Four University of Toronto (U of T) professors who have commercialization projects in various stages with MaRS Innovation were named to the university’s list of Inventors of the Year.

“The Inventor of the Year Award is meant to recognize inventions that have the potential to improve our quality of life,” said Professor Paul Young, vice-president (research and innovation) and a member of MaRS Innovation’s Board of Directors. “The winning inventions represent the very best of innovation at U of T, and on behalf of the university, I extend my congratulations.

The winners include:

• Axel Guenther (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering and Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering–or IBBME) with Milica Radisic (IBBME), Lian Leng, Arianna McAllister, Andrew Woollard and Boyang Zhang. Guenther’s team has developed a 3D “Bioprinter” that can produce wound dressings that accurately mimic human skin.
• Milos Popovic (IBBME), Santa Huerta Olivares, Massimo Tarulli, Peter Lehn (ECE) and Aleksandar Prodic (ECE and Computer Engineering). The team is designing neuroprosthetic devices that help restore or replace nervous system function damaged by stroke or spinal cord injury.
• Molly Shoichet (Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry and IBBME) with Dimpy Gupta, Charles Tator (University Health Network), Jordan Wosnick and Ryan Wylie. Shoichet’s team develops materials for drug delivery and regeneration, and is now being advanced via the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine.
• Gilbert Walker (Department of Chemistry) with Nikhil Gunari. Walker and Gunari are focused on keeping ship hulls free of fouling organisms and keeping aquaculture nets clean. They have invented a marine biofouling solution that keeps aquaculture nets clean, reducing the cost of fish farming.

To qualify for the award, entrants and their teams must be faculty members or trainees who disclosed their inventions to U of T’s Innovations and Partnerships Office within the past five years. Inventions are assessed based on their uniqueness, potential for global impact and commercial appeal.

The full list of recipients is posted on U of T’s website.

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, marketing and communications manager.