�鶹��Ѱ��Innovators News

Physicist Jun Ye named to Quantum 100 list

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 20:13:52 +0000

Physicist Jun Ye named to Quantum 100 list Daniel Corbin … Thu, 12/18/2025 - 13:13

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today—UNESCO named physicist Jun Ye to its Quantum 100 list—a catalogue of some of the top leaders around the world in the rapidly growing field of quantum science.

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2026 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort spans departments and disciplines across campus

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 17:33:01 +0000

2026 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort spans departments and disciplines across campus Daniel Corbin … Mon, 12/08/2025 - 10:33

The Research & Innovation Office (RIO) announced the 2026 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort. This year’s cohort includes 18 faculty members from departments and research institutes spanning the campus—the largest and most interdisciplinary Faculty Fellows cohort since the program launched in 2018.

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OEDIT announces grants to University of Colorado startups and researchers in the advanced industries

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:28:08 +0000

OEDIT announces grants to University of Colorado startups and researchers in the advanced industries Daniel Corbin … Thu, 11/20/2025 - 12:28

This announcement was originally published at oedit.colorado.gov.

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Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder seeks entrepreneurs to start new companies, connects investors with high-potential ventures and facilitates collaborations with companies seeking to invest in research or license technologies from the �鶹��Ѱ��, Colorado Springs and Denver campuses. Explore the potential for growth and partnerships as you navigate the dynamic landscape of entrepreneurship and commercialization at the University of Colorado.

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The Global Business Development division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced that five companies based on innovations from the University of Colorado and one �鶹��Ѱ��researcher have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. These grants promote the growth and sustainability of advanced industries in Colorado by driving innovation, commercialization and public-private partnerships that move this vital aspect of Colorado’s economy forward in communities across the state.

“The advanced industries account for nearly 30% of Colorado’s total wage earnings, approximately 30% of total sales revenue, and nearly 35% of the state’s total exports. The Advanced Industries Accelerator program is a national model, strengthening this critical part of Colorado’s economy by supporting companies developing disruptive and innovative technologies. By providing direct funding and enabling recipients to leverage third-party capital, we are supporting transformative commercial product development and end-use applications while growing businesses and supporting new jobs,” said Michelle Hadwiger, director of global business development at OEDIT.

The Proof of Concept grant is intended to help Colorado research institutions speed up applied research in the advanced industries, as well as commercialize products and services in partnership with the private sector. The Early-Stage Capital and Retention grant supports businesses commercializing innovative and disruptive technologies in the advanced industries that will be created or manufactured in Colorado.

The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program received 119 applications this grant cycle, which were reviewed in a multi-stage process by committees of business, technical and financial experts in the seven advanced industries. Final recommendations were approved by the Economic Development Commission on November 20, 2025.

The next application cycle for Proof-of-Concept and Early Stage Capital and Retention Grants will open on January 5, 2026 and applications will be due February 26, 2026. Learn more here

Proof-of-Concept Grants:

�鶹��Ѱ��, PI Jarrod Schiffbauer - Boulder, CO $85,023: Developing graphene-based aerogels for scalable high thrust efficiency solar photothermal propulsion.

Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants:

ExoPower Inc. - Grand Junction, CO $150,000: Developing in-motion capacitive wireless charging technology to keep industrial mobile robots operating continuously.

Onconaut Therapeutics Inc. - Aurora, CO $246,868: Developing a first-in-class inhibitor of a protein that drives tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance in colorectal and other solid tumors.

Osmopure Technologies Inc. - Boulder, CO $250,000: Developing a new class of pressure-driven distillation membranes to remove contaminants from water.

Vega Surgical Inc. - Aurora, CO $250,000: Developing a bedside neurosurgical procedure solution for treating chronic subdural hematomas.

Vona Oncology LLC - Aurora, CO $250,000: Developing a novel small molecule designed to target aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.

OEDIT—The Global Business Development division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade announced that five companies based on innovations from the University of Colorado and one �鶹��Ѱ��researcher have been awarded Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention grants through OEDIT’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Program.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers featured among highly cited researchers in 2025

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:40:35 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers featured among highly cited researchers in 2025 Daniel Corbin … Wed, 11/19/2025 - 11:40

�鶹��Ѱ�� Research & Innovation Office—Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list, announced on Nov. 12, again includes a number �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder faculty who are demonstrating “broad and significant influence in their fields.”

