The UCSF Catalyst Program is thrilled to welcome David Morris, MD, as the new Vice Chancellor of UCSF Innovation Ventures. David is a veteran of pharma, biotech, and venture capital. Now, David returns to UCSF to help launch the ideas of a new generation of scientists. Learn more

Applications for Catalyst Awards Now Open

The Catalyst Program is UCSF’s translational accelerator focused on advancing UCSF discoveries with clinical impact and commercial potential. Catalyst Awards are the centerpiece of the Catalyst Program that provide both seed funding and industry advisor mentorship to UCSF Principal Investigators (PIs) with promising projects that have the potential to advance along the translational path to commercialization and patient benefit. The Catalyst Awards are focused on the development of therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and digital health. Thanks to our co-funding partnerships with UCSF Centers and Institutes, projects in their respective areas of focus are of special interest for Catalyst Awards. These Centers and Institutes include: the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, the Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine, the Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, the Center for Intelligent Imaging, and the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Learn more and apply here

Catalyst Summer Interns Work with 2024 Catalyst Awardees to Create TPPs

This summer, the Catalyst Program recruited over 100 interns from UCSF, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and beyond to help the 2024 Kunal Patel Catalyst Award Project Teams create their Target Product Profiles (“TPP”) to help advance this year's Catalyst Award projects along the translational pathway to product development and patient benefit. While creating the TPPs, interns gained valuable training and insights into the key aspects of translating an idea into a product.

Watch the Catalyst Summer Internship Workshop Series Here

Venova Medical, Based on Shant Vartanian Catalyst Project, Announces $30 M Series B Funding

Venova Medical, a MedTech company launched by UCSF clinician, researcher, and Catalyst Awardee Shant Vartanian, MD, is developing a next-generation technology for the creation of percutaneous arteriovenous fistulas (pAVF) for hemodialysis access. Recently, the company, based on Shant's Catalyst and InVent Fund project, announced the initial closing of a $30M Series B funding round.

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Catalyst Awardee Nadav Ahituv Selected for the American Society of Human Genetics Scientific Achievement Award

Catalyst Awardee Nadav Ahituv, PhD, has been selected to receive the 2024 American Society of Human Genetics Scientific (ASHG) Achievement Award, for outstanding achievements and contributions to human genetics. The Ahituv Lab investigates gene regulatory elements and their relationship to human diversity and disease, and utilizes gene regulatory elements for gene therapy. The award recognizes work that has had a demonstrable impact on the scientific direction of the human genetics field.

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Catalyst Awardee Julie Saba in the News

Catalyst Awardee Julie Saba and Catalyst Advisor Biren Shah, co-founders of Sphinxion, have been awarded a $100K grant following the recent pitch session in the QB3 mentoring program. Additionally, Julie Saba is the recipient of a $1,695,750 NHLBI Catalyze grant for her project titled “Adeno-associated virus-mediated SGPL1 gene therapy as a first-in-class treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis that acts by reducing sphingosine-1-phosphate and downstream profibrotic signaling.” Sphinxion, a UCSF startup company, is developing a gene therapy for SPLIS, an ultra-rare genetic condition in which newborns lack a crucial enzyme, Sgpl1. Without this enzyme, the children develop a range of symptoms including severe kidney disease. Dr. Saba, a professor of pediatrics at UCSF, is exploring Sphinxion’s therapy in a mouse model, in which she is delivering a replacement gene to the kidney. Translated to humans, this therapy could enable children with SPLIS to live more normal lives.

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Catalyst Awardee Mauro Caffarelli Announces Partnership with Moberg Analytics

Catalyst Awardee Mauro Caffarelli developed the Correlate of Injury to the Nervous System index (COIN), a groundbreaking tool for EEG-based stroke screening. In a collaboration with Moberg Analytics, Dr. Caffarelli’s team is developing a unique neuromonitoring solution to help doctors recognize in-hospital strokes the moment they occur. By recognizing these strokes early, we will be able to select more patients for time-sensitive treatments and reduce the burden of stroke in patients with heart disease.

Harmony Biosciences Acquires Epygenix Therapeutics, Inc.

Harmony Biosciences announced the acquisition of Epygenix Therapeutics and added a rare epilepsy franchise to its expanding late-stage pipeline of innovative CNS assets. Epygenix Therapeutics was co-founded by Catalyst Awardee Scott Baraban based on his 2014 Catalyst Project titled "Zebrafish as a Model for Drug Discovery in Epilepsy."

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Cardiology Innovation Showcase

UCSF Innovation Ventures invites you to an evening event highlighting the cutting-edge advancements at UCSF's Cardiology Centers of Excellence. UCSF cardiology clinicians and scientific experts will present the latest in cardiology topics and emerging technologies poised to revolutionize healthcare. The showcase will foster networking and collaborations among faculty, industry, non-profits, investors, and trainees, creating a vibrant forum for accelerating cardiology innovations from research to clinical application. Attendees will engage in discussions on how to practically bridge the gap between conceptualizing novel ideas and clinical implementation, ensuring breakthrough science swiftly reaches patients.

2024 UC Drug Discovery Consortium Symposium and Networking Event

Registration is now open for the 2024 UC Drug Discovery Consortium Symposium and Networking Event at UCLA on Sept 16, 2024. The event features a Keynote Lecture by Jack Taunton as well as plenary lectures from leaders in drug discovery, presentations on UC core facilities that facilitate drug discovery, poster presentations from UC researchers, and perspectives on drug discovery from industry.

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MedTech Happy Hour

Join the Catalyst LaunchPad, Theranova, Wilson Sonsini, and Levine Bagade Han to catch up with your favorite MedTech friends and community over drinks and food on Thursday, September 26 from 6 - 8 pm at the Corner Cove at Spark Social SF.