�鶹��Ѱ��Commercialization News

From lab discoveries to life-changing heart drugs and billion-dollar companies

Daniel Leonard — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:31:14 +0000

From lab discoveries to life-changing heart drugs and billion-dollar companies Daniel Leonard Thu, 10/01/2026 - 14:31

Heather Hansen

Photo: Leslie Leinwand (left), distinguished professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at the �鶹��Ѱ��, converses with graduate student Skip Maas (right), holding two pythons. Photo by Patrick Campbell, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder.

Internationally renowned cardiac researcher and serial entrepreneur Leslie Leinwand has revolutionized understanding of the heart through her decades-long mission to bring innovations from the lab bench to patient bedsides — and with billion-dollar “unicorn” spinouts Myogen, MyoKardia and, most recently, Kardigan.

After speaking at a medical conference recently, Leslie Leinwand, distinguished professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at the �鶹��Ѱ��, met an appreciative attendee. “She was not a physician or scientist; she was a patient,” said Leinwand. The woman had suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a common inherited cardiac disorder that prevents activities that strain the heart. That is, until she started taking mavacamten (CAMZYOS®), a therapeutic developed to treat the underlying mechanism of the disease based on research done in Leinwand’s �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder lab. “She came up to me afterward, and she said, ‘I couldn’t walk up and down the steps to get onto the subway; I can now do it without even thinking about it,’” said Leinwand.

That moving meeting between researcher and patient was decades in the making. Leinwand, founder and head of the Leinwand Lab and executive scientific officer of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s BioFrontiers Institute, was fascinated by genetics by the time she went off to college in the 1970s and has been passionate for nearly as long about unraveling the genetic aspects of HCM, which is the leading cause of sudden death in young people, as well as a chronic, progressive disease that in some people can be asymptomatic.

Leinwand calls HCM “a big sick heart that runs in the family,” affecting as many as one in 500 people worldwide. The condition causes thickening of the heart wall and reduced blood flow into and out of the heart. HCM is also the most common cause of sudden death among athletes, who often don’t know they have the disease until their hearts are taxed to a lethal degree. What ultimately causes the disorder had long been a heartbreaking mystery — until a team of scientists, including Leinwand, cracked the code.

From bench to bedside — with unicorns

The heart is a big muscle that beats about 100,000 times a day, and the motor that drives that contraction is a protein called myosin. Leinwand has been studying cardiac myosin for most of her career, and since 1995 at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, having had the sense early on in her research that a malfunction in the protein played a role in heart disease. When myosin mutates, in fact, it can produce the too-fast, too-powerful heartbeat characteristic of HCM. “My lab studied how certain muscle mutations lead to disease,” said Leinwand, “and how a small DNA change leads to an often fatal crisis in the heart.”

Still, into the 2000s, no one knew how exactly the heart’s myosin motors were affected by gene mutations, and the only treatments for HCM were medications to slow heart rate, surgery to trim excess heart muscle or, in extreme cases, a heart transplant. HCM sufferers led sedentary yet anxious lives, trying to prevent the worst-case scenario. Then Leinwand’s lab, one of just a handful in the world studying cardiac myosin at the time, devised a game-changing system for producing lab-made cardiac myosin motors engineered with mutations. Those copies proved to be a critical step in studying the effects of DNA glitches that made the protein overreact, and in identifying them as a promising target for treatment.

Those groundbreaking discoveries led Leinwand to co-found MyoKardia in 2012, with colleagues at Stanford and Harvard. The company was centered on developing a therapeutic for HCM that essentially targeted myosin activity and pumped the brakes on the heart’s overactive motor.

Leinwand said the clinical trials of mavacamten exceeded the scientists’ expectations. “It was even better than what we had hoped for; we thought we might be able to slow the progression of this disease, but we’re seeing reversal of the disease,” said Leinwand. “In that population of people who respond very well, it’s been life-changing and life-saving.” In 2020, Bristol Myers Squibb acquired MyoKardia for $13.1 billion and brought the myosin inhibitor to market as CAMZYOS^® two years later.

By the time she co-founded MyoKardia, Leinwand was already a seasoned entrepreneur. Just a year after arriving at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, she co-founded Myogen with the late Michael Bristow, then a professor of cardiology at what is now the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, and two colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Leinwand credits Bristow, then head of the division of cardiology, with getting her interested in biotechnology. “At one point, he said to me, ‘How’d you like to start a company to treat heart failure?’ And I said, ‘I know nothing about starting companies,’” said Leinwand. “He said, ‘Well, luckily for you, I do, and I’ll teach you’ — and we were off to the races.”

Myogen focused on discovering, advancing and commercializing drugs for the treatment of heart failure and related cardiovascular diseases. One of its major successes was a therapy called ambrisentan, developed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a progressive disease causing extreme fatigue and breathlessness. Myogen’s savvy strategy of licensing products developed by other companies and then repurposing them for use in the heart caught the attention of private investors, then Gilead Sciences, which bought the company for $2.5 billion in 2006. Soon after the purchase, ambrisentan gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval (marketed as Letairis®) and became a standard-of-care therapy for PAH. “That was very satisfying, because there weren’t any treatments for it, and PAH was quite lethal. Many young women, in particular, were dying as a result of that disease,” said Leinwand. “So it was a success commercially and from the patient standpoint.”

But what is "commercialization"?

The path to commercialization — also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer" — can be challenging, so Venture Partners unites industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to help researchers, inventors and creators at the University of Colorado bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.

Explore the Path to Commercialization

The immense commercial success of Myogen and MyoKardia already makes Leinwand a rarity, said Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. “As a biotech innovator, Leslie has reached legendary status,” he said. That position is based on Leinwand’s prolific discoveries, life-saving drug developments and the success of her commercial ventures, he said.

“One of the really remarkable things about Leslie is that Myogen, MyoKardia and now Kardigan are all among [�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s] unicorns,” said Rees, referring to the status companies achieve when they reach a valuation of $1 billion. “Having one unicorn is incredible. Building three over the course of a career is almost unheard of.”

Luckily for those within and outside the university, Leinwand is an unstoppable innovator, said Rees. In 2023, she co-founded Kardigan with MyoKardia alumni, a “heart health” biotech company focused on developing therapeutics that prevent and cure heart disease, in addition to treating it. Kardigan is advancing three clinical-stage drug candidates targeting hard-to-treat cardiovascular diseases. The company — Leinwand’s extraordinary third unicorn — had raised nearly $600 million in private venture funding by late last year and, in June, Leinwand and colleagues were ringing the Nasdaq opening bell in Times Square to mark Kardigan’s initial public offering of $400 million.

Going out on the edge

By her own admission, Leinwand doesn’t sleep much and, when she invariably wakes in the middle of the night, she jots down thoughts in a notebook kept by her bedside. “I actually think sleep is a waste of time,” she said. Even today, the waking hours provide her with opportunities to pursue her passion.