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New NAI Fellow Xuedong Liu leads in research and medical innovation

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 21:49:39 +0000

New NAI Fellow Xuedong Liu leads in research and medical innovation Daniel Corbin … Tue, 11/11/2025 - 14:49

Heather Hansen

�鶹��Ѱ�� biochemistry professor Xuedong Liu was inducted into the National Academy of Inventors this year, recognizing a career of pioneering discoveries and real-world impact. His research on cellular communication has fueled four startups advancing novel treatments for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Since he was in grade school, Xuedong Liu (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Biochemistry) has been intrigued by ‘how the world works.’ But becoming a biologist mostly involved memorizing, classifying and observing–all important skills—and Liu was curious about how organisms are put together, their inner workings and how they progress in a predetermined manner. So he looked to chemistry and physics for laws and rules and ways to predict activity. Ultimately, by combining the disciplines, he saw the best chance to advance science and discovery in a meaningful way. Liu thought, “There’s so much unknown and there’s so much promise–and there’s great opportunity there.”

Fast forward to Atlanta, Georgia in June 2025 when Liu—whose innovations have now led to the creation of four startup companies bringing novel disease therapies to the world—received a medal for being inducted into the elite ranks of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI). NAI fellowship is the highest professional distinction awarded solely to inventors.

“These academic inventors have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation, and their inventions have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development and welfare of our society,” said Coke Stewart, acting undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and acting director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who presided over the ceremony.

The NAI chooses “people that have really done something of huge value with their patents,” said Hannah Nelson, associate director of licensing at Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and biosciences team lead. “You are not recognized by the NAI unless you are in the very top tier of inventors,” she said. “It’s a prestigious designation that shows that you have contributed again and again in a really substantial way to innovation.”

While Liu knew he had been nominated for the distinction, “it was a very nice surprise,” he said. Liu was deeply honored by the recognition and credited his colleagues and collaborators, who have contributed to a collective effort to solve tough problems in fighting disease. The honor has fanned the flames of Liu’s work. “It’s motivated me even more to do things that change the world,” he said.

Hitting the target, from lab to marketplace

Liu’s lab at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder is focused on decoding how cells communicate with each other—a process called cell signaling and fundamental to many aspects of human health. Disruptions in these communication pathways can lead to serious diseases, including cancer. Liu’s research team works on creating pioneering therapies for both cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, like Parkinson’s disease. To do that, they work at the intersection of sciences with an approach Nelson describes as both visionary and practical. “Within his lab, there is expertise in chemistry and biology, so they are really able to bridge that gap, which is so necessary for making new drugs,” says Nelson. “It’s an important combination of skills.”

Liu’s career is also defined by a rare knack for drawing together cutting-edge science and real-world applications. “He is definitely one of our most prolific inventors on campus,” said Nelson, who has managed much of the intellectual property emerging from Liu’s lab over the past several years. She has also seen Liu excel in taking research from the bench to the wider world in hopes of making a profound difference in disease treatment.

OnKure Therapeutics Inc. (OKUR)

Discovering and developing the next generation of oncology precision medicines.

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Among Liu’s influential ventures is OnKure Therapeutics (Nasdaq: OKUR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company he co-founded with Tony Piscopio in 2011 based on novel oncology therapies originally developed at CU. Since then, OnKure has expanded their pipeline to pursue inhibitors of PI3Kα, a protein complex whose mutation is a key driver in the development and progression of specific breast cancers. Late last year, OnKure merged with Reneo Pharmaceuticals, and the company now has three PI3Kα inhibitor programs, including one currently in clinical development.

Opening the gate

Liu hasn’t stopped there, instead turning his attention to developing a new precision delivery system. The platform is based on using gectosomes, small membranes that can transport molecules within and between cells to deliver therapeutic agents to specific locations in the body. Liu said this type of system—which he calls “opening the gate”—has many advantages, including targeting specific cells which can make a drug more effective and minimize overall side effects.

“We can move those machineries precisely into the cell type we want and target them without bothering other non-relevant cells. It’s a great unmet medical need,” said Liu. “We believe we have a great opportunity to really target the Achilles heels of cancer cells and the delivery system could be actually a very broad application, not only cancer but many chronic diseases, genetic diseases.”

Vesicle Therapeutics Inc.

Pioneering programmable extracellular vesicles to deliver therapeutic proteins and nucleic acids to intracellular targets.

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Building upon that research from his lab, Liu recently founded Vesicle Therapeutics. “This was always a goal in my mind, and I was always interested in this area,” said Liu. “And �鶹��Ѱ��gave me a lot of opportunities to pursue it.” Working with Nelson and others at Venture Partners, Liu was able to test market feasibility of this new delivery system with programs including Lab Venture Challenge, PHAST (Pandemic Hyper Accelerator for Science and Technology, a program launched in 2021 to help fight the COVID pandemic) and the Research-to-Market Discovery Program.

Liu is grateful to now have a robust support system for spinouts at the university. When he started at �鶹��Ѱ��in 2000, there was no Venture Partners with the broad suite of entrepreneurial programs currently offered. “Nowadays, it’s evolved so much that it really powers the ecosystem for entrepreneurs in the Boulder and Denver areas,” said Liu.

