When he joined the University of Michigan in 2012, Kevin Ward was given a challenge that would test his leadership and entrepreneurial mindset.

The challenge—develop a new transdisciplinary team science research program in critical illness and injury—would require Ward to draw on his experiences in the U.S. Army and interests as an emergency physician.

A year after his arrival, Ward helped to establish the Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, a central hub for research and technology development across basic, clinical, information and engineering sciences.

Today, the Weil Institute (formerly known as the Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care) works with more than 240 faculty members across 43 departments from seven U-M schools and colleges. The institute is unique in its approach emphasizing transformation of a medical field through the principles of innovation, integration and entrepreneurship.

For his contributions to U-M’s culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in critical care and intensive care, Ward has been awarded this year’s Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award, the highest honor for faculty members who have developed transformative ideas, processes or technologies and shepherded them to market for broad societal impact.

A professor of emergency medicine and biomedical engineering, Ward also founded Fast Forward Medical Innovation, a Michigan Medicine program that offers commercialization resources and support to biomedical researchers that complement the offerings of Innovation Partnerships. This work helped to change and elevate the culture of biomedical innovation within U-M and beyond.

This includes developing and implementing commercialization educational programs with a team that has trained hundreds of faculty and students not only at U-M but also at many other universities. Ward helped change the Medical School’s promotion and tenure guidelines to value innovation and entrepreneurship to levels on par with teaching and research to make innovation a natural and expected behavior.

As a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps, Ward has collaborated with the Army and its Joint Special Operations Training Medical Center to develop and direct programs that have provided clinical training to more than 1,500 special operation combat medics.

Before coming to U-M, Ward led a team that discovered and patented the hemostatic effects of clays to stop high pressure arterial bleeding. This discovery helped lead to the development of the military’s major hemostatic bandage as well as a commonly used product to endoscopically control life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. These products have helped save thousands of lives.

“One of the hallmarks of an incredible researcher and scholar is the impact their work leaves in their wake,” said Arthur Lupia, interim vice president for research and innovation. “Dr. Ward’s passion and tenacity for excellence has improved the world at large and our world here at the University of Michigan. He exemplifies what we do as a leading public research university by pursuing innovative solutions to the world’s great challenges.”

In addition to his leadership at the university, Ward has also succeeded in translating numerous innovations from the bench to the clinic and launching startup companies that amplify the impact of his work. This includes obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for numerous products.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ward helped develop several personal protective equipment solutions using negative pressure technology. This work led to the launch of U-M startup Inspire Rx in 2021 to bring these technologies to the marketplace, one of which achieved Emergency Use Authorization approval from the FDA.

Ward also launched U-M startup Precision Trauma in 2021 to commercialize innovative life-saving products that address gaps in pre-hospital trauma care. Products from Precision Trauma include the FDA-approved Turn-I-Kit, a simple and more effective tourniquet solution designed for use by untrained first responders. As an example of Ward’s passion for helping others, Precision Trauma has donated hundreds of Turn-I-Kits to support emergency care providers in Ukraine.

Another startup commercializing Ward and his team’s work is Fifth Eye Inc., which launched in 2018. Fifth Eye’s FDA-cleared Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability System can continuously detect and predict hemodynamic instability far in advance of changes in traditional vital signs using a single lead electrocardiogram.

The system is now being tested in hospitals around the country to provide clinicians real-time information in advance to reduce preventable hospital deaths. It’s one of the few FDA-approved software as medical device products using artificial intelligence and signal processing for a predictive endpoint.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are at the heart of Dr. Ward’s work,” said Kelly Sexton, U-M associate vice president for research-innovation partnerships and economic impact. “Our office has had the privilege of closely supporting Dr. Ward’s efforts for years, giving us a front-row seat to how his technologies have improved patient care and changed the world for the better.”

With more than 40 issued patents coupled with definable impact, Ward was also recently inducted as a fellow in the National Academy of Inventors for his work in emergency and critical care.

“Exploring the critical care and emergency medicine space to identify where there are holes or lags in care and then finding ways to remedy these discrepancies is one of my passions,” Ward said. “I am honored to receive this year’s Distinguished University Innovator of the Year Award and am pleased to see so many impactful innovations recognized.

“However, I do want to make clear that innovation and commercialization is a team sport and I have been fortunate to work with so many talented colleagues. There is much left to be done in this space, and I am eager to continue working with my colleagues at Michigan and beyond to develop the next technology that can help patients in the real world.”

The award was established in 2007 and is supported by endowments from the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Stephen and Rosamund Forrest Family Foundation.

OVPR selected this year’s recipient based on the recommendation of a diverse faculty selection committee that reviews a pool of nominees. Ward will receive the award Oct. 15 at the annual Celebrate Invention event.

Written by Alexi Pierce, U-M Innovation Partnerships