Steve Decker

Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. develops stem cell-based cellular and antibody therapeutics for blood disorders and cancer. The firm focuses on curative therapies for seriously ill patients and is developing a cell-based medicine as a treatment for chemotherapy and radiation-induced neutropenia as well as for Acute Radiation Syndrome. The company was founded by Irving L. Weissman in 2003 and is headquartered in San Carlos, CA.

NeoGuide Systems, Inc. develops robotic endoscopic technology for the area of Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery. Its technology is used in colonoscopy application to provide access to abdominal and thoracic cavities. The company was founded by Amir Belson and Matt Ohline on December 12, 2000 and is headquartered in Foster City, CA.

Eurofins DiscoverX Corp. develops, manufactures, and commercializes reagents and complete cell-based assay kits and provides profiling and screening services as well as other turnkey solutions for the drug discovery, screening, and life science markets. Its products include cell lines, target engagement assays, biochemical assays, detection reagents, cell culture kits, reagents, and consumables, ligands, and inhibitors, and retroviruses and cloning vectors. The company was founded by Pyare Khanna and Fabrice Plasson in January 2000 and is headquartered in Fremont, CA.

CEPHEID develops, manufactures and markets fully-integrated systems that perform genetic analysis. The firm's systems enable molecular testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases by automating otherwise complex manual laboratory procedures. The company was founded by Thomas L. Gutshall, William McMillan, Kurt Petersen, Greg Kovacs and M. Allen Northrup on March 4, 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA.

Perclose, based in Menlo Park, Calif., designs, manufactures and markets less invasive medical devices that automate the surgical closure or connection of blood vessels.

Molecular Devices LLC engages in the provision of bioanalytical solutions for protein and cell biology in life science research, pharmaceutical, and bio-therapeutic development. Its product portfolio includes platforms for screening, genomic and cellular analysis, colony selection, and microplate detection. The company was founded by Harden M. McConnell in July, 1983 and is headquartered in San Jose, CA.