News and Events

UTGSM Faculty Recognized at the 2024 UTRF MCO Innovation Awards Ceremony

The 2024 University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) Multi-Campus Office Innovation Awards Ceremony, held on November 25 in Knoxville, TN, celebrated the groundbreaking achievements of researchers across the UT system. The event honored faculty, staff, and students whose innovative contributions are driving progress in technology, science, and entrepreneurship. Among the honorees were several esteemed faculty members from the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine (UTGSM), highlighting their impactful work and advancing UTGSM’s reputation as a hub for research excellence.

Six UTGSM faculty members were recognized for their collaboration with Attralus, Inc., a company dedicated to transforming the treatment landscape for amyloidosis. The honorees - Jonathan Wall, PhD, Assistant Dean for Research; Manasi Balachandran, PhD, Assistant Professor; James Foster, MS; Emily Martin, PhD, Associate Professor; Angela Williams, MS; and Stephen Kennel, PhD, Professor - played key roles in advancing innovative biologics aimed at removing toxic amyloid deposits. Licensed technologies like these are inventions developed by researchers and legally authorized for use by a company through licensing agreements. These agreements help bring groundbreaking ideas to market while supporting ongoing research. Attralus is pioneering therapies that address the unmet need for amyloidosis treatments capable of reversing disease by removing existing amyloid deposits in organs, as well as developing the first diagnostic imaging agent specifically for amyloidosis.

Another notable recognition went to Deidra J. Mountain, PhD, Professor, and Oscar Grandas, MD, FACS, Professor, for their collaboration with Orion Therapeutics, a company revolutionizing medicine through RNA-based therapies. Utilizing Orion’s innovative GENESYS™ delivery platform, which enables precision targeting and effective treatment of a wide range of diseases, Drs. Mountain and Grandas contributed to advancements that exemplify the transformative potential of RNA therapeutics. Orion Therapeutics is dedicated to addressing critical healthcare challenges by developing genetic medicines that meet unmet clinical needs and improve patient outcomes.

Lastly, Dr. Robert Davis, MD, MPH, was recognized for his role in 9+1AI, an innovative startup leveraging artificial intelligence to address critical challenges in healthcare. This honor underscores his pioneering contributions at the intersection of technology and medicine, illustrating UTGSM’s commitment to supporting faculty as they push the boundaries of innovation to improve patient outcomes.

"This excellent representation of UTGSM innovation among researchers across the UT system reflects the vibrant environment of translational biomedical research on our campus. Our core group of outstanding researchers provide a foundation for our continued growth in innovation, scholarship, and discovery in biomedicine," said Robert M. Craft, MD, Dean of the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.

As a cornerstone of UT’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, UTRF continues to support the development and commercialization of intellectual property, contributing to statewide economic growth and research excellence. This year’s ceremony reinforced UTGSM's integral role in advancing innovation, showcasing the achievements of its faculty and their dedication to addressing real-world challenges through science and technology.

Posted January 13, 2025