Now in its third year, Innovation Week recognizes Case Western Reserve community members who exemplify the university’s innovative culture.
Yesterday, the 2024 Faculty Distinguished Research Award winners were honored, and today, a celebratory luncheon will recognize the Innovators of the Year alongside a keynote from Patrick Hanley, research and development director at Dow Inc.
This year’s Milestone Awards will be presented in two parts during lunch sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, at which free lunch will be provided.
The Inventor Milestone Awards will be presented during Wednesday’s luncheon. Beginning at noon, the event will include the “Serendipitous Epiphany through Efforts to gain Knowledge” (SEEK) contest and award presentation. Inspired by the history of the Michelson–Morley experiment, the SEEK Award will be awarded to the faculty researcher whose persistence through research setbacks led to the best unintended and unexpected results.
The 2024 Commercialization and Pedagogical Milestone Awards will be presented during Thursday’s luncheon, which will begin at noon and feature an industry panel discussion. Leaders from Lubrizol, Nestle, Saint-Gobain and Swagelok will share stories of failure and success.
See the complete list of Milestone Award winners below.
Inventor Award
The first Milestone Award category, the Inventor Award, honors any member of the CWRU community who has received at least one issued patent through the university’s Technology Transfer Office in fiscal year 2024. Honorees include:
- Drew Adams
- Ozan Akkus
- Kumar Alagramam
- Yunus Alapan
- Abdullah Amin
- Jacob Antunes
- Eric Baer
- Tanvir Baig
- James Basilion
- Narendra Bhadra
- Niloy Bhadra
- Vahab Bonab
- Rasim Boyacioglu
- Susann Brady-Kalnay
- Robert Brown
- Michael Bruckman
- Hulya Bukulmez
- Clemens Burda
- Arnold Caplan
- Amitabh Chak
- Mastooreh Chamanian
- Yijiang Chen
- Kevin Cooper
- Jared Cregg
- Anna Czapar
- Chris Dealwis
- Robert Deissler
- Dominique Durand
- Matthew Elitt
- Umit Erol
- Donald Feke
- Philip Feng
- Stephen Fink
- Yong Gao
- Yazan Gharaibeh
- Satyam Ghodasara
- Suhasini Gopal
- Miklos Gratzl
- Mark Griswold
- Vikas Gulani
- Umut Gurkan
- Zheng Han
- Mitchell Hopkins
- Yee-Hsee Hsieh
- Alex Huang
- Michael Jenkins
- Oju Jeon
- Kevin Kilgore
- Christopher King
- Bradley Lang
- Juhwan Lee
- Parker Lee
- Stephen Lewis
- Xinyao Li
- Chung-Chiun Liu
- Yehe Liu
- Joseph Lott
- Zheng-Rong Lu
- Dan Ma
- Tristan Maidment
- Debnath Maji
- Ica Manas-Zloczower
- Sanford Markowitz
- Robyn Marks
- Debra McGivney
- Nathan McMullen
- Pedram Mohseni
- Helen Moinova
- Monica Montano
- Jay Myers
- Wyatt Newman
- Andrew Olah
- Ammar Patel
- Sina Pourang
- David Prabhu
- Sanjay Rajagopalan
- Lauren Randolph
- Imran Rashid
- Stuart Rowan
- Christopher Ryan
- Abrahim Salman
- Matthew Schiefer
- James Seckler
- Jie Shan
- Laura Shaw
- Jerry Silver
- Kenneth Singer
- Jonathan Stamler
- Evi Stavrou
- Colin Stomberski
- Michael Suster
- Daniel Tan
- Rui Tang
- Xinyao Tang
- Paul Tesar
- Ronald Triolo
- Dustin Tyler
- Satish Viswanath
- Tina Vrabec
- Jesse Wainright
- Bingcheng Wang
- Xinning Wang
- Xuefei Wang
- Yanming Wang
- Ran Wei
- Zhouping Wei
- Amy Wen
- Joseph Willis
- David Wilson
- Gary Wnek
- Katherine Wright
- Chunying Wu
- Xu Yang
- Mousa Younesi
- Dian Yuan
- Yiyuan Yuan
- Liang Yue
- Yongyou Zhang
- Lei Zhu
- Hui Zhu
- Christian ZormanDavid Wilson
- Gary Wnek
- Katherine Wright
- Chunying Wu
- Xu Yang
- Mousa Younesi
- Dian Yuan
- Yiyuan Yuan
- Liang Yue
- Xiangwu (David ) Zeng
- Cong Zhang
- Yongyou Zhang
- Boran Zhao
- Hui Zhu
- Lei Zhu
- Christian Zorman
Commercialization Award
The second Milestone Award category, the Commercialization Award, honors any CWRU community member with a technology that was newly licensed through the university’s Technology Transfer Office in fiscal year 2024. The Commercialization Award winners include:
- Richard Adams: Algorithm for Unsupervised Segmentation of Infant Brains using Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting
- Ozan Akkus: High throughput optical assay for screening hemoglobin oxygen affinity modifying drug