“For me, that passion for discovery and translating research into something that could be useful for humans in both health and disease is what drives me,” said Leinwand. “I feel like I’m still learning and I look forward to that.”

Throughout her career, Leinwand has also been a strong advocate of encouraging others to follow their passion toward discovery. Over the past few decades, in the Leinwand Lab and beyond, she has mentored hundreds of scientists, some of whom are also now leaders in cardiac research. “Clearly, I’ve had a lot more interest than I ever thought I would in developing these companies, but I never wanted to be out of academics,” said Leinwand. “I didn’t want to give up mentoring students; I love that too much.”

By design, the Leinwand Lab and later the BioFrontiers Institute have always taken an interdisciplinary approach to human health and disease. Leinwand attributes much of her success to working with others at the university who can look at a shared problem from a different angle. “Human health is very complex and requires true interdisciplinary approaches. Being able to learn from people who do and think a little bit differently [is important],” she said. That collaborative environment encourages people to “go out on the edge,” she said, where answers to complex questions often lie.

Leinwand’s mentorship and policy of academic freedom drew Jack Gugel to her lab when he was pursuing his PhD several years ago. And then there were the pythons in residence in the Leinwand Lab. “The snakes were one of the things that really got me,” Gugel said. “And yeah, they are pretty awesome.”

The “Python Project” launched two decades ago at the Leinwand Lab to study the remarkable snakes whose heart size increases 25 percent or more after eating a massive meal — then shrinks back to normal. That led to Leinwand’s short-lived startup called Hiberna, which looked at translating research on “metabolic depression” (like that experienced by hibernating animals) into treatments that could protect the heart during adverse events by slowing metabolism in a controlled way. Her lab continues to study the ways in which understanding a python’s powerful, pliable heart may inform human health.

More recent python research led to another Leinwand Lab startup, Arkana Therapeutics, co-founded in 2025 by Gugel, Leinwand, Thomas Martin (a postdoctoral fellow in the Leinwand Lab at the time) and Jonathan Long at Stanford. The company is based on research into pythons’ response to eating a big meal, which, in the wild, can equal their body weight. “They can really eat one of the biggest meals of any animal in the animal kingdom,” said Gugel, “so we wanted to see what happens to their physiology and what kind of molecules they were producing.”

Photo: Members of Arkana Therapeutics with their prize-winning check at the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge. From left: Yuxiao Tan, Thomas Martin and Jack Gugel.

Ultimately, they discovered a molecule that increases 1,000-fold after the python eats, acting as a natural appetite suppressant. That science laid the groundwork for Arkana’s metabolite-based therapeutics for obesity, which are now in the proof-of-concept phase.

For Gugel, now CEO of Arkana, Leinwand has been a north star in getting the company off the ground. “She’s been huge both on the scientific side as a grad student, and especially as I’ve been transitioning into this startup role,” he said. Leinwand has opened up her network on the science and business fronts, said Gugel. “She’s walked down this road so many times before with previous companies and is so helpful in that regard,” he said.

Gugel and his team have also benefited tremendously from the commercialization arm of the campus, Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, which didn’t exist when Leinwand launched her first companies but now helps would-be entrepreneurs follow in her footsteps.

“Venture Partners has really helped lay out the roadmap of ‘here are all the things you need to do, and all the sources of funding you can get,’” said Gugel. “They stand out compared to what I’ve seen at other universities in terms of their professionalism and how good they are at what they do.”

Arkana has participated in several Venture Partners programs, including the 2025 Lab Venture Challenge (in which it won $127,500); the 2026 Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator, supporting business formation, market strategy and fundraising; and it was among the first recipients of a new translational funding program that provided up to $50,000 per project to advance promising, early-stage therapeutics with strong commercial potential.

Leinwand was reflective when asked what those moments of discovery are like — when a scientific mystery is solved, or a person reaches out to you whose life has been improved by a therapeutic you helped develop. “[Those moments] are indescribable in the sense that you have this sort of feeling of satisfaction, that you are glad you stuck with this idea and didn’t get distracted. They keep you going,” she said. “I absolutely love what I do.”

What can we do together?

Disclose and Protect Your Innovation

Engage in Entrepreneurial Training Programs

Find a Mentor to Advance Your Innovation

Get Funding for Your Innovation

Find Partners and Opportunities for Your Innovation

Explore Investing in and Partnering with �鶹��Ѱ��Researchers

Explore Our Startups Portfolio

Explore Our Technology Portfolio

Internationally renowned cardiac researcher and serial entrepreneur Leslie Leinwand has revolutionized understanding of the heart on her decades-long mission to bring innovations from the lab bench to patient bedsides — and with billion-dollar “unicorn” spinouts Myogen, MyoKardia and, most recently, Kardigan.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder helps lead I-Corps Hub West as network reports 170 startups and $303M raised

Daniel Leonard — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:00:17 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder helps lead I-Corps Hub West as network reports 170 startups and $303M raised Daniel Leonard Thu, 10/01/2026 - 13:00

Do you have an innovation that could make a difference?

Whether a researcher, entrepreneur, inventor or problem solver, the I-Corps Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop can help you transform your concept into a successful venture.

Get Started

Across 11 partner institutions, the National Science Foundation I-Corps™ Hub West has trained 1,612 regional teams and engaged 11,600 program participants. The Hub’s latest impact figures also report 170 startups formed, 935 jobs created and $303 million raised in follow-on funding.

“The real measure of I-Corps is not simply how many teams complete the program, but what researchers are able to do with what they learn,” said Stacyann P. Russell, director of the NSF I-Corps Hub West Region.

More: I-Corps Hub West

The University of Colorado Connection

The �鶹��Ѱ�� is one of the leading institutions in NSF I-Corps Hub West, and the Hub points to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder as a place where the progression from customer discovery to commercialization is particularly visible. Since officially becoming a partner institution in 2021, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has been a national leader in the initiative. Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder offers the Hub’s customer discovery programming on campus, including the Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop and the Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program, to researchers and innovators from any research or community institution.

In Colorado’s latest Advanced Industries Accelerator awards, 14 awardees, including teams from Colorado School of Mines and �鶹��Ѱ��Denver, had previously participated in NSF I-Corps customer discovery and commercialization programs offered through �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. The round awarded nearly $7.5 million, including $2.2 million to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers and university-connected startups.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is one of the leading institutions in I-Corps™ Hub West, whose latest impact figures show 170 startups formed and $303 million raised across its 11-institution network, with Venture Partners' customer discovery programs and Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator highlighted as paths to commercialization.

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Find the market for your innovation

Daniel Leonard — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 22:06:23 +0000

Find the market for your innovation Daniel Leonard Wed, 09/16/2026 - 16:06

Could your research, invention or creative idea make an impact beyond the academic world? The National Science Foundation’s I-Corps^TM programs offer the ideal starting point. Designed to help those new to commercialization explore the market potential of their innovations, I-Corps serves as a practical and accessible first step for anyone—not only �鶹��Ѱ��students and faculty—looking to translate their discoveries into real-world solutions.

