Spring Point Project

What Spring Point Project does

Spring Point Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with its operational facility — the Diabetes Research and Wellness Islet Resource Facility — located in western Wisconsin. The organization produces designated pathogen-free (DPF) pigs and harvests porcine islet cells for use in xenotransplantation research aimed at curing Type 1 diabetes. It is the only FDA-approved source of clinically suitable porcine materials for xenotransplantation clinical trials in the United States, having secured acceptance of a Type V Biologics Master File and operating under USDA registration, AAALAC accreditation, and cGMP manufacturing standards. Spring Point Project maintains a closed herd of pigs selectively bred for high islet cell yield, housed in a purpose-built, $6.2 million, 21,000-square-foot biosecure barrier facility capable of housing 100–150 animals.

The organization's revenue model combines two streams: (1) one-time tissue and islet cell sales to academic medical centers and biotechnology companies (including the Schulze Diabetes Institute at the University of Minnesota and Islet Sciences, Inc.), and (2) charitable contributions and special event fundraising from foundations and individuals (the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, Lions Clubs International, and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, among others). In 2012, total revenue was approximately $1.75M, of which 59% came from contributions, 33% from tissue sales, and 8% from fundraising events, with 88% of functional expenses directed to program and research activities. The organization distributes materials through direct enterprise relationships rather than commercial channels and markets its mission primarily through content marketing, media coverage, and an annual Golf Classic Fore Diabetes Research event.

Spring Point Project is governed by a volunteer board chaired by Pat Ryan (President of Ryan Companies US, Inc.) and operates with 11–50 employees. Its strategic posture centers on clinical translation of xenotransplantation, with preclinical results demonstrating reversal of diabetes in 21 of 25 non-human primates, and active collaborations supporting Phase III clinical trial readiness. The organization is also exploring adjacent applications including encapsulated islet products (via the Islet Sciences alliance), extracorporeal liver assist devices using DPF porcine livers, and epigenetic research services leveraging its homogeneous herd as a controlled biological model.

Name

Spring Point Project

Legal name

Spring Point Project

Website

https://springpointproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spring Point Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that produces FDA-approved, designated pathogen-free pigs and porcine islet cells for Type 1 diabetes xenotransplantation research, supplying academic medical centers and biotech companies from its Wisconsin barrier facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Xenotransplantation Research Services

NAICS

Hog and Pig Farming (1122), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cryopreservation, Biobanking & Cell Banking (Cord/Adipose/MSC) (HLAMANAJ)

Keywords

• Xenotransplantation research
• Porcine islet cells
• Pathogen-free swine
• Diabetes research services
• Biologics manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tissue Sales: Spring Point Project generates revenue through the sale of porcine tissues and materials, including islet cells, to research institutions and biotech companies for biomedical research applications. In 2012, tissue sales generated $578,600 in revenue.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Spring Point Project receives donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. Major funders include the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, Lions Clubs International, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, and individual donors. In 2012, contributions totaled $1,029,938.
3. Special Events: The organization hosts fundraising events including the annual Golf Classic Fore Diabetes Research, which has raised $5 million for diabetes research over 17 years. In 2012, special events generated $138,206.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spring Point Project breeds designated pathogen-free (DPF) pigs and produces porcine islet cells for xenotransplantation research aimed at curing Type 1 diabetes. The organization operates the Diabetes Research and Wellness Islet Resource Facility in western Wisconsin and supplies DPF tissues and epigenetic research services to academic and commercial researchers investigating islet cell transplantation.

