/news/ en /news/sears-thinkbox-honored-2025-best-tech-award-greater-cleveland-partnership-several-startups-recognized Sears think[box] honored with 2025 Best of Tech Award from Greater Cleveland Partnership; several startups recognized Hero Type Image Brianna Smith Thu, 09/11/2025 - 11:39 Awards Editorial Staff Fri, 09/12/2025 - 07:00 Earlier this month, Sears think[box] at ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ” was recognized at the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s 19th annual Best of Tech Awards, which celebrates the organization’s commitment to fostering innovation across Cleveland’s technology community.  Recognized through an external nomination, Sears think[box] was celebrated for its ongoing mission to empower makers, entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the region.  Sears think[box] was named an honoree alongside organizations Bounce, MAGNET, JumpStart and CWRU's xLab for broadly supporting Cleveland's tech and entrepreneurial ecosystems.  Notably, five of the 23 honorees in the “Early Stage and Tech Start-Ups” category were incubated at or supported by Sears think[box] and Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, including: CLEANR OpsiClear RoadPrintz Sorcea Asclepii Learn more about the services at Sears think[box]. Tags think[box] veale institute for entrepreneurship Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:39:05 +0000 Brianna Smith Brianna Smith 95656 at /news /news/revolutionizing-wound-care-how-cwru-alumna-bridging-science-and-healing-through-gelsana-therapeutics Revolutionizing Wound Care: How a CWRU Alumna is Bridging Science and Healing through GelSana Therapeutics Hero Type Image admin Mon, 09/08/2025 - 14:38 Editorial Staff Mon, 07/14/2025 - 00:00 Dr. Melissa Krebs (Ph.D. '10), founder and CEO of GelSana Therapeutics, is driving transformative innovation in the $78 billion wound care market. Her company, based in Aurora, Colorado, is developing novel hydrogel materials that promote faster healing for chronic wounds by reducing inflammation and delivering sustained therapeutics. What began as a promising academic discovery has evolved into a venture-backed startup, supported in part by the CWRU Alumni Venture Fund (AVF), with its first product, Cleragelℱ, poised for market launch in 2025. What inspired you to start GelSana Therapeutics, and how did your background influence its mission? I’ve always been passionate about biomedical engineering and creating technologies that improve patient care. My research focused on cell-interactive materials and drug delivery, particularly for inflamed chronic wounds. After seeing remarkable healing results in animal studies using anti-inflammatory polymers we developed, I realized this technology could make a real-world impact. About four years ago, we founded GelSana to bring it from the lab to patients. How did your time at ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ” shape your entrepreneurial journey? CWRU is where I first immersed myself in biomaterials and clinical applications. My Ph.D. work there laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since. It gave me both the technical knowledge and the spark to pursue translational research. What has the transition from academia to entrepreneurship been like? It’s definitely been a learning curve. Shifting from a purely scientific mindset to a business perspective required understanding how to scale manufacturing, navigate FDA regulations, and attract investors. Accelerator programs were instrumental in teaching me what early-stage companies need to succeed and how to build a team to fill in the gaps I couldn’t cover alone. How did your partnership with CWRU AVF come about? I found out about CWRU AVF while searching for funding opportunities for alumni-founded startups. Applying and working with them has been a great experience not only for the funding, but also for staying connected to CWRU. Their support has helped propel GelSana forward. What’s been the biggest challenge in growing GelSana? The biggest challenge is keeping the long-term vision in mind while navigating daily hurdles. Running a lean startup means wearing many hats, which can be exhausting. But remembering why we started, which is to solve a critical healthcare problem, keeps us going. How has GelSana’s mission evolved? We started focusing on chronic wounds, but over time we’ve seen our materials could have broader applications, including in burn care and military medicine. While it’s exciting to see potential in other areas, we’ve had to stay disciplined and prioritize getting our first product to market. What are some recent achievements, and what’s next? We’ve raised $5.5 million, half from investors and half from non-dilutive grants, including support from the NIH, State of Colorado, and the Air Force's AFWERX program. We’ve