Vanderbilt University has announced the recipients of the Innovation Catalyst Fund awards for the February 2024 cycle. The program, designed to propel translational research and innovation into real-world solutions, continues to support faculty across diverse disciplines with pre-seed funding.
The recent awardees, selected for their groundbreaking projects, include:
- Matthew Bacchetta, H. William Scott, Jr. Chair in Surgery and professor of cardiac surgery: “Dynamic Organ Storage System”
- Michael Golinko, associate professor of plastic surgery: “Image Assist: Implementing the Standard for Mobile Clinical Photography”
- Rachel Heath, assistant director of the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender and Sexuality: “Courageous Voices in Action: The LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Project”
- Tina Iverson, Louise B. McGavock Chair and professor of pharmacology: “Inhibition of Bacterial Chemotaxis as an Antibiotic Potentiator”
- Stacy Sherrod, research associate professor of chemistry: “Molecular Omics for Personalized Skincare”
- Lauren Williamson, research assistant professor of pediatrics: “TissueAb: An Unbiased In Vivo Screening Platform to Identify Tissue Targeting Antibodies”
“I want to congratulate the awardees who are taking these bold steps to create real-world solutions from their innovative research,” said Padma Raghavan, vice provost for research and innovation and chief research officer. “Their projects are pushing the boundaries of their respective fields, and I am pleased to see that our inaugural awardees are already raising substantial seed funding for their startups.”
The Innovation Catalyst Fund, launched last year, aims to accelerate the maturation of faculty research ideas for market and community impact. Sponsored by Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver, and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Information Technology Brett Sweet, the fund reflects Vanderbilt’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation.
The Innovation Catalyst Fund provides support for proof of concept for commercialization, advancement of nascent projects with strong innovation potential, and the development of research projects with civic and social relevance. The program is managed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation in consultation with Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Office of Research and academic leadership.
The Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization oversees the proposal submission and review process, collaborating closely with deans on related initiatives across the university’s schools and colleges.
The next application cycle for the Innovation Catalyst Fund will close in October with subsequent cycles in February and June. All full-time faculty at VU and VUMC are eligible to apply, ensuring broad participation across all colleges and disciplines.
For more information about the Innovation Catalyst Fund and to stay updated on future initiatives, visit the Innovation Catalyst Fund website or email CatalystFunding@vanderbilt.edu.
