Beken Bio announces lab expansion at New Orleans BioInnovation Center, advancing ovarian cancer detection efforts

Written By Alicia Vial

New CLIA-certified lab marks milestone toward commercialization of breakthrough blood test

NEW ORLEANS – Beken Bio, a biotechnology company focused on early cancer detection, announced today the opening of its new laboratory at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center (NOBIC). The expansion represents a significant step in establishing the company’s commercial and clinical operations in New Orleans as it advances towards bringing its first product, a blood test for ovarian cancer detection, to market.

The new laboratory will support critical regulatory and operational milestones, including the development of a CLIA-certified facility required for clinical testing and commercialization. This expansion strengthens Beken Bio’s presence in the region while positioning the company to accelerate validation and regulatory processes for its diagnostic platform.

“Establishing our lab at NOBIC is a pivotal moment for Beken Bio,” said Christopher Millan, co-founder and CEO of Beken Bio. “This expansion allows us to build the clinical and commercial infrastructure needed to advance our ovarian cancer detection test through regulatory pathways and ultimately bring a life-saving diagnostic to patients. For me personally, bringing this work to New Orleans, the city where I grew up, makes this milestone especially meaningful. The collaborative ecosystem here is exactly what we need to continue building and growing.”

Beken Bio’s innovative blood test is designed to detect ovarian cancer at earlier stages, when treatment outcomes are significantly improved. As the company progresses through regulatory requirements, including CLIA certification, the new lab will serve as the foundation for clinical operations and future commercialization efforts.

The lab will be housed within NOBIC, a leading life sciences incubator dedicated to supporting biotech innovation and entrepreneurship across Louisiana. Through access to state-of-the-art facilities and a network of strategic partners, Beken Bio is positioned to scale its operations while contributing to the region’s growing bioscience sector.

“Beken Bio’s lab expansion is the kind of milestone NOBIC is built to enable,” said Kris Khalil, executive director of NOBIC. “We are directly supporting a startup move from breakthrough science to clinical-grade infrastructure under one roof. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer in the U.S., and the fact that this diagnostic is being developed and commercialized right her in New Orleans speaks to the strength of the ecosystem we’ve cultivated with our research and economic development partners across Louisiana.”

The opening of Beken Bio’s lab reflects continued momentum in the New Orleans’ life sciences industry, driven by collaboration between startups, research institutions and economic development partners. By establishing its clinical and commercial base in the city, Beken Bio is contributing to job creation, innovation and improved health outcomes both regionally and beyond.

For more information on Beken Bio and their work click here.

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About Beken Bio: Beken Bio is a company passionate about helping to save lives and exploring new horizons of nanobiology in conjunction with state-of-the-art machine learning AI. Its mission is to unlock the key to early cancer detection.  By targeting the body’s most abundant biomarkers, Beken Bio can shift the narrative of when cancer is detected and reduce its impact on a global scale.

About New Orleans BioInnovation Center: The New Orleans BioInnovation Center (“NOBIC”) is a nonprofit business incubator focused on advancing life science entrepreneurship and technology commercialization in Louisiana. The mission of NOBIC is to create a successful biotech ecosystem by providing emerging companies with customized commercialization services, premier facilities, and a comprehensive support network. Through relationships with research institutions, economic development organizations, and industry stakeholders, NOBIC helps its clients de-risk novel technologies, attract funding, and improve global health outcomes. For more information, visit neworleansbio.com/.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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