also scaled up our manufacturing, made key hires, and brought on strategic advisors. Now, we’re preparing for a Series A round and the 2025 launch of Cleragelℱ, which will mark our first human clinical use. Where do you envision GelSana in 5–10 years? Our goal is to grow GelSana to the point of being an attractive acquisition for a larger wound care company. We want to develop a product line around our core technology and see it used widely in clinical settings, improving outcomes for patients with difficult-to-heal wounds. If you could go back to the beginning, what would you do differently? While I wouldn’t change anything major, I underestimated the complexity of scaling manufacturing. If I could do it again, I’d focus more on understanding production challenges early on. But I believe in learning as you go as mistakes are part of growth. What advice would you give to aspiring biotech entrepreneurs, especially from CWRU? Do your best at whatever you’re doing now and stay open to where opportunities take you. Careers aren’t linear. Don’t be afraid to take risks or make unconventional choices. Enjoy the process, and trust that your path will make sense in hindsight. GelSana Therapeutics is one of the CWRU-founded ventures in the CWRU Alumni Venture Fund portfolio. This article was written by CWRU Alumni Venture Fund Fellow Brady Bartusiak, class of 2026. Tags Alumni Entrepreneurs veale institute for entrepreneurship Mon, 08 Sep 2025 18:38:18 +0000 admin admin 95579 at /news /news/weatherheads-michael-goldberg-shares-thoughts-use-generative-ai-teaching Weatherhead's Michael Goldberg shares thoughts on the use of generative AI in teaching Hero Type Image Brianna Smith Fri, 09/05/2025 - 09:10 Media Editorial Staff Wed, 08/27/2025 - 17:00 Michael Goldberg Michael Goldberg Generative AI's impact on the classroom, from kindergarten to the university level Spectrum News: Michael Goldberg, professor at Weatherhead School of Management and associate vice president of the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, said he’s embraced generative AI in teaching, reshaping assignments and exams with the technology in mind. By testing questions through AI first, he challenges students to deliver answers that go beyond what the tools produce, calling AI use in classrooms an inevitable reality. Tags veale institute for entrepreneurship Weatherhead School of Management Fri, 05 Sep 2025 13:10:37 +0000 Brianna Smith Brianna Smith 95558 at /news /news/advancing-fire-safety-earth-moon Advancing fire safety from Earth to the moon Hero Type Image Brianna Smith Tue, 09/02/2025 - 16:17 Science + Tech Editorial Staff Wed, 09/03/2025 - 06:00 Ya-Ting Liao Associate Professor, Faculty Director of the UL Fire and Combustion Laboratories, ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ” 2023-2024 Veale Faculty Fellow Area of Focus: Studying fire dynamics and combustion phenomena through numerical modeling and experimentation, with applications ranging from space environments to lithium-ion battery safety. When it comes to advancing protection against fire hazards in some of the world’s most extreme environments, Ya-Ting Liao is leading the charge. But her work doesn’t end in her lab on Euclid Avenue—or even on this planet. Now, she is working with NASA to bring fire experiments to the surface of the moon. Ya-Ting Liao Associate professor and faculty director of the UL Fire and Combustion Laboratories at ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ”, Liao specializes in fire dynamics and safety, using a unique blend of numerical modeling and hands-on experimentation. Her research addresses how fires behave in environments where gravity is anything but ordinary: from microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS) to the partial gravity that astronauts will encounter on the moon.  “If a fire occurs in a habitat on the moon, the reduced gravity can yield a more hazardous situation,” she explained. “The research outcome not only improves fire safety in space but also advances our fundamental understanding of fire dynamics, benefiting everyday life on Earth.” Her collaborations with NASA have led to remarkable opportunities, including sending experiments to the ISS and working with astronauts in real time to ignite and study fires in space. And the work continues, perhaps in a more critical timeline, as NASA works with partners to establish the first long-term presence on the moon through the Artemis program. Ya-Ting Liao, who recently participated in parabolic-flight experiments, is studying fire dynamics and combustion phenomena through numerical modeling and experimentation. Her work has applications ranging from space environments to lithium-ion battery safety. Liao also works on projects closer to home. Through partnerships with industry giants like UL and Lubrizol, her lab researches the unique characteristics of lithium-ion battery fires—a growing concern as these batteries power virtually everything, from smartphones to electric vehicles. The research Liao’s team does helps to shape safer products for consumers.  