August 18, 2025
Baltimore’s life sciences ecosystem received a new infusion of momentum this week as TEDCO announced the first round of awardees for its Baltimore Innovation Initiative (BII) Pilot Program, a $645,000 investment into 14 projects across seven universities. The funding represents an early step in the state’s broader effort to position Baltimore as a hub of equitable innovation and a key driver in Maryland’s bid for the federal Tech Hub designation.
“The first round of BII awardees exemplify the innovation present throughout the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area,” said Abi Kulshreshtha, executive director of the Maryland Innovation Initiative (MII), in a statement. “These awards will advance innovative technologies from seven colleges and universities, contributing to Maryland’s growing innovation ecosystem.”
For Baltimore’s life sciences sector, the program is backing projects that range from microsurgical devices to novel neuromodulation therapies. Among the Technology Advancement awardees:
- Selena Shirkin (Johns Hopkins University) is developing a novel port system for microsurgery, with potential applications in fetal therapy. A streamlined device could enable more precise interventions for complicated pregnancies while reducing risks during highly delicate procedures.
- Oriol Cuxart (Johns Hopkins University) is tackling chronic rhinosinusitis, a condition affecting millions of Americans, through a breakthrough neuromodulation solution aimed at offering patients a non-pharmacological treatment option.
- Michael Tangrea (Loyola University Maryland) is advancing a micropurification technology that could transform precision medicine, building on his track record of bridging academic research and commercialization.
- Kevin Tu (University of Maryland, Baltimore) is working on a secure fume hood management platform designed to cut energy waste in research labs—a potentially high-impact solution as institutions look to improve sustainability and lower operating costs.
Beyond therapeutics and lab innovations, the awards are also reaching into the creative economy. Ryan Hoover (Maryland Institute College of Art) secured support to launch the MICA Biodesign Program, which will train students at the intersection of design and biotechnology, with an emphasis on diversifying Baltimore’s bioeconomy talent pipeline.
Jalaycia Lewis, BII program manager, underscored the strength of the submissions: “We received a number of excellent candidates—choosing the 14 awardees was a difficult process, but we feel these awardees are best positioned to utilize the funding provided to progress towards commercialization.”
The BII Pilot Program was launched as part of Maryland’s matching commitment to the Baltimore Tech Hub initiative, with a mandate to foster equitable access to innovation resources across the region’s higher education institutions. Funding is split between Technology Advancement Grants, which help move research from lab to market, and Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Infrastructure Grants, which build long-term support systems for founders.
TEDCO CEO Troy LeMaile-Stovall said the program reflects Maryland’s broader strategy to marry diversity and innovation. “Innovative entrepreneurs thrive in Maryland with the support of programs like BII,” he said. “As the number one state for minority-owned businesses, Maryland is moving the needle forward. By embracing diversity, we continue to see growth in a merit-based ecosystem that will not only bring the state to the forefront of innovation but will allow for sustainability.”
Since its inception, the Maryland Innovation Initiative has invested more than $59 million, supported nearly 200 companies, and generated almost 400 jobs across the state. The addition of the BII represents a deliberate pivot to ensure Baltimore’s universities and entrepreneurs remain central to Maryland’s long-term competitiveness in life sciences and technology.
For the city, the first cohort of BII awardees signals both the depth of research happening within its institutions and the growing push to translate that innovation into tangible economic impact.
