MEDC, U-M Award $1.8M to Support Eight Innovative Biomedical Research Projects
3/18/2024
Eight innovative biomedical research projects, designed to address challenges from opioid use disorder to preterm birth, recently received more than $1.8 million from the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Life Sciences Innovation Hub, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and Innovation Partnerships.
Led by researchers at the University of Michigan, Corewell Health and Wayne State University, the eight projects aim to address significant unmet healthcare needs and enhance quality of life.
The MTRAC Life Sciences Innovation Hub is supported by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and is co-managed by Innovation Partnerships, based in OVPR, and Fast Forward Medical Innovation, based in the Medical School Office of Research.
Since 2014, the hub has provided more than $20 million to support projects led by Michigan-based researchers that range in scope from medical devices and therapeutics to diagnostics and health information technology. Projects supported by the hub have yielded more than $180 million in follow-on funding, launched more than 40 startups and created 140 high-tech jobs in Michigan.
“The MTRAC Life Sciences Hub has a proven track record of generating strong positive impact across our state and region,” said Kelly Sexton, associate vice president for research – innovation partnerships and economic impact.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued investment in high-tech biomedical research from the MEDC and the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research.”
MTRAC Life Sciences received 20 competitive proposals this year from institutions statewide, including Corewell Health, Michigan State University, Oakland University, U-M and WSU. Projects were then selected by an oversight committee composed of experienced technologists, entrepreneurs, industry partners and venture capitalists developing and investing in life sciences technologies. Applicants and awardees benefit from access to experienced mentors-in-residence, commercialization education programming and feedback from an extended network of professionals.
“The MTRAC Life Sciences Innovation Hub continues to source and fund high-impact biomedical technologies from across the state of Michigan,” said MEDC University Technology Program Director Larry Herriman.
“The program has yielded returns to the state through follow-on funding, job creation and technology licensing.”
Funding from the MEDC will support the following five projects:
- Maik Hüttemann and Jinsheng Zhang (WSU) – Product development and human feasibility trial of novel non‐invasive device for effective treatment of tinnitus
- Nishaki Mehta (Corewell Health) – PressRite: Novel compression device to reduce post-operative hematoma formation and improve wound healing in patients undergoing pacemaker/defibrillator implantation
- Eric Shah (U-M) – Rectal expulsion device (RED): A point-of-care test to transform care for chronic constipation
- Molly Stout (U-M) – Fully quantitative cervical elastography: addressing a key unmet need in pregnancy care
- John Traynor (U-M) – Allosteric modulators for the treatment of opioid use disorder
“The projects funded by the hub focus on biomedical innovations that have the potential to greatly impact human lives,” said Steven Kunkel, executive vice dean for research at the Medical School and chief scientific officer of Michigan Medicine.
In addition to funding from the MEDC, OVPR and Innovation Partnerships elected to support three additional projects that were reviewed favorably by the oversight committee.
- Robert Gregg (U-M) – A powered energy-assist ankle orthosis for arthritic ankle deformities
- Khalid Malik (UM-Flint) – Hemorrhagepredictor: A Multimodal, Neuro-symbolic, and Federated AI-based Tool for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Prediction
- Duxin Sun (U-M) – Dual functional drug overcomes STING resistance by eliminating Bregs for long-term anticancer efficacy in pancreatic cancer
“These projects are designed to find solutions to some of the greatest challenges impacting healthcare,” says Rebecca Cunningham, vice president for research and innovation.
“This support reflects the University of Michigan’s ongoing commitment to translating research discoveries and innovations to positively impact society.”
To learn more about current or past MTRAC Life Sciences projects, or how your organization can get involved, please visit us at MTRAC Life Sciences Innovation Hub or contact Meghan Cuddihy, PhD, program director.
Additional information on partner MTRAC programs:
Co-funded through the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), which is administered by the MEDC and through university cost-sharing, the MTRAC Innovation Hub for Life Sciences at U-M is part of a network of statewide innovation hubs that includes the MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Transportation at U-M, the MTRAC Innovation Hub for AgBio at Michigan State University, the MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Materials at Michigan Technological University and the MTRAC Innovation Hub for Advanced Computing at Wayne State University. Each hub is strategically located at a university with significant strengths in the sector, further increasing the quality and quantity of resources available. Since the inception of the statewide program in 2016 through September 2023, MTRAC Innovation Hubs have received 662 proposals, funded 334 projects, developed 66 startup companies, licensed 50 technologies to industry partners and secured more than $292 million in follow-on funding.
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness, and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.