A few years ago, Liao began expanding her focus to include a potential path to take her research to market. A member of the 2023-2024 cohort of the Veale Faculty Fellows program, Liao says the experience helped her see her research through a new lens. “The fellowship introduced me to entrepreneurship and the possibility of commercialization,” she says. “Most importantly, I learned to evaluate my research impacts from different perspectives, including those of consumers and customers.”  This shift has influenced how she designs and formulates her research, making it more relevant and impactful. “[What] I learned during this fellowship not only helped me to understand entrepreneurship, but also helped me to design and formulate research better. Many things that we need to consider in commercialization of inventions are also applicable in project design and research proposal development.” Applications for the Veale Faculty Fellows program are now open.  Tags research brief veale institute for entrepreneurship Homepage News Alumni Entrepreneurs Tue, 02 Sep 2025 20:17:36 +0000 Brianna Smith Brianna Smith 95517 at /news /news/apply-veale-faculty-fellows-program Apply for the Veale Faculty Fellows program Hero Type Image Brianna Smith Tue, 08/26/2025 - 15:48 Campus + Community Editorial Staff Wed, 08/27/2025 - 06:00 The Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship is seeking innovative, curious faculty members at ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ” for its Veale Faculty Fellows program, which aims to help individuals make informed decisions about marketing their research.  This cohort-based, experiential program combines hands-on workshops, networking opportunities, peer feedback, individual mentoring and select travel to industry tradeshows. Those part of the program also will receive a $10,000 seed fund to provide project-specific support as needed.  Applications are due Friday, Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. Individuals selected for the cohort will be announced Sept. 22.  For questions, contact Mindy Baierl at mmb149@case.edu or 440.796.9469.  Apply today.  Tags faculty/staff veale institute for entrepreneurship Tue, 26 Aug 2025 19:48:31 +0000 Brianna Smith Brianna Smith 95482 at /news /news/how-anna-samias-innovative-chemistry-could-help-patients-keep-their-mobility-after-joint-replacement-infections How Anna Samia’s innovative chemistry could help patients keep their mobility after joint replacement infections Hero Type Image Lydia CoutrĂ© Mon, 08/25/2025 - 10:41 Health + Wellness Megan Kuhar Wed, 08/27/2025 - 08:00 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 ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ”, 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 ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ” 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, CPG Radar 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.    Tags College of Arts and Sciences research brief Homepage News veale institute for entrepreneurship Alumni Entrepreneurs Mon, 25 Aug 2025 14:41:22 +0000 Lydia CoutrĂ© Lydia CoutrĂ© 95467 at /news /news/biomaterials-company-founded-cwru-alumna-developing-hydrogel-bandage-cover-and-protect-open-wounds Biomaterials company founded by CWRU alumna developing hydrogel ‘bandage’ to cover and protect open wounds Hero Type Image Brianna Smith Thu, 08/21/2025 - 08:47 GelSana Therapeutics aims to launch of Cleragel for clinical human for chronic wound care in 2025 Science + Tech Editorial Staff Wed, 08/20/2025 - 06:03 Melissa Krebs, PhD (GRS ‘10 in Biomedical Engineering)  Founder and CEO of GelSana Therapeutics Area of focus: Biomaterial Technology Editor’s note: Jasmine Vo, the author of this story, is a student employee in the University Marketing and Communications department. She is a fourth-year student majoring in communication sciences. Although the body has a natural healing process for injuries, chronic wounds could take months or years to heal naturally in patients with pre-existing diseases or a weakened immune system. Wound-related complications, such as severe infections, could heavily impact patients’ lives. For instance, diabetic ulcers, a type of chronic wound in diabetic patients, are responsible for over 80% of cases of non-traumatic limb amputation.  Realizing this, GelSana Therapeutics, the biomaterials company led by Melissa Krebs (GRS ’10), has developed Cleragel—an innovative new approach to wound dressing that uses polymer technology. GelSana has developed novel hydrogel materials that stretch over a wound, adhering to healthy tissue to protect the open site, while also aiming to reduce the inflammation occurring at the wound site.  