Biosciences

CU Boulder leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:04:22 +0000

CU Boulder leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care Daniel Corbin … Tue, 12/02/2025 - 12:04

CU Boulder College of Engineering & Applied Science—In 2025, CU Boulder celebrated its first awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The new agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports transformative health and biomedical breakthroughs. ARPA-H was founded in 2022 with a mission to fast-track “high-impact solutions to society’s most challenging health problems.”

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Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. Discover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.

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Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:17:28 +0000

Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device Daniel Corbin … Wed, 11/12/2025 - 16:17

CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science—The technology, published in the journal Arthroscopy Techniques, completely transforms arthroscopic procedures in the hip region, making them safer and more efficient than ever before.

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New NAI Fellow Xuedong Liu leads in research and medical innovation

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 21:49:39 +0000

New NAI Fellow Xuedong Liu leads in research and medical innovation Daniel Corbin … Tue, 11/11/2025 - 14:49

Heather Hansen

�� biochemistry professor Xuedong Liu was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors this year, recognizing a career of pioneering discoveries and real-world impact. His research on cellular communication has fueled four startups advancing novel treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Since he was in grade school, Xuedong Liu (CU Boulder Biochemistry) has been intrigued by ‘how the world works.’ But becoming a biologist mostly involved memorizing, classifying and observing–all important skills—and Liu was curious about how organisms are put together, their inner workings and how they progress in a predetermined manner. So he looked to chemistry and physics for laws and rules and ways to predict activity. Ultimately, by combining the disciplines, he saw the best chance to advance science and discovery in a meaningful way. Liu thought, “There’s so much unknown and there’s so much promise–and there’s great opportunity there.”

Fast forward to Atlanta, Georgia in June 2025 when Liu—whose innovations have now led to the creation of four startup companies bringing novel disease therapies to the world—received a medal for being inducted into the elite ranks of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). NAI fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.

“These academic inventors have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation, and their inventions have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development and welfare of our society,” said Coke Stewart, acting undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and acting director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who presided over the ceremony.

The NAI chooses “people that have really done something of huge value with their patents,” said Hannah Nelson, associate director of licensing at Venture Partners at CU Boulder and biosciences team lead. “You are not recognized by the NAI unless you are in the very top tier of inventors,” she said. “It’s a prestigious designation that shows that you have contributed again and again in a really substantial way to innovation.”

While Liu knew he had been nominated for the distinction, “it was a very nice surprise,” he said. Liu was deeply honored by the recognition and credited his colleagues and collaborators, who have contributed to a collective effort to solve tough problems in fighting disease. The honor has fanned the flames of Liu’s work. “It’s motivated me even more to do things that change the world,” he said.

Hitting the target, from lab to marketplace

Liu’s lab at CU Boulder is focused on decoding how cells communicate with each other—a process called cell signaling and fundamental to many aspects of human health. Disruptions in these communication pathways can lead to serious diseases, including cancer. Liu’s research team works on creating pioneering therapies for both cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s disease. To do that, they work at the intersection of sciences with an approach Nelson describes as both visionary and practical. “Within his lab, there is expertise in chemistry and biology, so they are really able to bridge that gap, which is so necessary for making new drugs,” says Nelson. “It’s an important combination of skills.”

Liu’s career is also defined by a rare knack for drawing together cutting-edge science and real-world applications. “He is definitely one of our most prolific inventors on campus,” said Nelson, who has managed much of the intellectual property emerging from Liu’s lab over the past several years. She has also seen Liu excel in taking research from the bench to the wider world in hopes of making a profound difference in disease treatment.

OnKure Therapeutics Inc. (OKUR)

Discovering and developing the next generation of oncology precision medicines.

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Among Liu’s influential ventures is OnKure Therapeutics (Nasdaq: OKUR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company he co-founded with Tony Piscopio in 2011 based on novel oncology therapies originally developed at CU. Since then, OnKure has expanded their pipeline to pursue inhibitors of PI3Kα, a protein complex whose mutation is a key driver in the development and progression of specific breast cancers. Late last year, OnKure merged with Reneo Pharmaceuticals, and the company now has three PI3Kα inhibitor programs, including one currently in clinical development.

