Tulane Ventures invests in Bio Protectant Technologies

(L to R) Kimberly Gramm, Chad Roy and Ariel Johnson at Tulane Innovation Day 2026

September 22, 2026

Tulane Ventures has invested in Bio Protectant Technologies Inc. (BPT), a Tulane University spinout and medical technology company preparing to bring its lead product, the surgical irrigant BioStat-EQ, to market.

"Bio Protectant is Tulane Ventures' second investment in a medical spinout. Tulane was born from a need to confront infectious diseases and improve the health of communities. Supporting Bio Protectant reflects the enduring purpose of this institution: not only to generate knowledge, but to translate discovery into innovations that help humanity meet its most pressing health challenges," said Kimberly Gramm, managing director of Tulane Ventures.

BioStat-EQ is built around EQ12, a novel antimicrobial molecule identified by Tulane's Chad Roy, vice chair for research at the John W. Deming Department of Medicine in the Tulane School of Medicine, associate dean for research, professor of medicine, microbiology and immunology, and a core scientist at the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center.

Roy identified the molecule while testing components of a common disinfectant. One component demonstrated significantly greater antimicrobial activity and had not previously been patented. The discovery led to the founding of Bio Protectant in 2020, co-founded by Roy and Dr. Joseph Buell, a former Tulane Medicine faculty member who now practices as a hepatobiliary surgeon in Houston. They launched the company while continuing to manage their full-time careers.

"Tulane is enhancing its infrastructure to facilitate the dissemination of research beyond the laboratory. The Tulane Ventures investment represents a significant milestone for Bio Protectant and indicates how the right partnerships can move a discovery from the lab to the market with greater efficiency," Roy said.

Ariel Johnson, chief executive officer of Bio Protectant, joined the company in 2025 through the Tulane Innovation Institute's inaugural Founder Lab cohort, which pairs experienced executives with Tulane research for commercialization and eventual licensing or spinout formation. Johnson is a strategist with experience in venture fundraising and a track record that includes playing a key role in the $700 million acquisition of Endotronix.

Surgical irrigants are an established category used routinely in operating rooms, and Bio Protectant is positioning BioStat-EQ as a direct swap into that existing workflow rather than a product that requires surgeons to change how they operate. The company says its differentiator is the chemistry. BioStat-EQ is designed to provide antimicrobial performance comparable to existing irrigants at significantly lower chemical concentrations. Company leaders also see the underlying technology as a platform with potential applications beyond surgical irrigation, including wound care.

"The product has many potential surgical and wound care applications, and we look forward to bringing the first application to market. The Tulane Ventures investment will help fund initial manufacturing and laboratory testing, the most capital-intensive phase of preparing for FDA submission," Johnson said.

The company plans to submit a 510(k) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2026 and expects clearance in the first half of 2027.

Bio Protectant is committed to keeping as much of its chemistry production, irrigant manufacturing and product development in the United States as possible. The company's core chemistry production, irrigant manufacturing and key regulatory partners are based in Florida, extending BPT's Gulf South roots. As the company moves toward commercialization, it plans to continue building a U.S.-based supply chain and regional distribution partnerships, helping preserve U.S. manufacturing expertise and build a resilient American production base capable of supporting nationwide commercialization.

The company has raised more than $1 million to date and has reached the initial target for its current funding round. With the company approaching several important regulatory and development milestones, BPT has elected to expand the round to support its path through FDA clearance and strengthen preparations for commercialization. Bio Protectant expects to open a larger financing round after the FDA clearance to fund the commercialization and broader adoption of BioStat-EQ.

"Tulane has been an important supporter of Bio Protectant since the beginning. This investment exemplifies how a university ecosystem can facilitate innovation, advancing from scientific research to product development and ultimately toward a product that can benefit patients," Johnson said.