Dairy cows sometime suffer from a particular type of hoof sore that, if left untreated, can cause the animals significant distress. This in turn can lead to heavy financial losses for dairy farmers, because the affected animals produce less milk, and in extreme cases have to be removed from the herd. 

A startup called NEK Biosciences is working with UVM researchers to create CorioGraft Wound Healing Gel, a medicine made from collagen that shows tremendous promise for healing those hoof sores. 

NEK Biosciences was founded by Dr. Ken James, an expert in the field of regenerative medicine from Tufts University. James had previously designed a wound-healing medicine for humans. So when he learned about these troublesome hoof wounds from his neighboring dairy farmers in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, he realized he could probably adapt that technology for this new use.

Once it's further developed, the medicine has the potential to be manufactured using the existing food processing facilities and expertise for which the Northeast Kingdom is already famous.

While Dr. James had the background to develop this new medicine, he needed help.  “And so when I heard about the Leahy Institute, a bell went off. I knew UVM had the other expertise and facilities that we would need to move our technology forward."

James was awarded a $10K Leahy Institute capacity grant in 2024 to identify and develop partnerships with the UVM research departments that could supply the facilities and expertise he needed. The resulting UVM collaborators on the development of CorioGraft include:

• Dept. of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

• Microscopy Imaging Center

• Grossman School of Business

• College of Engineering & Mathematical Sciences

With the partnerships established, and real potential to make a difference on the horizon, NEK Biosciences won a 2025 Leahy Institute Partnership Grant of $250K to further develop the scientific and business foundations for the CorioGraft Wound Healing Gel. 

These efforts are meant to help attract significant additional funding that will be required to 1) Perform a multi-institution CorioGraft Herd Health and Dairy Economic Study and, 2) Establish a bioprocessing/manufacturing facility in Orleans County, VT. 

NEK Biosciences founder Dr. Ken James sat down with Tricia Coates, Director of the Leahy Institute, to offer a brief explanation of this work: