TS-076401 — Many progressive diseases, including cardiac, neurological, and other chronic disorders, begin with subtle molecular and cellular changes long before conventional clinical signs become detectable. Current diagnostic approaches generally identify disease only after significant tissue remodeling or …

TS-076286 — Literature shows that Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) combined with fluid instillation can improve abdominal trauma patient outcomes. Current standards of practice are inefficient, involving assembly and off-label use of at least 8 medical products. This is further complicated by varied pro…

TS-075868 — Clinicians managing pediatric patients supported by a ventricular assist device must routinely assess pump performance by visually estimating membrane fill and ejection during pump cycles. These evaluations are critical for patient management but are inherently subjective, time-consuming, and pron…

TS-075519 — A galactose-based RAFT chain transfer agent (Gal-RAFT) that incorporates a sugar moiety at the polymer terminus, enabling the synthesis of well-defined polymers with an integrated carbohydrate handle for subsequent biological applications.

TS-075261 — Problem Hemolysis, the process by which the red blood cell membrane ruptures, releasing hemoglobin (Hb), is typically managed in mammalian organisms by intrinsic proteins such as hemopexin (Hpx) and haptoglobin (Hp). However, their concentrations in plasma are very limited, so, in conditions with s…

TS-075260 — Problem Type 2 diabetes and related metabolic disorders affect hundreds of millions of patients and are frequently accompanied by chronic inflammation, which accelerates disease progression and complications. Existing antidiabetic therapies often fail to adequately address inflammatory pathways and…

TS-075259 — More than a billion people worldwide suffer from some form of neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer's (AD), Parkinson's (PD), multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, stroke, or spinal injury. These conditions result in more than 7 million deaths, with associated costs exceed…

TS-075258 — PROBLEM Chronic heart failure following myocardial infarction (MI) afflicts ~6.7 million US adults and is driven by maladaptive immune activation, particularly persistent activation and proliferation of CD4+ T cells. Existing anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory approaches have largely failed to …

TS-075255 — Problem The limited regenerative capacity of adult CNS neurons upon transection results in chronic neurological disability. There is an urgent need to develop novel therapies that facilitate CNS axon regeneration and ultimately restore lost neurological functions. Solution Applications Advan…

TS-075254 — Problem Cardiomyopathy weakens the heart muscle and impairs its ability to pump blood effectively, often leading to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. While doxorubicin remains an essential component of many cancer regimens, its use is limited by the risk of causing lethal cardiomyopathy. A maj…

TS-075248 — Problem High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) accounts for over 75% of all epithelial OC and has a high mortality rate due to a lack of early detection methods. Current biomarkers have low sensitivity and specificity in early-stage disease. There is an urgent need for a more effective diagnosis …

TS-075247 — PROBLEM Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiple organ damage, affecting women at a 9:1 rate as compared to men. The etiology of SLE is complex and incompletely understood; however, the susceptibility of women during the years in which estrogen levels ar…

TS-075246 — Problem Peripheral neuropathy, especially small fiber neuropathy, is a debilitating condition that affects millions and is commonly linked to aging, diabetes, and metabolic disorders. Existing diagnostic tools are often invasive, expensive, or they lack the sensitivity to detect early disease stage…

TS-075245 — Problem Although cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a promising drug target, traditional small-molecule inhibitors face challenges due to CDK9's structural similarities with other kinases, leading to off-target effects and limited efficacy Solution Applications Advantages Seeking opp…

TS-075244 — Problem Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the most common acute leukemia in adults, is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous disease. Sequencing of large patient cohorts has uncovered a complex mutational landscape in AML but still fails to completely explain the biological and clinical heterogene…

TS-075243 — Problem Central nervous system (CNS) injury can result in permanent neurological disability and vision loss. There is a dire need to develop novel therapies that overcome barriers to repair within the CNS and promote neuron survival and axon regeneration. Solution Applicat…

TS-075242 — THE PROBLEM Although immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has emerged as promising cancer immunotherapy, many tumors fail to respond to ICB. This failed response is often driven by the activation of TGF-β1 in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which induces regulatory T cells and inhibits the funct…

TS-075241 — Problem Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathies remain leading causes of death worldwide. Notably, heart failure is the only major cardiovascular condition still increasing in prevalence. Current treatments primarily consist in managing the …

TS-075240 — Problem Dedifferentiated liposarcomas (DDLPS) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas with limited effective treatment options and a dismal prognosis. Current therapies often fail due to tumor resistance, poor specificity, and toxicity. The aggressive clinical behavior of LPS and its resistance to chem…

TS-075239 — Papaverine is an FDA-approved potent inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. Papaverine’s mitochondrial complex I inhibition has been shown to be responsible for increased oxygenation and enhanced radiation response. However, papaverine is also a phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) inhibitor with pot…