Why start with I-Corps?

Ready to go further?

Protect your discoveries before you publish them: Your discoveries could have far-reaching impacts while securing recognition and opportunities for you.

Fund your research or creative work through commercialization: transform your ideas into real-world solutions—while securing funding to advance your work.

For some, commercialization can feel far removed from their academic goals. But what if the process aligned with your mission to create a meaningful impact? The NSF I-Corps program provides a structured, supportive pathway for exploring how your innovation could address real-world challenges—with no prior entrepreneurial experience.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is a national leader in the NSF I-Corps Hub West, a collaboration with universities across the West, including University of Southern California, University of California, Los Angeles, California Institute of Technology, University of California (Riverside and Santa Barbara), �鶹��Ѱ��, Colorado State University, University of Utah, Colorado School of Mines, University of New Mexico.

As part of I-Corps Hub West, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder (through Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, part of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Research & Innovation Office) offers hands-on regional I-Corps programs open to researchers, faculty, students and staff from any discipline or institution.

That programming begins with the introductory three-week Starting Blocks Customer Discovery Workshop and advances through the four-week Research-to-Market (R2M) Customer Discovery Program. Teams are then primed to pursue the National I-Corps Teams Program, where they can win a $50,000 grant.

Through I-Corps, you will:

Conduct customer discovery to understand market needs and pain points.
Assess the commercial potential of your idea in a supportive environment.
Develop the commercialization mindset needed to move your innovation forward.

Real results, real impact

I-Corps has helped countless entrepreneurs and nontraditional innovators take their first steps toward commercialization. Participants leave with a clearer understanding of their innovation’s market potential and a roadmap for next steps, whether that means pursuing funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs or the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), applying for the National I-Corps program where teams can further advance their innovation and win $50,000, or connecting with industry partners for licensing opportunities.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder companies like PAGE Technologies, Mesa Quantum and Manifest Technologies began their journey with customer discovery and market validation—essential skills gained through I-Corps programming.

How I-Corps fits into the path to commercialization

I-Corps and Venture Partners empower �鶹��Ѱ��innovators to take the lead in translating their discoveries into real-world applications, providing guidance and opportunities to support your journey, whether you want to launch a startup, collaborate with industry or license your technology.

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Venture Partners can also help connect you with industry partners or experienced entrepreneurs who can drive commercialization forward on your behalf—ensuring that your discoveries make an impact without requiring you to leave academia.

Whether your journey leads to licensing agreements, starting your own venture or collaborations with entrepreneurs, Venture Partners helps ensure your success.

Take the first step today

Your work at �鶹��Ѱ��could be the foundation for the next groundbreaking innovation. NSF I-Corps and Venture Partners are here to help you explore your innovation’s potential. With no prior experience required and a supportive, inclusive environment, there’s no better way to begin your journey.

Learn more and apply to the I-Corps program here. Whether you’re ready to disclose an innovation or simply want to explore the possibilities, I-Corps is your stepping-off point for turning ideas into impact.

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with �鶹��Ѱ��researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

Could your research, invention or creative idea make an impact beyond the academic world? The National Science Foundation’s I-Corps programs offer the ideal starting point.

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Photo: Elliot Strand, co-founder of PAGE Technologies

Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for more than $1M in awards

Daniel Leonard — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:28:30 +0000

Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for more than $1M in awards Daniel Leonard Tue, 09/15/2026 - 10:28

Twelve teams of University of Colorado faculty researchers, graduate student innovators and entrepreneurs will compete for more than $1 million in early-stage commercialization grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC) Showcases at the Dairy Arts Center. Judges from Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s entrepreneurial network will hear Shark Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in physical sciences and another for biosciences.

Physical Sciences: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6-8:30 p.m.
Biosciences: Thursday, Oct. 22, 6-8:30 p.m.

Dairy Arts Center, Boulder
All Are Welcome — �鶹��Ѱ��Affiliation is Not Required
Tickets Are Free

Get Free Tickets

Add to Calendar: Google Apple Outlook Office 365 ICS File

Through LVC, top innovators from �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants of up to $125,000. LVC supports projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. The LVC grants are funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund.

LVC is run by Venture Partners, one of the university’s commercialization arms and a central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. LVC finalists are working and collaborating with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

“At this early stage, funding is essential, but can be a challenge to obtain," said Joshua Bennett, director of LVC and assistant director of licensing at Venture Partners. “All of these teams have promising innovations ready to launch new businesses. LVC is a unique opportunity for those innovators to receive that vital funding, and we’re proud to work with the State of Colorado to make it happen."

To date, LVC has funded 117 projects through 70 new deep-tech startup companies, which collectively have raised over $691 million in follow-on financing, including Arkana Therapeutics, Mesa Quantum and Forge Nano — �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder's 11th unicorn spinout.

Members of the entrepreneurial and university communities are invited to attend the LVC Showcases to enjoy good food, network and see which teams will walk away with funding for their groundbreaking work.

2026 LVC Finalists

Showcase Pitch Presenters | Contact for Project Inquiries

Physical Sciences Finalists

AI-Accelerated Advanced Battery Materials

Developing a new class of high-energy, beyond-lithium battery active materials made entirely from earth-abundant, domestically sourced elements. By integrating ML/AI with proprietary advanced crystal-structure engineering, their materials enable energy parity with conventional lithium systems at a fraction of the cost. The team has formed a startup, Orva Energy, to bring their innovation to market.

Evan Flitz, PhD Candidate of Chemical and Biological Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Co-Founder and Principal Materials Engineer of Orva Energy, evan@orvaenergy.com
Chunmei Ban, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Orva Energy
Cooper Tezak, PhD Alum of Chemical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Scientific Advisor at Orva Energy

In the News

From Tony Stark to Obi-Wan Kenobi: Meet 4 (of 7) West Gate Fellows and Their Technologies (2026, National Laboratory of the Rockies)

An Autonomous Optical Clock

Ptarmigan is developing the autonomous optical clock, the first clock to eliminate the environmental and calibration constraints that have kept optical clocks bespoke devices. For the first time, optical precision can be manufactured at scale and deployed as network infrastructure for distributed sensing, quantum systems and national security. The team has formed a startup, Ptarmigan Clockworks Inc., to bring their innovation to market.

