Vanderbilt University’s June 2025 Innovation Catalyst Fund awards include two researchers from the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE).
Sharon Weiss, VINSE Director and professor of electrical engineering, was awarded for “Porous Silicon on Paper Platform for Point-of-Care Diagnostics,” a portable, low-cost device using porous silicon sensors on paper to detect disease markers without complex lab equipment.
Xiaoguang Dong, VINSE faculty and assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was recognized for “Esophageal Stents Integrating Wireless Soft Actuators,” which develops soft robotic stents that mimic natural muscle motion to improve treatment for severe reflux disease.
These projects demonstrate VINSE research advancing practical medical technologies.