GelSana Therapeutics—a venture-backed startup supported in part by the CWRU Alumni Venture Fund—plans to have the first launch of Cleragel for clinical human use in 2025 with a focus on applications in chronic wound care.  Cleragel material absorbs fluid released from open wounds while moisturizing them, helps induce the creation of collagen and new blood vessels, and reduces infection—all of which aid in the healing process. When used on diabetic mouse and pig models, Cleragel has shown to reduce the time for wounds to fully close, which potentially decreases the chance of infection and complications.   “After seeing remarkable healing results in animal studies using anti-inflammatory polymers we developed, I realized this technology could make a real-world impact,” Krebs recently said in a Q&A with the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship. “About five years ago, we founded GelSana to bring it from the lab to patients.” Seeking business opportunities for a technology initially developed in an academic setting required additional skills for Krebs. “Shifting from a purely scientific mindset to a business perspective required understanding how to scale manufacturing, navigate FDA regulations, and attract investors,” Krebs said. “Accelerator programs were instrumental in teaching me what early-stage companies need to succeed and how to build a team to fill in the gaps I couldn’t cover alone.” GelSana Therapeutics has successfully raised $5.5 million from investors and non-dilutive grants, including funding from the National Institutes of Health, the State of Colorado, and the Air Force’s AFWERX program, Krebs said. GelSana was also just accepted into the MedTech Innovator 2025 cohort, a highly competitive accelerator for medical device companies. Notably, GelSana is one of fifteen startups supported by the CWRU Alumni Venture Fund.  To aspiring entrepreneurs, Krebs encouraged: “Do your best at whatever you’re doing now and stay open to where opportunities take you. Careers aren’t linear. Don’t be afraid to take risks or make unconventional choices. Enjoy the process, and trust that your path will make sense in hindsight.”  Tags research brief alumni Case School of Engineering veale institute for entrepreneurship Homepage News Alumni Entrepreneurs Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:47:08 +0000 Brianna Smith Brianna Smith 95422 at /news /news/meet-researcher-extracting-elements-could-change-everything Meet a researcher extracting the elements that could change everything Hero Type Image Myah Potter Mon, 08/18/2025 - 10:12 Science + Tech Alaina Bartel Wed, 08/13/2025 - 12:00 Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Case School of Engineering Member, Cancer Imaging Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Area of Focus: Developing advanced materials and processes to separate f-elements (lanthanides and actinides) with applications in recycling used nuclear fuel, nuclear medicine, and recovering rare earth elements from waste streams. Christine Duval’s work begins where most people stop looking: in the overlooked, the discarded, the waste. At ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ”, Duval leads a lab focused on designing materials and processes that purify rare and valuable metals—especially those used in cancer treatments, clean energy and national defense. Her team’s research helps address a pressing issue in the U.S.: many of these critical materials, which are essential for everything from advanced batteries to medical isotopes, are currently sourced from outside the country. Duval’s goal is to help secure domestic supply chains by recovering those metals from waste. Her research spans multiple projects, including building tools to extract isotopes used in cancer treatment and prototyping 3D-printed separation process units. These efforts are often driven by interdisciplinary collaborations—with Argonne and Brookhaven national laboratories among her key partners. Many of those relationships began during her time as a graduate student, a U.S. Department of Energy fellow, or guest speaker at national labs. “All of our projects have an interdisciplinary component—it makes the work more impactful,” Duval said. “Bringing together teams with diverse skill sets pushes everyone to be more creative and think more deeply.” In 2020, Duval helped CWRU earn approval to offer fellowships through the Department of Energy’s University Nuclear Leadership Program. That designation has since led two students to win the prestigious award, which includes internships at national labs. The resulting collaborations have helped spark new research funding, a provisional patent, and progress toward scaling up nuclear fuel recycling. Most recently, Duval participated in the Veale Faculty