CU Technology and Discovery News

Agami Zero breaks through with magnetic hydrogen advance

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:31:40 +0000

Agami Zero breaks through with magnetic hydrogen advance Daniel Corbin … Wed, 12/03/2025 - 12:31

Renewable And Sustainable Energy Institute—A startup team led by RASEI Fellow Oana Luca, called Agami Zero, has just secured seed funding after winning the 2025 CU Lab Venture Challenge. Their winning idea? A new way to produce hydrogen fuel more efficiently, a key mechanism for decarbonizing our energy economy.

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CU ��ý�� leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 19:04:22 +0000

CU ��ý�� leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care Daniel Corbin … Tue, 12/02/2025 - 12:04

CU ��ý�� College of Engineering & Applied Science—In 2025, CU ��ý�� celebrated its first awards from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The new agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supports transformative health and biomedical breakthroughs. ARPA-H was founded in 2022 with a mission to fast-track “high-impact solutions to society’s most challenging health problems.”

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Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. Discover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.

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Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:17:28 +0000

Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device Daniel Corbin … Wed, 11/12/2025 - 16:17

CU ��ý�� College of Engineering and Applied Science—The technology, published in the journal Arthroscopy Techniques, completely transforms arthroscopic procedures in the hip region, making them safer and more efficient than ever before.

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Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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CU ��ý�� delivers impactful research and creative work, despite federal funding uncertainty

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:40:44 +0000

CU ��ý�� delivers impactful research and creative work, despite federal funding uncertainty Daniel Corbin … Fri, 10/31/2025 - 12:40

��ý�� researchers continued to deliver meaningful, positive outcomes in the university's public research mission through strong results in fiscal year 2024–25. Highlights of their work include big innovations in quantum technology, improving our understanding of space weather and enhancing environmental resiliency.

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The Venture Partners Impact

FY 2023-24 was another tremendous year for innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado. University researchers, inventors and creators began working with Venture Partners at CU ��ý�� to advance 144 breakthrough innovations, and 36 CU startups were launched through Venture Partners based on university discoveries. These ventures spanned the breadth of CU's research expertise, with innovations in sustainability, biosciences, quantum science, optics and aerospace, to name a few.

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$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 22:18:03 +0000

$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/27/2025 - 16:18

Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $755,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU's entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

Interested in the 2026 LVC?

LVC supports CU projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support.

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Through LVC, top innovators from CU ��ý��, Denver and Colorado Springs compete for grants to fund projects that address a commercial need, have a clear path to a compelling market and have strong scientific support. The LVC grants are funded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program, as well as Venture Partners at CU ��ý�� and the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund. Six awards were granted this year, and the funding goes directly to CU labs to further develop their innovations.

This culminating event for these groundbreaking teams showcased the university’s initiative to support innovators from discovery to economic success. LVC is run by Venture Partners at CU ��ý��, the university’s commercialization arm and central resource for researchers who wish to translate their work into impactful business and social ventures. As part of the LVC program, all the competitors worked with Venture Partners to protect their innovations and practice their funding pitches for business audiences. LVC awardees will continue to work and collaborate with Venture Partners on their path to commercialization.

“At this early stage, funding is essential, but can be a challenge to obtain,“ said Joshua Bennett, director of LVC and assistant director of licensing at Venture Partners. “All of these teams have promising innovations ready to launch new businesses. LVC is a unique opportunity for those innovators to receive that vital funding, and we’re proud to work with the State of Colorado to make it happen.”

To date, LVC has funded over 123 projects through 70 new deep-tech startup companies; collectively, these companies have raised over $349 million in follow-on financing.

Applications for the next LVC will open in July 2026.

This year’s LVC was additionally made possible by Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP, Holland & Hart LLC, Johnson & Johnson, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Paralex

Photo Credit: TJ Zirkman

2025 Physical Sciences Winners

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis (MEE) improves hydrogen generation efficiency by enhancing bubble release and energy transfer. Adapted from space technology, MEE offers scalable, cost-effective clean hydrogen for transportation, industry and off-grid power. The team has formed a startup, Agami Zero, to bring their innovation to market.

