Newark-based BioNeutral Group said yesterday it is expanding its business relationship with the Chertoff Group to help advance its work to combat communicable diseases with the potential to be national security threats.
Under terms of the agreement, two executives from the Chertoff Group will serve as advisers to BioNeutral. Jeffrey Runge, a Chertoff Group principal, will serve as BioNeutral's senior medical adviser and J. Bennet Waters, Chertoff's chief operation officer, will serve as the Newark company's senior operations adviser.
The Chertoff Group, which assists companies and government agencies to address terrorism, fraud and biosecurity, is led by former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff.
BioNeutral, a start-up based at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, is developing a technology to neutralize harmful environmental contaminants and dangerous micro-organisms, including bacteria and viruses.
"We believe they (BioNeutral) are on the cutting edge of biotechnology," Runge said, "and we're looking forward to helping them take the next steps in developing, licensing and providing their formulations for the health and welfare of people."