Opening the gate

Liu hasn’t stopped there, instead turning his attention to developing a new precision delivery system. The platform is based on using gectosomes, small membranes that can transport molecules within and between cells to deliver therapeutic agents to specific locations in the body. Liu said this type of system—which he calls “opening the gate”—has many advantages, including targeting specific cells which can make a drug more effective and minimize overall side effects.

“We can move those machineries precisely into the cell type we want and target them without bothering other non-relevant cells. It’s a great unmet medical need,” said Liu. “We believe we have a great opportunity to really target the Achilles heels of cancer cells and the delivery system could be actually a very broad application, not only cancer but many chronic diseases, genetic diseases.”

Vesicle Therapeutics Inc.

Pioneering programmable extracellular vesicles to deliver therapeutic proteins and nucleic acids to intracellular targets.

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Building upon that research from his lab, Liu recently founded Vesicle Therapeutics. “This was always a goal in my mind, and I was always interested in this area,” said Liu. “And CU gave me a lot of opportunities to pursue it.” Working with Nelson and others at Venture Partners, Liu was able to test market feasibility of this new delivery system with programs including Lab Venture Challenge, PHAST (Pandemic Hyper Accelerator for Science and Technology, a program launched in 2021 to help fight the COVID pandemic) and the Research-to-Market Discovery Program.

Liu is grateful to now have a robust support system for spinouts at the university. When he started at CU in 2000, there was no Venture Partners with the broad suite of entrepreneurial programs currently offered. “Nowadays, it’s evolved so much that it really powers the ecosystem for entrepreneurs in the Boulder and Denver areas,” said Liu.

“I personally benefited tremendously from that support, where you can grow your idea with this proof of concept and test your idea and see if it has potential to grow into something bigger and be commercialized,” he said. “Venture Partners are really phenomenal for the university, I think they’re truly a catalyst for innovations and invention here.”

Liu sees himself as a lifelong learner, in the lab and the business world, with a lot still to contribute. He knows there will be ups and downs and unforeseen problems that will impede his progress to some extent. But even if success is not immediate, he believes, “There’s a lot of hope for the future.”

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$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:18:03 +0000

$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:18

Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $755,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU's entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

Interested in the 2026 LVC?

LVC supports CU projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support.

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Through LVC, top innovators from CU Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants to fund projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. The LVC grants are funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners at CU Boulder and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund. Six awards were granted this year, and the funding goes directly to CU labs to further develop their innovations.

This culminating event for these groundbreaking teams showcased the university’s initiative to support innovators from discovery to economic success. LVC is run by Venture Partners at CU Boulder, the university’s commercialization arm and central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. As part of the LVC program, all the competitors worked with Venture Partners to protect their innovations and practice their funding pitches for business audiences. LVC awardees will continue to work and collaborate with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

“At this early stage, funding is essential, but can be a challenge to obtain,“ said Joshua Bennett, director of LVC and assistant director of licensing at Venture Partners. “All of these teams have promising innovations ready to launch new businesses. LVC is a unique opportunity for those innovators to receive that vital funding, and we’re proud to work with the State of Colorado to make it happen.”

To date, LVC has funded over 123 projects through 70 new deep-tech startup companies; collectively, these companies have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing.

Applications for the next LVC will open in July 2026.

This year’s LVC was additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Holland & Hart LLC, Johnson & Johnson, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Paralex

Photo Credit: TJ Zirkman

2025 Physical Sciences Winners

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis (MEE) improves hydrogen generation efficiency by enhancing bubble release and energy transfer. Adapted from space technology, MEE offers scalable, cost-effective clean hydrogen for transportation, industry and off-grid power. The team has formed a startup, Agami Zero, to bring their innovation to market.

