Winner of the Michael G. Wells Student Health Care Entrepreneurship Competition Named
Congratulations are extended to Travis Prest who is a member of the
laboratory of McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine faculty member Bryan Brown, PhD, research assistant professor with the Department of Bioengineering (BioE) at the University of Pittsburgh with a secondary appointment in Pitt’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. Mr. Prest won the Michael G. Wells Student Health Care Entrepreneurship Competition for his project “Neurogel.” Neurogel is an injectable product which both improves and speeds recovery of peripheral nerves following injury.
Mr. Prest was selected from a group of six highly competitive finalists who presented their ideas at the “First Look” Technology Showcase on October 1, 2014. The “First Look” Technology Showcase is an annual event hosted by the Office of Enterprise Development within the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute that provides University student innovators the opportunity to present their ideas to an audience of invited guests including investors, entrepreneurs, regional economic development representatives, local business executives, and alumni of the University. Previous Wells competition winners have progressed within the University entrepreneurial ecosystem and have received additional funding through the Center for Medical Innovation and are currently preliminary candidates in the Coulter Translational Research Partners II Program.
As a winner, Mr. Prest will receive $10,000 to help advance his technology towards commercialization. Mr. Prest was assisted in preparation of his pitch by BioE Undergraduate Mr. Dhruv Srinivasachar. Mr. Srinivasachar, as well as BioE Undergraduate Mr. Yinka Olutoye and BioE Graduate Student Mr. Samuel LoPresti, also contributed to the science behind Neurogel.