$100K in grant funds to advance innovative cardiovascular technologies
CONTACT:
Jeanan Yasiri Moe
Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs
[email protected] | (608) 960-9892
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and Route 66 Ventures are pleased to announce that three projects have been selected to receive development funding through the Cardiology Challenge Grant.
The grant invited submissions for new technologies focused on novel approaches to diagnosing, treating or managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. From non-invasive treatments to AI screening options to gene therapy, these projects have the potential to improve cardiovascular health throughout Wisconsin and beyond.
“We’re thrilled to partner with WARF in advancing groundbreaking cardiovascular technologies that have the potential to transform patient care. These three selected projects represent the kind of innovative research that Route 66 Ventures is passionate about supporting – solutions that can make a meaningful difference in human health,” says Arif Sorathia, Partner at Route 66 Ventures.
The selected projects are led by the following PIs:
- Aarushi Bhargava (Biomedical Engineering) for Cavitation for Fibrinolysis
- Carri Glide-Hurst (Human Oncology) for CARDIO-CARE AI Platform: Cardiac Risk Determination with Imaging for Opportunistic Screening in Cardio-Oncology Evaluation
- Wei Guo (Animal & Dairy Sciences) for Gene Therapy to Reduce Myocardial Stiffness in HFpEF
“UW-Madison researchers are leading the way in developing innovative cardiovascular technologies to tackle one of the most critical health challenges,” says Erik Iverson, CEO of WARF. “We are pleased to collaborate with an industry partner to help bring these groundbreaking solutions to fruition.”
Projects not selected for funding through the Accelerator Challenge Grants may still be connected to other supportive resources within WARF.
About WARF
Celebrating a century of service in 2025, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) patents and licenses discoveries from UW-Madison research, manages an investment portfolio generated from licensing and investment proceeds, and provides annual grants to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research to support further scientific investigation and research. By driving collaborations among researchers, investors, industry and entrepreneurs, WARF commercializes innovations from campus through various initiatives. WARF Accelerator improves the commercialization potential of university intellectual property through industry engagement and investment in proof-of-concept milestones to validate market potential, demonstrate commercial value and de-risk technology. WARF Therapeutics partners with UW-Madison and Morgridge Institute researchers employing an industry-focused approach to improve the value propositions of drug candidates. WARF Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in startups based on UW/WARF technologies. Learn more at warf.org.
About Route 66 Ventures
Route 66 Ventures is an investment firm focused on early-stage investments and incubations in health and financial technology. Our team aims to help fuel transformational companies that make a positive, noticeable impact on the world. For more information, please visit r66.vc.
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