Last week, the team behind the NSF-funded ASCEND2.0 program visited the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to engage directly with two of its grantees, Dr. Jesse Owens and Dr. Soojin Jun, whose groundbreaking research is paving the way for innovations in biologic medicine and food preservation. The visit provided an opportunity for the ASCEND2.0 leadership team to connect in person with both researchers, share a meal, and gain firsthand insight into the impact and advancement of their work. Dr. Owens is developing novel therapeutics to treat inflammatory bowel disease using biologic delivery mechanisms, while Dr. Jun is exploring next-generation food preservation...

As part of ASCEND2.0’s ongoing efforts to deepen partnerships with Principal Investigators and their institutions, John Chavez, Director of Program Engagement, recently visited two leading researchers whose work is pushing the boundaries of science in innovative and impactful ways. At the University of Idaho, Chavez met with Dr. Ching-An Peng, who is pioneering a novel method for isolating plant-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). Leveraging biodegradable chitin particles and intein-mediated splicing, Dr. Peng’s technique preserves the structural integrity and function of EVs—an advancement that could unlock new possibilities in drug delivery, cancer therapy, agriculture, and beyond. ASCEND2.0 is proud to support Dr. Peng...

ASCEND2.0, part of the NIH-funded I-RED West Program, continues to drive cutting-edge biomedical advancements across its partner institutions. Through strategic collaboration, ASCEND2.0 is accelerating research and commercialization efforts that address critical challenges in healthcare and technology. At the University of Montana, researchers have joined ASCEND2.0 to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and accelerate drug discovery. Their work focuses on developing innovative strategies to fight resistant infections, addressing one of the most pressing global health concerns. Meanwhile, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Dr. Kory Grahl has been selected to lead an ASCEND2.0 project dedicated to advancing orthodontic technology. His...

Dr. Kory Grahl, interim assistant dean of Clinical Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine, has been admitted to the highly-selective I-RED, ASCEND2.0 2024-2025 cohort and will receive support in conducting essential clinical tests of his new orthodontic device. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) project, ASCEND2.0 aims to fast-track biomedical innovations by equipping researchers with entrepreneurial skills and resources to accelerate their journey from laboratory to market through the I-RED West Program. Revolutionizing Orthodontics with Cadmus Bracket Technology Dr. Grahl’s research centers on a groundbreaking tooth-colored orthodontic...

ASCEND2.0, part of the NIH-funded I-RED West Program, continues to drive cutting-edge biomedical advancements across its partner institutions. Through strategic collaboration, ASCEND2.0 is accelerating research and commercialization efforts that address critical challenges in healthcare and technology. At the University of Montana, researchers have joined ASCEND2.0 to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance and accelerate drug discovery. Their work focuses on developing innovative strategies to fight resistant infections, addressing one of the most pressing global health concerns. Meanwhile, at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Dr. Kory Grahl has been selected to lead an ASCEND2.0 project dedicated to advancing orthodontic technology. His...

Dr. Ching-An Peng, a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Idaho, has been selected to participate in the highly selective I-RED, ASCEND2.0 2024-2025 cohort. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences project, the ASCEND2.0 program is designed to fast-track biomedical innovations by equipping researchers with entrepreneurial skills and resources to bring groundbreaking ideas from the lab to the market through the I-RED West Program.Dr. Peng is a leader in innovative biomedical research, specializing in drug and gene delivery. His expertise in cutting-edge nanotechnology and engineering principles...

Dr. Mark Gomelsky, Professor of Molecular Biology and Director of the Microbiology Program at the University of Wyoming, has been selected to participate in the prestigious I-RED, ASCEND2.0 2024-2025 cohort. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the ASCEND2.0 program is designed to accelerate the commercialization of biomedical innovations and provide entrepreneurial training to bring groundbreaking discoveries to market through the I-RED West Program. Pioneering Bacterial Signal Transduction Research Dr. Gomelsky’s research focuses on bacterial signal transduction and photoreception, areas critical to understanding bacterial biofilm formation and virulence. Since establishing his lab at the University...

Dr. Soojin Jun and Dr. Jesse Owens from the University of Hawaii at Manoa have been selected to participate in the highly competitive IRED, ASCEND2.0 2024-2025 cohort. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences, ASCEND2.0 accelerates the commercialization of biomedical innovations and equips researchers with entrepreneurial training to bring groundbreaking technologies to market through the IRED West Program. Innovative Food Preservation: Dr. Soojin Jun Dr. Soojin Jun, a Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, specializes in emerging food processing technologies. His expertise spans thermal and nonthermal food processing, biosensing,...

Dr. Gloria Zhang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at New Mexico State University, has been selected to participate in the highly selective I-RED, ASCEND2.0 2024-2025 cohort. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) project, the ASCEND2.0 program is designed to accelerate the commercialization of biomedical innovations by equipping researchers with entrepreneurial skills and resources to transform their discoveries into impactful healthcare solutions through the I-RED West Program. Dr. Zhang’s research spans the development of nextgeneration multifunctional materials and structural systems with applications in sensing, monitoring, energy harvesting, actuation, and 3D-printed...