UCSD - University of California - San Diego
01/16/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/16/2025 05:22
2025 AIM Award Recipients Rise to the Top
Story by:
Published Date
January 16, 2025Article Content
Now in its eighth year, UC San Diego's Accelerating Innovation to Market (AIM)program kicks off what promises to be yet another successful year with the announcement of its latest roster of awarded projects for 2025. This dynamic initiative, led by the Office of Innovation and Commercialization, focuses on expediting groundbreaking university technologies into market-ready solutions through resources and funding. Unique to this year, however, the total award pool leaped to an impressive $400,000, over 60% larger than in previous years, which then allowed the program to double the number of startups it could fund. The record increase was due in large part to the support of the University of California Office of the President, which graciously matched funding with the Entrepreneurship Council.
"We are incredibly grateful for the additional funds and excited to support the growth of exceptional startups like those in this year's cohort," said Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Roben of Innovation and Commercialization. "Programs like AIM are essential to not only driving startups' innovation journey but also reinforcing UC San Diego's role as a global leader in transformative innovation and societal impact."
AIM candidates underwent a thorough selection process designed to identify projects with strong potential for success, focusing on innovation, feasibility, market readiness, and strategic planning. To further bridge disparities in innovation, the AIM program emphasizes recruiting entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities, ensuring technologies are designed with diverse populations in mind.
This multi-faceted rubric leverages insights from an esteemed panel of industry experts over a two-day period. Drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds, AIM's industry panelists are chosen to reflect the identity parity of the university, underscoring the program's dedication to representation and mentorship at all levels. This year's industry review panel included:
- Claudia Jette - Drug Discovery Consultant
- Nicholas Mourlas - Johnson & Johnson Innovation - Jlabs
- Ravi Kiron - Biopharma Strategy Advisors
- Alex Tran - Plug & Play Tech Center Venture Capital
- Justin Chapman - Deerfield Discovery and Development (3DC)
- Anna Leese De Escobar - Technology Vector Inc. | UC San Diego EIR
- Rachel Costello - Bonna Vita Ventures | UC San Diego EIR
- SK Sharma - Universal Music Group | UC San Diego EIR
- Stephen Fay - Plug & Play Tech Center Venture Capital
- Avon Kendrick - Business Development Consultant | UC San Diego EIR
- Darek Defreece - Bow Capital | Berkeley Space Center
- Ben Narisin - Tenacity Venture Capital
- Rand Norberg - Thermo Fisher Scientific
"I was impressed by the cross disciplinary teams and inventions," said AIM Panel Member Anna Leese of the applicant pool. "Clearly the culture at UC San Diego encourages collaboration to achieve useful innovation. What better way to make a difference than to work together to solve common problems using creativity? This kind of innovation is indicative of an environment of intellectual safety, where people are encouraged to take chances together to create new ideas."
The award-winning projects exemplify the power of innovation to address pressing global challenges across diverse fields. From advancing healthcare technologies and sustainable solutions to tackling environmental conservation and improving diagnostic tools, these groundbreaking initiatives showcase the creativity and expertise of their creators. Together, they represent a commitment to transformative impact, equity, and the pursuit of solutions that enhance human health, protect our planet, and push the boundaries of what is possible through science and technology.
"We're here to support AIM projects that are making a real difference and there's still work to do," said Shane Moise, senior manager for strategic innovation alliances at the Office of Innovation and Commercialization. "Many of these game-changing ideas need follow-on funding and committed support networks to keep momentum going. That's where our industry partners, early investors, and venture capital collaborators make the biggest impact."
Let's learn about the awardees.
Erin Walsh
Project:Low-cost Infant Suckling Diagnostics to Improve Breastfeeding Outcomes
Description:Breastfeeding is widely recognized as one of the most beneficial practices for infants and mothers, offering numerous health, emotional, and economic advantages. A major contributor to establishing effective feeding practices relates to latch and milk transfer. An infant's suckling competence remains surprisingly subjective. Clinicians continue to routinely use a gloved finger in an infant's mouth to describe non-nutritive suckling. The vast variability among providers misleads families during critical days when lactation is established. Our technology using an off-the-shelf pacifier with an inexpensive disposable sensor provides real-time analysis of eight suckling parameters and applies machine learning algorithms to detect anomalies.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
Stephanie Fraley
Project:A Novel Small Molecule Therapy to Differentiate Cancer Stem Cells
Description:Pancreatic cancer and triple-negative breast cancer are among the deadliest cancers, with limited treatment options and high relapse rates due to therapy-resistant cancer stem cells. Using a novel three-dimensional organoid model that closely mimics the metastatic tumor environment, we identified a small molecule series that induces cancer stem cell differentiation and enhances chemosensitivity. Our compound series has shown promising in vivo efficacy in eliminating cancer stem cells with a new molecular target, positioning it as a potential first-in-class therapeutic. This project aims to optimize the compound pharmacology to support broader preclinical development toward IND-enabling studies.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
Nicole Steinmetz
Project:Plant Viral Gene Delivery
Description:The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the potential of genetic medicine. However, only a few platforms for gene delivery are being explored. Viruses are abundant, and while some mammalian viruses are used in medicine, not much attention has been given to plant viruses, which are safer since they don't infect humans. We are developing a plant virus (Potato virus X or PVX) to deliver genetic material. PVX is promising because it can be easily produced and has unique properties for gene delivery. This research could help in medicine and all areas of genetic medicine.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
