Past Awardees

​These projects highlight the flourishing interdisciplinary teamwork across the University, with 16 faculty members from the Feinberg School of Medicine, the McCormick School of Engineering, and the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences participating in the research.

The principal investigators and their projects are:

Dr. Bradley Allen, chief of cardiovascular and thoracic imaging and assistant professor of radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Co-principal investigators: Michael Markl (Feinberg, McCormick), Ulas Bagci (Feinberg), and Ann Ragin (Feinberg)
The project will leverage deep learning to measure aorta blood flow in patients at high risk for thoracic aorta aneurysms, a highly prevalent condition impacting more than 500,000 people annually. In addition to driving beneficial health outcomes, the project will use AI in conjunction with widely available, lower-cost CT or MRI scans to replace highly specialized 4D flow MRI with a plan to seek FDA clearance for the technology.

Irina Balyasnikova, professor of neurological surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine
This research targets glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer with a dismal survival rate. By developing a new targeted intervention (tri-specific T cell engager) that “weaponizes” the immune system to attack cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue, the researchers aim for eventual clinical translation.

Navdeep Chandel, the David W. Cugell, MD, Professor of Medicine in the division of pulmonary and critical care, Feinberg School of Medicine
This proposal uses gene therapy to engineer the yeast protein NDI1 to regenerate NAD+, which is impaired in many primary mitochondrial diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. The researchers will also develop novel AI-designed proteins with the aim of patenting these for technological commercialization.

Shana Kelley, the Neena B. Schwartz Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and McCormick School of Engineering
This research project is pursuing a first-in-class, highly efficient, nontoxic intracellular protein delivery system with the potential to fight cancer, neurodegenerative disease, heart disease, and autoimmune disease. The technique employs selective target degradation and superior ease of use to maximize therapeutic potential with the goal of clinical translation.

Milan Mrksich, the Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Biomedical Engineering, professor of chemistry and professor of cell and developmental biology, McCormick School of Engineering, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, and Feinberg School of Medicine
Co-principal investigator: William Klein (Weinberg)
This project aims to develop highly specific and effective diagnostics and potential therapeutics to monitor and treat Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive disorder with a substantial societal impact. The research targets the neurotoxic molecules (amyloid beta oligomers) that cause the disease. ModuMab Therapeutics, a recent Northwestern startup, is commercializing this approach to new therapeutics that could broadly impact the immunotherapy field. 

Ken Paller, Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Co-principal investigator: Phyllis Zee (Feinberg)
This research aims to improve sleep quality through innovative methods for sleep-physiology monitoring and subtle sensory stimulation based on biofeedback and AI training. Given its promise to help reduce insomnia and bolster health, the project has significant commercialization potential.

Robert Vassar, professor of neurology and of cell and developmental biology, Feinberg School of Medicine
Co-principal investigator: Katherine Sadleir (Feinberg)
This project will develop a disease-modifying therapy to protect and heal the brain’s membranes from Alzheimer’s disease damage, stopping the disease in its tracks. The effort targets a fundamental cellular mechanism to combat the looming Alzheimer’s epidemic, which is anticipated to afflict some 14 million U.S. citizens by 2050. If the technique is successful, the investigators will launch a start-up venture based on this technology.

Xinlong Wang, research assistant professor, Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering
Co-principal investigators: Guillermo Ameer (McCormick) and John Rogers (McCormick, Feinberg)
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., where about 5% of the population suffers from myocardial infarction. This project looks to treat myocardial infarction by developing a minimally invasive injectable bioresorbable cellular cardiac patch with a built-in cardiac sensor and stimulator. This research could eventually be deployed in clinical settings to address an urgent societal health problem.  

If you have questions, please email ryanrafund@northwestern.edu.