Georgetown’s research and entrepreneurship ecosystems converge to honor innovators

Highlights of Georgetown’s 2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards Ceremony

Georgetown University’s 2026 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Awards ceremony, held on April 22, marked a significant collaboration between the university’s scientific and business communities.

A cornerstone of the annual Georgetown University Research & Innovation Showcase, the event combined the Office of Technology Commercialization’s Crystal Awards and Georgetown Entrepreneurship’s Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards ceremonies. Leadership also recognized the many Georgetown faculty who disclosed inventions to OTC in the 2025 fiscal year, and awarded plaques to Georgetown inventors who had US patents issued in the same time frame.

Together, OTC and Georgetown Entrepreneurship build the university’s reputation as a place where discovery becomes real-world impact. OTC protects intellectual property and moves scientific discoveries along the pathway to the market. Georgetown Entrepreneurship has created a world-class environment connecting students and faculty with the wider world of business.

“What you’ve seen this morning — the research, the startups, the partnerships forming in real time — is the result of years of patient, rigorous, often unglamorous work,” said Spiros Dimolitsas, PhD, Georgetown’s senior vice president for research and chief technology officer. “And it is exactly what a research university is supposed to do. Our awards honor that work.”

Honoring a legacy of innovation leadership

Spiros Dimolitsas delivers remarks at the awards ceremony

Dimolitsas, who is retiring this year after two decades with the university, was honored with the Lifetime Service Award for his foundational role in Georgetown’s research expansion.

“Spiros’ vision and commitment to innovation have made a lasting impact on the university, creating capacity for researchers to translate their scholarly work into practical applications.”
Jeffrey Urbach, PhD, vice provost for research

Georgetown’s approach recognizes that the most pressing global challenges require both technical depth and entrepreneurial agility, driven by interdisciplinary cooperation.

“At Georgetown’s medical center, we are in the business of turning science into solutions,” said Anna Riegel, PhD, senior associate dean for biomedical graduate education. “Every day, our researchers are working at the intersections of biology and medicine, and technology and human need. Our research enterprise is broad, it is strong, and, increasingly, it is interconnected.”

Transforming scholarship into real-world impact

OTC leaders presented several Crystal Awards to faculty members who navigated the complex path from scholarship to commercialization:

Commercialization Award (all Berkley School of Nursing):

Heather Bradford, PhD, CNM, FACNM, Mary L. and Raymond T. Holden Endowed Professor in Maternal and Infant Health; assistant professor and assistant program director, BSON Nurse-Midwife (NM)/ Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) & WHNP Programs
Melicia Escobar DNP, CNM, WHNP-BC, FACNM, assistant professor
Kathryn Atkin, DNP, WHNP-BC, ANP-BC, assistant professor

Commercialization Award recipients Heather Bradford (left) and Melicia Escobar (right) with Zeinab Abouissa (center)

Bradford, Escobar, and Atkin were honored for their unique commercialization pathway through the creation of a comprehensive test prep resource titled Georgetown Midwifery & WHNP Board Review. Applying the Georgetown University value of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, the book prepares students for both the AMCB and NCC national exams.

“My coauthors and co-editors worked tirelessly to birth this midwifery and WHNP certification review book, with over 700 multiple choice questions,” Bradford said. “What an honor it was to receive the Commercialization Award. Georgetown’s Office of Technology Commercialization supported us to bring this midwife-/APRN-led innovation to market. We appreciate the OTC team’s creative approach and collaboration.”

Additional Crystal Award winners were:

Partnership Award:

Ophir Frieder, D.Phil, Georgetown professor, department of computer science; biostatistics, bioinformatics, and biomathematics, and cofounder of Xlue
Hao-Ren Yao, PhD, research scientist, Carnegie Mellon University, and chief technology officer, Xlue
Chenyan Xiong, PhD, associate professor, Carnegie Mellon University Language Technologies Institute and CEO, Xlue

OTC Recognition Award:

Mark Antonucci (MBA’19), senior director of development, science and technology, with the Office of Advancement
Aladin Aljaberi (MBA ‘26) and Malavika Sugumar (PhD ‘26) OTC technology commercialization interns

Innovator of the Year Award:

Adam Green, PhD, provost’s distinguished associate professor in Georgetown’s department of psychology and interdisciplinary program in neuroscience, co-founder of Hupside

Entrepreneur Award:

Monica Sanders, JD, Georgetown adjunct professor of law, founder and CEO, Bonne Terre Labs

“Georgetown faculty continue to demonstrate remarkable versatility in how they engage with the commercialization of their innovations. Whether developing software platforms or an educational curriculum, these awardees excel at translating complex ideas into practical solutions that address real-world challenges.”
Zeinab Abouissa, assistant director of licensing with OTC

Crystal Award honorees with Spiros Dimolitsas and Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak

Strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem

Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of being people for others, the Entrepreneurial Excellence Awards celebrate students, faculty, mentors, and community members whose contributions strengthen Georgetown’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“Entrepreneurship at Georgetown represents our values in action,” said Jeff Reid, founding director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship. “What makes our ecosystem truly special is that it takes a whole community to bring it to life. These awardees are a reminder that behind every bold idea is a network of students, faculty, mentors, and staff who show up every day to support, challenge, and inspire one another. Together, they are the engine that drives our mission forward and proves that entrepreneurship, at its best, is a team sport.”

The 2026 Entrepreneurial Excellence honorees include:

Outstanding Entrepreneurial Leadership Award:
- Emma Shaich (MSB’26)
- Aladin Aljaberi (MBA’26)
- Sara Medina (SOH’27)
- Shivang Juneja (MBA’26)
Entrepreneurship Faculty Excellence Award (All adjunct faculty members):
- Khuram Zaman
- John Jabara
- Jaye Gamble
- Serene Al-Momen
- Andrew Ting
Pat Henriques Outstanding Mentor Award:
- Ken Wake (G’16), entrepreneur in residence
Outstanding Venture Lab Member Award:
- Panos Kostopoulos (Proxy Foods)
- Dumi Mabhena (MBA’24)
Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award:
- Michael Korvyakov (BGA’27)
Legacy Award:
- Melissa Bradley (B’89), professor of practice