Gap Fund advances cutting-edge Georgetown research toward real-world applications in fourth funding round

The Office of Technology Commercialization and the Office of Advancement are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Evergreen Gap Fund awards. The funds are designed to provide crucial support to innovative research projects with high commercial potential that bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world applications, address important scientific challenges and pave the way for significant advancements in the field. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following recipients:

Louis M. Weiner, MD

Director, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center; Director, MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute; Chair and Professor, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine

Project Title: Protease-Unleashed CAR-T and NK Cells for the Therapy of Solid Tumors 

Researchers are exploring a new approach to enhancing the anti-tumor activity of NK cells and CAR-T cells by increasing their ability to penetrate the dense tumor microenvironment in pancreatic and other solid tumors. These lymphoid cells have already revolutionized the treatment of blood tumors such as lymphoma, and they have the potential to treat a wide range of other cancers.

Jill P. Smith, MD

Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine; Member, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Project Title: Proglumide Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers will study the efficacy of a repurposed drug—proglumide, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Approved for treating stomach ulcers, proglumide has the appealing capability of crossing the blood-brain barrier, overcoming a major challenge and fueling interest in neurodegenerative disease indications. An additional advantage is that proglumide shows anti-proliferative properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-fibrosis properties.

Kaveh Jorabchi, PhD

Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts & Sciences

Project Title: Cost-Effective, Scalable, and Standard-Free Compound Quantitation for Critical Chemical Analysis Applications

Researchers will continue to develop instrumentation and a method for detecting atoms in molecules, a critical need in drug development and other applications. The project will overcome bottlenecks such as low sensitivity and slow and costly analysis, providing more cost-effective, sensitive, energy efficient, and fast detection of prevalent atoms.

These projects were selected after a rigorous review process by our panel of esteemed experts. Each proposal demonstrated significant potential for advancing cutting-edge research and translating it into practical applications with tangible impact. The chosen projects span a wide range of disciplines and showcase the exceptional talent and diversity of our researchers. This year, for the first time, applicants were paired with external advisors to further their goals. We are confident that the recipients’ pioneering work will bring about meaningful advances in their respective fields.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the faculty members who submitted their proposals and our dedicated reviewers who ensured a fair and thorough evaluation process.

We also extend our appreciation to our generous donors whose gifts have made these awards possible. Interested in learning more about how to support the Evergreen Gap Fund and cutting-edge research at Georgetown? Contact Mark Antonucci or donate here.