Vanderbilt has announced eleven awardees in the latest round of its Innovation Catalyst Fund, an initiative that supports translational research that has promising commercial potential. Five engineering professors received awards in the February 2025 cycle.
This initiative, open to all University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) faculty, addresses pressing real-world challenges. The fund provides essential support in three key areas: proving ideas can be commercialized, supporting early-stage innovation projects, and furthering research efforts that benefit the community and society.
Distinguished engineering school awardees from the latest funding cycle include:
- Scott Guelcher, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering: Preclinical Development of a Settable Bone Graft for Stabilization of Dental Implants
- Shihong Lin, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, Electrochemicallyenhanced Lithium Adsorption System (ELiAS)
- Meiyi Ma, assistant professor of computer science: Developing a Training System for Emergency Response
- Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, professor of biomedical engineering: Augmented Reality Headset Development for Intra-Operative Guidance of Surgery with Near Infrared Autofluorescence
- Nabil Simaan, professor of mechanical engineering: In-Vivo Pre-Clinical Validation of Sensory-guided Smart Catheters Technology for Stroke Treatment and Endovascular Navigation
The Innovation Catalyst Fund is led by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, in consultation with the Division of Finance, VUMC’s Office of Research and academic leaders across Vanderbilt’s colleges and schools. The Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization manages the program with support from the Brock Center and the Wond’ry. This collaboration emphasizes Vanderbilt’s dedication to fostering translational and commercially focused research.