TS-075238 — Problem Low titer group O whole blood (LTOWB) is the gold standard used by the US military to treat blood loss. However, there is a limited supply with ex vivo storage and shelf-life limitations. There is no whole blood substitute on the market when LTOWB is not available. Solution Dr. Andre Palmer and team have developed several whole blood substitute formulations to mimic the 3 main functions of whole blood: 1) oxygen transport (provided by hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier [HBOC]); 2) clotting (provided by tranexamic acid); and 3) volume replacement (provided by a plasma substitute). The HBOC consists of T-state polymerized human hemoglobin (PolyhHb). The clotting agent consists of tranexamic acid (TXA). The volume replacement solution consists of polymerized human serum albumin (PolyHSA). Additional additives include high molecular weight polyethylene glycol as a drag reducing agent, and dexamethasone as an anti-inflammatory agent. Applications Prehospital and austere environments Used by EMS and military for early resuscitation before hospital arrival Hospital trauma protocols Used for first-line transfusion in exsanguinating patients Advantages Mimics the three major functions of whole blood without the risk of blood type incompatibility and disease transmission Extended shelf life versus whole blood Scalable production Seeking opportunities for out-licensing and collaboration

TS-075237 — Problem The loss or mutation of serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11), observed in 20–25% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, is associated with poor prognosis and resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). While STK11 alterations are commonly linked to immunotherapy resistance, so…

TS-075234 — PROBLEM Dysregulation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) leads to abnormal Ca2+ release, a central driver of serious cardiovascular diseases including congestive heart failure (CHF), catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD…

TS-075233 — Problem Transducin β-like protein 1 (TBL1) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in oncology, due to its central role in regulating multiple oncogenic signaling pathways. The challenge is how to develop a selective and effective inhibitor of TBL1 with high efficacy and limited side-eff…

TS-075232 — Problem Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. Within its subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) carries the highest mortality, driven in large part by a lack of effective targeted t…

TS-075231 — Problem Despite recent progress in cancer therapy, acquired resistance to existing cancer drugs reduces therapeutic efficacy. There is a strong need for a therapy with a novel mode of action to overcome drug resistance, and to improve therapeutic efficacy whether used alone or in combination therap…

TS-075230 — Problem Computed tomography (CT) is commonly used for its widespread availability, rapid acquisition times, and depiction of fine bony detail, but it struggles to differentiate spinal cord tissue from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) due to their similar mass densities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of…

TS-075191 — PROBLEM Cancer immunotherapies (e.g. ICB, CAR-T cells, and conventional bispecific T cell engagers) have transformed treatment of hematological and solid malignancies; however, their impact is limited by several factors including insufficient durability of therapeutic activity, tumor heterogeneity,…

TS-075188 — Problem The liver sinusoidal clearance system (LSCS) is responsible for eliminating the majority of circulating macromolecular waste, inflammatory mediators, toxins, and therapeutic agents. Excessive hepatic clearance limits the efficacy of therapies, including chemotherapies and vaccines. In contr…

TS-075186 — PROBLEM Exhausted CD8 T cells significantly limit the effectiveness of immunotherapies and cell therapies in cancer and chronic viral infections. Persistent antigen exposure drives durable epigenetic reprogramming that locks T cells into a dysfunctional state, silencing effector and memory-associat…

TS-075185 — Problem The lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is a promising target for cancer therapy. LSR is overexpressed in many tumor tissues with metastatic signatures such as breast, gastric, and endometrial cancer. LSR expression levels may serve as prognostic indicators and help stratify pat…

TS-075184 — Problem Synthetic lethality (SL) is defined as a gene combination effect (GCE) of two genes where loss-of-function of both genes, rather than one, causes cell death. While carrying strong therapeutic potential in the treatment of cancer, SL interactions are context specific and sparse, thereby limi…

TS-075183 — Problem Current eligibility biomarkers for Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) poorly predict patient’s response. Drug clearance, both at baseline and over time, is a stronger predictor of ICI effectiveness, however the current non-linear mixed effects modeling (NLME) approach for estimating …

TS-075182 — PROBLEM Prostate cancer (PCa) and urothelial cancers (UC) are among the most commonly diagnosed malignancies in aging adults, and their management is characterized by prolonged, costly, and invasive surveillance pathways. Both diseases exhibit marked molecular heterogeneity that drives prognosis, t…

TS-075181 — PROBLEM Metabolic diseases and peripheral neuropathies represent a major public health burden in the United States, and the risks increase as we age. Metabolic diseases, including diabetes and obesity, and peripheral neuropathy (PN) affect approximately 25-45% and 10-20% of U.S. adults aged 50-70 r…

TS-075179 — Problem Mitochondria is a promising target for cancer treatment. However, current strategies to specifically and effectively destroy cancer mitochondria in vivo are limited. Solution Applications Competitive Advantages Seeking Opportunities for Licensing and collaboration

