UC Santa Cruz has announced the Innovation Catalyst Grant proof-of-concept program awardees, showcasing the campus’s commitment to fostering transformative research with significant societal benefits.
The Innovation Catalyst Program, managed by the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub, provides targeted funding, industry mentorship, market research and customer discovery training to help researchers commercially validate their technologies while bridging the gap between basic research and early-stage investment. This year’s awards highlight projects addressing pressing challenges in environmental sustainability, biomedical innovation, and renewable energy—all with the potential to improve the lives of Californians.
The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub’s Lean Launchpad workshops play a key role in this process by equipping researchers with the frameworks and skills to identify the pathways for adoption and implementation of their innovations and find a scalable business model through the customer discovery process. This training is now part of the newly established NSF I-Corps Hub, which further strengthens UC Santa Cruz’s ecosystem for innovation transfer and commercialization.
Detecting contaminants and enhancing sweetness analysis
Led by biomolecular engineering professor Nader Pourmand, this project focuses on developing an innovative biosensor capable of real-time detection of groundwater contamination and the sweetness of zero-calorie food and beverages. This enzyme-free electrochemical sensor provides instantaneous, cost-effective measurements, offering a vital tool for environmental monitoring and food industry applications. With interest from major industry players, the project exemplifies UC Santa Cruz’s leadership in bridging academic discovery with commercial opportunities.
Revolutionizing drug discovery
Assistant professor of biomolecular engineering Andy Yeh is pioneering a project to create artificial luciferases, proteins that emit light and are critical for high-throughput drug screening. By leveraging de novo protein design, Yeh’s team aims to overcome the limitations of traditional luciferases, reducing false discovery rates and enhancing accuracy in drug discovery pipelines. With the support of the Chemical Screening Center at UC Santa Cruz, this innovation promises to accelerate pharmaceutical development and improve healthcare outcomes.
Innovations in preclinical testing
Electrical and computer engineering associate professor Mircea Teodorescu is advancing preclinical drug testing with a microfluidic drug delivery system integrated with high-density multi-electrode arrays. This technology automates complex workflows, ensuring the viability of neural cultures and enabling non-expert users to conduct sophisticated experiments. By replicating human physiology more accurately, the project aligns with FDA modernization efforts to replace animal testing, offering significant implications for neurological disorder research and pharmaceutical innovation.
Sustainable hydrogen production
Chemistry professor Scott Oliver’s project, “On-Demand Hydrogen: Just Add Water,” introduces a novel method for hydrogen production using a gallium-aluminum composite. This sustainable approach generates hydrogen at ambient conditions using water—including wastewater and ocean water—while recycling post-consumer aluminum waste. With potential applications ranging from powering hydrogen fuel cell buses to supporting under-resourced communities, the project addresses California’s climate action goals and positions UC Santa Cruz as a leader in renewable energy innovation.
Bridging research and real-world impact
The Innovation Catalyst Grant program, supported in part this cycle by the UC President’s Entrepreneurship Network Council’s systemwide pilot proof-of-concept fund, highlights UC Santa Cruz’s dedication to advancing research with tangible benefits. By empowering researchers to de-risk and validate early-stage innovations, the program ensures that groundbreaking ideas move beyond the lab and into the hands of those who can implement them for societal good.
“These projects underscore UC Santa Cruz’s role as a hub for innovation and discovery,” said Ryan Sharp, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Business Engagement. “By providing critical resources and support, we’re enabling our researchers to address real-world challenges and make a lasting impact.”
From advancing environmental sustainability to transforming drug discovery, this year’s Innovation Catalyst Grant program awardees exemplify the university’s commitment to research excellence and societal impact. Their work not only highlights the power of interdisciplinary collaboration but also reinforces UC Santa Cruz’s position as a leader in driving innovation that benefits California and the world.