Benjamin Hunt, Graduate Research Assistant at NIST and Graduate Student of Physics at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder and CEO of Ptarmigan Clockworks, benjamin.hunt@ptarmigan-clockworks.com
Phillip Klein, Commercialization for Ptarmigan Clockworks
Andrew Ludlow, Neutral Atom Optical Clock Group Leader at NIST, Scientific Advisor
Jun Ye, Professor Adjoint of Physics at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and Fellow at JILA, Scientific Advisor

Intelligent Electronic Skin Transforming Prosthetic Diagnostics

Intelligent liquid-metal electronic skin embedded in prosthetic sockets for real-time pressure mapping. AI-driven analytics learn each patient’s pressure patterns to predict socket issues before they cause pain. This affordable, scalable system gives prosthetists data-driven insights to improve socket fit and daily comfort. The team has formed a startup, RheoSynapse Inc., to bring their innovation to market.

Jianliang Xiao, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder of RheoSynapse, jianliang.xiao@colorado.edu
Dhileep Kumar Jayashankar, PhD Candidate in Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Lead Researcher
Ruili Zhang, Graduate Student of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

Optical Timekeeping Made Portable: The Single-Chip Acoustic-Optoelectronic Oscillator

A chip-scale microwave oscillator that generates exceptionally pure signal tones by circulating energy between sound and light on a single chip. By amplifying the sound waves directly on-chip — with no electronics in the loop — the device targets the signal purity of room-sized precision oscillators in a package small enough for portable radar, navigation and communications.

Daniel Lesko, Research Scientist in Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Engineer
Matt Eichenfield, PI, Endowed Chair in Quantum Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, matt.eichenfield@colorado.edu
Scott Diddams, Professor of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Scientific Advisor
Kiyan Hocek, PhD Student of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Engineer

Practical Post-Quantum Cryptography for Resource-Constrained Networks and Devices

New quantum-resistant algorithms have been developed that prevent quantum computers from breaking the public-key algorithms that secure almost all internet communications. This technology works where these new public-key algorithms do not: low-power IoT devices and limited-bandwidth networks. The team has formed a startup, Choyu Networks Inc., to bring their innovation to market.

Elliot Eichen, Research Associate of Computer Science at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder and CTO of Choyu Networks, elliot.eichen@colorado.edu
Matt Collier, Co-Founder and CBO of Choyu Networks
Marco Rubin, Co-Founder and Investment Advisor of Choyu Networks
Sylvia Llosa, PhD Candidate in Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Cryptography SME
Richard Dixon, Marketing for Choyu Networks
Yueqi Chen, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Advisor
Sangtae Ha, Associate Professor of Computer Science at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Advisor

Tunable 3D-Printed Helmet Liners for Multi-Impact Protection

Reimagined helmet protection with a 3D-printed liner computationally tuned by sport, helmet region and impact type. Its plate-lattice structure is designed to manage repeated hits and severe impacts alike. Peer-reviewed research showed up to 6x greater energy absorption than conventional foams at equal density—performance being translated into next-generation helmet protection. The team has formed a startup, Fortifyd LLC, to bring their innovation to market.

Teri Ham, Embark Deep Tech Startup Creator and BS Alum of Business at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Co-Founder and CEO of Fortifyd, hamteri@gmail.com
Robert MacCurdy, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI and Technical Advisor
Charles Wade, Master of Science Alum and PhD Student of Computer Science at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Lead Software Engineer at Fortifyd
Daphne Felt, Graduate Student of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Lead Product Engineer at Fortifyd
Elisse Lockhart, Product Strategy and Commercialization Leader at Fortifyd

Biosciences Finalists

AI-Designed Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine

Cell therapies are grown in Matrigel, an undefined mouse tumor extract that varies lot to lot; every alternative is one formulation sold for every use. Regelife uses machine learning to design the matrix around the cell, turning 18 months of trial and error into one kit. In ALS, the matrix decides whether transplanted neurons survive. Built on Anseth Lab hydrogel chemistry at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. The team has formed a startup, Regelife Inc., to bring their innovation to market.

Kristi S. Anseth, Distinguished Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, PI, Co-Founder and CSO of Regelife
Mark Ma, Co-Founder and CEO of Regelife, mark@regelife.bio
Hideyuki Okano, Scientific Co-Founder of Regelife

A Real-Time Screening Platform for Drugs Targeting Transcription Regulators

RIFT (Real-time In vitro Fluorescent Transcription), developed in the Taatjes Lab at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, enables direct visualization of individual drug-target interactions in real time, distinguishing on-target from off-target activity to improve drug screening ahead of clinical trials. The team has formed a startup, Enlixa Bio Inc., to bring their innovation to market.

Nik Chopra, Embark Startup Founder, Co-Founder and CEO of Enlixa Bio, nik@enlixabio.com
Dylan Taatjes, Professor of Biochemistry at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Founding Scientist of Enlixa Bio

EYA Degraders: Releasing the Immune Brake in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer resists immunotherapy because tumor-associated macrophages are reprogrammed to shield it. The team discovered that eliminating a single protein, EYA3, from those macrophages shrinks tumors in mice and draws cancer-killing T cells inward. They are now building bifunctional molecules that destroy EYA3 outright, making immunologically cold tumors treatable. The team has formed a startup, Sieyax Inc., to bring their innovation to market.

Xiang Wang, Associate Professor of Chemistry at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder and Co-CSO of Sieyax, xiang.wang@colorado.edu
Heide Ford, Endowed Chair and Professor of Pharmacology at �鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz, Co-Founder and Co-CSO of Sieyax
Rui Zhao, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at �鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz, Co-Founder and Co-CSO of Sieyax
Ginny Orndorff, Co-Founder and CEO of Sieyax

Long-Acting, Non-Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain

A long-acting non-opioid analgesic that selectively targets CaV3.2 to provide sustained relief from chronic pain without abuse liability. The team has formed a startup, AnesaBio, to bring their innovation to market.

Michael Stowell, Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder and CSO of AnesaBio, michael.stowell@colorado.edu
Slobodan Todorovic, Professor of Anesthesiology at �鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz, Co-Founder and CMO of AnesaBio
Sam Kintz, Advisor
Joe Lyssikatos, Advisor

Microgravity Manufacturing of Next-Generation Stem Cell Therapies

A microgravity biomanufacturing platform designed to expand umbilical cord blood stem cells for treating blood cancers. By keeping cells naturally suspended without mechanical agitation, the technology aims to preserve their therapeutic advantages while producing enough cells to treat adult patients, unlocking the potential of cord blood transplantation. The team has formed a startup, Opera Space LLC, to bring their innovation to market.

Stuart Tozer, Associate Director of BioServe Space Technologies at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Co-Founder of Opera Space LLC, stuart.tozer@colorado.edu
Tobias Niederwieser, Assistant Research Professor of Bioastronautics, PI, Co-Founder of Opera Space LLC

Novel Electromechanics Biomarkers for Cartilage Health Diagnostics

A noninvasive MRI technique that reveals cartilage's hidden electrical and mechanical signatures under joint loading, detecting early degeneration years before it appears on standard scans. This new biomarker could help diagnose osteoarthritis risk sooner and track whether emerging joint-preserving therapies are actually working. The team has formed a startup, Potentis Imaging, to bring their innovation to market.

