Six projects were selected out of 45 applications. The Innovation Challenge supports bold, collaborative ideas that advance patient care, clinical operations, research, and education.
We are pleased to announce the awardees of Cohort 5 of the UMMC and UMB Innovation Challenge, a joint initiative designed to support bold, collaborative ideas that advance patient care, clinical operations, research, and education across our academic medical enterprise.
The Innovation Challenge continues to foster cross-disciplinary collaboration by providing funding, mentorship, and institutional support to help transform promising concepts into impactful solutions. This year’s cohort, which included 45 applications, reflects the creativity, rigor, and commitment to innovation that define the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).
$100,000 Awardees
- A Rapid Culture-Independent Approach to Simultaneously Detect Multiple Pathogens and Antibiotic Resistance Markers for Clinical Diagnostics of Patient Samples
- Melissa MacDonald, MD; Kristie Johnson, PhD; Surbhi Leekha, MD, MPH; Tracy Hazen, PhD; James Doub, MD; Mike Humphrys, MS
- Next-Generation Epilepsy Monitoring: Intracranial EEG-Based Benchmarking and Algorithm Development for Focal Seizure Detection Using Wearable Devices
- Susmit Tripathi, MD; Jennifer Hopp, MD; Ramana Kumar Vinjamuri, PhD; Katherine Altadonna; Jennifer Knowles
$100,000 Drug Resistance and Drug Delivery RFP Awardees
- Novel Prodrug Nanotherapy for Sickle Cell Disease
- Allan Doctor, MD; Dipanjan Pan, PhD; Aishwarya Anand, PhD; Li Meng, MD
- Development of VHH-Based Bispecific Antibodies Against Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection
- Yongrong Zhang, PhD; Hanping Feng, PhD; Di Yu
$40,000 Awardees
- A Novel Simulation Training Program for Retinopathy of Prematurity Eye Exams
- Susanna Yau, MD; Roni Levin, MD; Janet Alexander, MD, MS; Kristin Williams, RN; Sinan Akosman; Jason Zhou; Nicole Lock, DO
- Rehab Pathfinder: Digitizing the Interdisciplinary Discharge Planning Process for Stroke Patients
- Megan Wright, MSPAS, PA-C; Robynne Braun, MD, PhD; Ty Lai, MD; Suzanne Dunn, OT; Farra Dorman, PT; Bethany Hanline, SW; Krishnaj Gourab, MD
We congratulate all the awardees on their outstanding proposals and look forward to seeing these projects progress over the coming months. Their work exemplifies the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drives our mission forward.
For more information about the Innovation Challenge, including future application cycles, please visit the Innovation Challenge website.
Sincerely,
Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS
President
University of Maryland, Baltimore
Bert W. O’Malley, MD
President and CEO
University of Maryland Medical Center
Professor of Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery
University of Maryland School of Medicine