Oana Luca (CU Boulder Chemistry), PI
Ankur Gupta (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI
Hunter Koltunski (Student: CU Boulder Chemistry), Scientific Lead
Richard Noble (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Scientific Advisor
Jafar Makrani, Co-Founder and CEO/CPO
Lyle Antieau III, Co-Founder and CTO/COO

$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

Our Gen-III low-SWaP frequency comb, built on thin-film lithium niobate nanophotonics, delivers octave-spanning spectra with ultra-low power. Compact, scalable and robust, it enables deployable quantum clocks, sensors and communication systems beyond the lab. The team has formed a startup, Chi3 Optics, to bring their innovation to market.

Scott A. Diddams (CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI
Tsung-Han Wu (Postdoc: CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Founder, CEO
Peter Chang, CTO
Nathan Brooks, Principal Scientist

$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

A modular photo-thermo-catalysis device that rapidly activates a wide range of stubborn chemical bonds, enabling carbon-free fuel production at high reaction rates and the destruction of toxic PFAS in water, while reducing energy use and operating costs. The team has formed a startup, Synergia, to bring their innovation to market.

Longji Cui (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), PI
Dishan Chooi (Student: CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Sarang Gosavi (Student: CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Yunxuan Zhu (Postdoc: CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Director of R&D
Karen Crofton (CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), Advisor

2025 Biosciences Winners

$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

Pythons exhibit dramatic metabolic plasticity with feeding, increasing organ size and activity by up to 40% after consuming large prey. From this biology, the team discovered a novel feeding-induced metabolite that was upregulated by 1,000-fold and acts as a natural appetite suppressant through modulating satiety. The team has formed a startup, Arkana Therapeutics, to bring their innovation to market.

Leslie Leinwand (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Thomas Martin (Postdoc: CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), CSO
Jack Gugel, CEO
Yuxiao Tan (Postdoc: CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder

$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

Enabled by recent advances in AI-driven protein design, minibinders are being engineered to target IL-18, a key driver of sepsis. These compact, stable proteins penetrate tissues efficiently and can be precisely dosed to avoid prolonged immune suppression, offering a next-generation therapeutic for sepsis. The team has formed a startup, iMembrane Therapeutics, to bring their innovation to market.

Jingshi Shen (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Suzhao Li (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), President
Charles Dinarello (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

DuraPatch provides rapid closure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks during neurosurgery, eliminating the need for sutures. Engineered with high-resolution 3D printing and advanced biomaterials, DuraPatch strongly adheres to wet tissues to create a watertight seal while supporting and promoting healing. The team has founded a startup, Entangl3d, to bring their innovation to market.

Matt Davidson (CU Boulder BioFrontiers Institute), CEO and Founder
Jason Burdick (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering and BioFrontiers Institute) Co-Founder, PI
Peter Lennarson (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $755,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU's entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

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Kristi Anseth named Forbes "50 over 50" for "Innovation"

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:39:04 +0000

Kristi Anseth named Forbes "50 over 50" for "Innovation" Daniel Corbin … Tue, 10/21/2025 - 10:39

Forbes—Professor Kristi Anseth is known for developing tissue substitutes that improve treatments for conditions like broken bones and heart valve disease. She recently made key discoveries about sex-based differences in cardiac treatment outcomes. Anseth is also among the few innovators elected to all three national academies: Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

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NSF I-Corps at CU Boulder helps researchers solve pressing problems

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:48:43 +0000

NSF I-Corps at CU Boulder helps researchers solve pressing problems Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/16/2025 - 10:48

Heather Hansen

Photo: The August 2025 cohort of NSF I-Corps^TM Hub West's Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop at CU Boulder.

From agriculture to aerospace, the National Science Foundation's (NSF) I-Corps^TM is a launchpad at the ��, helping innovators in and out of the University of Colorado bring research and inventions to the people who need them most. By equipping scientists and inventors with entrepreneurial tools, the program transforms great ideas into startups that tackle real-world problems.

Join I-Corps at CU Boulder

Our I-Corps programming is available to all researchers, inventors and problem solvers from any research or community institution; all you need is an innovation and an interest in bringing it to those in need.

