On January 29, 2026, MITRP director Dr. Alan B. McMillan applied this research accumen to the Department of Surgery’s Innovation Shark Tank at their 2026 Research Summit. This event provided seed funding to help researchers bridge the gap between early-stage concepts and clinical application.

Dr. McMillan served as a “Shark” alongside Anjon Audhya (Senior Associate Dean for Basic Research), Erik Iverson (CEO of WARF), and Dr. Amy J.H. Kind (Associate Dean for Social Health Sciences). The panel awarded $25,000 to the best project demonstrating clear innovation in basic science, translational research, and health services.