Celebrate Invention
Celebrating the Impact of Michigan Innovation.
Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 3-6pm | Michigan Union
Celebrate Invention is an annual event that honors University of Michigan inventors and the growing impact of U-M innovations.
Event highlights include demonstrations from promising U-M startups, discussion panels featuring prominent inventors and alumni, networking opportunities and the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award presentation ceremony.
Event Schedule:
3-4pm: Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Presentation & Panel
4-6pm: Networking Reception
Celebrate Invention 2026 is hosted in partnership with Ann Arbor Spark and a2Tech360.
Click here to learn more about a2Tech360.
2026 Distinguished University Innovator of the Year: H. David Humes, M.D.
In recognition of the impact of this work developing the Selective Cytopheretic Device, H. David Humes, M.D. is being awarded this year’s Distinguished University Innovator of the Year. The award is the highest honor for U-M faculty members who have developed transformative ideas, processes or technologies and shepherded them to market for broad societal impact. It was established in 2007 and is supported by endowments from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Stephen and Rosamund Forrest Family Foundation.
Click here to learn more about Dr. Humes and the impact of his work
Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Presentation & Panel
“From Bench to Bedside: A Sepsis Breakthrough Two Decades in the Making”
Featuring speakers:
- H. David Humes, Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Nephrologist, University of Michigan; 2026 Distinguished University Innovator of the Year
- Eric Schlorff, CEO, SeaStar Medical
- Kelly Sexton (moderator), Associate Vice President for Research – Innovation Partnerships and Economic Impact
- Lenar Yessayan, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Acute Dialysis Program, Michigan Medicine
Kiosk Participants
- Aquora Biosystems – Aquora Biosystems partners with renewable fuel developers to transform organic waste into valuable fertilizers and fuels, while destroying environmental contaminants like PFAS and microplastics.
- ArtOva Biosciences – ArtOva Biosciences is developing a regenerative medicine therapy designed to restore ovarian hormone production in girls and women with impaired ovarian endocrine function.
- HealthyLifetime – HealthyLifetime’s flagship SaaS platform, Proving Care Works, helps healthcare organizations identify early risk for decline, support behavior change and measure the impact of coaching and care coordination.
- Light Forms – Light Forms is a compressive, tessellated glass block system engineered for light transmission and structural performance.
- Linkage Community – Linkage Community is Michigan’s only statewide, member-driven network for creative individuals with lived experience of incarceration.
- Medication Data Science (MeDS) – MeDS is transforming medication safety and pharmacy operations through an AI-powered suite of safety and productivity solutions that prevent medication errors, automate clinical and operational workflows and dramatically improve productivity.
- Selective Cytopheretic Device – The selective cytopheretic device for pediatrics (SCD-PED), brand name QUELIMMUNE, is an extracorporeal cartridge/device connected in-line to an existing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT/hemodialysis) circuit.
- Veradyn Medical – Veradyn Medical is building a wearable system that gives allergists an objective, real-time physiological signal of an allergic reaction before symptoms are obvious.
- ZetaStorm – ZetaStorm is a neurosymbolic AI audit tool that uses natural-language requirements to deterministically prove that software conforms to specified standards, producing tamper-evident, third-party-verifiable attestation.
Registration – Celebrate Invention 2026
Celebrate Invention is free and open to the public; however, registration is required.