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Anna Cristina Samia’s scientific journey is driven by a simple, powerful question: How can chemistry directly improve lives? 

As chair of the Department of Chemistry at �Ӱ���Ƶ, Samia leads a team working on a breakthrough that could help joint replacement patients avoid debilitating infections and, in severe cases, painful amputations. Her team, in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, is developing a novel injectable gel designed to target and remove bacterial biofilms—complex microbial communities that stick to implant surfaces and resist antibiotics—from infected prosthetic joints.

Each year, over 275,000 U.S. joint replacement patients develop infections, leading to costly revision surgeries that can exceed $100,000 per case—an escalating burden projected to reach $1.85 billion annually by 2030. These infections prolong recovery, increase antibiotic resistance, and severely impact mobility. 

To address this growing challenge, Samia’s team of researchers at �Ӱ���Ƶ and Cleveland Clinic has developed PhotothermAA Gel; a minimally invasive, infrared-activated material that breaks up and removes bacterial biofilms when paired with standard DAIR (Debridement, Antibiotics, and Irrigation with Implant Retention) procedures. This innovative treatment targets infections at their source while preserving the implant, reducing surgical trauma, and promoting faster recovery.

For Samia, the work is personal. 

“One of my aunts had to have her leg amputated because of an infection after surgery,” she recalls. “We’re hoping our technology can revolutionize patient care and reduce healthcare costs.”

But turning lab discoveries into real-world solutions is never straightforward. That’s where the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship’s Faculty Fellows program made a difference.

Samia (third from left) poses with members of her Veale Faculty Fellowship cohort at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Veale Faculty Fellows program helps faculty explore launching a startup as one potential path to market for their innovative research. For Samia, it was a chance to step outside her day-to-day routine and connect with colleagues from business, engineering, psychology, and medicine.

The feedback from other disciplines and industries helped Samia and her cohort learn how to explain complex research in ways that would resonate with key audiences.

“We talk about numbers and data, but people outside our field want to understand what’s really happening,” she explains. “Communicating science that can be appreciated by others is so important, especially now when support for STEM is being challenged.”

Samia credits the program’s leaders, CEO Afif Ghannoum (CWR ‘02, JD ‘05) and Veale Institute senior director Mindy Baierl, for creating a welcoming environment. 

“They give you tools, but also real stories,” Samia said. “They don’t sugarcoat the challenges. That balance helps you make informed decisions about how to move your research forward.”

Next up for Samia’s team and PhotothermAA Gel: preparing for translational steps, potential partnerships, and expanded clinical testing.

For busy faculty, committing to the program may seem daunting. But Samia believes the rewards are worth it and encourages her colleagues to take the leap.

“It takes you outside your comfort zone. You develop a deeper understanding of your own work, and you build a more vibrant community at CWRU.”

Applications for the Veale Faculty Fellows program are now open.