Oana Luca (CU ��ý�� Chemistry), PI
Ankur Gupta (CU ��ý�� Chemical and Biological Engineering), Co-PI
Hunter Koltunski (Student: CU ��ý�� Chemistry), Scientific Lead
Richard Noble (CU ��ý�� Chemical and Biological Engineering), Scientific Advisor
Jafar Makrani, Co-Founder and CEO/CPO
Lyle Antieau III, Co-Founder and CTO/COO

$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

Our Gen-III low-SWaP frequency comb, built on thin-film lithium niobate nanophotonics, delivers octave-spanning spectra with ultra-low power. Compact, scalable and robust, it enables deployable quantum clocks, sensors and communication systems beyond the lab. The team has formed a startup, Chi3 Optics, to bring their innovation to market.

Scott A. Diddams (CU ��ý�� Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), PI
Tsung-Han Wu (Postdoc: CU ��ý�� Electrical, Computer & Energy Engineering), Founder, CEO
Peter Chang, CTO
Nathan Brooks, Principal Scientist

$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

A modular photo-thermo-catalysis device that rapidly activates a wide range of stubborn chemical bonds, enabling carbon-free fuel production at high reaction rates and the destruction of toxic PFAS in water, while reducing energy use and operating costs. The team has formed a startup, Synergia, to bring their innovation to market.

Longji Cui (CU ��ý�� Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), PI
Dishan Chooi (Student: CU ��ý�� Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Sarang Gosavi (Student: CU ��ý�� Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Technical Co-Lead
Yunxuan Zhu (Postdoc: CU ��ý�� Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), Director of R&D
Karen Crofton (CU ��ý�� College of Engineering and Applied Science), Advisor

2025 Biosciences Winners

$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

Pythons exhibit dramatic metabolic plasticity with feeding, increasing organ size and activity by up to 40% after consuming large prey. From this biology, the team discovered a novel feeding-induced metabolite that was upregulated by 1,000-fold and acts as a natural appetite suppressant through modulating satiety. The team has formed a startup, Arkana Therapeutics, to bring their innovation to market.

Leslie Leinwand (CU ��ý�� Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Thomas Martin (Postdoc: CU ��ý�� Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), CSO
Jack Gugel, CEO
Yuxiao Tan (Postdoc: CU ��ý�� Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Co-Founder

$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

Enabled by recent advances in AI-driven protein design, minibinders are being engineered to target IL-18, a key driver of sepsis. These compact, stable proteins penetrate tissues efficiently and can be precisely dosed to avoid prolonged immune suppression, offering a next-generation therapeutic for sepsis. The team has formed a startup, iMembrane Therapeutics, to bring their innovation to market.

Jingshi Shen (CU ��ý�� Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), PI
Suzhao Li (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), President
Charles Dinarello (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

DuraPatch provides rapid closure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks during neurosurgery, eliminating the need for sutures. Engineered with high-resolution 3D printing and advanced biomaterials, DuraPatch strongly adheres to wet tissues to create a watertight seal while supporting and promoting healing. The team has founded a startup, Entangl3d, to bring their innovation to market.

Matt Davidson (CU ��ý�� BioFrontiers Institute), CEO and Founder
Jason Burdick (CU ��ý�� Chemical and Biological Engineering and BioFrontiers Institute) Co-Founder, PI
Peter Lennarson (CU Anschutz Medical Campus), Advisor

Eleven teams of University of Colorado faculty, researchers and graduate student innovators competed for a combined $755,000 in startup funding grants in this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC). Judges from CU's entrepreneurial network heard Shark-Tank-style pitches across two nights, one for innovations in biosciences and another for physical sciences and engineering.

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��ý�� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 17:00:48 +0000

��ý�� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging Daniel Corbin … Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:00

News-Medical.Net—��ý�� researchers have developed a new miniature laser that could enable smaller, cheaper and more powerful biomedical imaging systems. The innovation advances chip-based frequency comb technology, paving the way for improved optical tools that could transform diagnostics and medical research.

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New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 22:25:53 +0000

New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials Daniel Corbin … Mon, 10/13/2025 - 16:25

EurekaAlert!—A new open-source tool is reshaping how engineers design multi-material objects. Charles Wade, a PhD student in the ��ý�� Department of Computer Science, has created a design system software package that uses functions and code to map not just shapes but also where different materials belong in a 3D object.

