences forward," said New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02).

XSeed Award provides funding, peer learning and mentoring

In addition to the grant funding, XSeed Award-winning teams will join the Cure ecosystem. The teams will receive access to peer learning experiences and office hours with investors, entrepreneurs, and business experts to bolster their networks and raise their visibility.

XSeed Award winners will also join a cohort of their fellow awardees. Previous XSeed awardees have the opportunity to serve as mentors and coaches for future cohorts, further strengthening the entrepreneurial community in New York City.

The selection of award winners followed review of more than 50 XSeed Award submissions and pitch presentations by five finalists to the XSeed Leadership Committee:

• Christine Brideau, Vice President of Preclinical Pharmacology at Deerfield Discovery and Development.
  
  
• Glennis Mehra, PhD, Director of Biolabs@NYULangone.
  
  
• Joseph Pearlberg, MD, PhD, Panel Chair and Vice President of Scientific Affairs at Deerfield Management.
  
  
• Claire Pomeroy, MD, President and CEO of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation.
  
  
• Jane Williams, MD, MPH, Vice President, Head of Neuroscience, Rare Disease and Pediatrics at Syneos Health.

About the XSeed Award

Deerfield created the XSeed Award program in September 2019 through a partnership with the NYCEDC. Deerfield and NYCEDC launched the XSeed Award in December 2020, with the first cohort of winners announced in April 2021.

Since its inception, the XSeed program has helped fill early-stage funding gaps within the life sciences industry by identifying and supporting promising translational research and commercial opportunities of underrepresented and underfunded startups, financially and through a mentorship cohort. To learn more about the XSeed Award, visit https://wewillcure.com/network/xseed-award.

About Cure.

Cure is a premier healthcare innovation ecosystem headquartered in New York City, with a mission to accelerate cures by helping health innovators develop their groundbreaking products and services from concept to commercialization. Cure's thriving NYC campus includes state-of-the-art research and business facilities, and its digital ecosystem serves as the go-to resource for health innovators. Its dedicated content hub offers expert-driven insights, resources, mentoring, networking, and business services. The on-campus Cure Collaboration Residency companies include startups and established enterprises. Cure also hosts and convenes flagship events and conferences, bringing together thought leaders from across sectors in its premium venues, including an education center, conference center, and iconic rooftop. For more information, please visit wewillcure.com.

About Deerfield Management

Deerfield is an investment management firm committed to advancing healthcare through investment, information and philanthropy. The Firm works across the healthcare ecosystem to connect people, capital, ideas and technology in bold, collaborative and inclusive ways. For more information, please visit www.deerfield.com.

About NYCEDC

New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

SOURCE Cure