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Growing up in Minnesota, Elliot Strand (Alum: CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), co-founder and CEO of PAGE Technologies, “saw firsthand how excess fertilizer runoff led to worsening algae blooms in our lakes, choking ecosystems and turning once thriving bodies of water into lifeless green pools.” The experience left a lasting impression on Strand, urging him to act. “It’s what motivated me to pursue science and ultimately to co-found PAGE Technologies to develop tools that could help prevent these issues at the source,” he said.

Strand and co-founder Payton Goodrich are driven by a commitment to revolutionize agriculture while also fighting pollution. They first collaborated on an effort to engineer cutting-edge sensor systems while Strand earned his PhD at CU Boulder and Goodrich at the University of California Berkeley. PAGE, which stands for Printed Agricultural and Environmental Technologies, “reflects both our core technology and our broader mission to improve how we monitor and manage natural resources across food, water and climate systems,” said Strand. PAGE Technologies is now pioneering the next generation in water and soil management with a platform of affordable biochemical sensors for real-time monitoring of plant nutrients.

Strand and Goodrich launched PAGE Technologies in late 2023, following the completion of National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps^TM) programs, which were designed specifically to help researchers and innovators identify both their target customer base and market gaps.

“I-Corps helped us identify a real problem that customers are willing to pay to solve. It taught us the fundamentals of business development, market research, and the importance of product-market fit,” said Strand. “Most importantly, we learned how to systematically engage with customers to understand their needs and build a sustainable business around that insight.”

Empowering researchers, entrepreneurs and society

Page Technologies

Introducing the world's most affordable water and soil monitoring for instant and continuous data capture.

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Like PAGE Technologies’ founders, hundreds of students, faculty and community innovators have now benefited from I-Corps since it arrived at CU Boulder. In 2018, before joining NSF’s I-Corps initiative, the university began offering I-Corps-like programming, including the iterative customer discovery programs now offered as Starting Blocks and Research-to-Market (R2M) through Venture Partners at CU Boulder, the commercialization arm of the university that serves CU Boulder, UCCS and physical sciences investigators at CU Denver.

“Our role in the NSF I-Corps Hub West reflects our commitment to ensuring that CU Boulder’s research makes a real difference in people’s lives,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation and dean of the institutes . “We are proud to collaborate with peer institutions and engage with Colorado communities to ensure that groundbreaking research reaches markets and people who need it most.”

Since 2021, when CU Boulder officially became a partner institution in the NSF I-Corps Hub West, it has been a national leader in the initiative. Within the hub, the campus collaborates with other top research institutions across the region, including Texas Tech University, University of Southern California; University of California, Los Angeles; California Institute of Technology; University of California (Riverside and Santa Barbara); Colorado State University; University of Utah; Colorado School of Mines; and University of New Mexico.

I-Corp’s primary purpose is to empower researchers, entrepreneurs and society by fostering a culture of innovation, supporting startup creation and delivering tangible economic and societal benefits from federally funded research. It is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and marketable innovation by equipping scientists and engineers with entrepreneurial skills, practical training and real customer interviews to move their discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.

But what is "commercialization?"

The path to commercialization—also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer"—can be challenging, so Venture Partners unites industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to help researchers, inventors and creators at the University of Colorado bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.

Explore the Path to Commercialization

For the researcher with a great idea, I-Corps essentially helps fill a void in the spin-out process—backing up cool science with understanding and demonstrating the value proposition of that research and innovation, according to Emily Vogt, director of venture development at Venture Partners. “The number one goal of the NSF in funding these programs across all of our universities is to commercialize these technologies and actually find the space in the market,” said Vogt.

I-Corps regional hubs serve as the backbone of NSF’s National Innovation Network, allowing it to reach a broad pool of innovators nationwide, according to Daniel Marshall, CU Boulder’s I-Corps program manager. According to Marshall, by extending CU Boulder I-Corps into rural and underserved regions of Colorado, it retains local talent and ensures a more well-rounded national innovation pipeline.

