2024 Award Winners
The projects or startups that have been awarded the Attractive Innovation Project award by UU Innovation are regularly presented here.
Mesenkia Therapeutics
Mesenkia Therapeutics is working to develop a new biological drug targeting glioblastoma – the most common type of malignant brain tumour in adults. The drug is based on a fully humanised antibody, designed to function effectively in the human body while reducing the risk of unwanted immune reactions.
The project originates from a long-standing research collaboration between Carl-Henrik Heldin and Bengt Westermark at Uppsala University, together with two colleagues from the University of Tokyo. Together, they have developed a treatment strategy that targets key signalling pathways in cancer cells – an approach that may increase the likelihood of creating an effective therapy.
The team behind Mesenkia includes both the scientific innovators and individuals with extensive experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. The development is currently in the preclinical phase. The focus now is on scaling up antibody production, conducting safety studies, and preparing for clinical trials planned to begin in 2027. In parallel, efforts are underway to secure continued funding for the next stages of development. Uppsala University’s holding company, UU Invest AB, has become a shareholder in the company to support its commercialisation.
Professors Bengt Westermark (left) and Carl-Henrik Heldin, two of the scientific pioneers behind Mesenkia, pictured with CEO Moa Fransson and clinical trials expert Cecilia Drakskog.
Minimalistic hydrogenases
This innovative project focuses on two enzymes, referred to as minimalist and ultraminimalist hydrogenases, which have been isolated and characterised by a research team at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström. These enzymes produce hydrogen gas, which is utilised in numerous industrial processes, such as fertiliser and petroleum production, as well as in transportation.
The advantage of the enzymes identified by the researchers lies in their minimal size, which, compared to larger variants, allows for more efficient optimisation through design and evolution. The team, comprising Gustav Berggren, Henrik Land, and Princess Cabotaje, has transferred the discovery to Monash University, which has applied for a patent and will drive the commercialisation forward.
The team comprising Research Assistant Princess Cabotaje, Professor Gustav Berggren, and Associate Senior Lecturer Henrik Land.
New method for treating patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Florim Delijaj's research could provide patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) access to a new treatment option. OSA is a sleep disorder characterised by repeated breathing interruptions during the night, significantly impacting quality of life. Many patients suffering from OSA struggle to adhere to current treatments due to side effects or discomfort, limiting their ability to benefit from them. This patient group currently lacks effective treatment, and the new method could be a promising alternative.
Florim Delijaj is the Chief Medical Officer in Region Sörmland and a PhD student in general practice at the Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences at Uppsala University. His research findings have attracted the interest of a company in the US, which is now considering developing a new medical device for the treatment of OSA.
Florim Delijaj hopes that his research findings will pave the way for the development of a more effective treatment method for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Duck Technologies
Jacinto Sá, a professor at the Department of Chemistry – Ångström, is pioneering an innovative, transparent coating for window glass that can be applied to existing windows. This coating effectively blocks the wavelengths in solar radiation responsible for most indoor heat, thereby reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling. The technology aims to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings and vehicles without compromising architectural freedom or altering their current aesthetics.
The next step involves conducting larger-scale studies to demonstrate the impact on energy savings and indoor climate. Jacinto Sá has founded Duck Technologies to develop and license manufacturing processes for this and other new coatings, with financial support from UU Invest to facilitate commercialisation.
Professor Jacinto Sá, founder of Duck Technologies, and innovator of the transparent window coating technology.
SPLAT
Sample preparation for large-scale DNA sequencing, meaning the process of reading DNA, can significantly impact the quality of the data generated. A new library preparation method, called SPLAT (SPlinted Ligation Adapter Tagging), has been developed and patented by researchers Amanda Raine and Jessica Nordlund at SciLifeLab’s Genomics platform within the Department of Medical Sciences.
This method, which offers unprecedented flexibility and precision in DNA sample sequencing, has now been introduced to the market by a U.S.-based company. Enhanced DNA sequencing capabilities benefit research across various fields, including medical research, and may, in the long run, also improve healthcare outcomes.
Jessica Nordlund and Amanda Raine, developers of the patented SPLAT method, which enhances precision and flexibility in DNA sequencing.
SoundSim360
Ken Mattsson, Professor at the Department of Information Technology at Uppsala University, has spent 25 years researching advanced numerical algorithms. Together with his research colleague Gustav Eriksson, he has developed SoundSim360, an advanced computational model for sound simulation. By carefully accounting for physical factors such as atmospheric conditions and terrain characteristics, the model can precisely simulate sound propagation over large areas, including low-frequency sounds like infrasound.
There are many potential applications for this technology, such as in wind farms, transport infrastructure, impulse noise pollution, and indoor acoustics. The current goal is to commercialise the technology, and with support from UU Invest AB, the project is poised to take important steps toward the market.
