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Propelling the real-world impact of Northwestern research

Simpson-Q Accelerators launch with $25 million in support from Trustee Kimberly K. Querrey

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

Evanston, Ill. --- Every day, Northwestern University researchers are developing innovative ways to improve people's lives. The Simpson-Q Accelerators represent a bold new initiative within the Querrey InQbation Lab ("The Q") designed to propel the University's most promising discoveries beyond the laboratory and into the marketplace, clinic and broader society.

Made possible by $25 million in philanthropic funding from University Trustee Kimberly K. Querrey ('22, '23 P), the Simpson-Q Accelerators will significantly expand Northwestern's capacity to translate interdisciplinary research into scalable solutions that address urgent global challenges and strengthen the University's pillars of excellence. The initiative will begin with a focus on data and artificial intelligence, medical technologies, and therapeutics, with additional accelerators expected to build on Northwestern's other areas of strength over time.

"Creating a path from the research stage to market is critical to societal impact," said Interim President and President Emeritus Henry S. Bienen '09 H ('19, '25, '28 GP). "We are grateful for Kimberly Querrey's vision for this programming, which continues her and her late husband Lou Simpson's legacy of generous support for Northwestern researchers and entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of discovery."

Leveraging interdisciplinary strengths

The Simpson-Q Accelerators bring together focused cohorts and intensive translational support to move Northwestern technologies to investment readiness and deployment. Building on the proven accelerator programming that The Q has developed over the past two years, the new initiatives expand that model to support a broader range of innovations emerging across the University. By aligning scientific excellence with commercialization strategy, the accelerators create a powerful pathway from discovery to measurable impact.

The first wave of accelerators will initially concentrate on three domains where Northwestern's research leadership and societal needs intersect. Each will be deeply integrated with the University's cross-disciplinary institutes and centers, ensuring that innovations benefit from the full breadth of Northwestern's expertise.

• The data and artificial intelligence accelerator will focus on advancing secure, trustworthy and collaborative AI systems that power next-generation industries and capabilities to benefit the public, drawing on leading work from hubs such as the Northwestern Security and AI Lab as well as the Northwestern Network for Collaborative Intelligence.
• The medtech accelerator will prioritize the development of intelligent devices and care platforms that enhance patient outcomes and health care delivery, leveraging breakthroughs from institutes such as the Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering at Northwestern University, Querrey Simpson Institute for Translational Engineering for Advanced Medical Systems, Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics and Institute for AI in Medicine.
• The therapeutics accelerator will advance breakthrough treatments from bench to bedside with greater speed and precision, translating discoveries from centers and institutes such as the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Lurie Cancer Center, Center for Synthetic Biology, Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics and Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science.

"Northwestern is generating discoveries with the potential to reshape industries," said Vice President for Research Eric Perreault. "The Simpson Q Accelerators will give these ideas the focused support they need to reach the world faster - fueling new companies, new partnerships and new solutions to pressing societal challenges."

A translational toolkit

By bridging disciplines across engineering, medicine, computing and the social sciences, the accelerators will address complex societal challenges that no single field can solve alone.

• The Q will provide each accelerator cohort with a coordinated suite of resources designed to reduce risk, escalate research development and position technologies for adoption:
  Entrepreneurial and business fellows who focus on de-risking the technical and business aspects of potential commercial opportunities
• Kellogg School of Management MBA student interns who apply their professional insight and expertise in understanding market feasibility and support venture development
• Bridge and gap funding to help researchers and early-stage startups achieve critical development milestones that advance the translation of Northwestern research
• Executives-in-residence who offer their deep industry expertise to mentor faculty and startups alike

This curated suite of resources enables teams to expedite technologies, engage strategic partners earlier, and build ventures capable of attracting investment and delivering societal benefit.

From discovery to deployment

The Simpson-Q Accelerators expand and enhance The Q's mission to transform Northwestern's research excellence into tangible outcomes that improve lives, strengthen industries and address global needs. By organizing cohorts around Northwestern's areas of research strength, the accelerators concentrate resources to generate momentum, foster shared learning and deliver scalable impact across sectors.

"The Simpson Q Accelerators do more than help launch startups," said Lisa Dhar, associate vice president for Northwestern's Innovation and New Ventures Office. "They create a continuous cycle where insights from commercialization feed back into research, making future discoveries even stronger."

The accelerators are the newest addition to Northwestern's robust ecosystem designed to maximize the impact of University research.

"We are at a moment when the pace of innovation must match the urgency of global challenges," Querrey said. "The Simpson-Q Accelerators will empower Northwestern researchers to move faster, think bigger and deliver solutions that make a measurable impact in people's lives."

Querrey's gifts in support of research and innovation at Northwestern include the Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Kimberly K. Querrey and Louis A. Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Querrey InQbation Lab, Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering at Northwestern University, Simpson Querrey Institute for Epigenetics, Simpson Querrey Lung Institute for Translational Science, Simpson Querrey Center for Neurogenetics, Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease, Querrey Simpson Institute for Translational Engineering for Advanced Medical Systems and Simpson Querrey Brain Health Institute, as well as several endowed professorships and research centers across STEM and business disciplines, including the Kimberly Querrey Professorship of Astrophysics.

Querrey's leadership in research is exercised through her membership and past chairship of the Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee of the University's Board of Trustees, where she also serves as the current chair of the Governance and Nominations Committee and a member of the Executive Committee.