The Purdue Innovates Incubator, through its Trask Innovation Fund, has awarded $100,000 to support the commercialization of two cutting-edge university innovations in spring 2025: a novel cancer therapy and a waterway management solution for the Panama Canal. The fund, managed by the Incubator, is designed to bridge the critical “valley of death” between laboratory discovery and market readiness, offering up to $100,000 per technology through staged funding.
•Cancer Therapeutics: Dr. Andrew Mesecar’s team is developing selective inhibitors targeting Ubiquitin Specific Protease 7 (USP7) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Their patented compounds inhibit USP7 via a unique mechanism, promising greater selectivity and potency, and aim to address the urgent need for new HCC treatments due to rising incidence and limited current options. The Trask award will fund synthesis and testing of improved compounds with enhanced drug-like properties.
•Panama Canal Waterway Innovation: Dr. Pablo Zavattieri’s project focuses on a reconfigurable and navigable waterway barrier (RNWB) to combat saltwater intrusion in the Panama Canal, a problem exacerbated by climate change and increased shipping traffic. The RNWB leverages advanced Purdue-developed materials to preserve freshwater, maintain canal capacity, and support economic stability. The project has garnered strong interest from the Panama Canal Authority and aims to fabricate and test a proof-of-concept, with potential for startup commercialization and global impact.
The Trask Innovation Fund’s support is pivotal for validating these technologies, generating critical data, and enhancing their attractiveness for licensing or startup formation. This approach exemplifies best practices in university innovation funding by providing targeted, milestone-driven support and fostering industry partnerships
