OHSU Innovates

OHSU Innovates

News and Events

Microphone in front of an auditorium of people. Image courtesy of Getty Images

OHSU Innovates publishes a bi-monthly e-newsletter featuring news, events and updates involving OHSU innovations and entrepreneurial programs. Sign up to receive the e-newsletter by e-mail.

2023

2023

President Biden honors David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., for transformative imaging technology
Oct. 24
Congratulations to David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., on receiving the United States' highest honor for technological achievement, the National Medal of Technology and Innovation!

Aronora Secures Investment From New York Blood Center
Oct. 12
OHSU startup Aronora, Inc., a clinical-stage biotech poised to revolutionize blood clot treatment and prevention, announced it has closed an investment from NYBC Ventures, a venture fund established by New York Blood Center.

Luciole Pharmaceuticals awarded phase I SBIR grant from the National Institute on Aging
Sept. 25
OHSU startup company Luciole Pharmaceuticals received a Small Business Innovation Research grant in September to fund the discovery and development of small molecule activators of OGG1 (8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., receives Lasker Award
Sept. 20
The United States’ most distinguished biomedical research award is being given to OHSU physician-scientist David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., for co-inventing an imaging technology that routinely helps prevent blindness and is increasingly used to diagnose and treat conditions of the heart, brain, skin and more.

Vir Biotechnology Announces First Participant Dosed in New Phase 1 Trial 
Sept. 20
OHSU startup Vir Biotechnology, Inc. announced that the first participant has been dosed in a Phase 1 trial evaluating the safety, reactogenicity and immunogenicity of VIR-1388, an investigational novel T cell vaccine for the prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

OHSU researchers now can predict severity of a rare genetic disease in children
Sept. 13
A new study provides hope for families and supports the development of potentially life-saving treatments.

Harnessing an immune-based therapy to treat solid cancers
Aug. 25
Congratulations to Robert Eil, M.D., and Alexandra Bartlett, Ph.D., who were the recipients of the 2023 Biomedical Innovation Program Drug Discovery award.

Afri Grow Partners with Gamma Diagnostics
Aug. 21
OHSU startup company Gamma Diagnostics has received approval from the South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for GammaCouer™ with Afri Grow (Pty) Ltd.

NICH wins the American Diabetes Association’s first Innovation Challenge pitch event
July 26
The Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH, program was one of three winners nationwide in the American Diabetes Association’s first-ever Innovation Challenge.

Elevate Innovation Gap Fund Invests in Six Groundbreaking Oregon Startups
July 12
OHSU Startup Trace Biosciences one of six groundbreaking Oregon startup companies and founders who recently joined the Innovation Gap Fund.

OHSU Biofabrication Hub secures $1M to develop state-of-the-art technologies for building with living cells
June 1
Researchers at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute have secured more than $1 million to equip and expand a newly formed Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub.

OHSU startup company wins Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience investment
May 17
OHSU startup company Promedix, co-founded by David Sheridan, M.D., and Matt Hansen, M.D., M.C.R., took home the top prize of an angel investment of $175,000 at the Angel Oregon Life and Bioscience finale event. 

PDX Pharmaceuticals selected as a semi-finalist for the AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition
May 4
OHSU startup company PDX Pharmaceuticals, founded by Wassana Yantasee, Ph.D., was selected as one of six semifinalists for the AIM-HI Women’s Venture Competition, which provides funding, coaching and networking opportunities to women-led oncology start-ups to address unmet medical needs.

Internationally renowned OHSU cancer biologist elected to the National Academy of Sciences 
May 2
In recognition of her scientific work and contributions to the field of cancer research, the NAS announced that Lisa Coussens, Ph.D. , was among 143 newly elected members. 

Gamma Diagnostics nominated as a finalist for the 2023 Oregon Technology Awards
OHSU startup company Gamma Diagnostics, founded by David Farrell, Ph.D., FAHA, was nominated in the Emerging Award category by the Technology Association of Oregon.

Autobahn Therapeutics Advances ABX-002, its Lead Oral Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
April 18
OHSU Startup Autobahn Therapeutics, a biotechnology company leveraging its brain-targeting chemistry platform, announced that it has initiated the multiple ascending dose (MAD) portion of its Phase 1 study of ABX-002 in healthy subjects.

MRI innovation for the first time reveals cells’ energy activity in organs and tissues
March 31
Scientists at OHSU's Advanced Imaging Research Center are working on an innovation that could open up new possibilities for brain imaging, detecting cancer, and monitoring treatment.

OHSU physician-scientist elected to National Academy of Engineering
Feb. 13
David Huang, M.D., Ph.D., recognized for co-creating widely used medical imaging technology.

