Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar Series: Dr. Robert Chisena, Amplitude Vascular Systems (AVS), "University PhD to Venture Capital-Based Startup: My Experiences Blending Research, Business, and Medicine"

Abstract : My passion for research started during my undergraduate research experience at the Pennsylvania State University. Little did I know that this first research exposure was to initiate over a decade of work that would eventually lead to the formation of my company, Amplitude Vascular Systems, or AVS for short. In this seminar, my goal is to share my insights from translating basic research of a clinical need into a fundamental understanding of the transition from research into a startup business. The discussion will cover my early research, the finding of the clinical need, the bottoms-up and top-down approach to solving a clinical need, and then the translation of the technology from university to startup. From there, I will share my experiences growing the company from a 2-person basement startup to a 30-person medical device company with much potential for growth.

Bio : Robert Chisena is the co-founder and CTO of AVS. He leads research and product development. Robert founded Amplitude Vascular Systems in 2019 with Hitinder Gurm, whom he worked with while completing his PhD in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan. Prior to completing his doctorate, Robert studied mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State University (BS) and the University of Michigan (PhD). Robert’s research encompasses both of biomedical science and design, including medical device manufacturing, cardiovascular mechanics, and safety and efficacy studies of diseased tissue. Robert has authored or co-authored over 14 publications and is named as an inventor on 5 patents.