“There’s importance and impact to working and partnering with schools that just don't have the bandwidth to do what we do at CU Boulder,” he said. Marshall highlighted the successful relationship he has forged through I-Corps programming with Colorado Mesa University, Fort Lewis College, Trinidad Community College, Western Colorado University and others. “I think that’s great for economic impact and rolling out ideas,” said Marshall. Each year, teams from CU Boulder’s I-Corps have progressed to the National I-Corps Teams Program, where they can win a $50,000 small business grant to use toward customer discovery expenses.

Mentorship is another critical part of the programs, said Vogt. “We help pair those technical teams with a business mentor that can help make introductions, broadening [a team’s] network and synthesizing all of these conversations that they’re having,” she said. “It’s an incredible opportunity for our research teams to engage with this awesome startup ecosystem in Colorado, fueled by mentors who willingly give their time to these interesting projects.”

“Remarkably useful” programming

Sally Hatcher, now co-founder and managing partner at Buff Gold Ventures, a private venture capital firm backing CU Boulder entrepreneurs, launched both Starting Blocks and R2M in her prior role with Venture Partners.

“I-Corps provides invaluable training for academics to ‘get out of the lab’ and talk to industry experts to understand concrete industrial requirements and gaps,” she said. “It’s a terrific way to learn about product-market fit and finding a solution to practical problems with paying customers. Whether participants choose to create a startup, license their technology to another company, or return to the lab, the professional training is remarkably useful for almost all participants.”

Further developed by Vogt and Susan Strong, entrepreneur-in-residence and NSF I-Corps curriculum instructor, I-Corps programming is now a popular and successful tool in helping countless researchers move their work from the theoretical to the practical.

“I-Corps is accelerating the translation of discoveries from lab to impact,” said Strong. “The idea is that all of this federal money has gone into inventing these things, and we want to get it out into society for two reasons: so that it can create jobs and have economic impact,” she said. Both Strong and Hatcher believe so keenly in the I-Corps programming that they still act as national I-Corps program instructors. “I use this framework every day to talk to founders about how to get started,” said Hatcher.

A national standout

CU Boulder stands out in the national I-Corps landscape in several ways. First, at CU Boulder, I-Corps is directly integrated with the university’s intellectual property and commercialization efforts within Venture Partners and the Research and Innovation Office, said Marshall. The Venture Partners team refers new research teams from CU Boulder and other campuses to the I-Corps regional programs, which provide a crucial look at each team’s development and potential. “This close-knit set-up is crucial,” he said. “Very few universities outside CU Boulder have adopted this kind of integrated model. It’s a major reason why we stand out nationally.”

Second, Vogt pointed out CU Boulder’s I-Corps program leads outreach to many campus groups as well as to Colorado communities and rural universities. “Our I-Corps program has been the entrepreneurial touchpoint for so many people,” she said. “It’s allowed us to bring more people into the university, understanding what role the university has in the startup ecosystem.”

Lastly, CU Boulder’s exceptional efforts in rural outreach have caught the attention of the national I-Corps leaders. “They’re now directing hubs to adopt some of the things that we’re doing, which is a really cool thing,” he said.

Commutrics

Commutrics is a commuting platform that allows organizations to implement multi-modal transportation programs seamlessly.

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Remarkable teams from within the hub and beyond include CU Denver’s Moatassem Abdallah, associate professor of civil engineering (CU Denver College of Engineering, Design and Computing). After completing Starting Blocks and R2M in 2021, Abdallah co-founded Commutrics in 2023 and is now its CEO. The company spun out “to help employers and cities implement data-driven, incentive-based commuting programs,” said Abdallah. Commutrics is a transportation platform designed to connect commuters with various transportation options, incentivizing the most sustainable choices while saving them money and improving their overall health and well-being.

Abdallah credits I-Corps with “helping us validate our value proposition through direct engagement with potential customers. It sharpened our focus on market fit, clarified key pain points in commuter and employer behavior, and guided us in shaping a scalable, impact-driven business model.” Commutrics is now seeking partnerships with cities, employers and transportation agencies to expand the reach of the platform and “drive meaningful behavior change in commuting,” said Abdallah.

