Innovation of the Year

The Huang Lab, Acre Therapeutics:

Novel therapeutic approach targeting BIN1 to modulate secretory autophagy in Alzheimer’s Disease

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Alvin Huang, assistant professor of molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry, and postdoc Ryan O’Rourke are developing a new precision medicine strategy to treat Alzheimer’s disease by targeting BIN1, a major genetic risk factor. Their approach centers on the discovery that BIN1 promotes the spread of harmful tau proteins in the brain via a process called secretory autophagy. To intervene, the researchers created an antisense oligonucleotide therapy specifically designed to modify BIN1’s function, aiming to slow or halt the disease’s progression by disrupting this tau-spreading pathway.

A public vote was held featuring eight semifinalists for the Innovation of the Year award. The top three vote recipients gave a live pitch at the Innovation@Brown Showcase where the audience voted on the winner, leading to the Huang Lab’s recognition.

Other finalists:

Kareen Coulombe, Bioelectric Threads for Treatment of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Stephanie Jones, Personalized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Delivery Protocols Based on Computational Modeling of the Electromagnetic TMS-evoked Response

Read more about all three finalists.

Inventor of the Year

Arto Nurmikko, professor of engineering and physics

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BTI’s Inventor of the Year is presented to the faculty member who has had the most engagement with BTI and has seen the most patenting success during the past fiscal year.

A professor of engineering and physics, Nurmikko is one of Brown’s most prolific inventors with one new international patent and four total patents issued in FY25.

Startup of the Year

Adept Materials

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Founder and CEO Derek Stein accepted the award on behalf of Adept Materials.

Adept’s technology mimics a leaf’s ability to regulate temperature and moisture through microscopic capillaries and a “vapor diode” mechanism, allowing water vapor to move more easily in one direction. Adept recently closed a $4.6M seed round and is preparing to launch its first consumer product, a premium interior paint and primer system called Lilypad that incorporates the company’s proprietary moisture control technology.

New to the Showcase - Innovation@Brown Pitch Competition

New for 2025, six Innovation@Brown Showcase ventures were invited to participate in a live pitch competition to a panel of VC judges before the main Showcase event. The winner, Fermi Energy, was awarded $1,000 sponsored by Slater Technology Fund. Other participating ventures included Chronospace AI, Ember Therapeutics, Kyron Medical, Lilac Biosciences, and SomaCare.

Read the article.

BTI Bucks - Fan Favorite

PyraSim Solutions

We asked attendees to invest "BTI Bucks" in their favorite company at the Showcase. PyraSim Solutions was this year's winner.

PyraSim Solutions develops brain simulations to accelerate drug discovery and personalize neuropsychiatric care. Using computational models for non-invasive neural biomarkers, the platform is designed to help drug developers validate next-generation therapies for conditions like schizophrenia and depression and clinicians optimize treatment decisions. This approach will transform the neuropharmaceutical industry and mental healthcare from trial-and-error approaches to personalized, objective treatments.

Thank you to all of the Innovation@Brown Showcase participants

• Acre Therapeutics

• CareCrowd

• ChronoSpaceAI

• Dawn

• Ember Therapeutics Corporation

• EndoSwin Solutions

• EnkaBiologics Inc.

• Enzylock

• Fermi Energy

• Gene therapy for rare brain disorder

• GeroSen

• Kyron Medical

• Lilac Biosciences Inc

• Nematex

• PyraSim Solutions

• Reach Neuro Inc

• Sakonnet Biomedical

• TEEM Therapeutics