Stimulating innovation in biomedicine

Neuromuscular disorders are a group of conditions that impair the function of muscles, nerves, or the neuromuscular junction, leading to weakness, loss of coordination, and progressive muscle degeneration. From the elderly to veterans who have been injured in the line of duty, the impact of these disorders is felt not only by the individuals, but also by caretakers and families of those affected. 

Materials science and engineering doctoral candidate Sam Gershanok hopes his research will advance the treatment of these disorders through bioelectric medical devices. His start-up company, StimGen, is leveraging materials science and biomedical sensing technologies in order to deliver medical devices that can enhance the quality of life for people with neuromuscular conditions.

The innovations that Gershanok seeks to develop have been further supported through the Innovation Commercialization Fellowship awarded by the Carnegie Mellon University Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. The fellowship program aims to accelerate the process of commercializing university research by fostering entrepreneurship among graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants as they work with faculty investigators to conduct research, solve problems, and innovate. 

The need for the technologies that Gershanok is developing is timely as the aging global population increases and the prevalence of these disorders has become a growing public health concern.

“Our research so far has been geared toward developing a platform that uses electrical stimulation to regenerate muscle and enhance function after an intense injury,” said Gershanok.

MSE professors at CMU are very open to fostering entrepreneurial spirit

Sam Gershanok, MSE doctoral candidate

Over the course of his academic career at CMU, Gershanok has benefited from the collaborative nature of departments, particularly as his work brings together the materials science and biomedical engineering disciplines. Working in the research group of professor Tzahi Cohen-Karni has provided opportunities for him to extend the application of his research on volumetric muscle loss to his start-up, while also utilizing the expertise of group members. 

“The MSE professors at CMU are very open to fostering entrepreneurial spirit and allow students to pursue their ideas alongside their research,” he said. 

Fellow materials science Ph.D. candidate Liyang Wang has also played a significant role in facilitating chemical sensing techniques that have been vital to the project.

Similar to the cooperation afforded among academic departments, the synergy of resources available at the University has been impactful Gershanok has progressed through the fellowship. 

“The resources CMU offers from the Swartz Center and beyond are truly significant,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity to gain mentorship from numerous successful inventors and I can leverage the experience and expertise to advance my work.” 

Gershanok has also benefited from the support offered by the Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation (CTTEC), as they have provided guidance on licensing and incorporation of his product. 

As Gershanok anticipates defending his thesis this spring, he looks forward to the next steps in his entrepreneurial endeavors. He intends to seek funding through the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program to continue conducting his research at CMU after he graduates.