- Ran An: High throughput optical assay for screening hemoglobin oxygen affinity modifying drug
- Eric Baer: Random Information Encoding, Storage and Retrieval from Multilayer Polymeric 1-D Photonic Films
- Brecken Blackburn: Optical Coherence Tomography-based Diffusivity and Viscosity Measurement
- Brecken Blackburn: Phase-Decorrelation Optical Coherence Tomography for Cornea Characterization
- Susann Brady-Kalnay: Near Infrared Fluorophore Imaging Agents that bind the PTPmu biomarker
- Thomas Brantley: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Thomas Brantley: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Andrew Buzza: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers in a Surgical Setting
- Andrew Buzza: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers Transcutaneously
- Murat Cavusoglu: Design and Radio Frequency tuning of the actuation coils for a robotic catheter with embedded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Murat Cavusoglu: Coupled magnetic actuation and insertion control for a magnetically actuated catheter
- Murat Cavusoglu: Actuation dithering for thermal management of a robotic catheter with embeded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Murat Cavusoglu: Method for catheter localization, and shape and contact force estimation for control feedback
- Murat Cavusoglu: Hybrid magnetically actuated flexible catheter with variable length stiff segment
- Darin Croft: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Darin Croft: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Mitchell Drumm: Human G551D CFTR Expressing Mouse on a CFTR Null (CWRU) Mouse Background
- Andrew Dupuis: Optimized MR Imaging Using Large Language Model Agents
- Henry Eastman: A Content Agnostic Framework to Create and Display Holographic Presentations in a Shared Mixed Reality Experience
- Henry Eastman: A Method for Creating a Shared Mixed Reality Experience for a Group Wearing Head Mounted Displays
- Henry Eastman: A Method for Optimizing and Displaying Digital Materials for Mixed Reality through a Head Mounted Display
- Henry Eastman: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Henry Eastman: A method for content location selection based on position and view in a mixed reality or augmented reality environment
- Henry Eastman: Method for Manipulating Mixed Reality Models
- Henry Eastman: An interface and network infrastructure for optimizing management of multiple simultaneous holographic experiences from a single control panel
- Rebecca Enterline: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Darcy Freedman: PSE READI: Policy Systems and Environmental Intervention Readiness Assessment and Decision Instrument
- Barbara Freeman: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Barbara Freeman: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Sarah Garrow: Method for determining needle position and pose from MR imaging
- James Gasparatos: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- James Gasparatos: An interface and network infrastructure for optimizing management of multiple simultaneous holographic experiences from a single control panel
- James Gasparatos: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Robert Gotschall: A method for content location selection based on position and view in a mixed reality or augmented reality environment
- Robert Gotschall: A Method for Creating a Shared Mixed Reality Experience for a Group Wearing Head Mounted Displays
- Robert Gotschall: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Robert Gotschall: Method for Manipulating Mixed Reality Models
- Robert Gotschall: An interface and network infrastructure for optimizing management of multiple simultaneous holographic experiences from a single control panel
- William Grissom: RF Frequency Encoded Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- William Grissom: Method for determining needle position and pose from MR imaging
- William Grissom: Optimized MR Imaging Using Large Language Model Agents
- William Grissom: Method to Design RF Pulses for Short-TR and Multi-Echo MRI Pulse Sequences
- Mark Griswold: Hololens Applications
