Transfer to Transform 2026
Guiding Ideas to Solutions
A hospital environment is a fertile ecosystem for new ideas. Innovators from every corner of the organization – from surgeons, doctors and nurses to research staff – have unique perspectives on what can help a patient, or a fellow clinician or a scientist.
The Office of Technology Commercialization at Nationwide Children’s Hospital facilitates the transfer of new technologies, research and innovations to outside partners to benefit pediatric care, our community and the general public.
Message From Leadership
Neil Veloso
Vice President of Innovation and Technology Commercialization
Abigail Wexner Research Institute
Nationwide Children's Hospital
At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we understand the importance of translating innovative work beyond our walls and into the world. New technologies drive economic development in our local, national and global ecosystem and most importantly, improve pediatric care. The Office of Technology Commercialization exists to ensure that the necessary partnerships are in place to execute this important function.
At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we are deeply committed to translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that benefit children and families. Over the years, we have fostered a vibrant ecosystem where our clinicians, researchers and industry partners work together to bring breakthrough technologies from the laboratory, and bedside, to the marketplace. This collaboration accelerates the development of novel treatments, devices and therapies, ensuring that they reach the patients who need them the most.
Our technology commercialization activities are a key pillar of this mission. By identifying high-potential innovations and forging strategic partnerships with industry leaders, we aim to make Nationwide Children’s Hospital the partner of choice for investors, entrepreneurs and executives. Through our dedicated Office of Technology Commercialization team, we manage intellectual property, drive commercialization efforts and support entrepreneurs and startups through the complex journey of bringing their innovations to fruition.
We believe that the future of pediatric care hinges on fostering a strong culture of innovation, collaboration and shared purpose. In the evolving health care landscape, we are excited about the opportunities ahead and are eager to expand our impact through commercialization. As you read the following pages of this report, our hope is to convey the commitment that Nationwide Children’s Hospital has made to impact the lives of children everywhere through its innovation efforts. I am truly honored to be a part of this team and humbled daily by the amazing individuals that drive our commercialization engine.
Timothy Cripe, MD, PhD
Center for Childhood Cancer Research
Timothy Cripe, MD, PhD, is a nationally recognized leader in pediatric cancer research, known for his relentless pursuit of innovative therapies that improve outcomes for children with cancer. His research embodies the spirit of innovative research and discovery. To recognize Dr. Cripe’s dedication, creativity, collaboration and impact, on behalf of the Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) at Nationwide Children’s, Abigail Wexner Research Institute President Dennis Durbin, MD, presented Dr. Cripe with the 2025 Excellence in Innovation Award during the AWRI Research Retreat on November 17, 2025.
DNA Methylation-Based Diagnostics
Diagnosing central nervous system tumors in children is among the most challenging problems in pediatric oncology. Many tumor types share overlapping microscopic features, and genetic testing alone cannot always determine their precise subtype. Yet accurate classification is critical because treatment protocols and prognoses can differ dramatically depending on the molecular identity of a tumor. Developed at Nationwide Children's, the MACDADI classifier is compatible with next-generation methylation arrays and quickly delivers more accurate tumor diagnoses, offering a clinically validated alternative to outdated and unregulated methylation classifiers.
Startups Update: Where Are They Now?
From cutting-edge gene therapies to transformative medical devices, startups are redefining what’s possible in patient care and technology. Born from pioneering research and nurtured through strategic collaborations, are tackling critical challenges—from neonatal care to oncology and rare genetic disorders—while advancing toward commercialization. Supported by the Office of Technology Commercialization, which facilitates the transfer of breakthrough innovations to industry partners, these companies exemplify how bold ideas become real-world solutions.
One Gene, Big Impact
A promising new gene therapy developed at Nationwide Children’s is offering hope for new patients with neurodegenerative and muscle disorders. Led by Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD, a neurologist, principal investigator in the Jerry R. Mendell Center for Gene Therapy and director of Clinical and Experimental Neuromuscular Pathology at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute, the AAV.BAG3 gene therapy targets disease caused by toxic protein aggregation – a hallmark of many currently untreatable conditions.
Norms, Needs and New Frontiers in Pediatric Mental Health
An interview with Eric Youngstrom, PhD, director of the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research (IMBHR) is driving discovery through improved assessments, effective treatments and digging deep to answer the ‘why’ behind clinical challenges. Specializing in areas such as mood disorders, autism, sleep, substance misuse, and self-injurious thoughts and behavior, this team is dedicated to advancing the best care in an ever-evolving specialty.
Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts
Children with single ventricle disease are often described as having “half a heart.” What this really means is that one of their ventricles (either the right or left lower chamber of the heart) is under-developed, making it challenging for the heart to effectively pump blood through the body. An innovation 30 years in the making is poised to change the way children with single ventricle disease experience life after a Fontan procedure.
Available Technologies
Our portfolio of over 200 available technologies developed by our innovative researchers and clinicians is diverse and ever-growing. They span a wide array of research fields and categories of market applications and range from early-stage innovations to market-ready products.
Types of innovations include:
- Biomarkers
- End User Innovations
- Gene Therapies
- Therapeutics
- Tissue Engineering Innovations
- Research and Clinical Tools
Startups
The Office of Technology Commercialization at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, led by Neil Veloso, facilitates the transfer of new technologies, research and innovations to outside partners to benefit pediatric care, the local community and the general public.
Metrics
*A contributor is any Nationwide Children's faculty or staff member who submitted one or more invention disclosures.
*2025 Revenue unavailable at time of publish
2025 Abigail Wexner Research Institute Performance Indicators
Download NowNews and Announcements
Learn more about how the Office of Technology Commercialization at Nationwide Children’s Hospital facilitates the transfer of new technologies, research and innovations in 2026.Archive: Download Past Publications
To request past issues of the Transfer to Transform booklet, please email John Westerfield at John.Westerfield@NationwideChildrens.org.