Program Overview
The Tulane Innovation Institute, in partnership with the Office of the Provost, established the PPOC Fund to address the gap between research discovery and market readiness.
The program provides grants of up to $50,000 to support:
• technical development and prototyping
• customer discovery and market validation
• commercialization pathway planning
The Spring 2026 cycle received 21 applications across seven schools, representing the most diverse cohort to date.
As noted by Kimberly Gramm, Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer:
“To date, six spinouts have emerged from this early-stage funding program… Our goal is to make the path from lab to market more accessible for all Tulane researchers.”
Strategic Relevance for GAP Leaders
Tulane’s PPOC model reflects several core GAP design principles:
• Small, targeted capital deployment at the highest-risk stage
• Integration of customer discovery and market validation into funding
• Support for prototype development tied to commercialization milestones
• Building a repeatable pipeline across disciplines
The program also demonstrates how early-stage funding can shift faculty behavior from research-only outcomes toward venture creation and licensing pathways.
Potential Market Applications (Project-Level Detail)
Levitated Droplet ELISA Platform – Dr. Damir Khismatullin
Dr. Damir Khismatullin is developing a contact-free bioanalytical testing platform using acoustic radiation forces to suspend and manipulate droplets in midair.
This eliminates traditional surface-based assays, reducing contamination risk and improving accuracy while requiring smaller sample volumes.
The project will focus on building a working prototype and validating performance across bioanalytical measurements, alongside customer discovery.
Market Applications
• High-precision diagnostic testing platforms with reduced contamination risk
• Advanced laboratory automation systems for biomarker detection
• Point-of-care diagnostics requiring minimal sample volumes
Sustained-Release Vancomycin Nanospheres – Dr. Sina Pourtaheri
Dr. Sina Pourtaheri is developing a localized antibiotic delivery system using hydrophobic ion-paired vancomycin nanospheres to prevent post-surgical infections.
The platform enables sustained drug release directly at the surgical site, addressing limitations of systemic antibiotic delivery.
The project will focus on prototype development, regulatory pathway definition, and integration into surgical workflows.
Market Applications
• Infection prevention solutions for orthopedic and spine surgeries
• Localized drug delivery platforms for surgical applications
• Hospital-based solutions reducing healthcare-associated infections
Quantum Materials Design Platform – Dr. Jianwei Sun
Dr. Jianwei Sun is advancing a computational materials design platform that improves prediction of electron–phonon interactions using the r²SCAN density functional.
The technology enables high-throughput screening of materials for applications in quantum computing, semiconductors, and energy systems.
The project will develop user-ready software and engage industry partners for commercialization via licensing or subscription models.
Market Applications
• Quantum materials discovery platforms for computing and electronics
• Semiconductor and energy materials design tools
• Software-as-a-service platforms for industrial materials R&D
Read the Full Story:
https://innovation.tulane.edu/tulane-provosts-proof-concept-fund-awards-150000-three-faculty-researchers-diagnostics-surgical
Related Topics:
university gap funding, proof-of-concept programs, diagnostic innovation, surgical infection prevention, quantum materials commercialization