Fellowship program, which supports faculty in advancing their research and entrepreneurial endeavors. Applications for the fellowship are opening soon. Since joining CWRU, Duval has mentored two postdocs, eight PhD students, five MS, and 20 undergraduates—each gaining hands-on training in designing experiments, testing hypotheses and solving real-world problems. “Research is a marathon,” she said. “It’s easy to get burned out if you don’t feel supported or inspired to do the work.” And for Duval, that support goes both ways: “At the end of the day, I’m motivated by my students and collaborators,” she added. “That’s what makes the work fulfilling.” Tags Case School of Engineering chemical and biomolecular engineering research research brief veale institute for entrepreneurship Alumni Entrepreneurs Mon, 18 Aug 2025 14:12:38 +0000 Myah Potter Myah Potter 95388 at /news /news/heres-how-level-your-elevator-pitch Here’s how to level up your elevator pitch Hero Type Image Myah Potter Tue, 07/29/2025 - 11:31 Community Engagement Alaina Bartel Mon, 07/28/2025 - 12:00 With summer internships in full swing—and fall career fairs just weeks away—ĐÓ°ÉÊÓÆ” students are introducing themselves to supervisors, mentors and recruiters at lightning speed. That’s where a tight, well‑told elevator pitch comes in handy: a 30‑second story that sparks curiosity and secures the next conversation. That “story” piece is non‑negotiable, according to William Tavel, entrepreneur-in-residence at CWRU’s Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship. “A compelling elevator pitch really is one thing: a story,” he explained. “When you look at giving a pitch as a chance for narrative storytelling via a monologue from an actor instead of a business presentation, all of sudden you approach the process entirely differently.” The Daily connected with Tavel to find out how to craft the perfect elevator pitch ahead of a new wave of on‑campus networking events, interviews and internship opportunities this fall. Why—and who—should care? Tavel coaches students to lead with context (“the why”) and finish with purpose (“the ask”). Too many presenters, he warns, skip both.  A listener who doesn’t know why they should care—or what you want them to do—won’t remember much once the doors reopen, he said.  In Tavel’s view, the delivery should adapt to the setting. A formal competition might warrant a polished script, but a quick elevator ride in Nord Hall? That calls for conversational energy. “So often new founders feel they need to stick to a script. This can lead to pitches feeling forced, unnatural, and disjointed,” Tavel noted. He suggested viewing each pitch as a living tale that changes with the audience, peppered with guiding questions to draw listeners into the journey. Think heroic quest, not slide deck And while pitching is synonymous with startups, its reach is broader. To him, pitching is the art of creating a narrative story for your objective. Job interviews, research collaborations, even project proposals inside large organizations are all variations on the same craft. He’s seen the payoff firsthand: a student whose 30‑second pitch caught a nonprofit leader’s ear and secured a meeting on the spot; another who was invited to dinner with investors hours after a networking event. The pitches didn’t close those deals—execution did—but they opened the necessary doors. Next time you get on an elevator, when the doors glide shut and the level numbers start ticking, skip the floor‑button stare. Break the silence with your story’s opening line, finish with a clear ask—and step out knowing those few seconds may have just landed your next big opportunity. Tags veale institute for entrepreneurship Tue, 29 Jul 2025 15:31:08 +0000 Myah Potter Myah Potter 94825 at /news /news/weatherheads-michael-goldberg-discusses-small-business-surge-across-generations Weatherhead's Michael Goldberg discusses small business surge across generations Hero Type Image Brianna Smith Mon, 06/30/2025 - 10:26 Media Editorial Staff Mon, 06/30/2025 - 06:26 Younger generations propelling small business boom Spectrum News: Michael Goldberg, professor at Weatherhead School of Management and associate vice president of the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, said he’s seeing more of an uptick of college students wanting to start their own small businesses, while Gen Zers want to authentically connect with the products and services small businesses provide. “Looking and reaching out to small businesses that they may find on Instagram, TikTok, Etsy or other platforms really seems to align with who they are as people and what they wear and what services they want to buy,” he said. Tags veale institute for entrepreneurship Weatherhead School of Management Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:26:33 +0000 Brianna Smith Brianna Smith 94501 at /news