Locations:
SearchThe Innovation Challenge showcased three groundbreaking medical technologies addressing challenges in weight management, bacterial infections, and heart valve repair. Jeannette Messer, DVM, PhD, was awarded the $100,000 prize from Jones Day for her innovative antimicrobial antibody therapeutics that could revolutionize how bacterial infections are treated.
A Celebration of Medical Innovation
In the spirit of advancing medical innovation, Cleveland Clinic once again demonstrated its commitment to groundbreaking healthcare solutions through this year’s Innovation Challenge, which took place during Cleveland Clinic Weekend. In partnership between Cleveland Clinic Innovations and the Philanthropy Institute, this year's event, made possible by the generosity of Jones Day, showcased the remarkable potential of inventive minds at Cleveland Clinic dedicated to revolutionizing patient care.
Cleveland Clinic Innovations stands at the forefront of medical technology commercialization, bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world solutions. With a unique approach that centers on patient outcomes, the Innovations team leverages insights from caregivers to identify unmet clinical needs and guide inventors through the complex process of bringing innovations to market. This mission was on full display during the Innovation Challenge.
The Vision Behind the Innovation Challenge
The Innovation Challenge is more than just a competition—it's a testament to Cleveland Clinic’s mission of transforming brilliant ideas into tangible medical advancements. As Geoff Vince, PhD, Chief of Innovations and Chair of Biomedical Engineering stated, "We had an open competition where we looked at the market, we looked at the intellectual property, and we looked at the impact on patients of the technologies submitted. This year’s event included three transformative ideas that have the potential to impact patient care. Through the partnership with Philanthropy and the generosity of Jones Day, the winning inventor of the pitch challenge will be able to develop further their idea to enhance patient care."
An Evening of Inspiration and Opportunity
The evening's program was carefully crafted to showcase the inventors' hard work and dedication and offered attendees the opportunity to meet with Cleveland Clinic inventors and portfolio companies stationed at Inventor’s Row. Beginning with remarks from Lara Kalafatis, Chair, Philanthropy Institute, Serpil Erzurum, MD, Executive Vice President, Chief Research & Academic Officer, and Geoff Vince, PhD, the event provided a platform for networking and collaboration. The highlight of the night was the pitch challenge, where the three inventor teams presented their groundbreaking technologies, each vying for the prestigious $100,000 award from Jones Day. The participants included:
Where Mind Meets Gut: Targeted Vagal Afferent Neuromodulation for Weight-Loss
Inventors: Frank Papay, MD, Chief Clinical Business Development Officer, and Paresh Vasandani, PhD, Director, Innovations Technology Development
As the global obesity epidemic continues to challenge healthcare systems, a groundbreaking innovation from Cleveland Clinic offers a promising new approach to weight management. The technology pitched by Dr. Papay represents an innovative solution to a persistent health challenge. With 2 in 5 adults worldwide classified as obese and only 1% of eligible individuals receiving surgical interventions, traditional weight loss methods have fallen short. Existing treatments often come with high failure rates and significant risks. The new neuromodulation device takes a radical approach. Instead of invasive surgery or restrictive methods, it uses a minimally invasive technique to target vagal afferent nerves, regulating the body's satiety signals. The temporary, endoscopically implanted device aims to help individuals make sustainable health changes by influencing the gut-brain connection.
This technology represents more than just a weight loss solution—it's a potential paradigm shift in how we approach obesity. By offering a safer, more nuanced intervention, technology provides hope for millions struggling with weight management.
Led by Dr. Papay, a Cleveland Clinic innovator with over 40 medical patents, and Dr. Vasandani, an expert in translating medical concepts into solutions, the project brings together cutting-edge medical expertise. Their multidisciplinary team combines medical innovation, engineering, and clinical insight.
