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Get the most interesting and important stories from the 51ƷƵ.Innovation Competitions Drive Creativity, Boost Researchers’ Projects to the Marketplace
The 51ƷƵ has become a national hub for innovation for its faculty and students over the past several years.
51ƷƵ set records for the number of startup companies formed (23), invention disclosures submitted (363) and licensesԻ options (162) in the 2018 fiscal year. There are currently 521 available for licensing at 51ƷƵ in several fields, including biology, chemistry, engineering, materials and energy.
“51ƷƵ has gone from being in the middle of the pack to one of the top universities with respect to our research policies right now,” said , professor of surgery and deputy director of the . “Over the past five or six years, the amount of support mechanisms such as executives in residence, startup funds and courses has increased to be almost too much. That is so different than the way it used to be. I know it’s not like that at most universities, so it’s very good what’s happening here.”
Badylak Named National Academy of Inventors Fellow
Stephen Badylak, professor of surgery and deputy director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, was recently elected as a 2018 fellow of the .
Election to the academy is the highest professional distinction accorded to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society. The 2018 NAI Fellows class will be inducted at the Space Center Houston in April.
Badylak holds over 60 U.S. patents, 300 patents worldwide, has authored more than 350 scientific publications and 40 book chapters. His research interests include tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Read more about the honor at .
Badylak received the Marlin Mickle Outstanding Innovator Award in early December at 51ƷƵ’s Celebration of Innovation. His work in extracellular matrices — molecular networks used for tissue regeneration to treat a variety of diseases and conditions — has been described as pioneering by experts in the field, but last year he began a new venture with his startup company, ECM Therapeutics. This company was one of the record 23 startups spun out of 51ƷƵ last year.
This fall saw numerous innovation competitions at 51ƷƵ targeted toward faculty and student researchers, with more than $600,000 awarded in prizes. These competitions not only serve to fund research projects as they move forward, but also to help take products from the lab and into the doctor’s office or the industrial factory through commercialization.
“Many of these competitions also provide the teams with valuable mentoring from our entrepreneurs in residence and other volunteer mentors who work with the University to identify and accelerate promising discoveries toward the market, where 51ƷƵ innovations can have a positive impact on people’s lives,” said , director of the and vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship at 51ƷƵ.
For researchers, this mentorship is most valuable.
“You get introduced to key people who help you through the commercialization process, because the pathway from bench to bedside is a long one,” said , assistant professor of developmental biology, who along with fellow developmental biology researcher , is leading the research on the drug therapy LungHealth-E. “Most physicians and scientists don’t understand this process.”
Zahid and Lo won big at the 51ƷƵ Innovation Challenge, or for short. LungHealth-E aims to increase cilia number and function to clear airways in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Along with the $100,000 prize, LungHealth-E received an additional $25,000 from Philips, a sponsor of PInCh, for the team’s research focusing on human performance.
Zahid also received the Emerging Innovator Award at 51ƷƵ’s December Celebration of Innovation, for her work on LungHealth-E and another research project, , a peptide that safely transports radioisotopes needed for stress test scans. The latter received $100,000 in PInCh funding in 2016.
“As a cardiologist, I know how to write prescriptions and treat patients. As a scientist, I know how to generate hypotheses and test them, but that jump from the bench to the bedside was a complete black hole for me,” said Zahid. “I’m grateful for PInCh, the Ի for bringing me these opportunities. I am also honored and humbled by the recognition from the Innovation Institute but consider this award more of a ‘bon voyage’ present since our journey has just begun.”
Other competitions held throughout the fall include the student-oriented and the . In February, the , heading into its 11th year, will award $100,000 to numerous student innovation teams from across the University. The CTSI will also host the in January, to fund projects that aim to ease the burden of pain.
“At a competition, people see the pitch,” said John Cordier, a dual degree student in the and . “What they don’t see is the effort that goes into making that pitch happen.”
His team’s project, a (FRED), took home the $15,000 first prize in the Kuzneski Cup.
The FRED team has worked with multiple agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Allegheny County Health Department, and is expanding to do work with the Queensland/Australian government, UPMC and other partners to support public health policy. FRED is a portfolio company of .
“We want to expand into four major policy areas: population health, disaster management, social dynamics and readiness,” Cordier said. “We are already looking to do work domestically and internationally with a number of key partners.”