Another stellar team, led by Jarrod Schiffbauer, formerly special research professor (Physics) at Colorado Mesa University. Now visiting research professor (Mechanical Engineering) at CU Boulder, Schiffbauer focuses on a novel, more efficient thrust concept for in-space propulsion systems and, in particular, a way to move small satellites around in space for Earth observation, communications and scientific research. Since traditional propulsion systems don’t scale well for the SmallSat and CubeSat market, new miniaturized solutions like Schiffbauer’s are essential.

After three weeks in Starting Blocks, and ultimately in making their way through the national I-Corps program, Schiffbauer said he and his team have been able to “better understand the in-space propulsion market, where our technology might best fit in, and which shortcomings or risks we should most focus on,” he said. “I-Corps has been extremely informative and changed the way we approach finding which problems to solve.”

The future of a “pillar program”

At the end of 2026, amidst a boom in participation, CU Boulder’s five-year I-Corps grant will be up for renewal, and the university will apply to extend funding for this vital programming.

“I-Corps is really a pillar program for what Venture Partners does, and we have a really good number of inventors joining the program, even if they’re not looking to become startup CEOs,” said Vogt. “The kind of market awareness they’re bringing into their research has been really beneficial for a lot of our labs. I-Corps has helped our researchers understand their own technologies a little bit better, and it informs their future development efforts.” I-Corps programming increases the likelihood that university research leads to real-world impact, she said.

With another five-year I-Corps grant, CU Boulder would continue accelerating the translation of cutting-edge research into products, services and technologies that address societal challenges in fields such as healthcare, energy and agriculture while boosting the economy and training a skilled entrepreneurial workforce. “Our goal with I-Corps is to broaden the perspective of these research teams. They are brilliant scientists and engineers working on life-changing technologies,” said Vogt. “More often than not, the business is the vehicle that will drive the impact.”

Reflecting on his experiences with I-Corps and spinning out PAGE Technologies, Elliot Strand is excited and humbled. Recently, the company has been awarded several prominent grants, including one from the CO-WY ASCEND Engine and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “We’re deeply grateful that so many people recognize the urgency of this problem and believe in our approach to solving it. With recent funding and growing partnerships, we’ve been able to build a small but mighty team,” said Strand. “Working alongside people who are equally mission-driven has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.”

What Can We Do Together?

Disclose and Protect Your Innovation

Engage in Entrepreneurial Training Programs

Find a Mentor to Advance Your Innovation

Get Funding for Your Innovation

Find Partners and Opportunities for Your Innovation

Explore Investing in and Partnering with CU Researchers

Explore Our Startups Portfolio

Explore Our Technology Portfolio

From agriculture to aerospace, NSF’s I-Corps is a launchpad at the ��, helping innovators in and out of the University of Colorado bring research and inventions to the people who need them most. By equipping scientists and inventors with entrepreneurial tools, the program transforms great ideas into startups that tackle real-world problems.

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�� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:00:48 +0000

�� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging Daniel Corbin … Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:00

News-Medical.Net—�� researchers have developed a new miniature laser that could enable smaller, cheaper and more powerful biomedical imaging systems. The innovation advances chip-based frequency comb technology, paving the way for improved optical tools that could transform diagnostics and medical research.

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New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 22:25:53 +0000

New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/13/2025 - 16:25

EurekaAlert!—A new open-source tool is reshaping how engineers design multi-material objects. Charles Wade, a PhD student in the �� Department of Computer Science, has created a design system software package that uses functions and code to map not just shapes but also where different materials belong in a 3D object.

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A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:16:34 +0000

A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:16

CU Boulder Today—�� researchers led by Professors Christopher Bowman and Kristi Anseth have received up to $5.8 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a new wound treatment that temporarily halts cellular activity to prevent tissue damage. Inspired by the biostasis of tardigrades, the light-activated hydrogel could one day protect and preserve tissue in burns, frostbite and battlefield injuries.