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Partnering Opportunities for CU Technologies

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A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 20:16:34 +0000

A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care Daniel Corbin … Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:16

CU ��ý�� Today—��ý�� researchers led by Professors Christopher Bowman and Kristi Anseth have received up to $5.8 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to develop a new wound treatment that temporarily halts cellular activity to prevent tissue damage. Inspired by the biostasis of tardigrades, the light-activated hydrogel could one day protect and preserve tissue in burns, frostbite and battlefield injuries.

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Partnering Opportunities for CU Bioscience Technologies

Biosciences are crucial for advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care. At the University of Colorado, cutting-edge research in these fields is driving significant breakthroughs. The university's advanced facilities and collaborative environment enable researchers to delve into areas such as molecular medicine, regenerative therapies and personalized healthcare. By translating scientific discoveries into innovative treatments and technologies, CU is at the forefront of improving health outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for people around the world.

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Watch: Mapping neural activity to detect brain disorders

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:47:54 +0000

Watch: Mapping neural activity to detect brain disorders Daniel Corbin … Thu, 09/25/2025 - 12:47

CUbit Quantum Initiative—Svenja Knappe (CU ��ý�� Mechanical Engineering) is collaborating with scientists from the CU Anschutz Medical Campus to advance the use of quantum sensors into real-world health applications. These quantum sensors could aid in more effective diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of brain disorders.

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AI helps spot 1,000 “questionable” journals

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:55:44 +0000

AI helps spot 1,000 “questionable” journals Daniel Corbin … Wed, 09/24/2025 - 12:55

Daniel Acuña, a CU ��ý�� computer scientist and founder of ReviewerZero, led development of an AI tool that analyzed ~15,200 open-access journals and flagged roughly 1,400 as potentially problematic, with over 1,000 confirmed to exhibit questionable publishing practices.

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The University of Colorado Connection

ReviewerZero AI, founded by Daniel Acuña (CU ��ý�� Computer Science) in 2023, is working with publishers to deploy an artificial intelligence technology suite, including tools to detect plagiarism and statistical inconsistencies, to ensure research integrity in scientific publications. The company won the 2023 Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), receiving a $125,000 grant from Venture Partners at CU ��ý�� and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) Advanced Industries Program.

View the ReviewerZero Profile

Technology Networks—Daniel Acuña, a CU ��ý�� computer scientist and founder of CU ��ý�� startup ReviewerZero, led development of an AI tool that analyzed ~15,200 open-access journals and flagged roughly 1,400 as potentially problematic, with over 1,000 confirmed to exhibit questionable publishing practices.

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CU Technology and Discovery News

Agami Zero breaks through with magnetic hydrogen advance

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CU ������ý���� leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care

Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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Researchers redefine hip arthroscopy with breakthrough surgical device

Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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CU ������ý���� delivers impactful research and creative work, despite federal funding uncertainty

The Venture Partners Impact

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$755,000 awarded to University of Colorado innovators to advance their discoveries

2025 Physical Sciences Winners

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H2 Production

$125,000—Low SWaP Frequency Comb for Quantum applications

$125,000—Novel Synergistic Catalysis for Clean Water and Fuel

2025 Biosciences Winners

$127,500—Metabolite-Based Therapeutics for Obesity

$125,000—Computationally Designed IL-18 binders to Treat Sepsis

$125,000—Bioadhesive Patches That Seal Where Sutures Fail

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������ý���� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging

Partnering Opportunities with CU Technologies

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New open-source software allows for efficient 3D printing with multiple materials

Partnering Opportunities for CU Technologies

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A better band-aid: New 'suspended animation' technology could revolutionize wound care

Partnering Opportunities for CU Bioscience Technologies

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Watch: Mapping neural activity to detect brain disorders

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AI helps spot 1,000 “questionable” journals

The University of Colorado Connection

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CU ��ý�� leading $45M in ARPA-H grants for self-healing joints, wound care

CU ��ý�� delivers impactful research and creative work, despite federal funding uncertainty

$127,500—Magnetically Enhanced Electrolysis for H₂ Production

��ý�� researchers advance miniature laser technology for biomedical imaging