Yale Life Science PitchFest 2025 Breaks Records in Attendance and Awards
From early pitches featuring new ways to target tumors to generative AI writing "sentences of the cell" to new ventures built on novel biology, the 2025 Yale Life Science PitchFest highlighted Yale’s most promising life science discoveries and translational research. Thirty-three faculty-led teams presented new technologies for the Blavatnik Fund's consideration, complemented by 16 ePosters from Blavatnik associated faculty-founded startup companies and emerging technologies, demonstrating the depth and momentum of New Haven’s rapidly expanding life sciences ecosystem.
Held on December 4, 2025, at 101 College Street, PitchFest once again showcased the semifinalists for the Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale, the University’s life sciences accelerator supporting the translation of groundbreaking research into new healthcare solutions.
This year’s event drew over 630 attendees, including Yale researchers, biotechnology entrepreneurs, industry partners, and healthcare investors—marking PitchFest’s largest audience to date.
Driving Innovation Through the Blavatnik Fund
“PitchFest and the Blavatnik Fund continue to fuel the translation of Yale life sciences discoveries into real-world impact,” said Morag Grassie, director of the Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale. “We celebrate the dedication, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of our faculty innovators.”
The Yale Life Sciences PitchFest serves as the semifinals for The Blavatnik Fund for Innovation at Yale. Over the last decade the Fund has supported 98 projects, resulting in 47 ventures that have collectively raised over $486 million, many headquartered in New Haven.
Congratulations to the 2025 Yale Life Science PitchFest live pitch winners, award support courtesy of Shipman & Goodwin:
FIRST PLACE
Whitney Besse, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Nephrology)
Project: PKD1 UORF-Blocking ASOs as Therapy for ADPKD
SECOND PLACE
David Pitt, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology
Project: AstroScope: A Novel Neurodiagnostic Platform
AUDIENCE CHOICE
Luisa Escobar-Hoyos, MSc, PhD, Assistant Professor of Therapeutic Radiology
Project: Mimetika
William Damsky, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Dermatopathology
Project: Personalizing Treatment Selection For Inflammatory Skin Disease
Eric Song, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor Adjunct of Ophthalmology & Visual Science and Immunobiology
Project: Treating CNS Aging Through Meningeal Lymphatic Rejuvenation
Ellen F. Foxman, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Immunobiology
Project: VirusCheck: Rapid Screening For Respiratory Virus Infection
GenScript Awards
GenScript supported innovative life science research at Yale through in-kind research services valued in total $46,000. Seven winners received $5,000-$10,000 in GenScript research services and products spanning DNA synthesis, protein expression, cell and gene editing reagents, antibody generation, peptide services, instruments, and other enabling technologies. “GenScript is proud to partner with Yale’s innovators,” said Ray Chen, President of GenScript Life Science Group. “We’re committed to empowering researchers as they explore new possibilities and move their science forward.”
Samuel Katz, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pathology
Project: Nanobody MET CAR For Solid Tumors
Antonio Giraldez, PhD, Fergus F. Wallace Professor of Genetics
Company: RESA
Austin Draycott, PhD, Cofounder
Company: Cloverleaf
Zaira Ianniello, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate, Yale
Company: Altera
Roel Verhaak, PhD, Harvey and Kate Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery
Project: Developing an ADC for Treatment of Glioma
Sreeganga Chandra, PhD, Professor of Neurology & Neuroscience
Project: Development of a Novel, Phosphospecific Alpha-Synuclein Antibody as a Therapeutic for MSA
Farren Isaacs, PhD, Professor of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
Project: Biosynthesis of Therapeutic GLP-1 Peptides
Connecticut Innovations Awards
Connecticut Innovations, the state’s strategic venture capital arm, and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for innovative, growing companies in Connecticut, committed $500,000 to three advanced Blavatnik-backed projects. These awards support high-potential Yale technologies that demonstrate strong commercial promise and are well-positioned for further development and investment.
QwertyBio
Daryl Klein, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Company: QwertyBio develops new types of biologics, coded from structure, to target hard-to-treat cancers.
St4te Therapeutics
Robert Williams, PhD, Co-founder
Company: St4te Therapeutics is developing oral small molecule therapies that synergize with nutrient-stimulated hormones for the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases.
Rho Bio
Jennifer Beecham, Co-Founder
Company: Rho Bio is addressing vascular aging through reinvigoration of the lymphatic system with a novel protein therapy
BioCT Holiday Party & Entrepreneur of the Year
The 2025 Yale Life Science PitchFest culminated in a celebration of Connecticut’s thriving biotech ecosystem with the BioCT annual holiday party, where Reid Waldman, CEO, Veradermics, a late clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company based in New Haven. This prestigious award, established in 2013 by BioCT and Shipman & Goodwin LLP, recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs driving innovation across Connecticut’s life sciences sector. The holiday party, attended by over 300 life science executives, marked a fitting conclusion to a day that spotlighted Yale faculty innovators and celebrated at 101 College Street life sciences building, solidifying New Haven’s position as a premier life sciences hub.
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.