Second round of Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund awards more than $2 million to Northwestern scientists

• Link to: Northwestern Now Story

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund, a $35 million initiative of Northwestern University and the Ryan Family Foundation, is accelerating life sciences research with immediate societal impact. Over two rounds of funding, the initiative has awarded more than $4 million, supporting 16 transformative projects from a competitive pool of 139 proposals submitted by Northwestern researchers.

In its second round of awards, the fund recently bestowed more than $2 million to support eight exceptional research projects to translate cutting-edge life science discoveries into transformative, real-world solutions.

The Ryan Acceleration Fund is a vital complement to Northwestern’s expansive research enterprise by providing seed grants to bridge the gap between academic innovation and commercialization. This year’s competitive cycle saw an impressive 67 proposals submitted by primary investigators from across the University, reflecting the vibrant culture of discovery at Northwestern, home to an annual sponsored research portfolio exceeding $1 billion. Following a rigorous review process, each selected project has been awarded up to $300,000 for one year — the typical funding period — fueling its potential to drive immediate societal benefits.

“We established the research acceleration fund to elevate Northwestern’s translational capabilities,” Patrick G. Ryan said. “By strategically investing in exceptional research, we are narrowing the divide that often stalls groundbreaking discoveries, unlocking their potential to change lives and strengthen society. This effort supports the University’s commitments to advancing the biosciences, delivering innovative solutions while driving economic impact through startup ventures based on the work of Northwestern faculty. With each round of awards, this fund further amplifies the University’s global leadership in interdisciplinary research.”

Selection criteria emphasize the research’s transformative potential, differentiation from existing approaches, key project milestones achieved, next-phase outlook and feasibility of near-term execution — including the strength of the research team. The selected proposals focus on therapeutics, health IT/data science analytics and medical devices. Many involve cross-field and cross-school collaborations, fostering partnerships between Northwestern’s medical, engineering and liberal arts schools.

“The Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund is transforming innovation at Northwestern, empowering our faculty to translate their groundbreaking discoveries into real solutions,” said Eric J. Perreault, vice president for research. “This funding is advancing a Northwestern priority and spurring brilliant innovation with societal impact. We are profoundly grateful to the Ryan Family for their support.”

Round 2 principal investigators and projects

Timothy L. Sita, assistant professor of radiation oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine

This project will develop advanced diagnostics and treatments for glioblastoma. It will use electrical modulation to activate Brigimadlin, a promising therapeutic. This research combines innovative diagnostic devices with novel therapeutic approaches to address one of the most aggressive brain cancers.

Bharath Chandrasekaran, the Ralph Jean Sundin Endowed Professor, School of Communication; co-PI’s Sumit Dhar, the Hugh Knowles Chair in Hearing Sciences, School of Communication; and Jacie McHaney, research assistant professor, School of Communication

This project aims to diagnose hidden hearing loss accurately. It uses cutting-edge AI and data analytics to address a critical unmet need in hearing health diagnostics.

Karan Ahuja, professor of computer science, McCormick School of Engineering

This proposal intends to develop scalable, accessible motion-capture technology to revolutionize consumer health monitoring. The work aims to make high-quality motion tracking affordable and broadly available, unlocking next-generation health applications.

Joseph R. Leventhal, the Fowler McCormick Professor of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine; co-PI’s: James M. Mathew, research professor of surgery, and Hong Xu, research associate professor of surgery (both from Feinberg School of Medicine)

This research project aims to improve organ transplant outcomes by inducing delayed immune tolerance using regulatory T cells. It builds on pioneering Phase 1 trials to explore a first-of-its-kind approach to long-term transplant success.

Aline Martin, associate professor of medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine; co-PI: Nicolae Valentin David, the Frank Krumlovsky, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine

This research effort will develop a therapeutic method to target mineral bone disorders in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Some 700 million CKD patients globally experience severe bone loss during treatment, which can lead to fracture if treatment is not effective. This project addresses a critical complication of kidney disease and potentially improves a patient’s quality of life.

William A. Muller, the Janardan K. Reddy Professor of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine; co-PI’s: Daniel C. Lee, professor of medicine, and David Sullivan, research associate professor (both from Feinberg School of Medicine)

Myocardial infarction impacts millions of people each year, and while the standard-of-care treatment saves lives, it also causes significant side effects, including arrhythmias and congestive heart failure. This research proposal aims to create a groundbreaking drug to reduce tissue damage caused by heart attacks.

Xiaoyu Zhang, assistant professor of chemistry, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; co-PI: Jaehyuk (Jack) Choi, the Jack W. Graffin Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine

Currently, less than 15% of cancer types are suitable for immunotherapy. This research project aims to create a new paradigm using therapeutic probes to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack diverse cancer cells. The effort looks to develop a universal method with broad applicability across different types of cancer.

Gabriel J. Rocklin, assistant professor of pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine

Current drug classes cannot inhibit intracellular protein-protein interactions, leaving many therapeutic targets “undruggable.” This research will develop a platform for creating mini proteins capable of delivering therapies directly into cells. The project will open new avenues for intracellular drug delivery and overcome traditional therapeutic barriers.

A gift from the Patrick G. ’59, ’09 H and Shirley W. Ryan ’61, ’19 H (’97, ’00 P) Family created the Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund, which provides awards to successful basic research that has the potential to be commercialized and impact the world, yet falls into the gap between governmental and private sector funding.

The acceleration fund continues to help Northwestern researchers overcome the “valley of death” in translational research, enabling projects to secure further private-sector or government funding. Areas of focus include drug discovery, regenerative medicine and AI applications.

“Congratulations to all the recipients for their visionary work advancing life sciences research with the potential for significant societal and commercial impact,” said Jian Cao, associate vice president for research. “These projects highlight Northwestern’s interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation leadership, furthering its mission to transform cutting-edge research into meaningful real-world applications.”

The Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund website provides information on the March 3 deadline for submitting a proposal for the next round of funding and the expected start date for the awards. Direct inquiries can be sent to ryanrafund@northwestern.edu.