Corey Neu, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, PI, Co-Founder of Potentis Imaging, cpneu@colorado.edu
Yassmeen Youssef, Co-Founder of Potentis Imaging

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder's Lab Venture Challenge has announced the 2026 finalists of bio- and physical sciences innovators to pitch their ideas to a live audience at the Dairy Arts Center for more than $1 million in awards.

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Protect your discoveries before you publish them

Daniel Leonard — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 22:06:22 +0000

Protect your discoveries before you publish them Daniel Leonard Wed, 09/09/2026 - 16:06

As a researcher, creator or inventor at the University of Colorado, your work has the potential to change the world. Whether you’re advancing renewable energy solutions, developing breakthrough medical devices or creating innovative software, your discoveries could have far-reaching impacts beyond the lab, studio or classroom. Protecting these innovations may be necessary to ensure that they reach their full potential benefit to society while securing recognition and opportunities for you.

What is Intellectual Property?

Ready to go further?

Find the market for your innovation: I-Corps is a practical, accessible first step for anyone looking to translate their discoveries into real-world solutions.

Fund your research or creative work through commercialization: transform your ideas into real-world solutions—while securing funding to advance your work.

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, including inventions, designs, original works of authorship, trade secrets and trademarks. IP encompasses both tangible creations, like a prototype or software and intangible assets, like ideas and processes. IP protections such as patents and copyrights are key tools for ensuring that your innovations have a lasting impact.

Why IP matters

When you publish your research, share your invention, or showcase your creation publicly, it becomes accessible to everyone around the world. While public disclosure can advance knowledge-sharing and inspire innovation, publishing without the proper IP protection could prevent the technology from being further developed into a product and made more widely available.

Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is here to help secure IP rights and safeguard the discoveries researchers, inventors and creators at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, UCCS and �鶹��Ѱ��Denver (except �鶹��Ѱ��Denver biosciences investigators, who should work with CU Anschutz Innovations) make while at the university, ensuring you receive proper recognition and enabling opportunities for broader impact.

Securing IP rights can open doors to funding and partnerships. Protected innovations are more attractive to investors, collaborators and companies looking to license new technologies and, in many cases, are necessary for a company to partner with your lab or to invest in further research or development of a product. By protecting your work, you’re not only ensuring its impact but also creating opportunities for further growth and development.

How Venture Partners can help

Venture Partners is here to support you at every step of the IP process. We provide the expertise and resources you need to protect your innovations and bring them to the world.

Confidential consultations: Have an idea or discovery? Share it with our team of experts, who can help you evaluate its potential and guide you on the next steps.
IP protection: From patents to copyrights, our team specializes in identifying and securing the appropriate protections for your work.
Supporting broader impact: We connect university innovators with funding, mentors and industry partners to turn ideas into impactful products and services.

CU’s IP policy requires university-employed researchers, creators and inventors to disclose innovations to ensure protection and access to commercialization resources. Early disclosure—before public presentation or publication—preserves the university’s ability to secure IP protection, especially for patents. Learn more about CU’s IP policies here.

Unsure if your work should be disclosed? Venture Partners is happy to meet with you to discuss your work and opportunities before you commit to submitting a disclosure. Learn more and contact our team.

Opportunity begins with disclosure

One of the biggest misconceptions about commercialization is that researchers, inventors or creators must give up control of their intellectual property. Venture Partners empowers �鶹��Ѱ��innovators to take the lead in translating their discoveries into real-world applications. Whether you want to launch a startup, collaborate with industry or license your technology to an existing company in exchange for royalties, Venture Partners provides guidance and funding opportunities to support your journey.

Venture Partners can also help connect you with experienced industry partners or entrepreneurs who will drive commercialization forward on your behalf—ensuring that your discoveries make an impact without requiring you to leave academia.

A record of success

In fiscal year 2025, Venture Partners secured 55 patents for university innovations, more than half of which are already partnered with new ventures and companies. In the same year, Venture Partners launched 23 new companies based on �鶹��Ѱ��innovations—many founded by the innovators themselves and others formed in partnership with entrepreneurs from outside the university.

Protecting new intellectual property was the first step in creating a competitive strategy for new �鶹��Ѱ��startups like LongPath Technologies, which was developed out of research by founder Greg Reiker, professor of mechanical engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and research associate at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to create a long-range methane detection system.

Similarly, SomaLogic emerged from the groundbreaking work by Larry Gold, professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, revolutionizing proteomics methods to provide deeper insights into disease detection, treatment and personalized medicine.

Beyond startups, �鶹��Ѱ��innovations are being licensed all over the world.

Riverware is a software tool for modeling river systems with over 200 licenses to water management groups around the world. It is one of the most used �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder innovations.
PhET provides interactive learning simulations for science and math. Available in over 120 languages, and through partnerships with hundreds of education companies, PhET has transformed STEM learning across the globe.
New materials invented at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and licensed by 3M provide more durable dental fillings, dentures and implants for more effective care and fewer trips to the dentist's chair.

How to get started

Protecting your innovation begins with a simple step: submitting a disclosure to Venture Partners. Our online disclosure form is quick and easy to complete, and our team is available to answer any questions you have along the way. Learn more and get started here.

Your work deserves protection

�鶹��Ѱ��is committed to fostering innovation and supporting the incredible work of its researchers, creators and inventors. By protecting your discoveries, you’re taking the first step toward transforming your ideas into real-world solutions. Let Venture Partners help you navigate this journey and ensure your innovations make a lasting impact.

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with �鶹��Ѱ��researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

As a researcher, creator or inventor at the University of Colorado, your work has the potential to change the world. Protecting these innovations may be necessary to ensure that they reach their full potential, benefiting society while securing recognition and opportunities for you.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder announces new intellectual property policy

Daniel Leonard — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:24:18 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder announces new intellectual property policy Daniel Leonard Mon, 08/31/2026 - 15:24

Effective Aug. 25, 2026, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has implemented a new campus-wide intellectual property policy, as required under �鶹��Ѱ��Regents Policy 5.I and �鶹��Ѱ��System’s Administrative Policy Statement (APS) 1013, to better support intellectual property (IP) management and commercialization. Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has prepared this questions-and-answers article as guidance for the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder campus and encourages faculty, staff and students to review the full policies.

Protect Before You Publish!

Researchers, inventors and creators should submit a disclosure of any invention or copyrighted material before publishing it to ensure its protection.

Early announcements or publications, whether written or spoken, can jeopardize the protection and commercialization of your invention or copyrighted material. Establishing personal contact and submitting a Disclosure Form quickly is a crucial first step.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to the legal rights that protect an innovation, creative work or discovery, including patents, copyright and trademarks. IP is critical to bringing innovations from the University of Colorado to market.

