BioForward event highlights emerging medical innovations at MCW

Researchers, physicians and the startup ecosystem gathered at the Medical College of Wisconsin‘s Center for Cancer Discovery on June 9 for “Behind Biohealth Breakthroughs: Southeast Wisconsin,” an event hosted by BioForward and MCW.

The program showcased a mix of startup companies and research teams working to commercialize innovations spanning medical imaging, cancer treatment, surgical tools and advanced skincare technologies. Attendees heard from innovators at various stages of development, from early-stage research programs pursuing commercialization opportunities to companies already bringing products to market.

Mara Lord, chief strategy and growth officer at MCW, welcomed attendees before BioForward CEO Lisa Johnson provided an overview of the state’s growing biohealth ecosystem. The event’s centerpiece was an Innovator Showcase featuring five technologies developed by researchers and entrepreneurs connected to MCW.

Sonoptima

Radiation oncologist Dr. William Hall presented Sonoptima, a company developing wearable imaging technology designed to improve the delivery of radiation therapy treatments.

The technology helps monitor patient readiness prior to treatment, with the goal of reducing unnecessary scans, improving scheduling reliability and increasing confidence that treatment is being delivered as intended. According to the presentation, the system has the potential to reduce patient anxiety while helping hospitals improve throughput and efficiency.

Hjärta Care

Brian Thorson presented Hjärta Care, which has developed an FDA-authorized tool designed to assist surgeons performing open aortic endograft explant procedures.

The company is focused on simplifying a technically challenging surgery that involves removing implanted devices from the body’s largest artery. The innovation aims to make the procedure safer and more accessible for surgeons by reducing complexity during the operation.

Advancing Clinical MRI with Signal Improvement

Dr. Jason W. Sidabras, a researcher in MCW’s Department of Biophysics, highlighted a technology designed to significantly improve magnetic resonance imaging performance.

The approach uses an externally placed, non-invasive device that can be integrated with existing clinical MRI systems. According to Sidabras, the technology has demonstrated a 145% signal improvement, which could enable shorter scan times, higher-resolution images or a combination of both.

Radiopathomic Mapping of Invisible Cancer

Dr. Peter LaViolette presented research that combines advanced imaging, pathology and artificial intelligence to better understand cancer progression.

The LaViolette Lab uses AI-enhanced radiopathomic mapping to identify microscopic cancer features that cannot be seen through conventional imaging alone. The approach is being applied to brain and prostate cancers, with the goal of improving predictions around tumor recurrence and aggressiveness, leading to more personalized treatment strategies.

LaViolette’s team has secured approximately $6 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to support continued development of the technology.

Amruth Group

Dr. Abhay Chauhan presented Amruth Group’s BioDendrimer platform technology, which is designed to improve the delivery and performance of active ingredients used in skincare, pharmaceuticals, dental products and nutraceuticals.

The technology uses a soft polymer structure that can encapsulate active ingredients, improving stability, solubility and targeting. The company currently markets skincare products utilizing the platform while also exploring medical applications, including radiation dermatitis, dental inflammation and drug delivery systems.

Connecting research and commercialization

The showcase highlighted the growing emphasis on translating academic research into commercial products and companies. The featured innovations demonstrated the breadth of work underway across Southeast Wisconsin’s biohealth sector, ranging from medical devices and imaging technologies to therapeutic platforms and consumer health products.

For attendees, the event offered a glimpse into how discoveries emerging from laboratories and clinical settings are progressing toward commercialization and real-world applications.