Rafik B. Hariri Building, Georgetown Washington, DC 20057
The Office of Technology Commercialization, in collaboration with Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, is excited to announce the first Research and Innovation Showcase event. This half-day celebration will highlight discoveries, celebrate innovation, feature new ventures, and connect academia with industry and investors. The event includes research presentations, an industry panel discussion, and a venture fair presenting new, exciting entrepreneurial companies and teams from the Georgetown community.
Explore the latest breakthroughs across key research areas in Life Sciences, MedTech, Physical Sciences, AI, and Software.
Life Science & MedTech
Dr. Lou Weiner has dedicated his career as a researcher and clinician to developing cancer immunotherapy for gastrointestinal malignancies. His recent work has led to the discovery of a novel approach for 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.. Through ongoing research in the lab, Dr. Weiner and his team have engineered immune cells that overexpress specific proteases, a breakthrough that holds promise for developing innovative cell therapies to treat challenging solid tumors.
Drs. Wellstein and Kroemer are advancing the field of diagnostics through their research on cell-free DNA. Their work focuses on improving outcomes for organ transplant patients and developing a non-invasive blood based diagnostic for identifying affected cell types in different tissues. By leveraging proprietary DNA methylation maps of targeted tissues, they have discovered—and continue to refine—methods for detecting cell type-specific tissue damages from blood samples. Their goal is to monitor patients after transplant and rehabilitate livers to their optimal transplantable state, ultimately improving transplant success rates.
Drs. Wellstein and Kroemer are advancing the field of diagnostics through their research on cell-free DNA. Their work focuses on improving outcomes for organ transplant patients and developing a non-invasive blood based diagnostic for identifying affected cell types in different tissues. By leveraging proprietary DNA methylation maps of targeted tissues, they have discovered—and continue to refine—methods for detecting cell type-specific tissue damages from blood samples. Their goal is to monitor patients after transplant and rehabilitate livers to their optimal transplantable state, ultimately improving transplant success rates.
Dr. Alimperti and her team are driven to develop and utilize new biomedical technologies that reduce the burden on patients suffering from debilitating diseases. Her research at Georgetown University focuses on understanding the factors that influence the development, maintenance, dysfunction, and repair/regeneration of craniofacial and musculoskeletal tissues. To achieve this, they are developing advanced technologies that combine cellular engineering, materials science, molecular biology, micro- and nanofabrication, and additive manufacturing. These innovations will allow them to develop personalized therapeutics for complex craniofacial and musculoskeletal diseases by engineering new drug treatments and 3D-printed bone grants for tissue regeneration applications. Specifically, they have developed a novel 3D printing approach that allows the generation of 3D printed pre-vascularized bone scaffolds with controlled and pre-defined microstructural and mechanical properties which will enhance graft-host integration and regeneration in various anatomic locations.
This presentation outlines the evolution of a transdermal patch technology for sensing clinically-relevant blood-borne biomolecules – without the need of drawing any blood! This is accomplished in a completely non-invasive manner by passively harvesting interstitial fluid from just beneath the skin, which contains many of the biomolecules / biomarkers found in blood. The transdermal patch, which can be batch manufactured using silicon chip micro-fabrication techniques, is being transitioned to a passive and non-invasive drug delivery platform. The platform technology will a broad range of drugs to be delivered in a simple, user-applied, patient-friendly manner.
Dr. Frieder will share updates on an AI-driven technology, which aids doctors in selecting the best medications for patients, improving care and reducing antibiotic resistance. Unlike traditional “black box” AI models that provide recommendations without explanation, this system offers reasons for its prescription recommendations. The goal of this research and innovation is a real-time, scalable, and personalized drug prediction system that healthcare providers can trust and use effectively.
Dr. Zachary Cooper is a Senior Director of External R&D at AstraZeneca. As part of AstraZeneca for 9 years, Zachary has brought robust expertise in tumor immunology, the tumor microenvironment, and biomarker analysis in clinical samples/trials. Dr. Cooper has initiated and managed external collaborations and alliances at AstraZeneca, influencing the portfolio’s strategy for various therapeutic areas including immuno-oncology, cell therapy and antibody drug-conjugates (ADCs). He previously led translational strategy for a variety of first time in human trials for immuno-oncology including the adenosine pathway (CD73 and CD39) and ADCs targeting B7H4. Prior to AstraZeneca, he served as an Assistant Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Surgical Oncology and Genomic Medicine, where he focused on understanding response and resistance to targeted therapies and immunotherapy for melanoma. Dr. Cooper obtained his PhD in Molecular Medicine from the University of Maryland, as well as Postdoctoral Fellowships at Brown University and Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Cooper has authored over 80 manuscripts including those in Science, Nature, Cell, Nature Genetics, Lancet Oncology, Cancer Discovery, Cancer Cell, and others.
