Founded by Dr. Joshua Kemp, CareCrowd is tackling the $5.8 billion healthcare data inaccuracy crisis by building the industry’s first user-driven provider directory. While traditional databases rely on antiquated, slow-moving processes, CareCrowd utilizes machine learning to automatically source and harmonize provider data from across the web in real-time. By leveraging the "network effect" of crowdsourcing—turning active user searches into verified data points—the platform ensures unparalleled accuracy and significantly improves patient access to care.

Ethylium Technologies focuses on industrial sustainability by developing advanced solutions for carbon reduction. Based on research from the labs of Andrew Peterson and Franklin Goldsmith, the startup uses a catalyst-free approach to convert methane into higher-order carbons, such as ethylene and hydrogen, in a single step. This process creates valuable bio-products while offering a scalable method to combat global emissions.

Homer Therapeutics is advancing the treatment of brain tumors through the epigenetic regulation of cancer cells. Founded by Dr. Nikos Tapinos and built upon research conducted at Brown University and Brown University Health, the company is specifically targeting HDAC-7 inhibition to develop a sophisticated range of both small molecule and RNA therapeutic approaches. These innovative treatments are designed to kill tumor cells, sensitize them to chemotherapy, and transform the overall cancer cell environment. Homer serves as a premier showcase for the cutting-edge research and innovation emerging from Brown’s RNA Center.

Kimani Toussaint: Pulse oximetry without skin tone bias

Kimani Toussaint, senior associate dean at the Brown University School of Engineering, is developing a novel Photoplethysmography (PPG) technique to eliminate racial bias in medical devices.

Conventional pulse oximeters often overestimate oxygen levels in patients with higher melanin levels, leaving them three times more likely to suffer from silent hypoxia. By leveraging optical polarization, Toussaint’s team provides more accurate blood oxygen estimates, ensuring equitable care for all skin tones.

The 2024 Inventor of the Year honors were shared by two prolific researchers:

• Wafik El-Deiry: Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center, El-Deiry is recognized for his extensive contributions to oncology, including new drug candidates, combination therapies, and prognostic biomarkers.
• Kimani Toussaint: Leader of the PROBE Lab, Toussaint specializes in nonlinear optical imaging and plasmonic nanostructures to quantitatively assess biological tissues and control matter with light.

Phinyx AI

Developed in George Karniadakis’s lab at Brown University, Phinyx AI leverages generative AI and scientific machine learning to solve complex, multi-physics engineering problems. By making advanced simulation tools accessible to all design teams—not just those with computational PhDs—the company empowers engineers to innovate faster in an increasingly digital landscape.