- Mark Griswold: A Method for Creating a Shared Mixed Reality Experience for a Group Wearing Head Mounted Displays
- Mark Griswold: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Mark Griswold: Method for Manipulating Mixed Reality Models
- Mark Griswold: An interface and network infrastructure for optimizing management of multiple simultaneous holographic experiences from a single control panel
- Mark Griswold: RF Frequency Encoded Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Mark Griswold: Optimized MR Imaging Using Large Language Model Agents
- Mark Griswold: Method to Design RF Pulses for Short-TR and Multi-Echo MRI Pulse Sequences
- Mark Griswold: Design and Radio Frequency tuning of the actuation coils for a robotic catheter with embedded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Mark Griswold: Coupled magnetic actuation and insertion control for a magnetically actuated catheter
- Mark Griswold: Actuation dithering for thermal management of a robotic catheter with embeded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Mark Griswold: Method for catheter localization, and shape and contact force estimation for control feedback
- Mark Griswold: Hybrid magnetically actuated flexible catheter with variable length stiff segment
- Shi Gu: Optical Coherence Tomography-based Diffusivity and Viscosity Measurement
- Shi Gu: Phase-Decorrelation Optical Coherence Tomography for Cornea Characterization
- Ariel Gubatina: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Umut Gurkan: High throughput optical assay for screening hemoglobin oxygen affinity modifying drug
- Erin Henninger: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Erin Henninger: An interface and network infrastructure for optimizing management of multiple simultaneous holographic experiences from a single control panel
- Craig Hodges: Human G551D CFTR Expressing Mouse on a CFTR Null (CWRU) Mouse Background
- Michael Hore: Random Information Encoding, Storage and Retrieval from Multilayer Polymeric 1-D Photonic Films
- Siyuan Hu: Characterizing artifacts in multi-dimensional MR Fingerprinting with high efficiency for sequence optimization: systematic error index
- Michael Jenkins: Nerve cuff for light delivery to a peripheral nerve
- Michael Jenkins: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers in a Surgical Setting
- Michael Jenkins: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers Transcutaneously
- Michael Jenkins: Detection of Shear Wave Speed By Doppler Shifted Phase Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography
- Michael Jenkins: Optical Coherence Tomography-based Diffusivity and Viscosity Measurement
- Michael Jenkins: Phase-Decorrelation Optical Coherence Tomography for Cornea Characterization
- Mette Johansen: Near Infrared Fluorophore Imaging Agents that bind the PTPmu biomarker
- Sanjana Kamath: Design and Radio Frequency tuning of the actuation coils for a robotic catheter with embedded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Michael Landers: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Michael Landers: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Stephen Lewis: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers in a Surgical Setting
- Stephen Lewis: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers Transcutaneously
- Nate Lombard Poirot: Design and Radio Frequency tuning of the actuation coils for a robotic catheter with embedded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Nate Lombard Poirot: Actuation dithering for thermal management of a robotic catheter with embeded micro-actuation coils for magnetic actuation inside MRI scanner
- Nate Lombard Poirot: Method for catheter localization, and shape and contact force estimation for control feedback
- Dan Ma: Characterizing artifacts in multi-dimensional MR Fingerprinting with high efficiency for sequence optimization: systematic error index
- Dan Ma: Algorithm for Unsupervised Segmentation of Infant Brains using Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting
- Dan Ma: Time-resolved image reconstruction using joint temporally local and global subspace modeling for diffusion MRI