OHSU researchers identify promising next-generation cancer treatment
Feb. 10
Chemistry discovery points to next generation inhibitors of PARP-1, a critical target in ovarian, breast and prostate cancers.

Driven by OHSU research, FDA approves new drug to prevent hearing loss in children with cancer
Jan. 17
The FDA has approved sodium thiosulfate, known clinically as PEDMARK®, 
to reduce the risk of treatment-induced hearing loss among children who receive the common chemotherapy drug cisplatin. 

PDX Pharma drug candidate selected into the Nanotechnology Characterization Lab's collaboration and characterization program
Jan. 5
OHSU startup company PDX Pharmaceuticals drug candidate ARAC-02 was selected into the NCL’s Assay Cascade Characterization Program, during which its physicochemical properties and in vitro and in vivo compatibility (immunology, pharmacology, and toxicology) will be characterized to support IND enabling studies.

2022

Potential drug takes aim at emerging Chikungunya virus
Dec. 9
With new $4.7 million grant, OHSU, partners seek to reduce virus-caused debilitating joint pain.

Erik Tucker, Ph.D., named National Academy of Inventors Fellow
Dec. 8
Tucker is an inventor on more than ninety U.S. and international patents, and his research has resulted in the development of four unique drug candidates.

OHSU partners with semiconductor company to develop smartwatch that detects key mental health indicator
Dec. 6
OHSU researchers, ADI engineers are developing evidence-based technology to help address rising mental health crisis in teens.

Andrew Adey: Single cell imaging, technology development and creativity
Dec. 5
Dr. Andrew Adey’s lab is creating single-cell technologies to help researchers across disciplines understand how cells evolve

Autobahn Therapeutics Announces Initiation of a Phase 1 Clinical Trial of ABX-002 for the Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder
Nov. 29
OHSU startup company Autobahn Therapeutics announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for ABX-002, a compound originally discovered in the OHSU laboratory of Tom Scanlan, Ph.D.

PDX Pharma wins two Corporate Philanthropy Awards
Nov. 2
OHSU startup company PDX Pharmaceuticals, in partnership with OHSU, was among the four teams in Oregon that were awarded the 2022 Innovation in Philanthropy Award. The award recognizes PDX Pharma’s commitment (through donation and volunteer work at the BME of OHSU) in education and training in cancer research and nanotechnology.

Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. announces second closing of $20 million investment 
from Petrichor
Sept. 26
OHSU startup Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has completed the second closing of $20 million of senior secured promissory notes with Petrichor Healthcare Capital Management. 

Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. announces FDA approval of PEDMARK® 
September 21
OHSU startup Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc., announces FDA approval of PEDMARK® (sodium thiosulfate injection) to reduce the risk of ototoxicity associated with cisplatin in pediatric patients one month of age and older with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors.

Luiz Bertassoni: Recreating in three dimensions the complexity of the human body
September 12
Luiz Bertassoni uses biomanufacturing techniques to recreate, in 3D, the complexity of the human body to create tissue models and advance our understanding of cancer. Read more about Bertassoni's research in the OHSU Research News blog post. 

OHSU researchers and Analog Devices collaborate on a wearable device for seizure detection
Sept. 9
This spring, OHSU neurologists formed a joint research agreement with semiconductor company Analog Devices, Inc. to conduct a year-long study to determine whether  ADI’s vital signs monitoring, or VSM, watch can measure key indicators that can be used to detect and predict seizures.

PDX Pharmaceuticals and OHSU awarded the Innovation in Corporate Philanthropy award from Portland Business Journal
Sept.
OHSU startup company PDX Pharmaceuticals and OHSU were recognized by the Portland Business Journal for joint innovation on cancer research. PDX Pharmaceuticals was also recognized as one of the top ten philanthropic companies in the small business category. 

Autobahn therapeutics announces successful financing to support strategic advancement of ABX-002 for treatment resistant depression
Sept. 8
OHSU startup Autobahn Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on restoring hope for people affected by CNS disorders, today announced the closing of a $32.7 million financing to support the company’s continued commitment to transforming the treatment of CNS disorders, led by a strategic prioritization on addressing treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

NeuraMedica Inc. receives FDA 510(k) clearance for DuraFuse dural clips for fast & secure dural closure
Aug. 30
OHSU startup company NeuraMedica received 510(k) clearance for their medical device that allows for faster suture of the dura mater, which covers and protects the brain and spinal cord, during surgery.

Nabil Alkayed appointed a Vinney Scholar at the Harrington Discovery Institute
Aug. 26
The Linda and Les Vinney Scholar Program in Alzheimer’s disease ("Vinney Scholar Program") is part of the Center for Brain Health Medicines at Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. The program provides funding and drug development support to researchers whose work aims to treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease. 

