Twenty U-M faculty leaders named ‘Innovation Champions’

1/8/2025

A new program providing research commercialization support throughout the University of Michigan’s three campuses has named 20 faculty innovators to serve as “champions” in their schools, colleges and departments.

Innovation Champions is a new initiative led by Innovation Partnerships, the university’s central hub for research commercialization and a unit within the Office of the Vice President for Research. 

The inaugural cohort of Innovation Champions will serve as peer-level departmental contacts, sharing information and resources to help other researchers work with businesses and entrepreneurs to amplify the impact of their innovations.

The Champions will also disseminate innovation-related news to colleagues, suggest ways to provide better support for U-M innovators and collaborate with other members of the cohort and U-M leadership on innovation efforts universitywide. 

The Innovation Champions were chosen for their passion and dedication to advancing innovation within their units. Together, they have achieved more than 190 inventions, formed 40 commercialization partnerships and launched 10 startups based on U-M discoveries. The group includes two past recipients of the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award and one National Academy of Inventors fellow.

“The innovators chosen for this new program are some of the most active in the university’s research commercialization ecosystem,” said Bryce Pilz, assistant vice president for research – licensing and strategic alliances. “These Champions were selected for their passion for innovation and willingness not only to learn but to take those insights back to their colleagues and help guide them through the innovation process.”

The first cohort includes:

• School of Nursing: Melissa Bathish, clinical associate professor of nursing.
• College of Information: Kevyn Collins-Thompson, associate professor of information.
• School of Dentistry: Alexandre DaSilva, professor of dentistry.
• College of Engineering: Krisztian Flautner, clinical professor of electrical engineering and computer science.
• School of Public Health: Justin Heinze, associate professor of health behavior and health equity.
• University of Michigan – Dearborn: Kas Kasravi, lecturer III in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering.
• LSA: Robert Kennedy, Hobart H. Willard Distinguished University Professor of Chemistry and professor of chemistry.
• College of Engineering: Wei Lu, James R. Mellor Professor of Engineering, professor of electrical engineering and computer science and professor of materials science and engineering.
• University of Michigan – Flint: Khalid Malik, director of cybersecurity and professor of computer science.
• Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning: Mania Aghaei Meibodi, assistant professor of architecture.
• College of Pharmacy: James Moon, J G Searle Professor and professor of pharmaceutical sciences.
• Life Sciences Institute: Alison Narayan, Mary Sue Coleman Collegiate Professor in the Life Sciences and chemical biology program director and research professor.
• Medical School: Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska, associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral studies and professor of pathology.
• College of Engineering: Chinedum Okwudire, professor of mechanical engineering.
• Medical School: Arvind Rao, professor of computational medicine and bioinformatics and professor of radiation oncology.
• Medical School: Katherine Rosenblum, professor of psychiatry, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, professor of pediatrics and co-program director Zero to Thrive and Women and Infant Mental Health Program.
• Medical School: Simpa Salami, associate professor of urology.
• Medical School: Eric Shah, clinical associate professor of internal medicine.
• Medical School: Maria Woodward, Edward T. and Ellen K. Dryer Career Development Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; 
• Medical School: Alan Sugar M.D. Research Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences and section head, cornea. 
• College of Engineering: Zhen Xu, Li Ka Shing Professor in Biomedical Engineering;  professor of biomedical engineering.

The program builds on U-M’s success in technology commercialization, which ranks #2 for startups formed and invention reports received among all U.S. universities, according to the latest annual licensing survey from AUTM, a nonprofit organization that supports research commercialization at universities and other institutions.

In the last two fiscal years alone, U-M obtained almost 1,200 invention reports, launched more than 50 startups, executed almost 600 licenses and options and received nearly $50 million in licensing revenue. 

The Champions will receive customized training from the Innovation Partnerships team on topics such as assessing new innovations, launching startups, industry-sponsored research approaches, understanding the licensing process and working with venture capital investors. 

The program is part of Innovation Partnerships’ broader mission to amplify the positive societal impacts of U-M research discoveries through research commercialization. 

“Our office is dedicated to providing faculty with the resources, guidance and connections they need to navigate the commercialization process,” said Kelly Sexton, associate vice president for research – innovation partnerships and economic impact. “This remarkable group of Innovation Champions will extend that support by serving as key resources within their units, bridging the gap between research and real-world application. Through their leadership and collaboration, we can accelerate the impact of U-M research discoveries, fuel our region’s economic growth and contribute to solutions that improve lives globally.”

For more information, contact the Innovation Partnerships’ team at innovationpartnerships@umich.edu.