Five University of Toronto researchers have been recognized with the inaugural Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards for leading innovative projects with strong potential to transition research into real-world applications that achieve maximum impact.
From converting agricultural waste into biochemicals to improving stroke recovery and combating insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, the five researchers - Chung-Wai Chow, Molly Shoichet, Peter Roy, Emma Master and Keith Pardee - have all demonstrated that their scholarship has the potential to be commercialized or, in the case of medicine, translated into health-care environments.
Unlike standard academic awards, the Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards not only provide financial support - they fill a critical gap in a landscape where promising, high-impact research often struggles to attract early-stage investment. The awards focus on proof-of-concept projects with strong socio-economic potential and encourage researchers to consider adoption strategies, regulatory hurdles and the overall market viability of their discoveries and innovations.
"I am absolutely thrilled to see these innovative and potentially transformative proposals receive funding - this is a big win for science, discovery, and biomedical innovation," says scientist, innovator and entrepreneur Derrick Rossi, co-founder of mRNA vaccine-maker Moderna and whose support made the awards possible.
"Kudos to the visionaries and their teams for driving these projects forward."
By empowering researchers to make the leap from discovery to commercialization, the Derrick Rossi Innovation Awards promise to boost the number of U of T-developed technologies and ideas that reach their full potential and benefit to society in the years ahead.
The awards reflect Rossi's own experience moving game-changing research out of the lab and into the commercial realm.
With two degrees in molecular genetics from U of T, Rossi led a team at Harvard University that figured out how to modify messenger RNA molecules to send genetic code to cells. That discovery laid the foundation for Moderna, which went on to use mRNA innovations to develop a COVID-19 vaccine that helped save millions of lives globally.
Rossi, who left Moderna in 2014, has since founded several other biotech companies. He has maintained a connection to U of T over the years - including serving as a mentor for the Rotman School of Management's Creative Destruction Lab . The university recognized him with an honorary doctorate in 2023.
"Derrick Rossi understands the critical importance of supporting translational research and helping get ideas out of the lab and into hospitals and society at large," says Leah Cowen, U of T's vice-president, research and innovation, and strategic initiatives. "These annual awards will help our researchers accelerate discoveries that promise to impact human health, the environment and beyond."
Here are the five inaugural recipients of the Derrick Rossi Innovation Award:
Chung-Wai Chow, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
With asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the third leading cause of death worldwide, Chow is using machine learning to identify and classify lung abnormalities. This will make it easier for patients to have their lung function tested - potentially saving lives.
Molly Shoichet, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Shoichet developed a surgical treatment strategy to reverse cell death in stroke patients. The approach could have a major impact, as 85 per cent of stroke patients currently have no recovery options beyond rehabilitation therapy.
Peter Roy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Roy developed a cell-based screening method to help eliminate insecticide resistance in mosquitoes, which can transmit diseases such as malaria and West Nile virus. If successfully implemented, the research could help public health officials manage a threat that affects 300 million people globally and leads to one million deaths each year.
Emma Master, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering
Master developed an enzymatic process to convert forestry and agricultural biomass waste into valuable biochemicals for producing sustainably manufactured products. The technology promises to provide new economic opportunities for the forestry, agriculture and chemicals sectors at a time when consumers are demanding more sustainable goods.
Keith Pardee, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
Pardee developed an automated platform for small-batch RNA biomanufacturing, enabling local production of vaccines and other medicines to treat rare diseases in remote communities and lower-to-middle-income countries. The platform was successfully tested in South America over four months.