Who will be impacted by these policy changes?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s IP policy applies to a range of situations, affiliations and personnel on campus. Anyone generating intellectual property while affiliated with �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder or using �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder resources to do so should review the policy.

If you're interested in commercializing inventions or have made a new discovery, a great place to start is disclosing it to Venture Partners. Disclosing an invention provides you with expert guidance on relevant resources and interpretation of CU’s IP policies, but disclosure does not affect ownership.

Employees in �鶹��Ѱ��Denver’s physical sciences and at UCCS should check back later, as their campus policies are still in development. Employees in �鶹��Ѱ��Denver’s biosciences and at �鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz should refer to �鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Innovations.

What does the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder IP policy do?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s IP policy and procedure aim to help the campus translate research and resulting inventions into real-world impact. Many processes and structures support that goal, including compliance with federal regulations and standardizing how the university mobilizes promising inventions.

Specifically, the IP policy:

Establishes the parameters of the university’s ownership of IP
Guides how the university manages IP and its commercialization
Sets practices for associated activities, like creating startup companies
Provides guidance to inventors and creators about their responsibilities
Describes how the campus’s revenue from IP is shared

The �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder IP policy went into effect on Aug. 25, 2026.

Importantly, the policy is not a step-by-step guide to how inventors should seek to commercialize their research, or a description of the many resources the university offers in support. For that, explore opportunities and support from Venture Partners.

Why did �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder create this new policy?

In 2015, the University of Colorado moved IP commercialization and the associated IP management from a system-level technology transfer office to the campus level, which led to Venture Partners. Now, Regent Policy 5.I and the paired APS 1013 have been amended to better support this structure, and, in accordance, CU’s campuses have implemented their own IP policies with campus-specific direction.

The field of university innovation and entrepreneurship has evolved significantly since the policies were last revised in 2006, and the new campus policy reflects the university’s commitment to exercising the best and most current practices and opportunities for our faculty and students in IP management and commercialization

What was changed or updated from the previous policy?

The new policy and procedure includes multiple clarifying changes; those interested are encouraged to review the policies in full.

Revenue Distribution

The �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder IP policy sets the distribution formula for IP licensing revenue received by the university (known as “Net Receipts” in the policy), as follows:

35% to discoverer(s) of the invention(s) generating the revenue
25% to the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Office of the Chancellor
25% to Venture Partners
15% to the College(s) and/or Institute(s) in which the invention(s) generating the revenue were created

These changes—relative to the prior system-level policy—increase the inventor share from 25% to 35%, and create a new 15% share for colleges and institutes. The Chancellor and Venture Partners retain their 25% shares. The policy removed the 25% share previously allocated to campus research accounts.

Software

Today, software and related IP operate in a very different environment than under the prior IP policy. To modernize how software is handled, the new policy and procedure clarify that software created for academic or other non-commercial purposes may be released under open-source licensing at the creator's discretion, without disclosing the software to or obtaining permission from the university, unless otherwise stipulated by a contract or grant sponsor.

Undergraduate Student IP

The campus policy and procedure now address undergraduate student IP, providing clarity for students and their campus collaborators. In almost all cases, the university does not own IP created by undergraduates.

Why was the IP revenue distribution changed?

The changes reflect the adoption of national best practices among U.S. universities to pursue IP commercialization opportunities and support faculty and students.

At 25%, the inventor share at �鶹��Ѱ��historically fell below the 33% average among universities; therefore, it was increased to 35%.
�鶹��Ѱ��lacked a revenue share to the home academic unit, which significantly supports faculty; therefore, a new 15% share to the college and/or institute was created.
A research account share is not common practice among peer universities, and benefits some inventors but not others; therefore, it was replaced with an increased share to all inventors and the share to the entire academic unit.

For inventors looking for other ways that IP commercialization can increase funding to their research lab, there are many options. The following grant programs are specifically directed to IP commercialization:

U.S. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards
sponsored research from a startup or corporate partner
Commercialization-specific grants such as
- CU’s Lab Venture Challenge
- Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Proof of Concept (POC) grants
- U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Translation to Practice program and Engines
- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) and Advanced Research Projects Agency - Health(ARPA-H) grants.

Historically, such funding sources represent several orders of magnitude more research performed by �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder than the previously used research account share of IP revenue. To support faculty pursuing these commercialization-oriented funding sources, �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Center for Translational Research, part of Venture Partners, provides funding identification and proposal guidance.

Beyond the new campus policy and procedure on IP, how can inventors get guidance and support for their innovations?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has a wealth of resources and programs to support faculty, staff and student inventors. Examples include commercialization grant opportunities, mentorship and startup competitions, accelerators, and investment funding. For more, visit the Venture Partners website to learn more about what we do for university innovators. Undergraduate student inventors should visit the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative website.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has implemented a new campuswide intellectual property policy to better support intellectual property (IP) management and commercialization.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers develop tiny surface vibrations that could cut aircraft drag and fuel use

Daniel Leonard — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:48:39 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers develop tiny surface vibrations that could cut aircraft drag and fuel use Daniel Leonard Thu, 08/27/2026 - 13:48

At cruising speed, a commercial jet can burn more than 10,000 gallons of fuel on a single cross-country flight, much of it lost to turbulence in the boundary layer of air moving across its wings. �鶹��Ѱ�� researchers are pursuing a way to reduce that drag without reshaping the aircraft itself, using engineered microscopic vibrations generated by synthetic materials placed beneath the surface.

Two recent papers from the team describe complementary advances—dubbed “super resonance” and “scatterless interference”—that allow these subsurface vibrations to work across a wider range of frequencies and larger areas than earlier designs allowed.

More: SciTechDaily

Aircrafts of the Future

The research is led by Mahmoud I. Hussein, professor of aerospace engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, with Adam R. Harris, graduate research assistant and PhD alum of materials science and engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, as a coauthor on both papers. The work builds on a $7.5 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Office of Naval Research's (ONR) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), awarded to Hussein in 2025 to develop phononic subsurface technology for next-generation aircraft.

“The prevailing paradigm since the beginning of aviation is to control drag by only shaping the vehicle,” Hussein said. “These two new milestones provide complementary solutions toward the puzzle that is the effectiveness of PSubs,” added Harris.

What could �鶹��Ѱ��research do for you?

Venture Partners connects entrepreneurs and companies—from early-stage startups to the Fortune 500—with more than 1,500 �鶹��Ѱ��technologies ready to license and bring to market.

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

If you're a �鶹��Ѱ��researcher or inventor, Venture Partners guides you from idea to market—IP protection, funding, mentorship and licensing.

More for University Innovators

SciTechDaily—Mahmoud Hussein's team demonstrated two advances in phononic subsurface technology that work across a wider range of frequencies and larger areas than earlier designs allowed. The approach could reduce drag-related fuel loss in commercial flight without changing an aircraft's external shape.

