In his dental implant practice, Dr. James Rutkowski has observed that the use of a new product called OsteoXcell-1000 accelerated bone growth by 60 percent. The growth is significant in the oral surgery arena, in which current bone graft products often are cost-prohibitive or limit alternatives available to the patient. Slow or impaired healing can cause health complications and discomfort.

It's why Rutkowski founded Clarion Research Group in 2007 and why the company is poised to make a big splash in the dental and orthopedic markets. The company recently took home $160,000 in funding from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania as well as an additional $585,000 from Western PA angel investors.

OsteoXcell, Rutkowski has found, allows for faster and more predictable new bone growth is 10 times less costly than traditional options, helping to make implant dentistry considerably more affordable and reducing patients' healing time in half.

The company has also teamed with Clarion University, locating its business on the second floor of its recently opened Barnes Center for Biotechnology and Business development with plans on creating up to 10 jobs along with medical innovation. Clinical trials are ongoing for Rutkowski's bone grafting technique.