TS-075178 — Problem Over 30,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with multiple myeloma (MM), a disease of clonal plasma cells which accumulate in the bone marrow. Despite several treatment options, MM is still incurable, and patients inevitably relapse and develop toxicities and functional decline. Novel the…

TS-075177 — Problem Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant form of gliomas and the most lethal primary brain tumors in adults. Current biomarkers or clinical features from tissue biopsy samples cannot distinguish glioma true progression from pseudoprogression and might not be suited to monitoring …

TS-075175 — Problem Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease where activated fibroblasts mediate the abnormal accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the lung interstitial space, leading to progressive impairment of pulmonary function. Current IPF therapies are associated with significant…

TS-075174 — Problem IL-2 and its receptor IL-2R are known to play multiple roles in shaping the immune response, including both immune activation and tolerance. Treatments activating effector cells against tumors are undermined by an autoinhibitory loop caused by endogenous IL-2 secreted from activated Teffs. …

TS-075168 — Problem Metastasis is the primary driver of cancer-related deaths, yet accurately predicting its onset is a major clinical challenge. Current diagnostic tools often fail to detect occult metastatic cells and metastatic precursor cells, resulting in either overdiagnosis, with unnecessary treatments,…

TS-075167 — PROBLEM CAR T-cell therapy against CD19 has become the standard of care for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), the most common kind of lymphoma. Recent studies have identified clinical risk factors for prediction of CAR T therapy failure; however, these risk factors are inconsis…

TS-075165 — Problem Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are often metastatic at diagnosis, thus limiting surgical options. Chemotherapies offer limited efficacy and high toxicity. Meningiomas, though usually benign, are the most common intracranial tumors. Both NETs and meningiomas overexpress SSTR2, making it a prom…

TS-075164 — The Problem Treatments for inherited retinal diseases are currently limited. Gene therapy has emerged as a strong treatment option. However, difficulties have arisen with these gene therapies. It has been found that an intrathecal injection of adenoassociated viral (AAV) gene therapy vector does no…

TS-075163 — THE PROBLEM High-grade gliomas, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are the most common primary central nervous system tumors with a high recurrence rate and extremely poor overall survival with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 5%. Despite success of CAR-T therapy in treating blood canc…

TS-075162 — THE PROBLEM Despite advances in classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (cHL) treatment, significant challenges persist with up to 40% of patients relapsing after first-line therapy and 50% after autologous stem cell transplant (aSCT). Current therapies like brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors…

TS-075161 — Problem Acute and chronic pulmonary inflammation conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute lung injury (ALI) and asthma, remain a significant healthcare challenge with high mortality rates, long-term morbidity and a substantial economic burden due to prolonged hospital s…

TS-075160 — Problem Peripheral neuropathy (PN) results in loss of innervation by the peripheral nerves in tissues such as skin, muscle, heart and subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT). It is mostly associated with diabetes, obesity, aging, and chemotherapy. Affecting 10-20% of U.S. adults aged 50-70, PN is…

TS-075158 — Problem The global immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) market is ~$60B. However, only ~20% of patients derive long-term survival benefit. The current standard of care biomarker Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) performs poorly and there is no universal biomarker with robust validated predictive ability. Opportunity A companion diagnostic for identifying patients who benefit with ICI would unlock a large market by improving patient outcome and enabling a pan-cancer treatment indication that helps newer market entrants to better compete with incumbents. Solution Genomic Score that Predicts Survival: We have developed a pan-cancer genomic scoring system encompassing ~170 genes that predicts long term survival with immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) Derivation: Developed from next-generation sequencing genomic data from 54 Neuroendocrine neoplasms who received ICIs at OSU Validation: Performed by analyzing and scoring 20,563 genomic alterations in 1,662 ICI treated patients with 10 different cancers from a publicly available dataset. (Samstein et al., Nature Genetics 2019). Broad Applicability: NSCLC, Melanoma, Colorectal Cancer, Bladder cancer and Neuroendocrine Neoplasms. Competitive Advantage The genomic score performed better than the TMB score (current standard of care) AUC of 0.87-0.95 for genomic score vs AUC of 0.57 for TMB Predictive of survival in 5 types of cancer including NSCLC Applications Biotech/Pharma companies: Develop a companion diagnostic to facilitate ICI drug development and improve patient outcome that leads to a new pan-cancer treatment indication that competes strongly with established players such as Keytruda and Opdivo which lose patent exclusivity within 3 years Payors/Nationalized Health Systems: Accurately predicting survival benefit helps maximize benefit from expenditure on ICI

TS-075141 — THE PROBLEM Current MS treatments typically employ broad immunosuppression rather than targeting specific pathways, resulting in significant side effects and inadequate responses in many patients. The IL-6/STAT3 pathway is critical for balancing inflammatory T effector cells and protective regulato…