Haima Therapeutics is preparing to take SynthoPlate from the lab bench to human clinical trials. Built from Christa Pawlowski’s doctoral research at Case Western Reserve University, the synthetic platelets are designed to support the body’s natural clotting response. This feature explores the science, funding, military influence, and translational decisions behind Haima’s journey toward the clinic.

Part 1 of a 3-part editorial series on Trailhead Biosystems By Sirena Meade | Founder and Editor, The Biotech Beacon Photography by: Nicholas Campbell For decades, drug discovery has depended on an imperfect translation: testing potential therapies in systems that are close enough to teach scientists something, but not always close enough to predict what will happen in a human body. Animal models have helped move medicine forward. They have shaped preclinical research, suppor