PDX pharmaceuticals publishes new data in Nature Communications
Aug. 8
OHSU startup company PDX Pharmaceuticals publishes new data on the Antigen Release Agent and Checkpoint Inhibitor (ARAC) technology in Nature Communications

Read the op-ed version of one of the stand-out sessions from OHSU Innovation Day 2022
July 29
Targeting the topic of Diversity and Equity in Innovation, this op-ed piece appearing in the Oregon Business magazine, and cowritten by Graciela Gomez Cowger and OHSU Innovates’ own Aditi Martin, highlights ways to promote inclusion and new efforts by the OHSU Innovates network to elevate women and BIPOC inventors.

Taking on a rare childhood disease and triple-negative breast cancer
July 7
A rare childhood disease and triple-negative breast cancer are the targets of the two projects funded by the drug discovery track of the 2022 OCTRI Biomedical Innovation Program awards.

Four OHSU-affiliated startups receive matching grants from Business Oregon
July 5
Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC) have announced the twelve recipients of state grants, which will help these innovative small businesses leverage their federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant awards. Congratulations to all the awardees, including four OHSU-affiliated startup companies: Inherent Targeting, Nzumbe, OmnEcoil and PDX Pharma.

The Oregon Bioscience Association releases Oregon's Bio Boom: 2022 Economic Impact Report
June 15
This year’s economic impact report from the Oregon Bioscience Association provides details on Oregon’s thriving bioscience ecosystem. Life science research at Oregon universities and hospitals, including OHSU, directly generated $882.3 million in economic activity, including $522.8 million in wages and 5,870 jobs.

Autobahn Therapeutics Announces Emerging Preclinical Data Demonstrating Ability of CNS-Delivered Thyromimetics to Promote Remyelination
May 18
OHSU startup company Autobahn Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on restoring hope for people affected by CNS disorders, announced new preclinical data supporting the potential of its novel CNS-directed thyromimetic program to induce remyelination in models where loss of myelin is a key driver of disease. 

OHSU's Travis Cook talks shop
May 17
Travis G. Cook, senior director of Technology Transfer, OHSU, recently met with Oregon Bio to discuss OHSU’s tech transfer work, where he champions research and development by promoting an innovative and entrepreneurial culture. 

2022 Research and Innovation Awards announced
April 25
OHSU Innovates has published a program that details the innovations of these recipients, as well as OHSU innovators who have been successful in building new partnerships and innovations over the past year.

Promedix receives investment from Baxter as part of the mHUB MedTech Accelerator
April 12
OHSU startup company Promedix was one of four MedTech startup companies to be selected for an initial investment from Baxter as part of the mHUB Accelerator program.

American Society of Anesthesiologists Acquires Anesthesia Toolbox from Oregon Health & Science University
Feb. 16
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today announced the acquisition of Anesthesia Toolbox, a collaborative education platform and learning community for anesthesiology residency programs, from OHSU.

Yali Jia Ph.D. elected National Academy of Inventors Senior Member
February 11
Yali Jia, Ph.D., developed an algorithm that greatly improved the sensitivity of a highly efficient, non-invasive eye imaging technology called optical coherence tomographic angiography, or OCTA. For that and other significant contributions, the National Academy of Inventors elected Jia, Jennie P. Weeks Professor of Ophthalmology and associate professor of biomedical engineering in the OHSU School of Medicine and Casey Eye Institute, an NAI Senior Member.

OHSU, GE Healthcare extend multi-year collaboration to advance innovation, outcomes
Feb.  1
OHSU and GE Healthcare have renewed their Comprehensive Research Agreement for an additional five years, which means the organizations will continue to combine their expertise to advance research, accelerate delivery of quality care, and improve patient outcomes.

New study suggests two paths toward ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19
Jan. 25
New laboratory research from Oregon Health & Science University reveals more than one path toward robust immunity from COVID-19.

With new microscope, scientists will explore how tiny molecules make cells work 
Jan. 25
Catherine Galbraith, Ph.D., and Jim Galbraith, Ph.D., to develop new technology to quantify molecular aggregates, track their involvement in cellular functions, disease. 

OHSU investigators awarded $3 million for innovative, promising research
January 24
Four OHSU researchers: Andrew C. Adey, Ph.D., Kathleen Carlson, Ph.D., Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., and Brandon Wilder, Ph.D. have been recognized for exceptionally innovative research that promises to make significant contributions to their fields.

Winners of Biomedical Innovation Program awards address significant clinical problems
Jan. 4
Three projects have been named recipients of 2022 Biomedical Innovation Program funding in the Device, Diagnostic, and Software track. The projects are led by Yali Jia, Ph.D., FAIMBE, Gregory Landry, M.D., and Martin Pike, Ph.D.