9 – 10 a.m. | Opening Fireside Chat on Innovation, Purpose and Impact with Karina LeBlanc and Kate Azizi

Join OHSU Innovates for a fireside chat with Olympic medalist and philanthropist Karina LeBlanc, who holds leadership roles with the Portland Thorns (NWSL) and Portland Fire (WNBA), in conversation with Kate Azizi, president of the OHSU Foundation.

Drawing from high‑performance sport and philanthropy, the discussion will offer lessons for researchers on navigating uncertainty, sustaining momentum over long timelines and staying connected to their “why” as ideas move toward real‑world impact.

The session is not open to the public and requires separate registration. Attendance is intended for the OHSU community and invited guests. LeBlanc is participating in her personal capacity. Views expressed are her own.

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | Early, Emerging and Advancing Inventions

Learn about emerging technologies across OHSU, the problems they aim to solve and the paths they are taking toward patient benefit. Three OHSU investigators will present concise research pitches representing different stages of development, offering a side‑by‑side look at how inventions progress from early discovery toward practical use.

The session is open to the full Innovation Day audience and welcomes researchers, clinicians, trainees, industry partners, investors and others interested in advancing new technologies. Each presentation introduces the technology, its potential relevance for patients and care delivery, and opportunities for next steps, followed by audience questions and discussion.

Presenters:
Olena Taratula, Ph.D., Associate Professor, OSU/OHSU College of Pharmacy
Yasmeen Elsawaf, M.D., Resident Physician, Neurological Surgery, OHSU School of Medicine
Katie Blise, Ph.D., Computational Biologist, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, School of Medicine

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | Entrepreneurial Mindset for Scientists

This moderated panel explores how an entrepreneurial mindset can inform academic science, with a focus on responsibility, downstream use and real‑world relevance rather than startups or financial outcomes. The discussion highlights how this mindset can maximize the reach, durability and public benefit of research while remaining grounded in academic priorities. Researchers and scientist‑inventors at different career stages, from graduate trainees to established investigators, will share how these perspectives have shaped their research strategies over time.

Panelists will discuss when and how they engage beyond the lab, how inventive work can align with academic priorities, and lessons learned along the way. The session includes time for audience questions and discussion and offers practical insights attendees can apply in their own work.

2 - 3 p.m. | Translational Spotlight: Ferumoxytol Research Program

This session brings together the core themes of Innovation Day through a real‑world translational story at OHSU. It highlights a decades‑long research effort that led to FDA approval of a novel diagnostic use for ferumoxytol, known clinically as FERABRIGHT™, in late 2025, tracing progress from early laboratory discovery to clinical adoption through sustained collaboration and team‑based innovation.

Through a guided conversation with members of the multidisciplinary research team involved at different stages, the discussion will explore how scientific innovation, long‑term commitment and collaboration across roles shaped the program over time. The session also honors the legacy of Edward Neuwelt, M.D., who guided the program for decades and whose recent passing underscores the enduring influence of his vision and leadership.

Serving as the closing session of Innovation Day, this spotlight reflects how innovation advances through dedicated teams and partnerships, translating complex science into meaningful benefits for patients and health care.

Panel Members: 
Ramon Barajas Jr., M.D., Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, School of Medicine
Rochelle Fu, Ph.D., Professor, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health
Amy Huddleston, M.P.A.: H.A., C.C.R.P., Senior Clinical Research Associate, Neuro-Oncology Blood-Brain Barrier Program, School of Medicine
Lisa Muir, M.P.A.: H.A., C.C.R.P., Senior Research Project Manager, Neuro-Oncology Blood-Brain Barrier Program, School of Medicine
Laszlo Szidonya, Ph.D., M.D., Assistant Professor of Diagnostic Radiology, School of Medicine