Ken Mattsson and Gustav Eriksson have developed SoundSim360, an advanced sound simulation tool that uses cutting-edge numerical methods to accurately predict sound propagation over large areas.
HuMIX TEER
A research team from the Department of Materials Science at Uppsala University, consisting of Professor Maria Tenje, researchers Laurent Barbe and Sofia Johansson, and PhD student Gabriel Werr, has developed HuMIX TEER in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Luxembourg. This innovative technology enables detailed studies of gut microbial interactions, offering valuable insights for the development of new drugs and nutritional supplements.
HuMIX TEER is based on a microfluidics model with integrated flexible electrodes, allowing real-time measurement of gut barrier integrity. The model mimics the interactions between human cells and microorganisms in the gut. The technology is patent pending, and the Uppsala team has transferred its share of the patent application to the University of Luxembourg, which is now exploring commercialisation opportunities.
Meet the team behind HuMIX TEER, pioneering real-time studies of gut microbial interactions for future drug and supplement development – Gabriel Werr, Maria Tenje, Laurent Barbe and Sofia Johansson.
AVulotion
Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with subsequent heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalisation and death in the Western world. In Sweden, nearly 18 000 people per year suffer from AMI, including almost 6 000 from STEMI – a condition typically involving a complete blockage of a coronary artery. A major issue with the current standard treatment for STEMI patients is that it can cause additional damage to heart tissue, increasing the risk of complications such as heart failure.
In close cooperation between research and clinical practice, Karl-Henrik Grinnemo, Sergey Rodin, and Oscar Simonson at the Department of Surgical Sciences have developed a concept to generate extracellular vesicles (CARMEV) that are immunomodulatory and have proven effective in preventing heart failure after myocardial infarction and in other severe inflammatory conditions. This makes CARMEV the first biological product capable of preventing damage caused by the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Supported by an investment from UU Invest AB, the research team has founded the company AVulotion to scale up the production of CARMEV, in collaboration with NorthX Biologics. Their goal is to create a standard medication for the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction.
In close cooperation between research and clinical practice, Sergey Rodin, Karl-Henrik Grinnemo, and Oscar Simonson at the Department of Surgical Sciences have developed CARMEV and founded the company AVulotion to pursue their goal of creating a standard medication for the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction.
SeisMove
The demand for precise ground surveys in urban environments has risen due to significant investments in advanced infrastructure projects such as tunneling. Concurrently, seismic surveys in cities, tunnels, and mines face particular challenges related to electrical noise and logistical constraints. To enhance measurements in these challenging settings, Professor Alireza Malehmir and his team from the Department of Earth Sciences have developed a seismic landstreamer. This innovative solution features numerous sensors mounted on sleds that can be connected and towed, for instance, behind a vehicle, often a seismic source.
The landstreamer has been tested in various infrastructure projects, including tunneling, CO2 storage, and mining environments. The results indicate significant potential, attracting substantial global interest and leading to commercial sales. The landstreamer incorporates patented technology and is registered under the SeisMove trademark.
Alireza Malehmir (center) with colleagues Grzegorz Paletko and Magdalena Markovic, who have been involved in the development and first commercial sale of SeisMove.
Phenaros Pharmaceuticals
Jordi Carreras Puigvert and Ola Spjuth, from the Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, have devised a screening method for potential drugs. By integrating artificial intelligence with phenomics, which involves large-scale morphological profiling, and automation, this approach can furnish crucial insights into the promise of new drug candidates from an early stage. Consequently, it holds the promise of accelerating the identification and advancement of genuinely promising drug candidates for pharmaceutical companies, thereby saving valuable time and resources.
The research team has established Phenaros Pharmaceuticals AB, which secured its initial investment through Connect Uppsala's network and also achieved its first sale. With the objective of expediting and ensuring the safety of drug development, the team is actively exploring the most viable routes to market.
Ola Spjuth and Jordi Carreras Puigvert have established Phenaros Pharmaceuticals AB to commercialise their promising screening method for potential drugs.
Lea Cares
Lea Cares is commercialising an innovative technology, BAM Technology, that enables the release of the minerals silicon and calcium locally, resulting in increased collagen growth that can contribute to stronger hair, skin and nails. The company's first product is a nail oil, which was launched in 2023. More cosmetic products are in development and the company also sees opportunities for more application areas. Earlier this year, Lea Cares received a patent for its bioactive mineral technology in Europe and has received seed investment through Linnéa Capital and attracted angel capital.
The inventors of the technology, and founders of Lea Cares, are Viktoria Engqvist, Master of Science in Pharmacy, and Håkan Engqvist, Professor of Applied Materials Science at Uppsala University.
Håkan Engqvist and Viktoria Engqvist are the founders of Lea Cares AB.