Stories of Technology, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship in the Southeast

Nearly 15 years ago, Dr. Trey Fisher began his journey in biomedical research as a graduate student in Dr. Deidra Mountain’s vascular biology lab at the University of Tennessee (UT) Medical Center. There, he studied how blood vessels heal after injury—work that would later inspire Orion Therapeutics’ lead program to transform vascular repair through genetic medicine.

Their research on preventing arterial re-narrowing (restenosis) led to the idea for a safer way to deliver RNA-based medicines. Thus, was born the GENESYS™ lipid nanoparticle delivery platform, a GPS system for RNA drug delivery in the body, designed to improve on safety, stability, scalability, and targeted delivery. Targeted delivery can make previously inaccessible tissues accessible to gene therapies so we can treat the biological source, not just the symptoms, of disease. This is the promise of gene therapies – better standards of care and in some cases, curative solutions.

Now, Orion Therapeutics, the company co-founded in early 2022 by Fisher, Mountain, Dr. Jennifer Zachry, and Dr. Michael McCaman, has just been awarded a $1.25 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer grant to advance the company’s lead asset for restenosis, powered by its GENESYS™ targeted delivery platform.

“This is a major milestone — a true inflection point for Orion,” Fisher says. “It marks the moment where years of foundational science start translating into real therapeutic potential.” Going forward, the company has a two-prong strategy:

1. Developing gene therapy drugs for vascular diseases for both common and rare diseases with high unmet needs;
2. Expanding the GENESYS™ platform as a versatile and modular delivery vehicle for the treatment of a numerous diseases – like cancers, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases – internally and in partnership.

Pioneering Genetic Medicine from the Heart of East Tennessee

Orion Therapeutics has steadily built momentum through competitive research grants and partnerships. The company has already received support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as from Launch Tennessee. Orion has also been recognized in Eli Lilly’s Genetic Grand Medicine Challenge, highlighting its growing reputation in genetic medicine innovation.

Building on this foundation, the company is now preparing for its next major milestone – a Series A funding round – to support IND-enabling studies and advance its lead therapeutic programs toward clinical development.

“We’re proud to be building this company right here in Knoxville,” said Zachry. “There’s something special happening in East Tennessee — a real spark of biotech innovation rooted in collaboration, hard work, and community. From the University of Tennessee to local partners and start-ups, Knoxville is proving that you don’t have to be in Boston or San Francisco to build world-changing science. We’re growing this company here because we believe the next generation of genetic medicines can be born right in our own backyard.”

Orion Therapeutics: Milestones on the Path to Clinical Impact

In under four years, Orion Therapeutics has transformed from a university spinout into a fast-rising biotech company pioneering next-generation RNA delivery technologies.

1. 2022 – Orion joined the SPARK Incubator at the UT Research Park and was selected for the MassBioDrive Accelerator in Boston, connecting the team to national biotech networks and investors.
2. 2023 – Achieved the first demonstration of Orion’s GENESYS™ platform for mRNA and siRNA delivery in cells, with strong safety and immune-response data. The company also won the Eli Lilly Genetic Medicine Grand Challenge and received multiple federal and state awards to advance preclinical research.
3. 2024 – Secured additional investment through the UT Research Foundation’s Accelerate Fund and Launch Tennessee’s InvestTN Seed Fund, fueling platform development and early proof-of-concept studies.
4. 2025 and Beyond – Orion is now entering c for its lead vascular therapeutic and expanding into gene-editing and targeted delivery partnerships with leading biotech firms.

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