Success Stories
Maria Siemionow
Dr. Maria Siemionow, Professor in the Department of Orthopedics at UIC and Founder of Dystrogen Therapeutics, discusses the pioneering use of chimeric cells to develop a universal therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare and deadly disease. The video highlights how this approach has led to improvements in patients’ symptoms, including wheelchair-bound boys, addressing critical cardiac and functional health issues. It also showcases the role of UIC’s Office of Technology Management in helping translate breakthroughs from lab research to life-saving therapies.
David Carley
Dr. David Carley, Professor of Physiology at UIC, discusses his groundbreaking research on sleep-related breathing disorders in a new video. He explains how his work uncovered neurochemical pathways that could transform the pharmaceutical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The video highlights how UIC research, supported by the Office of Technology Management, is moving from lab discovery to real-world impact for patients worldwide.
Sandeep Jain
Dr. Sandeep Jain, B.A. Field Professor, Director at the Dry Eye & Ocular GVHD Clinic, and Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Selagine, discovered inflammatory, spider-like DNA webs on the eye’s surface. This breakthrough led to development of a novel therapy for severe ocular surface diseases. The video highlights how this discovery also led to the founding of Selagine in 2020, a company focused on targeting severe ocular surface disease in patients with complex medical histories. It showcases the role of UIC’s Office of Technology Management in patenting, funding, and commercializing the therapy, which is now preparing for human clinical trials.
Vikas Berry
Dr. Vikas Berry, Professor and Department Head in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has created a groundbreaking air-sensing technology capable of detecting viruses such as COVID-19, RSV, and influenza directly from the air. In this video, he shares how this innovation — developed over years of research — is now being transformed into a real-world product with the support of the Office of Technology Management. The story highlights how UIC science is making the leap from laboratory discovery to practical solution, helping protect communities from invisible airborne threats.