New event showcases research, innovation, and tech entrepreneurship at Georgetown
Highlights of Georgetown’s 2025 Research and Innovation Showcase
More than 300 faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, industry executives, and contributors to Georgetown University’s innovation ecosystem gathered this month for the inaugural Research and Innovation Showcase, a celebration that will become a regular feature in years to come as momentum builds around research translation, commercialization, and venture creation in the region.
The half-day celebration on April 1 featured scientific discoveries, new ventures, and a panel discussion by industry representatives. Preceding the public showcase at Georgetown University, the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) honored faculty innovators at the annual Innovation Awards luncheon ceremony. The OTC joined forces with Georgetown Entrepreneurship at McDonough School of Business to host the afternoon Research and Innovation Showcase.
“We launched the Research and Innovation Showcase because we wanted to expand beyond the already successful Innovation Awards ceremony to feature important members of the innovation ecosystem. The showcase is a unique opportunity to bring the key stakeholders together, including regional investors, executives, entrepreneurs, academics, and government officials who help move these inventions into the market where they can benefit society.”
Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak, PhD, vice president for technology commercialization at Georgetown
Historically, Georgetown has launched transformative technologies like the whole-body CT scanner, the allergy medication Allegra, and the HPV vaccine Gardasil.
“These aren’t just scientific milestones. They’re examples of how Georgetown research has already changed lives on a global scale.”
Spiros Dimolitsas, PhD, senior vice president for research and chief technology officer at Georgetown
And that tradition continues. Georgetown faculty presented novel cancer therapies and tools for neurological disorders, cutting-edge medical devices, AI-driven diagnostics, and digital health solutions. New software platforms, data-driven interventions, and even social science-based tools like validated surveys are also making their way into the world through licensing or new ventures.
Research showcase presenters included Louis Weiner, MD, director of Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center; Anton Wellstein, MD/ PhD, professor of surgery; Alexander Kroemer, MD/ PhD, professor of oncology and pharmacology; Styliani Alimperti, PhD, associate professor of biomedical engineering; Kai Liu, PhD, professor of physics; Makarand Paranjape, PhD, associate professor of physics; Ophir Frieder, PhD, professor of computer science; and Lisa Singh, professor and chair of the department of computer science.
Researchers and leaders from the university and the medical center spoke to a packed house at the event.
“Many of these innovations are being developed through partnerships with industry or launched as spinouts led by Georgetown founders.”
Robert Koenig, PhD, senior licensing manager with OTC
Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak, PhD, vice president for technology commercialization at Georgetown, moderates a panel of industry representatives.
Another feature of the Showcase was the industry panel, moderated by Litvin-Vechnyak, discussing research-market fit, building academia-industry bridges, and smart networking strategies with senior level representatives from AstraZeneca, Google Cloud, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens.
The showcase was the result of a collaboration between OTC and Georgetown Entrepreneurship. Throughout the year, the two organizations host joint and individual programs to support creation of new ventures founded either by students and alumni or, in the case of OTC, researchers and faculty and with the goal of advancing innovation based on research or scientific discoveries.
More recently, programs have included education for faculty entrepreneurs, seminar series that bring in speakers from across the ecosystem, and networking events. Based in OTC, and supported with the U.S. Economic Development Administration “‘Build to Scale” grant, Georgetown Tech Ventures supports technology-based startups and promotes collaboration between faculty and entrepreneurs.
“The pipeline of new startups is active, diverse, and growing—and it reflects our singular mission of entrepreneurship for the common good. Our collaboration with OTC and Georgetown Tech Ventures creates synergy among overall entrepreneurship activity at Georgetown and technology-based entrepreneurship specifically.”
Jeff Reid, founding director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship
Jeff Reid, founding director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship, speaks at the Showcase.
“We’re fortunate at Georgetown to have an incredible entrepreneurship program led by Jeff and his team at McDonough supporting entrepreneurs across the university. GTV catalyzes these opportunities for collaboration among entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers hoping to launch their discoveries into the world through commercialization.”
Christon Hill, program manager, Georgetown Tech Ventures
Faculty, students, and alumni pitched their startup companies at the Showcase.
The showcase closed with a venture fair, featuring pitches from faculty, students, and alumni startups working on disruptive technologies. Companies included KeifeRx, Darksaber Labs, NeuroAscend.AI, Frantz Viral Therapeutics, Nyxara, Torev Motors, Hilda, TeloHealth, and ZebraTox.
Eager to network, the crowd stayed well beyond the official closing time of the reception, sowing the seeds of innovation to come.
The Showcase crowd stayed to network well beyond the official end time.
Interested in partnering for innovation? More information on featured technologies, startup pitches, and speakers is available here on the showcase event page as well as in the program.