Are you interested in applying for Catalyze support? You may be wondering what to expect as a Catalyze investigator, what types of products Catalyze supports, or what makes Catalyze unique. In a live webinar a panel of four funded investigators describe their Catalyze project and summarize key takeaways from the program.
Dr. Raymond Benza
Dr. Raymond Benza is developing an innovative medical device at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to support patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. His project aims to create a dual-lumen catheter designed to offload the right ventricle and protect the pulmonary vasculature, potentially extending survival and improving treatment options for patients awaiting lung transplants. The device includes a monitoring system to control flow and prevent left-sided heart failure, offering a bridge of support for long-term management or recovery.
Dr. Rebekah Gundry
Dr. Gundry was awarded a Catalyze R33 award to continue development of a glycomics profiling platform for the identification and quantitation of glycan structures. Glycans mediate nearly all aspects of biology, including protein folding, cell adhesion and signaling. As such, glycans have been exploited as clinical biomarkers for blood cell typing, cardiovascular and autoimmune disease, and cancer. Dr. Gundry is the chair of the department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology at the university of Nebraska Medical Center.
Dr. Amish Raval
Amish Raval is developing a biologic at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health aimed at preventing heart failure (HF) following myocardial infarction (MI). His team has created a novel extracellular matrix (ECM) derived from human cardiac fibroblasts, which educates macrophages to assume pro-reparative properties. This innovative ECM, produced from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), offers a scalable and reproducible approach to regenerative medicine, with the potential to transform post-MI heart repair.
Dr. Peter Vanderslice
Dr. Peter Vanderslice is developing a drug at the Texas Heart Institute to improve the success of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. His team has designed small molecules that activate integrins, enhancing stem cell homing and engraftment in the bone marrow without the need for preconditioning. This approach aims to accelerate immune reconstitution and reduce transplant-related complications.
This presentation is developed for applicants intending to apply or re-apply to Catalyze Product Definition or Preclinical Services Programs. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Webinar presented on March 19, 2025 to an invited audience.
This video is provided for educational purposes only.
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