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Northwestern Startup: Akava Therapeutics
Founded: 2019
Northwestern Inventor:
Richard Silverman
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular Biosciences
Feinberg School of Medicine
Department of Pharmacology
AKAVA Therapeutics is developing first-in-class small molecule therapeutics that inhibit enzymes, inhibit cancer, and inhibit protein...
Published: 5/13/2026
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Updated: 5/13/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurology, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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Antisense Oligonucleotides to Prevent Genetic Mis-Splicing for ALS/FTD Therapeutics
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that correct TDP‑43–dependent mis‑splicing of KCNQ2 thereby reducing neuronal hyperexcitability in ALS/FTD and related TDP‑43 proteinopathies.
INVENTORS
Evangelos Kiskinis*
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Neurology
Jonathan...
Published: 5/12/2026
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Updated: 5/7/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): ALS - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, FTD - Frontotemporal Dementia, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurologic disease, Neurology, Nucleic Acids, Rare diseases, Targeted therapy, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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GDNF-Mimetic Self-Assembling Supramolecular Nanostructure to Enhance Survival and Function of Dopaminergic Neurons for Treatment of Parkinson's Disease
NU 2024-175
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A self-assembling bioactive matrix that presents GDNF-mimetic peptides to support the viability, maturation, and function of dopaminergic neurons in cell replacement therapy for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.
INVENTORS
Samuel Stupp*
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Department...
Published: 5/11/2026
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Updated: 4/30/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Biologic, Biomaterials, Cell delivery, CNS - Central Nervous System, CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident, Nanomaterials, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurologic disease, Neurology, PD - Parkinson's Disease, Scaffold, SCI - Spinal cord injury, TBI - Traumatic brain injury, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics, Life Sciences > Biomarkers & Biomedical Research Tools, Life Sciences > Healthcare Devices, Tools & IT > Neurology
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Bioactive, Conductive, and Antioxidant Supramolecular Polymer Hydrogels for Neural Applications
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Biomaterial scaffold for neural cell culture and therapeutic implants that harnesses bioactive, conductive, and antioxidant properties to boost neural cell viability and maturation.
INVENTORS
Samuel Stupp*
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry
Anna Metlushko
Bo...
Published: 5/11/2026
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Updated: 4/30/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Biologic, Biomaterials, CNS - Central Nervous System, Implantable devices, Neurology, Regenerative medicine, Scaffold, SCI - Spinal cord injury, Smart/Functional materials
Category(s): Life Sciences > Biomarkers & Biomedical Research Tools, Life Sciences > Healthcare Devices, Tools & IT > Neurology, Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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Selective PAD2 Inhibitors for Neuroprotection in Traumatic Brain Injury
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Novel PAD2-selective inhibitor platform targeting neuroinflammation to support both acute neuroprotection and long-term functional recovery as a first-in-class treatment of traumatic brain injury.
INVENTORS
Hasan Alam*
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Surgery (Trauma...
Published: 5/12/2026
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Updated: 4/27/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): CNS - Central Nervous System, CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident, Neurodegenerative disease, Neuroinflammation, Neurologic disease, Neurology, Small molecule, Targeted therapy, TBI - Traumatic brain injury, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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Biomolecular Condensates as Protein Degradation Tools for Intracellular Targets
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A targeted-protein degradation platform for intracellular targets, addressing resistant oncogenic and neurodegenerative targets.
INVENTORS
Shana Kelley*
Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Chemistry
Yi Li
* Principal Investigator
NU Tech ID: NU 2025-050
IP...
Published: 5/7/2026
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Updated: 4/27/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): AD - Alzheimer’s Disease, Biologic, Biomolecular condensates, Cancer/Oncology, Drug delivery, Nanoparticle, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurologic disease, Neurology, PD - Parkinson's Disease, Platform technology, Targeted protein degradation, Targeted therapy, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics, Life Sciences > Biomarkers & Biomedical Research Tools
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Methods to Treat Neurodegenerative Disorders by Reducing Nuclear Aggregates and Modulating Adenosine‑to‑Inosine RNA Editing
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Novel disease‑modifying approach that dissolves toxic nuclear RNA–protein aggregates and restores synaptic function in neurodegenerative diseases by inhibiting adenosine‑to‑inosine (A‑to‑I) RNA editing and modulating ADAR enzymes.
INVENTORS
Joseph Mazzulli*
Northwestern University Feinberg School...
Published: 5/13/2026
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Updated: 4/27/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Lewy bodies, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurology, PD - Parkinson's Disease, RNA - Ribonucleic Acid, Small molecule, Targeted therapy, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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Mitigating aberrant Cdk5 Activation in SMA – A Novel Therapeutic Strategy Targeting Mitochondrial Function
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A targeted strategy that mitigates aberrant Cdk5 activity to restore mitochondrial function and reduce motor neuron degeneration in SMA models.
INVENTORS
Yongchao Ma*
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
* Principal Investigator
NU Tech...
Published: 5/7/2026
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Updated: 4/27/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Adjunct therapy, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurologic disease, Neurology, Rare diseases, SMA - Spinal muscular atrophy, Targeted therapy, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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Use of Neuronal NOS Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Therapeutic Intervention
PROPOSED TITLE (cut & paste into Alternate Title): Use of Neuronal NOS Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Therapeutic Intervention
NU 2023-007
SHORT DESCRIPTION
A small molecule based approach that mitigates Alzheimer's neurodegeneration by inhibiting neuronal nitric oxide synthase to prevent tau phosphorylation and reduce Aβ oligomer formation.
INVENTORS
Richard...
Published: 4/27/2026
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Updated: 4/27/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): AD - Alzheimer’s Disease, Covalent inhibitor, Kinase Inhibitor, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurology, nNOS, Small molecule, Targeted therapy, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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Inhibitors of TRIP8b for Novel Mood Disorder Therapeutics
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Novel inhibitors that disrupt TRIP8b-HCN binding to offer an alternative antidepressant mechanism for treatment of mood disorders.
INVENTORS
Gary Schiltz*
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry
Dane Chetkovich
Ye Han
Iredia Iyamu
Kyle Lyman
*...
Published: 5/13/2026
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Updated: 4/27/2026
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Inventor(s):
Keywords(s): Antidepressant, Depression, Mood disorder, Neurologic disease, Neurology, Psychiatric disease, Targeted therapy, Therapeutics
Category(s): Life Sciences > Therapeutics
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