Fall 2024 Spark Fund Awardees
BioE Assistant Professor Sara Rouhanifard, Bouve/MIE Assistant Professor Max Shepherd, and MIE Assistant Professor Jeffrey Lipton are recipients of the Fall 2024 Spark Fund Awards from Northeastern’s Center for Research Innovation.
The Spark Fund is a vital program that helps bridge the gap between early-stage research at Northeastern and commercialization in industry. By providing grants of up to $50,000, the program empowers Northeastern researchers to refine their inventions, build commercially ready prototypes, generate in vivo data, and develop solutions that address industry needs. Each cycle, awardees present their projects to a panel of industry experts who evaluate their commercial viability.
Sara Rouhanifard, assistant professor of bioengineering, is tackling a key limitation in intracellular biomolecule labeling. Traditional methods require high concentrations of copper, which can harm live cells. Her project, InCu-Click, leverages a novel ligand to reduce toxicity while enabling precise and efficient intracellular labeling.
Project Title: InCu-Click: A Breakthrough Intracellular Click Chemistry Reagent
Impact:
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- Overcomes toxicity challenges in live-cell labeling
- Enables precision targeting for DNA, RNA, proteins, and other biomolecules
- Preserves cell health during labeling, improving research accuracy and outcomes
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With InCu-Click, Rouhanifard aims to transform live-cell imaging and molecular biology workflows.
Max Shepherd, assistant professor of physical therapy, human movement, and rehabilitation sciences, and mechanical and industrial engineering, is addressing the needs of over one million Americans with lower-limb amputations. His innovative prosthetic ankle adjusts its stiffness in real-time, improving comfort and functionality for users.
Project Title: A Variable Stiffness Prosthetic Ankle for Community Ambulation
Impact:
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- Dynamic stiffness adjustment enhances mobility and usability
- Reduces discomfort caused by fixed-stiffness prosthetics
- Provides a powerful yet lightweight solution for daily activities
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This AI-driven ankle represents a breakthrough in wearable robotics, offering amputees greater independence and ease of movement.
Jeffrey Lipton, assistant professor of mechanical and industrial engineering, is revolutionizing the production of custom orthotic insoles. His project, Northo, enables podiatrists to produce high-quality, customized orthotics in-house within 24 hours.
Project Title: Northo: Improving Access to Custom Orthotic Insoles
Impact:
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- Reduces the time required for custom insole production
- Increases accessibility for patients suffering from foot pain or mobility issues
- Streamlines processes for healthcare professionals
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With Northo, Lipton addresses the challenges of foot pain and mobility, improving the quality of life for millions of Americans.