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Partnering Opportunities for CU Bioscience Technologies

Biosciences are crucial for advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care. At the University of Colorado, cutting-edge research in these fields is driving significant breakthroughs. The university's advanced facilities and collaborative environment enable researchers to delve into areas such as molecular medicine, regenerative therapies and personalized healthcare. By translating scientific discoveries into innovative treatments and technologies, CU is at the forefront of improving health outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for people around the world.

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Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for $750,000

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:08:08 +0000

Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for $750,000 Daniel Corbin … Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:08

Eleven teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $750,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases at the Dairy Arts Center. Judges from Venture Partners at CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

2025 Lab Venture Challenge Showcases

Physical Sciences: Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m.

Biosciences: Thursday, Oct. 23, 6 p.m.

Dairy Arts Center (2590 Walnut St, Boulder, CO 80302)

Get Tickets

Through LVC, top innovators from CU Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants of up to $125,000. LVC supports projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. The LVC grants are funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund.

LVC is run by Venture Partners, one of the university’s commercialization arms and a central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. LVC finalists are working and collaborating with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

To date, LVC has funded 117 projects through 64 new deep-tech startup companies, which collectively have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing including Darwin Biosciences, Manifest Technologies (prev. Vitro3D) and Mesa Quantum.

Members of the entrepreneurial and university communities are invited to attend the LVC Showcases to enjoy good food, network and see which teams will walk away with $125,000 of funding.

This year’s LVC showcases were additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Johnson & Johnson, Holland & Hart LLP, Paralex and Thermo Fisher Scientific

2025 Physical Sciences Finalists

Breakthrough Analog Domain Jamming Suppression for UAVs

Multi-Domain Anti-Jamming Technology (MDAT) provides real-time interference suppression for military UAVs. With 400x size reduction via analog domain processing, MDAT deploys as 6x6-inch, sub-5lb plug-and-play modules for retrofitting tactical drones, ensuring mission continuity in contested RF environments. The team has formed BoldRF LLC to bring their innovation to market.

Laila Marzall (CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Zoya Popovic (CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Co-PI
Marisha Parikh (CU Boulder Lockheed Martin Engineering Management Program), Head of Business
Sarah Johns (Student: CU Boulder Leeds School of Business), Business Strategist
Stephanie Torres (Student: CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Product Strategist.
Gary Dolsen (Fmr: CU Boulder Leeds School of Business), Advisor

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

Oana Luca (CU Boulder Chemistry), PI
Ankur Gupta (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI
Hunter Koltunski (Student: CU Boulder Chemistry), Scientific Lead
Richard Noble (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Scientific Advisor
Jafar Makrani, Co-Founder and CEO/CPO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Lyle Antieau III, Co-Founder and CTO/COO, LVC Pitch Presenter

Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

SynForce is developing a modular photo-thermo-catalysis device that rapidly activates a wide range of stubborn chemical bonds, enabling carbon-free fuel production at high reaction rates and the destruction of toxic PFAS in water, while reducing energy use and operating costs. The team has formed a startup, Synforce, to bring their innovation to market.

Longji Cui (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), PI, LVC Pitch Presenter
Dishan Chooi (Student: CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Sarang Gosavi (Student: CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Yunxuan Zhu (Postdoc: CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Director of R&D
Karen Crofton (CU Boulder College of Engineering and Applied Science), Advisor

Next-Generation Holographic Materials for AR Displays

A thiol-ene holographic materials platform delivers low-haze, high-refractive-index photopolymers for sharper, more immersive AR displays. This versatile and scalable step-growth method overcomes shrinkage, scattering and supply-chain constraints of existing chain-growth materials for holographic optics.

Christopher Bowman (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI, LVC Pitch Presenter,
Robert McLeod (CU Boulder Department of Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Co-PI
Yunfeng Hu (Postdoc: CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering)
John Rynk (Student: CU Boulder Materials Science & Engineering Program)

A Language-Driven Engine to Deploy Robots Like Software

BoBoRobo’s agentic AI engine turns plain English specifications into ready-to-deploy robotics—validated in a digital twin and safety-checked across OEMs. It outputs layout, BOM, install plan and robot-specific code, cutting deployment timelines from six months to ten days and reducing costs by up to 50%. The team has formed a startup, BoBoRobo, to bring their innovation to market.