- Dan Ma: Optimized MR Imaging Using Large Language Model Agents
- Sangeeta Mahajan: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Joao Maia: Double Hyperbolic Contraction in Extensional Mixing Elements (EMEs)
- Sanford Markowitz: VACO-6 cell line
- Isabel McGaugh: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Jeffery Mlakar: A Content Agnostic Framework to Create and Display Holographic Presentations in a Shared Mixed Reality Experience
- Jeffery Mlakar: A Method for Creating a Shared Mixed Reality Experience for a Group Wearing Head Mounted Displays
- Jeffery Mlakar: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Jeffery Mlakar: An interface and network infrastructure for optimizing management of multiple simultaneous holographic experiences from a single control panel
- Michael Moffitt: Nerve cuff for light delivery to a peripheral nerve
- Michael Moffitt: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers in a Surgical Setting
- Michael Moffitt: Systems and Methods to Selectively Silence Small Fibers Transcutaneously
- Michael Moffitt: Percutaneous port-based photobiomonulation
- Michael Moffitt: Selective Multiple frequency stimulation
- Michael Moffitt: System and methods to silence small fibers transcutaneoursly
- Andrew Olah: Random Information Encoding, Storage and Retrieval from Multilayer Polymeric 1-D Photonic Films
- Zhilang Qiu: Time-resolved image reconstruction using joint temporally local and global subspace modeling for diffusion MRI
- Andrew Rollins: Method for measuring biomechanical properties in an eye
- Andrew Rollins: Detection of Shear Wave Speed By Doppler Shifted Phase Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography
- Andrew Rollins: Optical Coherence Tomography-based Diffusivity and Viscosity Measurement
- Andrew Rollins: Phase-Decorrelation Optical Coherence Tomography for Cornea Characterization
- Brian Rothstein: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Jillian Schulte: PSE READI: Policy Systems and Environmental Intervention Readiness Assessment and Decision Instrument
- Zoe Sekyonda: High throughput optical assay for screening hemoglobin oxygen affinity modifying drug
- Warren Selman: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Anuj Sharma: Optimized MR Imaging Using Large Language Model Agents
- Catherine Simonson Shick: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Catherine Simonson Shick: HoloNeuroAnatomy
- Scott Simpson: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Preethy Sridharan: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Jeffrey Sunshine: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Kerrin Sunshine: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Lisa Tan: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Galen Tingle: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Ronald Triolo: Non-Hydraulic Self-Leveling Walker
- Eser Tuna: Method for catheter localization, and shape and contact force estimation for control feedback
- Lauren Ulrey: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Sue Wish-Baratz: Anatomical Models for Holographic Medical Education
- Sue Wish-Baratz: HoloNeuroAnatomy
Pedagogical Awards
The final Milestone Award category, the Pedagogical Awards, recognizes new educational programs that were approved by the Faculty Senate Education Committee during fiscal year 2024. The Pedagogical Award winners include
- Aerospace Physiology, Graduate Certificate & MS (School of Medicine) – Michael Decker & Lisa Damato
- Interschool Quantitative Biosciences, Graduate Certificate (School of Medicine) – Steve Eppell, Mike Hinczewski, Matthias Buck, Walter Boron, Glenn Starkmann, Kristina Lee Semrad
- Public Health, Graduate Certificate (School of Medicine) – Daniel Tisch, Kristina Knight, Andrew Morris, and Mendel Singer
- Business Information Technology, BSM (Weatherhead) – Kalle Lyytinen, Jennifer Hawkins
- FinTech, Minor (Weatherhead) – CNV Krishnan, Greg Harmon, Lakshmi Balasubramanyan, Jay Vaidya
- Supply Chain Management, Minor (Weatherhead) – Operations Management Department
- Data Science, MS (Case School of Engineering) – Mehmet Koyuturk