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FIRST LOOK FORUM

Join us for the highly anticipated annual First Look Forum, hosted by the UW-Milwaukee Research Foundation, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, and Versiti. This is your chance to discover the groundbreaking innovations and cutting-edge technologies emerging from our region.

Curious about the next big thing in Milwaukee? Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with visionary researchers who are tackling pressing challenges and delivering solutions to unmet needs right here in Wisconsin.

Our featured speakers will unveil their groundbreaking work, showcasing technologies poised to transform industries and improve lives. Connect with business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs who are eager to help bring these innovations to the marketplace.

Be part of the conversation and witness the future unfold at the First Look Forum!

First Look Forum 2025

Date: April 17, 2025

Time: 4-7pm

Location: Lemonis Center for Student Success, Marquette University
1250 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233

RSVP is Required.

To RSVP Click Here

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Novel Drugs for Treating Parasitic Flatworm Infections | Jonathan Marchant, PhD, MA, Marcus Professor & Chair, Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, MCW

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Swift Robotic Manipulator Mount | Habib Rahman, PhD, Affiliate Professor, Computer Science & Biomedical Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, Founder & CEO RoboHeal

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Data Science to Optimize Hunger Relief | Walter Bialkowski, PhD Associate Professor of Practice Department of Computer Science, Marquette University

RNA therapy, a type of gene therapy, holds the potential to cure nearly all diseases. Breakthroughs in RNA therapy led to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines and form the basis of most gene editing therapies. The future of this technology hinges on advances in delivering RNA to specific diseased tissues and extending the duration of its action. The Kastrup Lab at the Versiti Blood Research Institute, along with its spin-out companies, is at the forefront of developing current and next-generation RNA therapies.

Long-Acting RNA Therapies for Blood Disorders | Christian Kastrup, PhD, Senior Investigator and Program Leader, Versiti Blood Research Institute & Professor of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin

A novel cancer therapy combines ROS-activated prodrugs with vitamin C for selective tumor killing. Vitamin C enhances oxidative stress in tumors, boosting prodrug activation and causing cancer cell death while sparing normal cells. Unlike traditional therapies with multiple drugs and off-target effects, this approach uses safe, well-tolerated vitamin C to enhance precision and minimize toxicity. This combination therapy led to complete tumor regression in mice without adverse effects and is effective against hard-to-treat cancers like triple-negative breast cancer and glioblastoma.

Precision Oncology Therapy Specifically Targets Tumors | Xiaohua Peng, PhD, Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry & Taufeeque Ali, PhD Postdoctoral Scholar, Northwestern University (UW-Milwaukee) & Founders of SynXT Therapeutics

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Simulating a “Night on Call” for Graduating Medical Students | Tavinder Ark, PhD, Associate Professor, Data Science Institute, MCW

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New Probiotic to Weaken Multidrug-Resistant Infections | Kyle Leistikow, Research Manager – CORE Innovation, Microbial Discovery Group & Krassimira Hristova, PhD, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University

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Moving Plus Sized Patients Quickly and Safely | William Perry, BSE, Biomedical Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, Founder & CEO, PerryMedical