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Infleqtion secures three Genesis Mission projects from U.S. Department of Energy

Daniel Leonard — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:37:58 +0000

Infleqtion secures three Genesis Mission projects from U.S. Department of Energy Daniel Leonard Wed, 07/22/2026 - 15:37

Infleqtion, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder spinout, announced it has been awarded three projects by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate American scientific research and innovation for the Genesis Mission. The projects include collaboration with �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and span AI-optimized quantum circuit design for nuclear applications, deployable atomic quantum sensing with Agentic AI and nuclear fusion energy research.

The University of Colorado Connection

Infleqtion’s star continues to rise as Colorado’s quantum hub grows. The company spun out of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder as ColdQuanta and seems to be everywhere these days, including outer space, while commercializing pioneering research to address needs across several critical markets including positioning, navigating and timing, global communication security and efficiency, resilient energy distribution, and accelerated quantum computing.

What could you do with a �鶹��Ѱ��technology?

Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and partners with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market.

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

Infleqtion, Quantum Insider, BizWest—Infleqtion, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder spinout, announced it has been awarded three projects by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to accelerate American scientific research and innovation for the Genesis Mission. The projects include collaboration with �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and span AI-optimized quantum circuit design for nuclear applications, deployable atomic quantum sensing with Agentic AI and nuclear fusion energy research.

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Bold ideas from the arts, humanities and social sciences backed by Creative Futures Fellowship

Daniel Leonard — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 20:02:05 +0000

Bold ideas from the arts, humanities and social sciences backed by Creative Futures Fellowship Daniel Leonard Thu, 07/16/2026 - 14:02

Daniel Leonard

Creative Futures Fellowship

Funding, support and community for �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder teams in the arts, humanities and social sciences to transform their ideas and creative works into real-world impact.

Learn More

Subscribe for updates about future Creative Futures Fellowship applications.

Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has announced the inaugural cohort of Creative Futures Fellows, supporting arts, humanities and social science projects that address challenges facing communities in Colorado and beyond.

Selected through a competitive review process, the 2026 fellows represent disciplines from across �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, from design, music and media studies to education, history and wellness research. Their projects explore topics including neurodiversity, educator wellbeing, artificial intelligence, human rights, public health, cultural preservation and civic understanding.

The Creative Futures Fellowship supports scholarship and creative practice that have historically had fewer pathways to “translational” funding—support that moves promising ideas into real-world applications. The fellowship also provides mentorship, professional development and a community of support.

"�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has long been recognized for translating scientific discoveries into startups and products that improve lives," said Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder. "The Creative Futures Fellowship reflects a broader understanding of innovation by recognizing the power of artists, scholars and social scientists to create new approaches to community wellbeing, cultural understanding and social progress."

Six of the projects participated in a customer discovery program offered by the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps^TM Hub West and Venture Partners. Through interviews and community engagement, participants tested assumptions, worked to better understand their audiences and strengthened their projects' real-world relevance.

Venture Partners' track record of translating university innovations into impact includes a record number of startups launched from �鶹��Ѱ��discoveries, 11 unicorn companies and $8.7 billion in national economic impact.

The Creative Futures Fellowship is Venture Partners’s first program specifically designed to help arts, humanities and social science innovators move beyond the university and into communities. "These fellows are demonstrating how creative and human-centered work can generate meaningful impact far beyond campus," Rees said.

The fellowship builds on �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder's broader approach to innovation, supporting big ideas beyond deep tech. Examples range from educational and wellness tools such as PhET Interactive Simulations and Mindful Mood Balance for Moms and Virridy's work to improve water security.

“These projects reflect the remarkable range of talent at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and the impact the arts and humanities have in the community,” said Jonathan Marenus, director of the Creative Futures Fellowship. “Investing in these disciplines is vital. These fellows are turning knowledge and creativity into action. We are proud to support their work and help them build what’s needed to advance that work in the world.”

Fellows will receive a combined $150,000 in funding, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. Over the coming months, they will participate in the fellowship's Support Studio, connecting with mentors, refining implementation strategies and building partnerships to advance their work.

Subscribe for updates about future Creative Futures Fellowship applications.

2026 Creative Futures Fellows

The Day it Rained Forever: A New Opera About the Power of Music

The Day It Rained Forever is an operatic parable on how finding our shared humanity can heal conflict and isolation. This project will use performances to bring improved wellness and connection to senior living communities, offering a new model for building shared wellbeing through the arts.

Team:

Jeffrey Nytch; Professor of Composition; PI, Composer and Librettist
Leah Peña Teeters, Director of Education Initiatives at the Renée Crown Wellness Institute; Co-PI and Program Coordinator

Designing with AI Ethically: A Public Humanities Initiative

This project develops a public humanities initiative that helps emerging designers critically engage with artificial intelligence through workshops, dialogue and an ethics guide. It promotes responsible, socially aware and environmentally conscious approaches to technology in creative practice.

Team:

Nesrine Mansour, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, PI

Encuentros: Latin American Media Practices Towards Human Rights

Encuentros is a transnational network of Latin American human rights media activists that aims to amplify community-rooted human rights narratives through a podcast series, an online gathering and an open-source archive, enabling alternative human rights discourses.

Team:

Stephanie Graeml Abdalla, PhD Student in Media Studies, Project Lead and PI
Leila Gómez, Professor of Women and Gender Studies, Interdisciplinary Research Advisor
Júlia Martins Rodrigues, Associate Director of Media Economies Design Lab, Logistics and Operations Coordinator

Energy, AI and Us: Building Science Literacy Through Student Outreach

From electricity bills to data centers, forces shaping communities are complex. This project pairs �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students with middle schools to explore energy and artificial intelligence, building skills to reason through complexity and bring conversations home, as these issues do not pick sides, and neither does science.

Team:

Nirav S. Patel, Assistant Teaching Professor of Environmental Studies and a SPIKE Faculty Affiliate, PI

Extreme Temperatures in Prisons: Embodied Testimonials for Change

Through a series of workshops, formerly incarcerated participants will create three-dimensional architectural models of prison spaces where they experienced temperature extremes. Context and recommendations for policy changes will be developed by participants and will accompany models in written or audio formats.

Team:

Sophie Weston Chien, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, Co-PI and Architecture Lead
Liz Corrado, PhD Student in Environmental Studies, Co-PI and Policy Lead
David Ciplet, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Co-PI and Policy Advisor
Shawhin Roudbari, Associate Professor of Environmental Design, Co-PI and Architecture Advisor

Her Sound, Our Story: Women Composers Honor Colorado's Jazz Legends

"Her Sound, Our Story" celebrates Colorado's jazz heritage through newly commissioned works by four women composers inspired by local jazz legends. Through recording, storytelling and a free public presentation, the project honors cultural legacy, fosters community connection and expands representation in jazz.

