Indiana University researchers are driving innovation across fields and tackling real‑world problems through breakthrough discoveries. Aligned with the IU 2030 strategic plan’s commitment to pursuing transformative research, the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office has awarded three researchers with funding to help them advance their innovations in the commercialization process.

“These projects highlight how fundamental discovery at IU can be translated into new diagnostics, therapeutic and devices,” said Nick Hammond, IU associate vice president for innovation and commercialization. “We are proud to support innovative research that moves bold ideas into real-world impact. These awards recognize not only the scientific excellence of our researchers, but also their dedication to translating discovery into meaningful solutions for our communities.”

Respiratory therapeutics

Ben Gaston, the Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine, has received $19,000 from the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office’s Gap Fund to advance the treatment of respiratory diseases.

Ben Gaston.The Gap Fund helps IU innovators increase their project’s marketability and overcome commercialization barriers. The award expands targeted research to make early-stage IU technologies less risky and more attractive for external investments, licensing and partnerships.

Gaston has discovered a way to treat airway inflammation in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia. This rare, inherited disorder leads to chronic respiratory issues, including frequent infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia, persistent cough, and breathing difficulties. Gaston and his team discovered that a treatment being developed for asthmatic patients could also be used for primary ciliary dyskinesia patients, who also exhibit features of asthma.

“There are very few primary ciliary dyskinesia treatments available; therefore, the need for innovative treatments is substantial,” Gaston said. “With this fund, we will be able to validate our preliminary data and bring us one step closer to finding an industry partner.”

Gaston’s lab conducts basic and translational research to improve care for childhood respiratory diseases, investigating conditions such as apnea, asthma, viral pneumonia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and septic shock. He is a long‑standing National Institutes of Health‑funded physician‑scientist.

Antibacterial resistance; hearing for older adults

Assistant professor of biology Cristina Landeta and assistant professor of speech, language and hearing sciences Dana Urbanski — both in the College of Arts and Sciences at IU Bloomington — were awarded $25,000 each from the Lawrence Blatt Endowed Fund for Translational Research.

Cristina Landeta.The fund supports the development of translational science research with industry partners; the establishment of new companies; the strengthening of patent applications based on research discoveries; and the introduction of faculty members to IU’s research-to-market pipeline.

Landeta is developing new antibacterial therapies for disarming disease-causing bacteria. Her team is creating stronger inhibitors that block the natural resistance to antibiotics, presenting an alternative approach to address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

She plans to characterize and optimize a set of small molecules within a promising family of antibacterial compounds to find those with better strength and selectivity. She will use the funds to establish a robust testing platform in human cell lines to generate proof-of-concept data and strengthen these compounds’ foundation for commercialization.

“I am grateful that Indiana University recognizes the translational potential and broader impact of our research,” Landeta said. “This award provides critical support at a stage where validated proof-of-concept data can determine the future of a translational project. It positions us to pursue patent protection for our most promising compounds and enhances the visibility and momentum of our work within the university.”

Dana Urbanski.Urbanski is developing an affordable assistive hearing device and companion app for patients with dementia. The communication challenges faced by older adults with hearing issues and dementia can have a negative impact on their well-being and quality of life. Conventional hearing aids are expensive and are often difficult for caregivers and individuals to manage.

With the award, Urbanski will study this prototype’s usability and feasibility at a nursing home, where hearing needs are high and hearing technology can be difficult to integrate into routine care. The data from nursing home residents and staff will guide the device’s next stage of development. The funding will also support student research assistants, giving IU students an opportunity to gain experience working with nursing home residents and conducting research in real-world care settings.

“It is an honor to receive the Blatt award, especially as a new IU faculty member building my research program,” Urbanski said. “This award not only advances my work but also provides a helpful connection to ICO, giving me a clearer pathway and greater confidence in pursuing early commercialization steps.”