BrightEdge and ScaleHealth Announce 2026 Cohort Advancing the Next Generation of Cancer Innovation
The Californer/10341083

LOS ANGELES - Californer -- LOS ANGELES, CA — ScaleHealth is proud to partner with BrightEdge, the impact investment and innovation arm of the American Cancer Society, to announce the 2026 cohort of the BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program (BEE), a dual-track accelerator supporting high-potential oncology ventures across Life Sciences and Digital Health.

Selected from a competitive nationwide applicant pool, the 2026 cohort represents eleven companies advancing novel therapeutics and technology-enabled solutions designed to improve outcomes and reduce systemic barriers across the cancer care continuum.

The BrightEdge Entrepreneurs Program bridges the critical gap between early scientific discovery and sustainable commercialization. Through early-stage investment, structured mentorship, and access to the ACS and ScaleHealth ecosystems, BEE equips founders with the capital and strategic support necessary to accelerate meaningful patient impact.

"The strength of this year's cohort reflects both the urgency and the opportunity within oncology innovation," said Stephen Curtis, Interim Managing Director of BrightEdge. "By investing early and surrounding founders with the right strategic infrastructure, we are helping transform promising science and scalable technology into durable solutions for patients."

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Introducing the 2026 Cohort

Digital Health Track
Supporting technology-enabled solutions designed to reduce access barriers and strengthen cancer care delivery:

• Arul Health — Compassionate mental health support for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers
• Citrus Oncology — Intelligent care platform built for safer cancer treatment
• MedHaul (https://gomedhaul.com/) — Provides access to quality, inclusive transportation services for often overlooked populations
• Pathi Health (https://pathihealth.com/) — Empowering patients with AI-driven trial matching & control over their centralized health record
• MyAtlas Health (https://www.myatlas-health.com/) — Bridging the gap in mental health access with neuroscience and community

These companies focus on improving access, logistics, care coordination, and digital infrastructure across the cancer care continuum.

Life Sciences Track
Advancing lab-based discoveries into investable oncology ventures:

• Cura Therapeutics (https://www.curatherapeutics.com/) — Pioneering the next generation of site-directed, multimodal immunotherapies that treat metastatic cancer and age-related diseases
• Deck Bio — Expanding the reach of T cell engagers into solid tumors through a differentiated approach to intracellular target selection and molecule design
• Nemea Therapeutics — Developing oral small-molecule therapies for aggressive solid tumors by inhibiting mitochondrial RNA polymerase
• NeoSplice Therapeutics (https://neosplicetx.com/) — Expands the druggable target universe by focusing on proteoforms rather than traditional gene-centric target discovery
• OnVagus (https://www.onvagus.com/) — Developing a therapeutic device to treat cancer-associated cachexia, a deadly wasting condition responsible for over one-third of all cancer deaths
• PONS — Bridges the upstream–downstream imaging gap with patented image enhancement and deep learning

These ventures are advancing therapeutics and platform technologies designed to redefine cancer treatment and translational science.

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"The path from breakthrough to bedside requires more than strong science," said Taylor McPartland, CEO of ScaleHealth. "It requires structure, access, and the right strategic guidance at the right time. This program is designed to ensure these innovations move efficiently toward real-world patient impact."

Looking Ahead
Over the next year, cohort companies will participate in a rigorous curriculum culminating in dedicated showcase events for both tracks. These events will convene leading investors, oncology experts, health system executives, and industry partners to accelerate capital formation and strategic partnerships.

About ScaleHealth
ScaleHealth is a global health innovation platform connecting startups, health systems, payers, and corporate partners to scale high-impact solutions. With a mission to break down barriers to healthcare innovation, ScaleHealth empowers entrepreneurs with the tools, relationships, and exposure needed to succeed

www.scalehealth.com

www.acsbrightedge.org