Sea-Change Silicides aims to revolutionize medical implants

A startup developed in a UW-Whitewater chemistry lab could reshape the future of titanium implants, reducing failure rates and improving patient outcomes.

Founded by Dr. Steven Girard, an associate professor of chemistry, Sea-Change Silicides is developing a groundbreaking bioactive coating for titanium components used in biomedical devices.

“There are two main reasons titanium implants fail,” Girard explained. “One is infection, and the other is loosening. Our coating technology addresses both.”

The antibacterial coating developed by Girard and his undergraduate team is designed to prevent biofilm formation—a major cause of infection in implanted devices. But what truly sets the technology apart is its osseointegrative ability: the coating helps living bone regenerate directly onto the implant surface, creating a more stable and permanent connection between the metal and the skeleton.

This innovation, which uses sustainable feedstocks like recycled glass and algae-derived diatoms, is now protected by a patent and in the early-stage commercialization process. The startup is headquartered at the Whitewater University Innovation Center, which is part of a collaborative effort between the City of Whitewater, the UW-Whitewater campus, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem to support emerging high-growth businesses.

Girard credits the support of WiSys, the technology transfer office for the Universities of Wisconsin, and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UW-Whitewater for helping him transition from lab work to launching a company.

“I wouldn’t have gotten this far without their support,” he said. “This has been a steep learning curve for me as a scientist, and I’ve leaned on them throughout the process.”

Sea-Change Silicides is one of just 13 finalists in the 2025 Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest, and the only startup from the Milwaukee 7 region.

Girard’s research was also recently recognized with a 2024 Universities of Wisconsin Innovation Grant, which provides more than $175,000 over two years to support the development of his coating technology.

“This opens up incredible opportunities for our students to do meaningful research,” said Girard of the award. He proudly notes that all the lab work on the emerging technology has been completed by undergraduate students.

With clinical trials and FDA approval still ahead, Girard estimates a four-year timeline to bring the product to market. Until then, he’ll be presenting his work and building momentum—one milestone at a time.