Team:

Annie Booth, Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies; Creator, Artistic Director and PI

Mentor BWell: Educator Mentoring for Wellbeing

The aim of this project is to co-design, pilot and refine Mentor BWell, an evidence-based educator wellness mentoring model, for Boulder Valley School District’s induction program. The project seeks to strengthen mentors' wellbeing and leadership capacities and enhance the induction experience for all involved.

Team:

Mining the Sun: An Arts and Humanities Public History Initiative

Mountain communities confront issues of environmental stewardship, economic survival, industrial expansion and regional identity. Mining the Sun creates new platforms for civic engagement and community development through documentary art practice, creative storytelling and the curation of archival media.

Team:

Hanna Rose Shell, Professor of Cinema Studies, Moving Image Arts, Art and Art History

Modeling African Origins from Inland Conflict to Atlantic Networks

This project calculates the probabilities of African origins by tracing slave routes from inland conflict zones to Atlantic slave ships. Combining historical records and spatial statistical modeling, it transforms complex research into an interactive resource for educators, museums and descendant communities.

Team:

Henry Lovejoy, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Digital Slavery Research Lab, PI and Director
Eric Vance, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics and Lab of Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis, Co-PI and Director
Kartikay Chadha, Web Development and Technical Partner (Walk With Web)

Rehearsing the Future: Neural Data, Consent and the Public

Noetic Commons produces participatory art installations and public documentation in which audiences encounter speculative futures defined by who controls their neural data. The work advances public understanding of neurorights and consent in an era of expanding consumer neurotechnology.

Team:

Christina Charlton, Graduate Student in Creative Technology & Design and at the ATLAS Institute, Artist-Researcher and PI
Tyler Grimes, PhD Candidate in Critical Media Practices and at the Institute of Cognitive Science, Artist-Researcher

Squishyd: A Next-Generation Fidget Toy for Neurodivergent Users

Squishyd translates �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder metamaterial research into customizable sensory fidget tools that support focus, self-regulation and well-being. By combining engineering, design and neurodiversity research, the project creates adaptive tactile experiences through science-backed play.

Team:

Elena Sabinson, Assistant Professor of Environmental Design, Principal Investigator (PI)
Robert MacCurdy, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Co-PI
Joel Swanson, Associate Professor at the ATLAS Institute, Co-PI
Teri Ham, Embark Startup Founder with Venture Partners, Co-PI

Screening to Prevent Violence: Expanding Access to Threat Assessment

The investigations that follow mass shootings frequently reveal missed opportunities to interrupt the attacker’s violence. The Targeted Violence Lethality Assessment Protocol is a 12-question tool to help law enforcement agencies and corporations evaluate an individual’s risk for violence and identify interventions.

Team:

Sarah Goodrum, Research Professor with the Center on Crime and Justice and the Prevention Science Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science, PI

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with �鶹��Ѱ��researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

Venture Partners has announced the inaugural cohort of Creative Futures Fellows, supporting arts, humanities and social science projects that address challenges facing communities in Colorado and beyond.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder ranks among world's top institutions for climate science research

Daniel Leonard — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 20:41:30 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder ranks among world's top institutions for climate science research Daniel Leonard Tue, 06/30/2026 - 14:41

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today—�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder has been named one of the world's leading institutions for climate science, ranking eighth globally in the latest analysis of the most highly cited climate research institutions by Carbon Brief.

The ranking places �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder among the world's most influential organizations advancing climate science and highlights the university's decades-long leadership in environmental research. It also makes �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder the highest-ranked university in Colorado and one of just 13 U.S. institutions to place in the global top 20.

Full Story From �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today

What could you do with a �鶹��Ѱ��technology?

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Commercialization News

From lab discoveries to life-changing heart drugs and billion-dollar companies

From bench to bedside — with unicorns

But what is "commercialization"?

Going out on the edge

What can we do together?

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder helps lead I-Corps Hub West as network reports 170 startups and $303M raised

The University of Colorado Connection

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Find the market for your innovation

Why start with I-Corps?

Real results, real impact

How I-Corps fits into the path to commercialization

Take the first step today

What can we do together?

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Get a front-row seat to the University of Colorado's next big ideas competing for more than $1M in awards

2026 LVC Finalists

Physical Sciences Finalists

AI-Accelerated Advanced Battery Materials

In the News

An Autonomous Optical Clock

Intelligent Electronic Skin Transforming Prosthetic Diagnostics

Read More About the Science

Optical Timekeeping Made Portable: The Single-Chip Acoustic-Optoelectronic Oscillator

Practical Post-Quantum Cryptography for Resource-Constrained Networks and Devices

Tunable 3D-Printed Helmet Liners for Multi-Impact Protection

Read More About the Science

Biosciences Finalists

AI-Designed Biomaterials for Regenerative Medicine

A Real-Time Screening Platform for Drugs Targeting Transcription Regulators

Read More About the Science

EYA Degraders: Releasing the Immune Brake in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Read More About the Science

Long-Acting, Non-Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain

Read More About the Science

Microgravity Manufacturing of Next-Generation Stem Cell Therapies

Novel Electromechanics Biomarkers for Cartilage Health Diagnostics

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Protect your discoveries before you publish them

What is Intellectual Property?

Why IP matters

How Venture Partners can help

Opportunity begins with disclosure

A record of success

How to get started

Your work deserves protection

What can we do together?

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder announces new intellectual property policy

What is intellectual property?

Who will be impacted by these policy changes?

What does the �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder IP policy do?

Why did �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder create this new policy?

What was changed or updated from the previous policy?

Revenue Distribution

Software

Undergraduate Student IP

Why was the IP revenue distribution changed?

Beyond the new campus policy and procedure on IP, how can inventors get guidance and support for their innovations?

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder researchers develop tiny surface vibrations that could cut aircraft drag and fuel use

Aircrafts of the Future

What could �鶹��Ѱ�����research do for you?

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

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Infleqtion secures three Genesis Mission projects from U.S. Department of Energy

The University of Colorado Connection

What could you do with a �鶹��Ѱ�����technology?

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

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Bold ideas from the arts, humanities and social sciences backed by Creative Futures Fellowship

2026 Creative Futures Fellows

The Day it Rained Forever: A New Opera About the Power of Music

Team:

Designing with AI Ethically: A Public Humanities Initiative

Team:

Encuentros: Latin American Media Practices Towards Human Rights

Team:

�鶹��Ѱ��Commercialization News

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder helps lead I-Corps Hub West as network reports 170 startups and $303M raised

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder announces new intellectual property policy

What does the �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder IP policy do?

Why did �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder create this new policy?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers develop tiny surface vibrations that could cut aircraft drag and fuel use

What could �鶹��Ѱ��research do for you?

What could you do with a �鶹��Ѱ��technology?

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder ranks among world's top institutions for climate science research

What could you do with a �鶹��Ѱ��technology?