Florida State University’s second annual Discovery Days was a weeklong celebration of the impactful work happening across campus.
With initiatives for improving pediatric rare disease treatment, nurturing entrepreneurs and startup companies and building partnerships to expand the impact of research, FSU had much to celebrate.
“Discovery Days provided an incredible opportunity to celebrate FSU’s record-breaking year for research and creative activities and shine a spotlight on the innovative work that is taking place here every day,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “Our faculty, staff and students are tackling real-world issues, making a positive impact in people’s lives and lifting Florida State University to new heights.”
Discovery Days reached nearly 2,500 people across the university, in Tallahassee and online. Here’s a look at some featured events:
FIGHTING PEDIATRIC RARE DISEASES
The week began with a symposium highlighting the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases, or IPRD, an FSU Health initiative to transform the lives of children affected by rare diseases through research, education, clinical care and advocacy.
The Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis first allocated funding for IPRD in 2023. The appropriation was championed by Florida Rep. Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor.
At the symposium, Rep. Anderson had welcome news for IPRD — $5 million in additional funding from the State of Florida to support the institute’s mission of developing treatments for children suffering from rare diseases.
“I know that it’s just a matter of time before we’re celebrating a child whose life was saved by the good work that’s being done here at FSU,” he said.
Held at the FSU College of Medicine, the symposium featured a keynote address from Dr. Terence R. Flotte, executive deputy chancellor and provost of the UMass Chan Medical School and a pioneer in gene therapy and rare disease research.
Flotte was impressed and encouraged by FSU’s commitment, both to IPRD and the gathering of experts driven to find answers to roughly 7,000 recognized rare diseases in the world that impact 350 million people globally and 30 million in the United States.
“It is a very, very fitting way to focus one’s resources,” Flotte said of the IPRD. “I can think of no other higher mission than to harness all of the tools that we’ve been given through discovery, to make a difference for children and families who have no other hope.”
The event continued with seminars from researchers at the National Institutes of Health, Stanford University, Harvard University, Nicklaus Children’s Health System, the University of Miami and the University of Florida, a lunchtime meeting of Florida’s Rare Disease Advisory Council, and a roundtable discussion featuring industry leaders.
Partnerships with fellow researchers and industry are crucial for the ultimate goal of IPRD: finding cures and treatments.
“We are creating a hub where researchers, clinicians and families can work together to find answers for conditions that too often go unrecognized and untreated,” said College of Medicine Dean Dr. Alma Littles. “Our mission is simple yet powerful: to bring hope to children and families by driving discoveries that can lead to new therapies and interventions for rare diseases.”
GROWING AN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
FSU is growing North Florida’s innovation ecosystem. Discovery Days was a great opportunity to promote that important work.
On Tuesday, faculty from the FSU Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine joined Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic CEO Mike Boblitz for a discussion that explored how their partnership will help improve health care across North Florida and South Georgia.
The collaboration is part of FSU Health, a wide-ranging initiative to transform health care delivery in the region.
“What’s critical from the point of view of FSU Health is really developing an ecosystem,” said Joseph Frascella, the shared Chief Clinical Research Officer for FSU and Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. “This collaboration and partnership exemplify what we’re trying to accomplish with this new enterprise of FSU Health, where we’re building researcher and clinician partnerships.”
On Wednesday, IGNITE Tallahassee— a new FSU-supported business and technology incubator in Innovation Park — welcomed entrepreneurs, investors and innovators for an open house.
The event began with a networking session to allow participants to connect and continued with an address from Louis Foreman, founder and chief executive of Enventys Partners.
Later that day, IGNITE hosted Discovery Challenge a “Shark Tank”-style business pitch competition where three startup companies walked away with a combined $110,000 in prize money.
Cypris Therapeutics — a biotechnology company developing treatments for the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma — took the first prize of $50,000 as well as the crowd favorite award of $10,000.
“We’re really grateful to FSU for putting this event on and for being able to reach more people about the urgent issue that we’re addressing,” said Cypris Therapeutics CEO and co-founder Kyle Parella, a former FSU research assistant. “We’re not just doing glioblastoma; we’re also going after pancreatic and colon cancer, which currently don’t have any drugs to address these two biggest killers.”
SeaD Consulting, which created a rapid test to identify seafood mislabeling and substitution, and AMRF Technologies, which is developing new technologies for wideband radio frequency semiconductor products and tools, each received $25,000.
“Innovation is truly everywhere, and everyone has a part,” said FSU Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson. “Discovery Challenge is a really great opportunity for us to showcase some FSU research that’s moved out into the marketplace and into startup companies to help move those technologies forward.”
ART, SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY
An interdisciplinary exploration of art and discovery took center stage at events throughout the week.
On Tuesday, faculty and students hosted “Kaleidoscope: Innovation in the Arts and Humanities” in Opperman Music Hall, which included a lecture on FSU’s new Native American and Indigenous Studies Center, a piano work inspired by the writings of Franz Kafka, and a multi-media presentation with a saxophone ensemble.
On Wednesday, Associate Professor of Chemistry Ken Hanson hosted “Ask A Scientist Gaming” at the Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee IMAX Theater, where he and Professor of Physics David Collins chatted about the James Webb Space Telescope, black holes, sound in space and more while playing video games and fielding questions from an audience on the streaming platform Twitch.
The “Arts, Humanities and Health Symposium III” on Friday featured faculty and students from medicine, arts and humanities, who presented their latest findings about interdisciplinary research that contributes to better health outcomes, working environments and lifestyle. The week concluded with “Saturday Morning Physics + Art,” which explored the world of wheels, gyroscopes and other spinning objects and the secrets behind how they move with faculty from the Department of Physics and the Department of Art Education.
“Research in the arts and humanities at FSU is defined by the cutting-edge work of scholars and practitioners today,” said Iain Quinn, Research Fellow in the Arts and Humanities. “Our faculty and students participate in a global network that is continually engaged in innovation, critical thinking and a deeper understanding of the human condition.”
CELEBRATING FSU LEADERS
Friday began with the “Women in Science Leadership” roundtable, which featured FSU First Lady Dr. Jai Vartikar, Vice President for Research Stacey Patterson, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Chief Scientist Laura Greene, Dean of the College of Medicine Dr. Alma Littles, and the College of Nursing’s Associate Dean for Research, Dr. Lisa Hightow-Weidman. They discussed their careers in science, offered advice for young scientists and took questions from the audience.
“By fostering an inclusive environment that empowers women to pursue and excel in science, we are shaping a better future for research and our industry,” Hightow-Weidman said. “Women’s voices and contributions are at the forefront of discovery, and FSU recognizes and uplifts the critical role women play as leaders in driving innovation.”
Other events honored principal investigators, highlighted original undergraduate research and creative projects and offered opportunities for faculty and students to share their expertise with fellow researchers.
“The people at FSU are so dedicated to developing knowledge that not only advances their fields but also transforms our world for the better,” Patterson said. “Their hard work and passion are the driving forces behind our commitment to excellence in research that has a meaningful impact on so many lives.”
For complete coverage of Discovery Days events, view the list below:
- FSU Discovery Days launch includes $5 million check to fund pediatric rare disease research
- FSU Discovery Days: Panelists express bold vision for TOC-FSU partnership
- FSU Discovery Days hosts IGNITE Tallahassee Open House: A day of innovation and networking
- Discovery Days: Three FSU-affiliated startups awarded $110,000 for innovative, cutting-edge ideas at FSU Discovery Challenge
- FSU Discovery Days panel on aging and technology engages community, discusses challenges and opportunities
- FSU Discovery Days annual undergraduate research showcase features grant-funded student projects