CU Innovators News

William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:35:12 +0000

William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members Daniel Corbin … Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:35

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today—The prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences has announced its newest members, and they include ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� affiliates William Penuel and Jun Ye.

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today—The prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences has announced its newest members, and they include ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� affiliates William Penuel and Jun Ye.

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A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:10:40 +0000

A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks Daniel Corbin … Mon, 04/06/2026 - 15:10

A research team including scientists and engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Anschutz and Colorado State University has developed a suite of new therapies that prompt aging or damaged joints to repair themselves within weeks, according to animal studies.

The new osteoarthritis treatments include a single, regenerative injection to a joint and a biomaterial repair kit that recruits the body’s own cells to patch holes in damaged cartilage.

To expedite the research, the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced this week that the multidisciplinary team will advance to the next phase of the up to $33.5 million project. The project is under the ARPA-H Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) program. NITRO is led by ARPA-H Program Manager Dr. Ross Uhrich.

“In two years, we were able to go from a moonshot idea to developing these therapies to demonstrating that they reverse osteoarthritis in animals,” said principal investigator Stephanie Bryant, professor of chemical and biological engineering at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. “Our goal is not just to treat pain and halt progression, but to end this disease.”

The team hopes to publish their animal findings in a peer reviewed journal later this year and has formed a company, Renovare Therapeutics Inc. to move toward commercialization.

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The New York Times, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today—A research team of scientists and engineers from the University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado State University has developed a suite of therapies that prompt aging or damaged joints to repair themselves within weeks, according to animal studies. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has advanced the up to $33.5M project to its next phase, and the team has formed Renovare Therapeutics Inc. to move toward commercialization.

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Kristi Anseth receives the Biomaterials Global Impact Award

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:16:45 +0000

Kristi Anseth receives the Biomaterials Global Impact Award Daniel Corbin … Tue, 03/31/2026 - 09:16

Distinguished Professor Kristi Anseth (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Chemical and Biological Engineering) has received the Biomaterials Global Impact Award, which recognizes distinguished research and development accomplishments in the field of biomaterials.

The award will be presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials in Antwerp, Belgium, from September 7-11, 2026.

Anseth, also the associate faculty director of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� BioFrontiers Institute, designs biomaterials that interact with living tissues to promote repair and regeneration, aiding in healing injuries and diseases. Her lab works with hydrogels—a degradable biomaterial—to deliver molecules at the right time and sequence to accelerate the healing process. Her team is also growing miniaturized versions of heart cells and tissues, known as organoids, to better understand disease mechanisms and explore new types of heart disease treatments, such as to repair heart muscles after heart attacks.

Anseth is also among the select few innovators elected to all three National Academies: Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Beyond her scientific contributions, she has been recognized with more than 50 major awards and delivered over 60 honorary lectureships worldwide.

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Distinguished Professor Kristi Anseth has received the Biomaterials Global Impact Award, which recognizes distinguished research and development accomplishments in the field of biomaterials.

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Google taps ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:39:53 +0000

Google taps ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/30/2026 - 11:39

Google said Tuesday that it is entering the Colorado quantum realm in what seems like a very tiny way: It hired a quantum physicist in Boulder to speed up development of its first quantum computer.

But by adding University of Colorado and federal lab researcher Adam Kaufman, Google is taking a much bigger step in the industry. The company also announced Tuesday that it is expanding into a competing type of quantum computer development based on neutral atoms.

Kaufman, known for his work in controlling neutral atoms, “is one of the key experts in this area,” said Charina Chou, chief operating officer of Google Quantum AI, which has been working for more than a decade to build a quantum computer to tackle the world’s unsolvable problems. Such computers have accelerated computing performance that could lead to improvements to cancer and health treatments, AI accuracy and better tools to address climate change.

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The Colorado Sun, BizWest—It’s the company’s first physical entry into the local quantum ecosystem. Adam Kaufman, known for his work in neutral atoms, is also key to Google’s big expansion to develop its first quantum computer faster

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:04:06 +0000

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort Daniel Corbin … Thu, 03/26/2026 - 11:04

More Funding, Training and Networking Opportunities

Discover opportunities and events that foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Venture Partners at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� offers valuable opportunities to connect, learn and grow. Plus, explore our curated list of opportunities and events outside of the University of Colorado.

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Established in 2020, Equalize Startups is a nonprofit program taking national action on the disparity in women academic inventors forming startups from nonprofit research institutions. Equalizers receive education, a field-specific mentor, and access to networks that drive new entrepreneurial connections. They can include faculty, postdocs and graduate students in STEM disciplines.

Their six-month program offers expert training, personalized mentoring, in-person networking and a pitch competition—all designed to help women academic inventors successfully navigate the startup ecosystem.

Innovators with ties to the University of Colorado Boulder will participate in the 2026 cohort.

Jeanne Barthold (Alum, Biomedical Engineering, Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) is co-founder of TissueForm, which has developed a flowable implant made of the protein and extracellular matrix of human cartilage tissue (with all living components removed). It flows into a defect from an injury to immediately replace structure, solidifies into a solid to withstand normal loading, and supports the body’s own cells to attach and initiate a regenerative repair.

Marwa Yacouti (PhD candidate, Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences) is building an AI-powered platform that transforms how materials and structures are designed by predicting performance and degradation throughout the design process. This reduces reliance on costly simulations and unlocks faster development and more resilient engineering systems.

The 2026 cohort also includes Suzhao Li of the University of Colorado Anschutz, who aims to transform AI-designed mini proteins into first-in-class therapeutics with Jingshi Shen (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Charles Dinarello (CU Anschutz Medical Campus) and their new ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� startup, winner of the 2025 LVC.

