Virtual Event: Translating Discovery – Maine Life Sciences Startup Stories
Join us on July 20, 2026 from 12-1PM via Zoom. This virtual event, co-hosted by BioME and the Maine Life Sciences Network, will showcase Maine start-up founders who are translating deep scientific research and discovery into commercial products and services. The conversation will highlight Maine’s growing innovation community and give academic and non-profit researchers, trainees, and early-stage innovators a practical look at what it takes to move an idea from the lab toward the marketplace.
By featuring local founders who have navigated this path, the event will help demystify commercialization, create useful connections, and potentially serve as the first installment in a recurring series focused on life sciences entrepreneurship in Maine.
This event will feature Liza White, PhD (EliVive), David Kuhrt, PhD (Tidal Diagnostic Solutions), Peter Brooks, PhD (CryptoMedix Inc.), Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz, PhD (Savvyn), and moderated by Caitlin Howell, PhD (University of Maine).
Speakers
Liza White, PhD, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer, EliVive
Liza White, PhD, is Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of EliVive, a women’s health startup developing a wearable hormone-monitoring platform that tracks hormones through sweat and translates the data into personalized health insights. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Maine and specializes in sensor systems and microfluidic technologies. Motivated by her own experience with PMOS (formally known as PCOS), Liza is dedicated to advancing non-invasive technologies that help women better understand and manage their hormonal health.
David Kuhrt, PhD, President & CEO, Tidal Diagnostic Solutions
Dave is a Molecular Virologist (PhD, University of Pittsburgh) turned startup executive with a singular focus: compressing the timeline from research to revenue. With deep roots in diagnostic development and tech transfer, Dave is a hands-on leader who cuts through the noise of traditional R&D to get products into the hands of customers. He champions a culture of intellectual honesty and transparency, where scientific precision meets the agility of a lean startup to rapidly deliver scalable, life-saving solutions.
Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz, PhD, MSM, Founder, Savvyn Insights
Catherine Del Vecchio Fitz is Founder and CEO of Savvyn, an AI evidence intelligence platform helping life sciences teams close the gap between breakthrough science and patient access. Catherine holds a PhD in Cancer Biology and Masters of Science in Medicine from Stanford University and completed postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute of MIT. She has spent the last 15 years translating science into clinical, commercial, and patient impact across precision medicine.
Peter Brooks, PhD, Co-Founder, CryptoMedix Inc.
Dr. Peter C. Brooks earned his Ph.D. in Cellular and Developmental Biology from Stony Brook University in 1994 and completed postdoctoral training at The Scripps Research Institute. His research has focused on the role of integrin receptors, angiogenesis, and cryptic extracellular matrix epitopes in cancer progression, leading to several patents and the co-founding of the biotech companies Cell Matrix Inc and CryptoMedix Inc. He has held faculty and leadership positions at University of Southern California, New York University School of Medicine, and MaineHealth Institute for Research. His current work focuses on translating basic cancer research into innovative therapies and imaging approaches for malignant tumors.
Caitlin Howell, PhD, Associate Professor of Bioengineering, University of Maine (moderator)
Caitlin Howell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Maine. She leads the Biointerface and Biomimetics Lab, where her research brings together biology, engineering, materials science, and manufacturing to develop innovative solutions for healthcare and sustainable materials. Her work spans infection-resistant medical devices, renewable cellulose-based materials, and living fungal coatings, with an emphasis on translating fundamental discoveries into scalable technologies. Supported by the NIH, NSF, NASA, and industry partners, Dr. Howell works closely with students, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and government agencies to accelerate innovation and strengthen Maine’s life sciences and forest products sectors.
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