Research and Innovation Showcase recognizes groundbreaking achievements

During the 2022 Research and Innovation Showcase on April 13, The Ohio State University recognized faculty, staff and students for their groundbreaking work.

President Kristina M. Johnson said in the year since the Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK) was formed, achievements have included a $55 million award from the National Science Foundation to support three artificial intelligence centers, Ohio State being selected by NASA to help develop a low-Earth orbit space station research pipeline and the university’s annual research and development expenditures surpassing a record-breaking $1.2 billion threshold.

“With exciting ventures on the horizon like the grand opening of the Innovation District in 2023 and the opportunities with the new Intel semiconductor campus, I look forward to seeing how you’ll expand our research, creative expression and innovation capabilities,” Johnson said to the attendees of the virtual presentation. “I’m thankful to all of you for asking the right questions, promoting new ideas and creating solutions to society’s most pressing issues.”

During the showcase, Melissa Bailey, a professor in the College of Optometry, was named Innovator of the Year. Bailey and her team developed contact lenses that can function as bifocals and a software application to estimate patients’ prescriptions for eyeglasses and contact lenses.

The application “is really important for children and patients who can’t go through all the testing that we normally do with a lot of patients in a typical eye exam,” Bailey said. “Also, internationally there are patients who can’t see well because there’s no one around to get their glasses prescriptions for them.”  She said it would allow for patients to get the glasses they need, even in places where there’s not training and expertise available for local eyecare professionals.

Katelyn Swindle-Reilly, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering, was named Early Career Innovator of the Year. Swindle-Reilly and her team developed an extended-release capsule to help reduce the number of injections required for patients with macular degeneration and other eye conditions.

“Ultimately, I hope that this technology will improve the quality of life for patients, helping them to visit the doctor less often and preserve their vision,” Bailey said. 

Madison Tuttle, a College of Arts and Sciences graduate student, was named Next Generation Innovator of the Year. Her research focuses on finding environmentally sustainable alternatives to metal-based electrode materials.

“When I began learning about our dependence on fossil fuels for energy, I really was inspired to work towards sustainable energy storage technologies for clean energy storage,” Tuttle said.

Also during the Research and Innovation Showcase, researchers shared other breakthroughs and the ERIK leadership team highlighted recent achievements and plans that will continue to enhance the university’s standing among international research institutions.  

“What I’m most excited about for this upcoming year is working with the great team (we have),” said Grace Wang, Ohio State’s executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge. “As we celebrate our first year as Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge, the timing is right to refresh the past strategic plan and build a new five-year strategic plan.”