Alex Cameron, MS, MBA Global Vice President and Head of Siemens Solutions
Alex Cameron is the Global Vice President and Head of Siemens Solutions at Siemens Healthineers, leading global marketing across a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic solutions, including analyzers, assays, informatics, and automation. His focus is on delivering integrated value to healthcare providers worldwide. Previously, Alex served as Senior Director and Business Leader for Lab Automation at BD Integrated Diagnostic Solutions, where he oversaw marketing, operations, R&D, regulatory affairs, HR, and finance. His diagnostics background also includes leading Zimmer Biomet’s diagnostics business, where he was instrumental in product launches, M&A, and corporate strategy. Actively engaged in his community, Alex serves on the Young Professionals Board of First Tee of Baltimore and mentors with Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures. He has also served on the board of the Maryland Tech Council. Alex holds an MBA from The Wharton School, an MS from Johns Hopkins University, and a BS from Dickinson College. He resides with his family in the Baltimore area.
Adam Deer Industry Executive, Rapid Innovation for Education and Research, Google Cloud
Adam is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of technology in education. With an 18-year tenure at Google spanning diverse roles, Adam has spent the last 10 years dedicated to building cutting-edge technology solutions for the education industry. His expertise lies in leveraging Generative AI to address critical challenges in K-12 and higher education, improving teaching and learning experiences, and empowering research computing.
Nine pitches from faculty, students, and alumni-led startups working on disruptive technologies. The event will attract investors, venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporate innovation teams eager to engage with emerging ventures.
Frantz Viral Therapeutics (FVT) is working to change the landscape of care for human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced pre-cancers (intraepithelial neoplasia). There are no approved non-surgical therapies to treat these indications, which affect nearly 1 million people in the US each year alone. The treatment was discovered by Dr. Richard Schlegel and others at Georgetown, and FVT is led by two alumni. FVT is well positioned to be the first to market in this space with a self-administered topical formulation of artesunate. Phase 1/2A studies were completed with excellent safety data and promising efficacy results. Three randomized Phase 2B studies are currently enrolling in cervical, vulvar, and anal indications.
KeifeRx is a spin-out from Georgetown University founded in 2019 focused on developing disease-modifying treatments for dementia. We have exclusively licensed a pipeline of potent kinase inhibitors developed in the lab of Dr. Moussa that have been shown in clinical trials to slow dementia at twice the rates of existing drugs in half the time without negative side effects. This translates directly into extended quality of life and reduced suffering for patients.
Yun-Ling Zheng, MD, PhD, Founder and President TeloHealthDx
TeloHealthDx LLC, founded in 2022, is a biotechnology company specializing in telomere profiling technology. Our proprietary technology improves diagnostic accuracy for telomere- and aging-related diseases. Our mission is to enhance human healthspan by developing innovative and affordable telomere profiling tests for health assessment, diagnostics, and research.
Provision Surgical is revolutionizing orthopedic surgery through an augmented reality (AR)-based platform that projects 3D patient-specific model and surgical plans, delivering a “see-through” view of critical anatomy directly in the surgeon’s field of vision. We minimize cognitive load to enhance implant alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), reducing risks of poor patient outcomes and costly revisions while making surgeries more efficient. With over 600,000 TKAs performed annually in the US, our scalable software subscription model suits diverse care settings, with plans to expand surgical navigation capabilities and into other specialties.
Hilda is the first AI recruiting assistant for home care agencies. We remove friction from the recruiting process by automating repetitive low-value tasks, such as reviewing applications, engaging candidates, screening them, scheduling interviews, and sending reminders. With Hilda, agencies improve their speed-to-hire and reduce candidate churn, while freeing their staff to focus on more important tasks: like caring for patients.
Darksaber Labs is transforming situational awareness for both military and civilian agencies, enhancing their ability to monitor and respond to dynamic environments on the ground and in the air. Our innovative software and AI-powered hardware platform equips personnel with real-time insights, empowering them to make informed decisions faster. Built by experts who have firsthand experience with these challenges, Darksaber Labs delivers cutting-edge technology tailored to the mission.
NeuroAscend.AI is transforming Alzheimer’s care through cutting-edge AI-driven solutions that empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Our mission is to slow disease progression, enhance quality of life, and provide highly personalized care plans tailored to each individual’s health profile, medications, and preferences. By integrating AI-powered adaptive routines, cognitive support, and real-time insights, we bridge technology and human compassion to create holistic, patient-centric care solutions.
Nyxara is pioneering next-generation optical laser communication systems to enable ultra-high-speed space-to-ground data transfer. Our technology delivers 100 times more data throughput per downlink compared to traditional RF systems while being 10 times cheaper to deploy. Designed for satellite operators, defense applications, and commercial space enterprises, Nyxara’s solution overcomes cloud cover disruptions using high-powered laser beams, ensuring reliable, secure, and high-bandwidth connectivity. By revolutionizing how data is transmitted from space, we are unlocking new possibilities for Earth observation, deep space exploration, and real-time global communications.
Torev is powering the future of mobility through our next-generation, rare earth-free electric motors. The Torev Boost motor offers customers unprecedented performance while saving costs and offering insulation from the rare earth metals supply chain. The company’s innovative approach to electric propulsion has been featured in MotorTrend, the Society of Automotive Engineers Update, and led to the company winning the 2024 Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge.
This event is a must-attend for researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners eager to explore collaborations, funding opportunities, and commercialization pathways for innovative Georgetown technologies.
Networking reception (5:00-6:30 PM)
2024 Innovation Awards Networking Highlights
Registration Information:
Please RSVP by March 24th, 2025, to secure your place at this prestigious celebration of innovation. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the Georgetown and regional innovation and entrepreneurship community.
