Northwestern University has awarded over $2 million to eight research projects through the Pat & Shirley Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund. The fund, now in its fourth round, is designed to support early-stage research that could lead to significant advances in life sciences and healthcare.
The Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund is a $35 million initiative created by Northwestern and the Ryan Family Foundation. Its purpose is to help bridge the gap between academic proof of concept and commercialization—a phase often referred to as the “valley of death.” Since its inception, the fund has provided $8 million for 33 projects selected from 218 proposals.
Henry S. Bienen, Northwestern’s interim president and president emeritus, said, “The Ryan Family’s visionary philanthropy has been transformative for Northwestern in so many ways — from research and academics to the student experience and athletics. We are deeply grateful for their longstanding support, which continues to propel the University forward and make an extraordinary impact.”
Eric J. Perreault, vice president for research at Northwestern, commented on the significance of this funding: “This support enables our faculty to pursue ambitious, interdisciplinary projects that are often too early-stage for traditional funding. By investing in high-risk, high-reward research, we help our investigators cross critical gaps and accelerate innovations that redefine what’s possible in patient care.”
Pat Ryan Sr., representing the Ryan Family, stated: “At the heart of every breakthrough — whether in business or science — is a culture that values creativity, collaboration and bold thinking. The Ryan Family established the Ryan Family Research Acceleration Fund to foster that spirit at Northwestern, helping researchers transform visionary ideas into real-world impact. By supporting innovation at its earliest stages, we aim to accelerate discoveries that improve lives and strengthen society.”
Among this year’s funded projects are efforts to develop new immunotherapy approaches for pancreatic cancer by targeting immune receptors; create AI-powered platforms for tumor segmentation in radiation therapy; design wearable EEG devices with artificial intelligence algorithms for detecting delirium; pioneer targeted therapies for multiple sclerosis using immunoregulatory SNAs; build wearable sensors to measure breast milk volume during feeding; test non-surgical pharmacologic therapies for hernia repair using repurposed drugs; develop tools predicting heating risk during MRI scans for patients with implants; and create RNA therapeutics aimed at reprogramming immune cells in glioblastoma treatment.
Previous recipients have already begun translating their research into commercial applications. For example, Karan Ahuja from McCormick School of Engineering developed a system using sensor fusion and edge AI that allows devices like smartphones or fitness trackers to track movement accurately without complex hardware. This technology could benefit fields such as elder care and robotics while maintaining user privacy.
Additionally, earlier awardees Dr. Brad Allen and Michael Markl from Feinberg School of Medicine are working on deep-learning methods using standard CT and MRI scans to measure aortic blood flow—potentially improving cardiovascular care for hundreds of thousands each year through their startup Third Coast Dynamics.
The next application deadline for interested researchers is March 1.