Product overview

Spring Point Project is a nonprofit organization that operates as a single-product/mission entity focused on producing designated pathogen-free (DPF) pigs and porcine islet cells for xenotransplantation research to cure Type 1 diabetes. The core offering consists of medical-grade DPF pigs and harvested porcine islet cells manufactured under cGMP conditions at their Diabetes Research and Wellness Islet Resource Facility. The organization is the only FDA-approved source of porcine materials for clinical use in the United States. Additional services include epigenetic research studies utilizing their unique pig herd model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Designated Pathogen-Free (DPF) Pigs Breeding and supply of DPF pigs raised in a biosecure barrier facility, serving as the raw biological source for islet cell isolation and xenotransplantation research. The herd is the only FDA-approved source of porcine materials for clinical use in the United States.
• Porcine Islet Cells Pancreatic islet cells isolated from DPF pigs for use in basic research and clinical trials investigating islet xenotransplantation as a treatment for Type 1 diabetes. Provided to academic researchers and biotechnology companies.
• Diabetes Research and Wellness Islet Resource Facility A cGMP-compliant biosecure barrier facility in western Wisconsin that serves as the operational center for breeding DPF pigs and supplying islet cells and tissues to the research community.
• DPF Tissue Supply Distribution of designated pathogen-free tissues harvested from the DPF pig herd for use in basic research applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rejection of transplanted porcine islets prevented in 21 of 25 non-human primates in preclinical trials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Islet Sciences, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2012Strategic alliance to develop encapsulated porcine piglet islet products for treating diabetic patients. Spring Point Project supplies islet cells while Islet Sciences develops the encapsulation technology using semi-permeable alginate material to protect islets from immune attacks, potentially eliminating the need for immunosuppression.
• Academic Extracorporeal Liver Device ResearchersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Spring Point Project is developing relationships with researchers utilizing DPF porcine livers to develop an extracorporeal liver assist device that could operate similarly to dialysis treatment and save lives of acute and chronic liver failure patients.
• Riverside Hutterian BrethrenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2008Former production partner in eastern South Dakota for Non-Designated Pathogen Free pig production. Partnership ceased in March 2012 when Spring Point Project closed that facility to focus on clinically suitable pig production. John Waldner and the Riverside Multiplier Unit managers contributed significantly to early goals.
• Schulze Diabetes Institute, University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Primary research collaborator and partner. Dr. Bernhard Hering, scientific director of SDI, has worked with Spring Point Project since its founding to develop pig islet transplantation from vision to clinical practice. The partnership has achieved significant milestones including successful preclinical trials and Phase III clinical trials. The University of Minnesota was selected as one of three principal sites to conduct phase 3 clinical trials in human islet transplants.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• eGenesis: eGenesis uses gene editing to develop human-compatible organs and cells from pigs for transplantation. Direct peer producing clinically suitable porcine materials for xenotransplantation research and potential clinical use.
• Revivicor (United Therapeutics): Revivicor develops genetically modified pigs for xenotransplantation and regenerative medicine, with a focus on organ and cell therapies. Direct peer to Spring Point Project's designated pathogen-free swine production for clinical applications.
• Islet Sciences: Strategic partner developing encapsulated porcine islet products using Spring Point Project's DPF materials. Comparable in the encapsulated porcine islet therapy development space.

Emerging players

• ViaCyte: Develops stem-cell-derived islet cell replacement therapies for Type 1 diabetes. Emerging player in the alternative cure pathway that competes conceptually with porcine islet xenotransplantation.
• Recombinetics: Gene editing company focused on livestock for agricultural and biomedical applications. Emerging player in precision breeding of pigs for medical research purposes.
• Talaris Therapeutics: Cell therapy company focused on transplant tolerance and immune modulation. Adjacent to xenotransplantation through shared cell therapy infrastructure and transplant tolerance science.

Others

• National Pork Board: Industry organization promoting U.S. pork production. Indirect connection through Steven Murphy's prior role as CEO and Spring Point's positioning within the broader pork industry ecosystem.

Regional players

• Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: Nonprofit funding Type 1 diabetes cure research including islet transplantation. Comparable nonprofit model in the diabetes cure space, with potential overlap in funded researchers and donor base.

Broad incumbents

• Schulze Diabetes Institute (University of Minnesota): The academic research partner that conducts the clinical trials using Spring Point Project's porcine islet cells. While focused on diabetes research and transplantation, they are a key customer and scientific collaborator.
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VX-880 / cell therapy): Vertex's VX-880 program develops stem-cell-derived beta cell therapies for Type 1 diabetes. Broad incumbent in cell-based diabetes treatments that could compete with porcine islet approaches.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/springpointproj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spring-point-project

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Spring Point Project