Manning Institute of Biotechnology Hosts Inaugural UVA SPARK Tank

By jta6n@virginia.edu August 7, 2026

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On August 4, 2026, the UVA Paul and Diane Manning Institute of Biotechnology hosted its inaugural SPARK Tank competition, bringing together a dynamic mix of faculty, including from the School of Medicine, to showcase promising research projects with the potential to improve patient care.

Earlier this year, UVA joined the global SPARK network — a non-profit initiative that helps academic and non-profit institutions worldwide bridge the critical gap between early-stage research and clinical applications. The Manning Institute’s inaugural SPARK Tank competition reflected the shared mission of accelerating high-impact science from laboratories to patients.

Competition Highlights

This year’s SPARK Tank featured a compelling slate of presentations spanning diverse areas of biotechnology and transformational medicine. Of the 45 submissions, eight finalists presented innovative approaches to addressing unmet medical needs, with a strong focus on patient impact.

The final cash awards went to six teams, whose projects impressed the judges with innovative science, translational potential, and clear pathways toward clinical application. Each winning team received $50,000 in funding to further advance their projects toward therapeutic readiness.

All eight teams delivered standout presentations that underscored the depth and breadth of innovative research at UVA:

Team 1 (won $50,000): Carolyn Lee, PhD, MD, Department of Dermatology, presented an experimental treatment designed to prevent the earliest stages of skin cancer growth. Funding will support additional testing to evaluate the potential and prepare it for future development.
Team 2: The team of Gordon Laurie, PhD, Department of Cell Biology, represented by Oladimeji Ojo (Darden School of Business, 2026) described a new approach to protect the body’s insulin-producing cells in people with early-stage Type I diabetes. Funding would support patent protection and advance the technology toward clinical development.
Team 3 (won $50,000): Danielle Cook, PhD, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, presented a targeted cancer therapy designed to attack tumor cells while leaving healthy tissue untouched. The approach focuses on a specific protein found on the surface of solid tumors (e.g., lung cancer). Funding will support studies to evaluate safety and
Team 4 (won $50,000): John Lukens, PhD, Department of Neuroscience, showcased a potential new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that aims to block a protein linked to inflammation and the loss of brain cells. If successful, the approach could help slow disease progression and protect brain function. Funding will support additional lab studies to advance the therapy toward human clinical
Team 5 (won $50,000): Bryce Paschal, PhD, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, presented an innovative approach for prostrate and pancreatic cancers. Rather than focusing solely on genetic mutations, the strategy seeks to strengthen the body’s natural ability to fight tumors. Funding will support studies to test effectiveness and assess safety.
Team 6 (won $50,000): Ming-Feng Tsai, PhD, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, introduced a novel concept for heart disease that slows the heart rate without reducing the heart’s pumping strength. Funding will support studies that further refine and validate the concept.
Team 7 (won $50,000): Manoj Patel, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology,demonstrated a cutting-edge gene-editing approach to correct disease-causing mutations in certain forms of epilepsy. The work has the potential to address the root cause of the disease rather than simply managing symptoms. Funding will help evaluate effectiveness and safety as the project moves closer to clinical development.
Team 8: Jiang He, PhD, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, presented a promising new cancer platform that combines diagnosis and treatment into a single approach. By helping doctors identify tumors and deliver potential therapies more effectively, the technology could improve precision cancer care. Funding would support additional development and regulatory preparation to advance toward clinical testing.

Winners of UVA SPARK Tank show off their checks.

While not every project received a portion of the $300,000 in funding for the competition, SPARK Tank is designed to provide constructive feedback, mentorship, and visibility — resources that are just as critical as funding in helping ideas evolve. Participants benefited from direct engagement with reviewers and advisors who offered insights on experimental design, regulatory strategy, and commercialization pathways.

Congratulations to this year’s winners and all participating teams for showcasing the innovative ideas that are shaping the future of medicine. The Manning Institute plans to make SPARK Tank an annual event, with the next competition anticipated in late spring 2027.

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This article was originally published here: https://news.med.virginia.edu/research/manning-institute-of-biotechnology-hosts-inaugural-uva-spark-tank/