Rural Maryland company working to transform osteoarthritis treatment
COLUMBIA, Md., (June 10, 2026) — TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, announced a $25,000 investment through its Pre-Seed Rural Business Innovation Initiative (RBII) Fund in Stemora Inc.
“Current osteoarthritis treatments are typically geared toward managing symptoms rather than targeting solutions. With our stem cell research, we are hopeful that we can start working to reverse it entirely, thereby providing patients with a better quality of life,” said Srujana Cherukuri, founder and CEO of Stemora Inc. “With this funding, we are excited to continue our research and development efforts and hope to find a solution to completely stop and reverse cartilage degeneration.”
Stemora Inc, located in Frederick, Md., seeks to convert osteoarthritis treatment through targeting cartilage degeneration at its source. Through this approach, regenerative therapy aims to deliver lasting structural restoration and functional recovery, addressing the root cause of the disease.
“Innovation can be found across the state; that is one reason the RBII program is so influential to ecosystem growth,” said Graham Dodge, vice president of TEDCO’s Venture Development. “We are excited to support entrepreneurs on their journeys, humbled to see continued growth and enthusiastic about supporting Maryland’s ecosystem.”
TEDCO’s RBII program which was designed to enhance technology commercialization and provide technical and business assistance to small and early-stage companies based in rural Maryland. Each region in the State has a TEDCO mentor who is dedicated to evaluating potential clients, providing resources, consulting services and technical management assistance.
Stemora Inc joined the TEDCO portfolio in 2025 when the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) awarded the company funding through its Commercialization Fund.
“It is no surprise that Maryland is a national leader in the stem cell and regenerative medicine fields,” said TEDCO CEO, Troy LeMaile-Stovall. “With a top-ranking biopharma cluster, access to more than 70 federal laboratories along with the experts within, and talented universities researchers across the State can find collaborators, resources and funding opportunities to advance their work. TEDCO’s MSCRF alone awarded more than 640 grants since inception in 2007, creating more than $19.2 million in tax revenues for Maryland and local governments; and with seven grant opportunities in the program, researchers would be missing out if they overlooked the opportunities Maryland offers.”
For more information about mentoring and funding opportunities from the RBII program, visit the program’s page here.