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Established in 2020, Equalize Startups is a nonprofit program taking national action on the disparity in women academic inventors forming startups from non-profit research institutions. Innovators with ties to the University of Colorado Boulder will participate in the 2026 cohort.

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:34:07 +0000

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/02/2026 - 11:34

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering & Applied Science—William Frantz didn’t walk away with the top prize at this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), but his research may still be a winner for future cancer patients. Frantz is developing microscopic droplets designed to help doctors track radiation therapy in real time, technology that could one day make cancer treatment more precise and less harmful, particularly for pediatric patients.

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Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:27:19 +0000

Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary Daniel Corbin … Fri, 02/20/2026 - 10:27

Women of Carbon, a documentary featuring Mija Hubler, associate professor of structural engineering and structural mechanics, was selected as the opening night film for the Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden. The film highlights women transforming the construction industry through sustainable innovation, decarbonization and green technology.

Hubler’s research interests include aging of construction materials, concrete infrastructure design and construction methods and the design of alternative construction materials from biological elements and engineered waste materials. She is a co-founder of Prometheus Materials, a bio-cement startup in Longmont, Colorado.

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The University of Colorado Connection

Prometheus Materials Inc., which produces a zero-carbon concrete alternative, was co-founded by four faculty members at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��: Wil Srubar, Sherri Cook, Mija Hubler (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) and Jeff Cameron (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Biochemistry). With a cross-disciplinary grant from DARPA that funded the underlying inventions, they were interested in forming a startup company and worked with Venture Partners to find a CEO and co-founder. Through the Venture Partners mentor network, they found serial entrepreneur Loren Burnett, and since then, Prometheus Materials has been off to the races! Prometheus is now headquartered in Longmont, CO.

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—Women of Carbon, a documentary featuring Mija Hubler, highlights women transforming the construction industry through sustainable innovation, decarbonization and green technology. Hubler’s research interests include aging of construction materials, concrete infrastructure design and construction methods and the design of alternative construction materials from biological elements and engineered waste materials. She is a co-founder of Prometheus Materials, a bio-cement startup in Longmont, Colorado.

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Three faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:21:02 +0000

Three faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering Daniel Corbin … Fri, 02/13/2026 - 10:21

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Today—This week, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced that three faculty members at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� were elected to the ranks of this prestigious organization. Dana Anderson, Iain Boyd and Bob Erickson are among the 130 scientists and engineers from around the country who will be inducted as members of the NAE at a meeting this fall.

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:49:33 +0000

How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break Daniel Corbin … Thu, 02/05/2026 - 10:49

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—Aoife Henry is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: preventing costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning. After participating in the University of Colorado Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator, Henry landed a fellowship with the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

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Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator

An accelerator for research teams building deep tech startups coming out of the University of Colorado campuses in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver. Deep tech startups, or new companies based on technological innovation in science or engineering, face unique challenges because of their disruptive nature, intensive research and development, and significant capital requirements. Ascent understands the needs and pathways for deep tech startups to find early success.

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��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—Aoife Henry is leading Zentus, a startup she founded that addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: preventing costly equipment failures that can bring wind and solar farms offline without warning. After participating in the University of Colorado Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator, Henry landed a fellowship with the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

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Gates Institute Awards $1.5M from Gates Grubstake Fund to CU Researchers

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:44:29 +0000

Gates Institute Awards $1.5M from Gates Grubstake Fund to CU Researchers Daniel Corbin … Mon, 01/26/2026 - 13:44

Gates Institute—The Gates Institute at the University of Colorado Anschutz, in partnership with CU Anschutz Innovations, has announced the recipients of its 2025 Grubstake Awards. The awardees include Wyatt Shields (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering), partnering with Benjamin Bitler (CU Anschutz) on their project Macrophage Backpacks for Delivering Olaparib to High-Grade Serous Carcinomas.

High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) remains the most lethal ovarian cancer subtype. Drugs known as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), including olaparib (OLAP), are commonly used as maintenance therapy following response to platinum chemotherapy. Although OLAP provides an increased benefit for BRCA-mutated tumors, it is limited by systemic toxicities and a rare but serious risk of developing blood cancers such as myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myelogenous leukemia. Shields, Bitler and CU PhD student Courtney Bailey addressed these barriers with a targeted delivery system utilizing a macrophage-bound discoidal particle (“backpack”; Mac-BP). Backpacks are fabricated from a biodegradable polymer that enables controlled drug release. Their discoidal geometry prevents phagocytosis, allowing stable attachment to macrophages and subsequent trafficking and delivery to tumors, thereby reducing undesirable side effects. The Gates Grubstake funding will help support readiness for IND-directed development to enable clinical translation of Mac-BPs.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

Gates Institute—The Gates Institute at the University of Colorado Anschutz, in partnership with CU Anschutz Innovations, has announced the recipients of its 2025 Grubstake Awards. The awardees include Wyatt Shields (��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering), partnering with Benjamin Bitler (CU Anschutz) on their project Macrophage Backpacks for Delivering Olaparib to High-Grade Serous Carcinomas.

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CU Innovators News

William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members

What could you do with a CU technology?

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

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A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks

What could you do with a CU technology?

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Kristi Anseth receives the Biomaterials Global Impact Award

What can we do together?

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Google taps ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado

What could you do with a CU technology?

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���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort

What could you or your business do with a CU technology?

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���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge

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Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary

The University of Colorado Connection

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Three faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering

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How one engineering alum optimizes clean energy operations before they break

Ascent Deep Tech Accelerator

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Gates Institute Awards $1.5M from Gates Grubstake Fund to CU Researchers

What could you do with a CU technology?

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

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Google taps ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge