Yale University has recognized eleven faculty innovators with the 2025 Yale Faculty Innovation Awards for translating breakthrough research into ventures that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. These academic founders are transforming discoveries made in Yale labs into technologies that improve human health, advance sustainability, and shape the future of science and society.

Spanning AI-powered drug discovery and precision health, novel therapeutics for neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, advanced materials and microLED engineering, and next-generation tools for molecular imaging and genomic privacy, this year’s awardees exemplify how Yale research drives real-world impact.

The annual Yale Faculty Innovation Awards honor faculty whose inventions were licensed to startup companies during fiscal year 2025, underscoring Yale’s growing culture of entrepreneurship and translational excellence.
 

“Yale’s strength lies in the power of ideas to change the world,” said Yale President Maurie McInnis. “Our faculty innovators are proving that every discovery holds the potential to create meaningful impact. Through their ventures, they are extending Yale’s reach far beyond campus—into industries, communities, and lives across the nation and around the globe.”

The awardees were recognized on November 10 during a ceremony with Yale President Maurie McInnis, Provost Scott Strobel, and the Deans of the schools of Medicine, Engineering, and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Congratulations to this year’s awardees: 

Victor Batista

John Gamble Kirkwood Professor of Chemistry 
SynovAI Inc.: Accelerating the future of synthetic chemistry with the power of AI.

Jason Cai

Associate Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and of Pharmacology 
Synvest Imaging Inc.: Developing novel molecular imaging agents to advance early detection and personalized treatment.

Craig Crews

John C. Malone Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacology 
Quarry Thera: Advancing the next generation of proximity-induced therapeutics based on molecular glues.

Jon Ellman

Eugene Higgins Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Pharmacology 
Transneural Therapeutics: Transforming the treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases with novel neuroplastogens.

Richard Flavell

Sterling Professor of Immunobiology 
Plythera: Transforming scleroderma care with a novel antibody targeting the root cause of fibrosis.

Mark Gerstein

Albert L. Williams Professor of Biomedical Informatics and Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, of Computer Science, and of Statistics & Data Science 
Mixolydian: Advancing DNA analysis and privacy protection with cutting-edge data-science approaches.

Jung Han

William A. Norton Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering 
Ingantec: Breakthrough technology that solves the material and engineering challenges of microLED  

Art Horwich

Professor Emeritus of Genetics 
AWM Bio: Developing therapies that protect neurons and slow degeneration in ALS and Parkinson’s disease.

Smita Krishnaswamy

Associate Professor of Genetics and of Computer Science 
Latent Alpha: Harnessing artificial intelligence to decode omics data and accelerate precision drug discovery.

Ian Odell

Assistant Professor of Dermatology 
Plythera: Transforming scleroderma care with a novel antibody targeting the root cause of fibrosis.

Jason Sheltzer

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology, Stanford 
Karyoverse: Investigating the genetic mechanisms of cancer progression and developmental disorders. 

About the Faculty Innovation Awards

The Yale Faculty Innovation Awards recognize the potential to translate Yale research — from improving human health, to addressing climate change, to building the future of quantum computing — into beneficial products, services, and social ventures.  

About Yale Ventures  

Launched by Yale University in 2022, Yale Ventures seeks to foster and accelerate a vibrant entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem that increases support, resources, and opportunities for Yale’s faculty and student innovators as they translate their ideas and discoveries into new ventures that will positively impact the world's greatest challenges.