Pitt.INC, a program designed to accelerate ideas into practice, announced its first group of winners.
The Pitt Idea Navigation to Commercialization (Pitt.INC) program has announced its first six awardees. The program, a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) and Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences, is designed to accelerate the transformation of lab-based discoveries into real-world products and treatments that improve patient care. The program itself was launched in April 2025 and each project officially kicked off this past December.
Commercialization and product development are top priorities for Anantha Shekhar, senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of the School of Medicine, as noted in his State of the School address in September 2025. The same year, Pitt Health Sciences contributed 85% of Pitt’s record-breaking 444 invention disclosures, including 15 start-ups and 109 U.S. patents.
“Pitt innovators want their research to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Evan Facher, vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship at Pitt and associate dean for commercial translation at the School of Medicine. “Pitt.INC is designed to support researchers as they validate the commercial potential of their discoveries and kickstart their journey from the lab to market.”
A $53.5 million gift from the Orland Bethel Family Foundation announced Jan. 21, 2026, included funding for Pitt.INC to add a special track that supports musculoskeletal work.
When awardees are selected, they’re paired with a scientific advisor, a Pitt faculty member with expertise aligned with the project. The OIE, scientific advisor and principal investigator collaborate to finalize the experiment’s scope of work and budget. The OIE will meet with teams monthly to track their project’s progress. Awardees also have access to all the OIE’s innovation and commercialization trainings, resources, support and ecosystem.
Pitt.INC’s Awardees and Project Summaries
Project Title: Rebuilding Neurons: A Novel Target as a Therapeutic Candidate in CTE
Awardees: Silas Davidson, a third-year undergraduate student studying biological sciences, and Eric Lechman, faculty principal investigator and assistant professor of medicine, School of Medicine
Summary: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head trauma, with no current treatments targeting the underlying dysfunction. This project proposes targeting a specific protein as a novel therapeutic approach to restore neuronal integrity in CTE. Preliminary data suggest that enhancing this protein may counteract neuronal damage and support central nervous system function.
Project Title: Neuroimmune Modulation for Neurodegenerative Therapy
Awardee: Smita Iyer, associate professor of pathology, School of Medicine
Summary: Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and HIV-associated cognitive decline, are rapidly increasing and share a common driver: chronic neuroinflammation. This project introduces a novel therapeutic platform to target inflammation in the brain, promoting a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory response. Through modulation of central nervous system immune function, this approach offers a first-in-class solution across multiple neuroinflammatory conditions.
Project Title: GeniX: Generative AI Platform for Personalized Clinical Certification Exam
Awardee: Bambang Parmanto, professor and chair, Department of Health Information Management, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Summary: Clinical programs rely on national certification exams, but current test preparation methods are time-intensive for faculty and lack personalized, data-driven support for students. GeniX is an AI-powered platform that tailors practice questions and tutoring based on individual student needs, aiming to improve exam pass rates. GeniX offers a scalable, cost-effective solution for clinical education programs across multiple health care disciplines.
Project Title: Objective Test for Diagnosis of Pulpitis
Awardee: Samer Zaky, research assistant professor, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, School of Dental Medicine
Summary: Root canal treatments often lead to long-term tooth loss, especially in adolescents, due to unreliable diagnostics that fail to distinguish between reversible and irreversible pulpitis. This project aims to develop an objective test of inflamed tooth pulp to guide treatment decisions and preserve dental health. Using cutting-edge precise, personalized diagnostics, this approach would revolutionize dental care by preserving tooth vitality and reducing unnecessary root canals.
Project Title: Evaluating A Novel Therapeutic Candidate for Ménière’s Disease
Awardee: Vincent Yuan, research assistant professor, Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine
Summary: Ménière’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder characterized by vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus, with no FDA-approved disease-modifying treatments. This project proposes using a novel therapy to reduce proinflammatory signaling and restore inner ear structural integrity. As a first-in-class therapy, this approach offers a more effective and safer alternative to current symptom-focused treatments for an underserved patient population.
Project Title: Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Chronic Kidney Disease
Awardee: David Gau, assistant professor of pathology, School of Medicine
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 37 million U.S. adults and is associated with multiple comorbidities, creating a significant health care burden and highlighting the need for more effective treatments. This project explores a novel therapeutic approach to restore cellular function and slow CKD progression. This solution could lead to a first-in-class therapeutic platform for treating CKD and other metabolic diseases.