Temple University researchers are expanding the frontiers of knowledge and turning breakthroughs into solutions that hold the power to change lives.
Every day at Temple University, faculty researchers are translating groundbreaking discoveries into innovations that improve lives, strengthen communities and drive economic growth in Philadelphia and beyond.
“A vital anchor in our region’s robust research landscape, Temple is at the forefront of science that matters,” said Vice President for Research Josh Gladden. “We foster an environment of innovation and commercialization for public good, where a community of faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors works tirelessly to turn ideas into reality, advancing new products to the marketplace and founding companies that benefit society.”
That vision took a major step forward in March 2024 with the opening of Temple University’s Innovation Nest, known as the iNest. Located on Broad Street at Temple’s Health Sciences Center campus, the hub helps researchers, students and startup founders transform ideas into scalable solutions by providing access to a collaborative workspace, mentorship, industry connections, commercialization support and programming designed to accelerate innovation from concept to market.
Less than a year after opening, the iNest earned Technical.ly Philly’s 2024 Power Move of the Year award, recognizing its growing role in Philadelphia’s innovation ecosystem.
Here’s a look at four Temple-affiliated startups turning research breakthroughs into real-world impact.
A life-saving treatment for a deadly disease
Pulmonary embolisms—large blood clots that form in the deep veins of the legs and travel to the lungs—can be life-threatening and difficult to treat. Traditional therapies often require anticoagulation or blood-thinning medication (which does not treat the clot) or other forms of catheter-directed therapies that could increase the risk of major bleeding, and increase the incidence of ICU stays.
Seeking a safer and more effective solution, cardiologist Riyaz Bashir co-founded Thrombolex Inc. to develop the FDA-approved family of BASHIR Endovascular Catheters. The device uses an expandable infusion basket to create channels through a clot, immediately restoring blood flow while delivering clot-dissolving medication directly to the blockage. By reducing treatment time and limiting side effects, the technology has the potential to improve outcomes for hundreds of thousands of patients in the United States and millions more worldwide.
Good dental care for good dogs
Sources estimate that over 40% of adults show signs of periodontal disease. In pets over age three, that number jumps to 80–90%. Yet treatment options that reverse the disease remain limited.
As a nonsurgical alternative, Associate Professor Santiago Orrego and research associate Carolina Montoya of Temple University’s Kornberg School of Dentistry developed a novel gel technology to address this. Licensed by Oral Biolife and branded Ambrilux Dental Gel, the treatment facilitates the regrowth of bone tissue lost to periodontal disease and supports a healing environment.
Through a collaboration with a publicly traded animal health company, the Temple-developed platform has now been translated into a commercially available veterinary dental device for dogs. The dental gel delivers a targeted formulation directly into periodontal pockets, where its piezoelectric properties help stimulate regeneration in areas damaged by disease.
Enhancing patient safety during surgery
When surgical needles or sharp objects are lost inside the body, the consequences can be serious—and costly. To address this problem, John Noel, professor of physics in Temple’s College of Science and Technology, and urologic oncologist Daniel Eun developed the Melzi Sharps Finder, now the flagship product of Melzi Surgical, which the duo co-founded.
The device allows surgeons to search directly inside a patient’s body for metallic objects, such as surgical needles, instruments, broken fragments and guidewires, many of which may not be detectable on X-rays. In doing so, the technology enhances patient safety while reducing hospital costs. In April 2022, the company secured a $4 million investment, and an expanded marketing and sales effort to hospital systems nationwide is currently underway.
Climbing to the top of drug discovery
With Philadelphia emerging as a major hub for biotechnology, Ladder Bio sits at the cutting edge. Tackling difficult-to-treat targets in inflammation, autoimmune disease and oncology, the company is commercializing a unique platform to generate next-generation therapeutics.
Founder Christian Schafmeister, professor of chemistry in Temple’s College of Science and Technology, and his innovative team have pioneered the development of spiroligomer molecules—synthetic, ladder-shaped compounds engineered to be small enough to penetrate cells and selectively target proteins. Ladder Bio plans to use these molecules to create an oral drug as an alternative to treatments that require injections. Ultimately, the spinout is opening a new chemical space and therapeutic modality for drug discovery.