Daniel Wangpraseurt
Project:Nature-Inspired Materials for Coastal Protection and Climate Change Mitigation
Description:Our startup is pioneering an eco-friendly biocoating developed at UC San Diego to accelerate coral reef growth and enhance coastal resilience. Designed for breakwaters and artificial reefs, this innovative coating promotes marine biodiversity and provides long-lasting protection for coastal ecosystems. Leveraging nanotechnology, the biocoating releases natural cues that attract coral larvae and other benthic organisms, increasing coral cover by tenfold and reducing unwanted organisms by over 90%. This scalable solution offers a sustainable approach to reef restoration, providing vital support for vulnerable coastlines threatened by climate change.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
Dimitri Deheyn
Project:SafeTouch: A Device to Reduce Shark Bycatch Mortality
Description:Shark bycatch is a significant problem for industrial fisheries. Sharks caught in fishing nets are often mishandled during the release process, leading to high mortality rates shortly after being returned to the water. Protecting sharks is essential, as they play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem health and ocean productivity. We aim to create SafeTouch, a device featuring soft, sticky appendages that gently adhere to sharkskin using our patented BioDisk, allowing for smooth and careful release back into the ocean. Additionally, SafeTouch can be adapted for other vulnerable bycatch species, including sea turtles, dolphins, birds, and other marine mammals.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
Kiana Aran
Project:Accelerating Early Cancer Detection through Advanced Multiomics Technology
Description:We are developing a novel blood-based multiomics platform for early cancer detection, integrating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNAs (miRNAs), proteins, and immune markers into a single, non-invasive test. This approach provides a comprehensive cancer risk score, guiding further diagnostic steps. By using CRISPR-Cas technology without the need for amplification or sequencing, our platform offers faster, cost-effective, and more accessible screening. Additionally, AI and machine learning will be employed to select the top multiomics candidates, identifying patterns and enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
Sheng Xu
Project:Fetal Monitoring Using a Wearable Ultrasound Patch with Autonomous Vessel Tracking
Description:Ultrasound is commonly used during routine pregnancy check-ups. However, conventional handheld ultrasound devices require skilled operators, and fetal movements often disrupt measurements. Softsonics has recently developed a wearable ultrasound patch that offers continuous, hands-free fetal monitoring. This patch comfortably adheres to the maternal abdomen, eliminating the need for manual handling. It features an autonomous tracking algorithm to detect fetal vessels in real time, ensuring consistent blood flow monitoring despite fetal movement. This innovation provides a reliable solution for assessing pregnancy health and can prevent fetal death, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Awarded Amount:$49,997
Nadir Weibel
Project:HoloStroke-CTA: Revolutionizing Stroke Care with 3D Vascular Visualization in XR
Description:Holo-Stroke-CTA is a cutting-edge Augmented Reality (AR) tool designed to revolutionize stroke assessment by enabling healthcare providers to view and interact with 3D holograms of brain blood vessels in real-time. Through AR headsets, doctors can examine detailed, immersive images that enhance their ability to detect blockages and abnormalities with speed and accuracy. This technology offers a precise, intuitive, and quick "at-a-glance" method for diagnosing stroke-related vessel issues, moving beyond traditional 2D images. Holo-Stroke-CTA also has valuable applications in medical training and patient care, aiming to improve stroke outcomes through advanced technology.
Awarded Amount:$50,000
In regards to the honors, here's what a few award winners had to say:
"This grant provides the momentum we need to bring our vision to life-a diagnostic platform that integrates the precision of CRISPR with the power of multiomics. With it, we will be able to generate critical proof-of-concept data, facilitating strategic collaborations with existing cancer diagnostic companies by integrating a new dimension of multiomics detection into their platforms. We are excited to take the next steps toward delivering a more equitable and accessible tool that has the potential to transform early cancer detection worldwide.
- Kiana Aran
"Building on our existing data, we will leverage this grant to polish our technology for tracking fetal targets in a wearable wireless mode. Additionally, by getting into the AIM program, we will be exposed to all kinds of resources and guidance available to translate our technology to the market."
- Sheng Xu
"We had all the tools to build a great product but were missing the funding to allow integration into the SafeTouch system. Now, we are set to unlock this status quo and looking forward to the opportunities ahead!"
- Dimitri Deheyn
If you have a new idea or invention, learn about disclosing and patenting. Interested in bringing your innovation to market? For questions, contact [email protected].
About AIM
Accelerating Innovation to Market distills inventor talent and provides mentoring, resources, funding, and access to partners as well as investors to advance ideas from UC San Diego labs through feasibility projects and validation prototypes - ultimately to scale. Our effort is to clarify potential, lower the risk of commercialization, and strengthen the UC San Diego innovation ecosystem as we strive for shared social and economic prosperity. Furthermore, by working together, we can pool the value of our respective networks to assist more teams and startups than ever before. Learn more about the AIM program.
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are key parts of what makes AIM a successful program with enduring impact. AIM intentionally seeks to recruit and engage entrepreneurs and innovators from historically marginalized communities as an integral strategy to address the underrepresentation of diverse founders and the communities that technologies are destined to serve. For more information, please visit Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Research Affairs.