Alessandro Roncone (CU Boulder Computer Science), PI, CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Anuj Pasricha (Student: CU Boulder Department of Computer Science), CTO
Claire Chen (Postdoc: CU Boulder Computer Science), CSO

Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

Scott A. Diddams (CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI
Tsung-Han Wu (Postdoc: CU Boulder Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Founder, CEO
Peter Chang, CTO
Nathan Brooks, Principal Scientist, LVC Pitch Presenter

2025 Biosciences Finalists

Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

Leslie Leinwand (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Thomas Martin (Postdoc: CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), CSO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jack Gugel, CEO
Yuxiao Tan (Postdoc: CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder

Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

Matt Davidson (CU Boulder BioFrontiers Institute), CEO and Founder, LVC Pitch Presenter
Jason Burdick (CU Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering and BioFrontiers Institute) Co-Founder, PI
Peter Lennarson (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Vaporizable Droplets for Proton Beam Visualization

Vaporizable exoskeletal droplets provide in vivo visualization of beam placement during proton therapy, a rapidly growing treatment approach for cancer. Using this image-guided therapy, clinicians can make real-time adjustments to the treatment, reducing harmful side effects and improving patient outcomes. The team has formed a startup, Radiosensitive VEDs, to bring their innovation to market.

Mark Borden (CU Boulder Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering), PI
William Frantz (Student CU Boulder Biomedical Engineering), LVC Pitch Presenter
Barry Marston, Advisor

Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

Jingshi Shen (CU Boulder Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Suzhao Li (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), President, LVC pitch presenter
Charles Dinarello (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Nanorobotic Synthesis of Oligonucleotides

Modern DNA synthesis suffers from low overall yields due to the accumulation of errors for longer strands. The team has designed a nanorobotic synthesis platform which can detect and correct errors during synthesis, enabling ultra-high fidelity synthesis of gene-length DNA for single-cell omics and genomics application. The team has formed a startup, Nanosynth, to bring their innovation to market.

Joshua Johnson (CU Boulder ATLAS Institute), CEO, LVC Pitch Presenter
Mirela Alistar (CU Boulder, ATLAS Institute), PI
Curtis Woodard, Advisor

Eleven teams of University of Colorado entrepreneurs, faculty researchers and graduate student innovators will compete for a combined $750,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases at the Dairy Arts Center. Judges from Venture Partners at CU Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

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Biosciences

CU Boulder leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care

Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device

Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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New NAI Fellow Xuedong Liu leads in research and medical innovation

Hitting the target, from lab to marketplace

Opening the gate

What Can We Do Together?

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$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

2025 Physical Sciences Winners

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H2 Production

$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

2025 Biosciences Winners

$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

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Kristi Anseth named Forbes "50 over 50" for "Innovation"

Partnering Opportunities for CU Technologies

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NSF I-Corps at CU Boulder helps researchers solve pressing problems

Join I-Corps at CU Boulder

Empowering researchers, entrepreneurs and society

Page Technologies

But what is "commercialization?"

“Remarkably useful” programming

A national standout

Commutrics

The future of a “pillar program”

What Can We Do Together?

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�������� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging

Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials

Partnering Opportunities for CU Technologies

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A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

Partnering Opportunities for CU Bioscience Technologies

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Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for $750,000

2025 Lab Venture Challenge Showcases

2025 Physical Sciences Finalists

Breakthrough Analog Domain Jamming Suppression for UAVs

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H2 Production

Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

Next-Generation Holographic Materials for AR Displays

A Language-Driven Engine to Deploy Robots Like Software

Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

2025 Biosciences Finalists

Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

Vaporizable Droplets for Proton Beam Visualization

Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

Nanorobotic Synthesis of Oligonucleotides

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$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

�� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production