When Christoph Geisler discovered his engineered enzyme-rich bacterial husks could break down kidney stone-causing compounds so effectively that test tubes would fizz and bubble like they were boiling, he knew he was onto something.
Today, the Dutch-born molecular biologist's company, Unlocked Labs Inc., has officially graduated from the University of Wyoming’s IMPACT 307 business incubator and moved into its own space in a west Laramie business park.
"We're part of a small but growing biotech, research and development, and startup ecosystem that helps diversify the Wyoming economy," Geisler said.
His company's flagship product is a postbiotic supplement designed to prevent kidney stones by breaking down oxalate, a compound found in foods like black tea and spinach that causes about 80 percent of kidney stones.
"The market is saturated with probiotic, prebiotic and postbiotic products that promise vague benefits, with no clearly defined or understood mechanism of action," Geisler said. "We decided to build purpose-built biotics that are specifically built to enzymatically break down target compounds known to be linked to chronic health conditions."
The product uses dead bacterial "husks" that serve as vessels for enzymes that break down oxalate before it can be absorbed by the body and form kidney stones. Geisler and co-founder James Francis plan to begin selling their products online in early 2026.
"I couldn't even really get an office for what we're paying for this whole space in the Bay area," Geisler said of his new Laramie facility, highlighting one advantage of building a biotech company in Wyoming.
Growing Ecosystem
The emergence of companies like Unlocked Labs represents a deliberate push by UW to transform research into viable businesses — something more typically associated with biotech hubs like Boston, the San Francisco Bay area or North Carolina's Research Triangle Park.
"It definitely is happening. It's slow," said Arundeep Pradhan, who leads the university's Technology Transfer Office and IMPACT 307. "We are working with all of our faculty and student entrepreneurs to really provide them with the resources that they need to help grow their enterprise."
The challenge, Pradhan noted, is access to space and capital — particularly for biotech and life sciences companies that need specialized lab facilities. Currently, such space exists primarily at the university and in a couple of buildings off campus.
"The advantage that they have is the density of universities," Pradhan said of traditional biotech hubs, "whereas University of Wyoming is really all by itself."
Despite the isolation, several companies are finding success, including one with an origin story boasting remarkably fresh breath.
Maple Discovery
Sometimes breakthrough discoveries come from the most unexpected places — like wooden discs purchased on Amazon for arts and crafts projects.
That's how UW molecular biology professor Mark Gomelsky's team stumbled upon the antibacterial properties of maple wood. Postdoctoral researcher Ahmed Elbakush was studying how Listeria bacteria attach to surfaces when he noticed something strange.
"One day, he called me to the lab and said something weird is going on with these new discs that you bought," Gomelsky recalled. The bacteria would attach to the wooden discs and form a thick biofilm, but the next day "it will just disappear from the disk. As if the wood from the disk would tell it was not welcome anymore."
After extensive research, the team discovered that compounds in maple wood and sap prevent bacteria from sticking to surfaces. More importantly, they found these same compounds work against Streptococcus mutans, the main bacteria behind tooth decay.
This discovery led to the founding of MayPall Inc. in 2024, which now produces a natural mouthwash sweetened with birch extract that's safe for children to swallow — unlike traditional mouthwashes that can be toxic if ingested.
"We've been selling online for maybe only two or three months, but people from all 50 states have purchased our product," Gomelsky said. "The big breakthrough came when Lucas joined us because he's a very talented marketing person. He's been talking to dentists, to physicians."
Lucas Wall, a pre-dental student at UW and one of MayPall's co-founders, has been conducting a grassroots marketing campaign among dental practices in Wyoming and northern Colorado, helping spread the word about the maple-based mouthwash.
More Innovation
Gomelsky continues to follow current research to see if it leads to breakthroughs that can become the foundation for new biotech enterprises in Laramie.
He's currently in the process of launching another company with graduate student Kiet Tran that focuses on using RNA to create an advanced cancer treatment.
While this venture remains in the early stages and the team prepares to publish research, Gomelsky described the potential as "unbelievable," noting that Tran has found a way to turn cancer cells into "factories producing anti-cancer drugs."
The new company, called bDrones (bacterial Drones), is actively seeking investors and could represent the next wave of biotech innovation emerging from UW laboratories.
As Wyoming's biotech sector continues to grow, these companies represent the first wave of what university officials hope will become a thriving industry in Laramie, proving that breakthrough medical innovations don't always require a coastal address.
"This is the time for biotech to flourish," Gomelsky said. "Laramie is not necessarily at the forefront of this revolution. The coasts usually are, but we're trying to catch up."
Contact David Madison at david@cowboystatedaily.com
David Madison can be reached at david@cowboystatedaily.com.
