University of Pittsburgh Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

🔷🔶Pitt Innovators who have launched companies based on their research discoveries got their day in the limelight at the inaugural Pitt Startup Signing Day, where they donned their Pitt gear and "committed" to continue driving their innovations downfield toward the market. Thanks to Senior Associate Athletic Director Pat Bostick for helping to 📣cheer on our innovation teams.🔶🔷 https://hubs.li/Q02XXbjQ0 Zegenex Inc; Vanish Therapeutics; Astria Biosciences; Parent Heart Inc.; Monarch Therapeutics; Jason Lohmueller; Evan Facher, Ph.D., M.B.A

🏆 Congratulations to Turner Dairy Farms, named 2024 Regional Business of the Year! For over 90 years, Turner’s has been a staple of Western Pennsylvania’s dairy industry, providing award-winning products sourced exclusively from local family-owned farms. With more than 100 national awards since 1998, their commitment to quality, sustainability, and community has earned them a special place in Pittsburgh’s heart. A longstanding partnership with the University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence has helped Turner’s innovate and grow, ensuring the legacy of this fourth-generation family business thrives. Here's to many more years of excellence! 🧀🥛🌱

🎉 Congratulations to Bill Gaussa, recipient of the James "Chip" Hanlon Volunteer Mentor of the Year award! Bill has mentored countless Pitt innovation teams, helping them refine their value propositions and craft compelling pitches. His work includes partnering with the Innovation Institute to host the Philips Performance Innovation Challenge, advancing research in human performance. https://hubs.li/Q02XM81R0

University of Pittsburgh's 2024 Startup of the Year🚀 Surface Design Solutions, founded from the research of Tevis Jacobs Lab in the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering is revolutionizing surface performance optimization across industries. With a cutting-edge machine-learning platform, the company delivers rapid, physics-informed surface analyses in seconds—cutting down testing time from weeks to moments. Whether improving slip resistance, bio-compatibility, or manufacturing efficiency, Surface Design uses predictive models based on existing data to enhance production processes. From powdered metal components to medical devices, the platform is broadly applicable. Special thanks to Luke Thimons, the company’s Director of Customer Success, for helping customers implement this innovative solution and continually refine the user experience! 🌟 . #hailtopitt #H2P #hailtopossible #pittstartup

🎉 Congratulations to Daniel Buysse, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and Clinical and Translational Science, and UPMC Endowed Chair in Sleep Medicine, for being named the 2024 Outstanding Innovator of the Year! 🏆 Buysse’s groundbreaking research in sleep assessment, insomnia treatment, and sleep in aging has made a lasting impact on both the academic and clinical fields. He is best known for developing the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which has become the gold standard for measuring sleep quality, widely used by pharmaceutical companies and translated into more than 50 languages. With over 10,000 citations on PubMed and $6 million in licensing revenue, the PSQI is a testament to Buysse’s commitment to advancing sleep medicine. Buysse has also developed other sleep measurement tools and behavioral treatments for insomnia, further solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in his field. Recently, he received the University of Oxford Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute Academic Medal in recognition of his continued contributions to sleep research. Here's to many more years of innovation! 🌙🧠 #OutstandingInnovator #SleepResearch #InnovationInMedicine #PittInnovator #SleepMedicine #HealthTech

🌿 TerraGreen Sustainable Landscaping founded by Judy Foster, is a woman-owned business offering sustainable landscape solutions in the Pittsburgh region. With over 40 years of experience, TerraGreen creates eco-friendly outdoor spaces that promote healthy living. Supported by the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence, TerraGreen continues to grow while staying true to its commitment to responsible resource management. 🌍🌱 #hailtopitt #hailtopossible #pittsburgh

🎉 Huge congratulations to Adi Mittal, a med student at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, for his groundbreaking work in medical research and innovation! 🧠 Working in Dr. Friedlander Robert's lab, Adi helped develop a protein-based blood panel to predict aneurysm rupture risk. His startup, Astria Biosciences, has already won top awards, including the $20K Wells Competition and a $275K SBIR grant. 🚀 He’s also making waves in medical devices, recently competing in the Rice Business Plan Competition. Keep an eye on this rising star! 🌟 #PittInnovation #MedTech

Congratulations to Yuan Liu, Assistant Professor in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, and member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Aging Institute, for receiving the Emerging Innovator Award! 🎉 Liu’s groundbreaking research is focused on developing small molecule therapeutics to target protein degradation in age-related diseases. Her work aims to unlock new treatments for conditions like Alzheimer’s. In 2023, she received a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation for her Alzheimer’s project and is a co-founder of Generian Pharmaceuticals Inc., launched by UPMC Enterprises. Through a strategic collaboration with Mitobridge (Astellas Pharma), Generian is advancing novel therapies for diseases with limited treatment options. 🧠💡

Members of Pitt’s EI3 2024-25 faculty fellowship class will present at the upcoming Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS), held in Pittsburgh November 13-16.💡🌍 Cecelia C. Yates, Director of the EI3 program, along with several EI3 Fellows, will present a keynote address titled "Unleashing Innovation – A Passport to Limitless Possibilities and Social Impact". The keynote will address ways to unlock the creative potential of the university, inspiring, educating, and empowering students and faculty researchers to become innovators who push boundaries. Pitt’s EI3 program strives to cultivate faculty talent and expand access to Pitt’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. 🔗 Learn more about Pitt’s EI3 program: https://lnkd.in/dY9_RDCu 🔗 Learn more about the ABRCMS conference: https://lnkd.in/e229g_gd

Discover the rewards of commercializing innovation. Attend our upcoming Lunch and Learn on Nov 14 with John Inserra and learn how to identify market opportunities for your innovation. At this session you will learn about: 📋Assessing innovation value 📝Educational resources 💲Funding & pitch competitions https://hubs.ly/Q02WQPkr0