“I personally benefited tremendously from that support, where you can grow your idea with this proof of concept and test your idea and see if it has potential to grow into something bigger and be commercialized,” he said. “Venture Partners are really phenomenal for the university, I think they’re truly a catalyst for innovations and invention here.”

Liu sees himself as a lifelong learner, in the lab and the business world, with a lot still to contribute. He knows there will be ups and downs and unforeseen problems that will impede his progress to some extent. But even if success is not immediate, he believes, “There’s a lot of hope for the future.”

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Kristi Anseth named Forbes "50 over 50" for "Innovation"

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:39:04 +0000

Kristi Anseth named Forbes "50 over 50" for "Innovation" Daniel Corbin … Tue, 10/21/2025 - 10:39

Forbes—Professor Kristi Anseth is known for developing tissue substitutes that improve treatments for conditions like broken bones and heart valve disease. She recently made key discoveries about sex-based differences in cardiac treatment outcomes. Anseth is also among the few innovators elected to all three national academies: Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

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Partnering Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ��Technologies

Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. Discover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.

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Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:04:55 +0000

Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Daniel Corbin … Fri, 10/10/2025 - 11:04

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Chemical and Biological Engineering—Georgia Tech associate professor and 2025 Schmidt Polymath Saad Bhamla will join �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the BioFrontiers Institute this August. Known for pioneering ultra-low-cost scientific tools and bio-inspired devices, Bhamla plans to collaborate across campus and spin out new companies leveraging �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s innovation ecosystem.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:04:37 +0000

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality Daniel Corbin … Mon, 09/29/2025 - 10:04

Mark Hernandez is serving as a commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions.

Announced at the United Nations during Climate Week, the Commission brings together more than 170 global leaders from over 30 countries, including a former U.S. Surgeon General, global health authorities, senior scientists and researchers from leading universities as well as executives and sustainability leaders across design, real estate, technology and manufacturing.

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Partnership Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ��Climate, Energy and Sustainability

Climate, energy and sustainability innovations are shaping the most urgent frontier of science and society—transforming how we power our world, manage resources and respond to environmental change. At the University of Colorado, groundbreaking research is driving not just new insights, but practical solutions to the global climate crisis.

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�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Environmental Engineering Program—Mark Hernandez is serving as a commissioner of the newly launched Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air to elevate indoor air as a critical public health priority and drive coordinated global action and solutions.

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Watch: Mapping neural activity to detect brain disorders

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:47:54 +0000

Watch: Mapping neural activity to detect brain disorders Daniel Corbin … Thu, 09/25/2025 - 12:47

CUbit Quantum Initiative—Svenja Knappe (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Mechanical Engineering) is collaborating with scientists from the �鶹��Ѱ��Anschutz Medical Campus to advance the use of quantum sensors into real-world health applications. These quantum sensors could aid in more effective diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of brain disorders.

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AI helps spot 1,000 “questionable” journals

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:55:44 +0000

AI helps spot 1,000 “questionable” journals Daniel Corbin … Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:55

Daniel Acuña, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder computer scientist and founder of ReviewerZero, led development of an AI tool that analyzed ~15,200 open-access journals and flagged roughly 1,400 as potentially problematic, with over 1,000 confirmed to exhibit questionable publishing practices.

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The University of Colorado Connection

ReviewerZero AI, founded by Daniel Acuña (�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Computer Science) in 2023, is working with publishers to deploy an artificial intelligence technology suite, including tools to detect plagiarism and statistical inconsistencies, to ensure research integrity in scientific publications. The company won the 2023 Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), receiving a $125,000 grant from Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program.

View the ReviewerZero Profile

Technology Networks—Daniel Acuña, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder computer scientist and founder of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder startup ReviewerZero, led development of an AI tool that analyzed ~15,200 open-access journals and flagged roughly 1,400 as potentially problematic, with over 1,000 confirmed to exhibit questionable publishing practices.

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Innovators News

Physicist Jun Ye named to Quantum 100 list

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2026 RIO Faculty Fellows cohort spans departments and disciplines across campus

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OEDIT announces grants to University of Colorado startups and researchers in the advanced industries

Proof-of-Concept Grants:

Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants:

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder researchers featured among highly cited researchers in 2025

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New NAI Fellow Xuedong Liu leads in research and medical innovation

Hitting the target, from lab to marketplace

Opening the gate

What Can We Do Together?

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Kristi Anseth named Forbes "50 over 50" for "Innovation"

Partnering Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ�����Technologies

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Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder

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�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Partnership Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ�����Climate, Energy and Sustainability

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Watch: Mapping neural activity to detect brain disorders

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AI helps spot 1,000 “questionable” journals

The University of Colorado Connection

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�鶹��Ѱ��Innovators News

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers featured among highly cited researchers in 2025

Partnering Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ��Technologies

Frugal engineering innovator Saad Bhamla headed to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder professor joins global commission on indoor air quality

Partnership Opportunities for �鶹��Ѱ��Climate, Energy and Sustainability