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The Catalyst Grant program continues to spark innovation by supporting research with strong commercial promise and real-world impact. Thanks to generous support from the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Invenergy, more than $250,000 was awarded this year to six UWM research teams. Their projects tackle challenges ranging from cancer diagnostics and clean energy to rehabilitation robotics and tools that support equitable decision-making in regulated professions. Each team is using Catalyst funding to advance early-stage solutions that address urgent societal needs and position their innovations for real-world deployment and impact.
Healthcare & Medicine
Precision Cancer Diagnostics
Drs. Ashwin Narasimhan and Priyatha Premnath
Developing a liquid biopsy platform to isolate rare circulating tumor cells with greater accuracy, improving early cancer detection and personalized treatment planning.
Targeted Cancer Therapy
Drs. Xiaohua Peng and Taufeeque Ali
Advancing a combination therapy that uses vitamin C to activate a novel compound that selectively kills cancer cells, offering a less toxic alternative to conventional chemotherapy.
Rehabilitation Robotics for Bedridden Patients
Dr. Habib Rahman
Creating a portable, bed-attachable robotic exoskeleton to deliver early-stage lower-limb therapy, reducing caregiver burden and improving recovery outcomes.
Environment & Energy
Environmental Monitoring and Agrochemical Development
Drs. Rebecca Klaper and Eric Ostovich
Engineering genetically modified algae to detect chemical impacts at the cellular level, supporting safer agrochemical design and faster water quality assessments.
Next-Generation Power Conversion for Energy Storage
Dr. Feng Guo
Prototyping a novel power converter to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of battery energy storage systems, enabling better integration of renewable energy.
Professional Standards & Risk Management
Decision-Support for Nursing Educators
Dr. Christopher Peters
Developing an algorithm to guide nursing educators in evaluating student background checks, promoting fair admissions decisions and reducing legal liability.
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