Can’t Touch This! Keeping Sticky Bacterial Fingers Off Human Tissue: Antimicrobial Antibody Therapeutics
Inventor: Jeannette Messer, DVM, PhD
The medical world stands at a critical juncture in the fight against bacterial infections. With antibiotic resistance on the rise and few new antibiotics in development, researchers are exploring innovative strategies to combat harmful bacteria. A groundbreaking approach from the Messer Lab, whose research focuses on understanding how human tissues defend against bacterial infection and using that information to create new treatment approaches for diseases caused by bacteria, offers a promising solution that could revolutionize how we treat bacterial infections.
At the heart of bacterial infections lies a crucial first step: bacteria attaching to human tissue. This initial adhesion leads to tissue damage, and inflammation, and allows bacteria to invade cells and deeper tissues. The Messer Lab has identified a critical piece of molecular machinery that enables a wide range of harmful bacteria to bind to human cells.
Led by Dr. Messer, who has a unique background in veterinary medicine and immunology, the research team has developed a novel approach using antibodies that specifically target and break the bacterial machinery responsible for cell adhesion. The core concept is elegantly simple: if bacteria can't stick, they can't cause infection.
FlexEx - Getting to the Root of Saving Heart Valves and Lives: Flexible External Aortic Valve Anuloplasty & Aortic Root Repair System
Inventor: Eric E. Roselli, MD, Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery and Surgical Director of the Aorta Center
Aortic root aneurysms typically occur at the top of the heart's left ventricle, involving the aortic valve and coronary artery origins. Currently, treating these conditions requires Valve Sparing Root Replacement (VSRR), a highly specialized and complex surgical procedure.
The FlexEx, a groundbreaking medical device designed to simplify and standardize complex aortic root repair procedures, preserves the patient’s native heart valve, eliminates the need for blood thinners, and restores normal valve function. The innovation addresses a critical medical challenge: thoracic aorta rupture and dissection, a leading cause of sudden death among young and middle-aged individuals.
Developed by Dr. Roselli, who with over 300 publications is recognized worldwide as a thought leader in areas such as aortic valve repair, repair of aneurysm and dissection, aortic biomechanics, and device development as a holder of multiple patents, his innovation represents more than a medical device—it's a beacon of hope for patients with aortic root aneurysms, potentially transforming cardiac surgical outcomes worldwide.
The Winner is Announced
Following deliberation by the panel of judges, Dr. Messer was awarded the $100,000 prize from Jones Day for her contributions to antimicrobial antibody therapeutics. “It’s a very exciting project because there is so much potential to really change how we treat bacterial infections. This is how we get our invention to the next stage of development.”, Dr. Messer stated. Added Julie Woda, PhD, Senior Director, Proof of Concept, and member of Dr. Messer’s innovation team, “Without this type of funding, we would never be able to develop therapeutics.”
More Than a Competition: A Commitment to Future Healthcare
What made the Innovation Challenge event truly special was its collaborative spirit. Dr. Messer’s technology will receive immediate funding from Jones Day to kickstart its journey from concept to commercially viable solution.
With the inclusion of Inventor Row, which showcased inventions and portfolio companies using technology developed at Cleveland Clinic, audience members were able to meet with companies advancing medical care. The Cleveland Clinic portfolio companies on display included MediView, Centerline Biomedical, and AxoNeural, as well as inventors of AutoCMR reimagined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging from acquisition to delivery, and Hani Najm, MD, inventor of the expandable heart valve for children born with heart valve defects.
Representing more than just a competition the event was a celebration of human creativity and the relentless pursuit of improving healthcare. By supporting these inventors, Cleveland Clinic Innovations and its partners like Jones Day and the Philanthropy Institute are investing in a future where medical technologies can dramatically improve patient care.
The Power of Innovation
As the closing reception brought the evening to a lively conclusion, one thing became clear: innovation is not just about ideas, it is about the passion, dedication, and collaborative spirit of those committed to changing the world, one brilliant invention at a time.
“Cleveland Clinic embodies finding solutions for our patients. All of our innovators have developed their technologies right here at Cleveland Clinic. It’s just amazing the solutions they’re coming up with for some of the most challenging problems in healthcare today.”, shared Dr. Erzurum.
