DeLauro Applauds $150,000 Federal Grant for 3Derm Systems, LLC

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) todayapplauded the news that 3Derm Systems, LLC has been awarded a $150,000 grantfrom the National Science Foundation's Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) program. That money will be used to expand the field of dermatology inthe hopes of creating a method to earlier detect skin cancer.

"As a cancer survivor I know the value of regular screeningsand preventative care. My ovarian cancer was detected by chance in Stage 1, andI have now been cancer-free for 27 years. Everyone should have the sameopportunities for early detection that I did. The progress we have made thanksto innovative companies like 3Derm Systems is amazing."

3Derm System's technology aims to increase this criticalearly detection by giving patients greater access to dermatologists. Allowingdoctors to remotely track the progression of skin lesions in their patientsthrough this next generation prototype is one step in combating the diseasethat two million Americans develop every year, and which one in five Americanswill be diagnosed with in his or her lifetime. This breakthrough in low costmonitoring would not be possible without the Small Business Innovation Research(SBIR) program.

"Through federal funding, the SBIR allows cutting-edge smallbusinesses to take the entrepreneurial risks that strengthen America'shigh-tech economy and create good jobs. This is a proven, thriving program thathas helped support economic growth in Connecticut and across the country. Smallbusinesses are the engine of our economy, and are critical to Federalgovernment research and development."

SBIR provides opportunities for small, innovative companiesto participate in federal research and development. In Connecticut, SBIRinvestments have created over 10,000 jobs since the program began in 1982.Since just 2000, 194 Connecticut companies have won SBIR awards and in 2010alone, $37.6 million in awards went to Connecticut companies.