Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award

2024 Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award

This year’s Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award recipient is Dr. Kevin Ward, executive director of the Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation and a professor of emergency medicine and biomedical engineering. This 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. Dr. Ward has achieved many incredible accomplishments during his time at U-M, including establishing the Weil Institute (formerly known as the Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care) and the Fast Forward Medical Innovation program. He’s also founded multiple startups and received FDA approval for several of his innovations. The award was established in 2007 and is supported by endowments from the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Stephen and Rosamund Forrest Family Foundation.

Dr. Ward will be honored and presented with the award at Celebrate Invention on Tuesday, October 15 from 3:00pm-6:00pm at the Michigan League. To learn more about Celebrate Invention and to register for the event, please visit our Celebrate Invention page.

Celebrate Invention is free and open to the public; however, registration is required.

To learn more about Dr. Ward, please check out our profile in the University Record.

About The Award

Eligibility

A current member of the tenure/tenure track, research, or clinical faculty, or a team of up to five faculty members. Nominations of outstanding women, minorities and members of other groups historically underrepresented in their disciplines are encouraged.

Award

An honorarium of $5,000 to the individual recipient or shared by the team recipients.

Award Criteria

The Distinguished University Innovator(s) will have accomplished one or more of the following:

• Developed a breakthrough idea, process, or technology and demonstrated its transformational potential relative to an otherwise conventionally accepted practice or market;
• Taken a significant innovation developed in the University through to market-readiness, either through partnership with a commercial enterprise, licensing a patent, or by starting a company;
• Demonstrated a new method or means for moving innovations from the University into the private sector through the establishment of partnerships or other relationships that promote the strategic or economic position of the region, state or nation.

Previous Award Recipients

View a list of previous award recipients for the Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award.