Inaugural 'Innovation Catalyst' event empowers innovators at UConn Health to transform their exciting research ideas into ventures
Class of 2027 UConn dental student Marcus A. Costa speaking with industry and investors at UConn Health's first Innovation Catalyst pitch event about his exciting healthy chewing gum invention that can improve your oral health. (Lauren Woods / UConn Photo)
An inaugural pitch event has served as an "Innovation Catalyst" for the UConn Health community to have the unique opportunity to present their exciting research breakthrough ideas to UConn and health care industry and investors.
On July 23, nearly one-hundred and fifty faculty, scientists, and UConn Health students, gathered in the Academic Rotunda to showcase their big, high-impact research ideas with industry potential.
The rapid-fire pitch event allowed each presenter just five minutes to pitch their grand idea and additionally allowed for five minutes of follow-up Q & A by industry and investors in attendance such as CT Innovations, Aimers, AIF, and many more, along with health care industry contacts.
"We are building an ecosystem where ideas can flourish," said Dr. Andy Agwunobi, CEO of UConn Health, in his welcoming remarks. "At UConn Health innovation isn't just something we support, it's something we live. We are ensuring that discoveries don't stay in the lab but reach the patients."
Keynote speaker Dr. Raja Mangipudy, SVP and Site Head Groton Labs of Pfizer told attendees that Pfizer's focus is "breakthroughs that change patients' lives."
"A patient is at the center of everything," said Mangipudy, stressing that innovations can reach anywhere in the world. "Innovation is happening all around us. We need to find mechanisms to tap into that innovation across the globe."
Mangipudy added, "It's truly an honor to speak at this event."
UConn's Pamir Alpay, VP of Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, shared how taking an innovative idea like the ones pitched during the inaugural Innovation Catalyst event to commercialization is a "team sport."
"What you see here today is the product of our university investing intentionally in these research projects," said Alpay. "Thank you so much for being here."
Members of the UConn Health workforce were able to gain real-time expert feedback, build connections with investors and industry on-hand, and were advised on how to take the next step toward translating their research into a potential future venture.
The new Innovation Catalyst event builds on the longstanding success and guidance provided to the UConn research community by UConn Research's Technology Commercialization Services. TCS guides researchers with promising discoveries or inventions with commercialization potential and provides them with UConn resources through next steps, like filing a patent or for intellectual property, or even how to launch a new UConn Technology Incubation Program (TIP) biotech startup company to advance their research breakthrough.
"Imagination and innovation are cornerstones of the Innovation Catalyst event. This event brings forward the future of translational research done by the faculty at UConn Health that can go from bench to bedside and have an impact. TCS is delighted to host this inaugural event, and we are grateful for the participation from the industry and venture community," shared Abhijit Banerjee, Ph.D., MBA, associate vice president, Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship for the Office of the Vice President of Research.
The TCS team organized the new pitch event opportunity for the wider UConn Health community in Farmington also with the assistance of Ryan McMillian, director of Venture Development for UConn TIP. UConn TIP in Farmington is home to dozens of biotech startups including several founded by UConn Health faculty members.
"Innovation is happening across UConn Health," shared McMillian of UConn TIP. "This UConn Health pitch day will help us find more unique research invention ideas, better understand the ideas, and guide our researchers to next steps toward growing their idea toward commercialization. We want to encourage our workforce to pursue their innovative ideas and offer them all the available resources of UConn to cultivate their ideas into startups."
McMillian added, "This exciting event is raising greater awareness of our UConn Health innovators and their inventions to industry and investors."
Fueling Personalized Cancer Vaccines
One of the many pitch presentations delivered at the event was by UConn School of Medicine Department of Immunology Professor Dr. Pramod Srivastava, longtime director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health.
He pitched the innovative work of the start-up company, NeoCine Therapeutics Inc., for which he is the founding scientist.
"NeoCine aims to create personalized cancer vaccines to treat most human cancers," said Srivastava of UConn's medical school. "The intellectual property for the company, licensed from UConn, was created entirely out of the research work done at UConn Health for the past 15 years."
NeoCine is now currently raising seed funding to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for testing its promising personalized cancer vaccines.
"UConn School of Medicine is incredibly proud of the innovators from across our medical school's faculty, staff, and learners including residents and medical students," shared dean of UConn medical school Dr. Bruce T. Liang, a cardiovascular physician-scientist who is an innovator himself, having developed and continuing to test a promising medication for advanced heart failure patients. "The cutting-edge research discoveries and translational medicine happening at UConn Health are truly amazing."
Creating an Effective Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
UConn School of Dental Medicine's Tannin A. Schmidt, Ph.D., was very excited for the opportunity to pitch his idea for a new effective treatment for inflammatory autoimmune arthritis to bring it to market.
"This is a novel therapeutic candidate to target RA," Schmidt said, as he presented how the new treatment can help lessen arthritis severity, systemic inflammation, and bone effects.
Schmidt is an associate professor in UConn's multidisciplinary, cross-campus Department of Biomedical Engineering, and serves as the Collins Aerospace Professor in Engineering Innovation at UConn's College of Engineering.
"Lubris BioPharma is a clinical stage start up developing recombinant human lubricin for the treatment of a variety of disease," said Schmidt. "We currently have a strategic partner for dry eye, with pending clinical trials in Australia following up on previous successful trial, and are starting to push on systemic treatment for other disease."
Chewing Gum Invention Prevents Oral Health Issues
Marcus A. Costa is a dental student in the Class of 2027 at UConn School of Dental Medicine but he already has a big idea to improve his future patients' oral health.
"I pitched a prebiotic-based chewing gum designed to support the oral microbiome, especially for populations like orthodontic patients who face barriers to traditional hygiene during the day," said Costa. "Unlike current products, our gum uses novel ingredient combinations backed by statistically significant lab data and protected by a provisional patent."
Costa was thrilled to have the opportunity to present his invention.
"I was incredibly excited to present this idea to UConn Technology Commercialization Services, industry leaders, and investors. This was a rare opportunity to showcase something I've worked hard to build in the lab, and I was eager to hear feedback from people who understand both the scientific and commercial potential of emerging health technologies."
His ultimate goal is to help patients everywhere prevent oral health issues.
"My biggest hope is to help redefine chewing gum, not as candy or a quick fix, but as a daily, science-backed tool for promoting oral health. Long-term, I want to see prebiotics become central to how we think about not just oral care, but preventative health more broadly. I believe this product can help lead that shift," said Costa.
After Costa's exciting presentation, one investor in the audience exclaimed, "I want to buy your gum!"
Dr. Steven M. Lepowsky, dean of UConn School of Dental Medicine, also applauded his School's innovative ideas.
"Our faculty, students and residents are fortunate to be able to work in an environment that encourages and supports innovation and entrepreneurship. The spirit of discovery and creativity simultaneously strengthens and enriches our educational programs," said Lepowsky.
