Congratulations to this year’s standout innovators recognized at the 2026 Chancellor’s Innovation Awards—two teams translating bold ideas into meaningful impact.
Startup of the Year: Founded by Daniel Wangpraseurt, Hybrid Reefs is advancing a new model for coral restoration.
Student/Alumni Innovator of the Year: Carter Palmer, PhD '23 is tackling one of medicine’s most complex challenges through Third Element Bio.
|
|
|
|
Meet 2026 Startup of the Year Awardee Daniel Wangpraseurt of Hybrid Reefs |
|
|
|
Meet 2026 Student/Alumni Innovator of the Year Carter Palmer, PhD '23 |
|
|
|
| Meet the 2026 UC San Diego Chancellor’s Innovation Award Recipients |
|
|
|
|
UC San Diego Team Launches Free ‘Digital Twin’ for End-to-End Testing of Applications over Wireless |
|
|
|
Find Out What's Happening in National Security Innovation
|
Brought to you by the FORGE, get all your national security innovation news here!
|
|
|
|
i4NS Student Showcase 6/1 |
Join The FORGE and i4NS Student Teams to celebrate the completion of their journey learning about and solving our nation’s emerging problems.
The i4NS Student Showcase is the culminating event highlighting the learning achievements of the student teams participating in the Innovating for National Security (i4NS) Program. Learn more about i4NS, what the student teams set out to solve, and what progress they’ve made during their entrepreneurship journey with their National Security partners.
|
|
|
|
| Application Granted: November 25, 2025
Inventors: Professor Michael Yip
Radiologists use imaging tools like CT scans to guide medical instruments during procedures such as biopsies or tumor treatment. Doing this by hand is difficult: the doctor has to stop the scan, move the needle, then scan again to check the position while trying to minimize the patient's radiation exposure. Researchers at UCSD led by Prof. Michael Yip developed the CT Robot and Needle Emplacer (CRANE) system to solve these problems by positioning the needle automatically inside the scanner, providing precise control over movements. The robotic system's control and sensing modules stay outside the scanner, which allows the doctor to work ergonomically, get realtime feedback on the needle’s location, perform precise adjustments to the needle position, and reduce the patient’s radiation exposure.
Precision controls are built into the system for patient safety and sub-millimeter positioning accuracy. Software is used to plan the safest, most accurate path for the needle, automatically aligning the robot arm with CT images. This technology has been licensed to Air Surgical, a startup company led by co-inventor Dimitri Schreiber, PhD. Air Surgical has participated in UCSD’s NSF I-Corps and the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur MedTech Accelerator.
|
|
|
|
|
The San Diego chapter of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (SoPE) is launching its first annual AI Hackathon as the chapter’s flagship “comeback” event. Held on May 30, the half‐day, in‐person gathering will bring physicians, engineers, and students together to turn clinical ideas into working prototypes in under two hours, showcasing the practical power of modern AI tooling in healthcare.
|
|
|
|
| OUP Webinar - Exploring Venture Debt 06/03 |
Join OUP (Osage University Partners) on June 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. via Zoom for an insightful discussion with leaders from Banc of California and Western Alliance Bank on how venture debt works and when it can be a strategic financing option for startups emerging from academic institutions. The panel will unpack how venture debt differs from equity and traditional financing, when it makes sense in a startup’s lifecycle, and how lenders evaluate early-stage, venture-backed companies, especially those rooted in university research and innovation.
|
|
|
|
|
2026 Cell and Gene Therapies Series
Date: May 21 – June 18: Every Thursday,
Time: 12 -1 p.m. PT
Location: Virtual
Course Schedule for MAY
- May 21 – Crafting Strong Patent Strategies for Cell and Gene Therapies
- May 28 – From Lab to License: IP Commercialization
|
|
|
|
| Register for StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Information Sessions |
|
|
|
|
The Ninth Annual SDIC Innovation Showcase is back on Wednesday, June 10 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m, bringing together the region’s most groundbreaking startups and innovations. More than 30 early-stage companies will pitch live, with Life Science innovators competing for a coveted Golden Ticket sponsored by BioLabs San Diego. Early Bird registration ends May 1st.
|
|
|
|
| StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator Application |
Applications for the 2026 StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator fall program are now open and will close on June 21st!
|
|
|
|
| NSF I-Corps Aspire - Transition Your Research from Lab to Market
|
Looking to bring your research to fruition? Join the I-Corps Aspire Cohort. This fast-paced, virtual program introduces the fundamentals of customer discovery, helping academic innovators assess problem-solution fit in a short, structured format. Multiple dates available! Learn the fundamentals and take the first steps toward SBIR eligibility and a $50,000 National I-Corps grant.
|
|
|
|
| Get Help with Your Clinical Studies from CTSS |
The Clinical Trial Support Service(CTSS) team at Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute (ACTRI) interacts closely with UC San Diego investigators to provide quality regulatory and project management services that support the planning, implementation and completion of clinical studies. See how they can help you!
|
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
9500 Gilman Dr | San Diego, CA 92093-0910 US
|
| |
| This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
|
|
