Business Incubator

Eda Yildirim-Ayan, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of Toledo, where she also serves as the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Program Director, and Director of the Clinical Immersion Co-op Program. She leads the Yildirim-Ayan Laboratory, where her research integrates biomaterials, mechanobiology, and tissue engineering to develop innovative strategies for musculoskeletal tissue regeneration and disease modeling.

Dr. Yildirim-Ayan's research focuses on understanding how mechanical forces regulate cellular behavior and tissue function, with applications in bone, tendon, skeletal muscle, and intervertebral disc regeneration. Her laboratory develops advanced biomaterials, engineered tissue platforms, and physiologically relevant culture systems to investigate cell–matrix interactions and accelerate translational regenerative medicine. More recently, her work has expanded into the development of technologies that simulate altered gravity environments to advance both terrestrial biomedical research and space biology applications.

Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including projects spanning tissue engineering, biotechnology commercialization, engineering education, and biomedical innovation. She is also a co-founder and Cheif Scientific Officer (CSO) of Altered Gravity LLC, where she is translating laboratory innovations into technologies for pharmaceutical research, tissue engineering, and space-based biomedical applications.

Beyond research, Dr. Yildirim-Ayan is deeply committed to engineering education and student success. She has developed innovative curricula including Freshman Design Courses and Clinical Immersion Co-op program that integrate real-world clinical experiences, design thinking, and metacognitive learning strategies to prepare the next generation of engineers. She has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate researchers, many of whom have co-authored peer-reviewed publications and continued into graduate school, academia, industry, and medical professions.

Dr. Yildirim-Ayan has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and intellectual property disclosures, and actively collaborates with clinicians, engineers, and industry partners to translate fundamental discoveries into practical healthcare solutions. Her long-term vision is to bridge engineering, medicine, and emerging technologies to improve human health on Earth and beyond.

Yogesh Kumaran is a Northwest Ohio native and the Founder of Ossatura Labs, Inc., a University of Toledo spinout building OssPlan, a physics-based surgical planning platform that helps orthopaedic trauma surgeons select the right fracture fixation construct before the patient reaches the operating room.

Yogesh has spent his entire life in the region: grade school in Toledo, high school at St. John's Jesuit, and then the University of Toledo for a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering and medical school through the joint MD-PhD program. He recently completed his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the Engineering Center for Orthopaedic Research Excellence (E-CORE). He spent over a decade in orthopaedic biomechanics research at E-CORE, training under the late Dr. Vijay Goel, published more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, supported FDA 510(k) submissions for MedTech companies, and developed the computational modeling and simulation technology that OssPlan was spun out from.

He founded Ossatura Labs in 2026 and is building it in Northwest Ohio.

Nathan Meller has spent nearly five years in technology consulting as a project manager, helping manufacturing firms modernize their operations through process design and automation projects.

Working with 15+ plants, he repeatedly saw manual or nonexistent solutions for workforce skill tracking. This is where the idea for ILUminate was born; to allow companies an easy and audit ready way for tracking the skill makeup of their workforce at any given time.

Shawn Monteiro operates at the critical intersection of engineering precision and clinical patient care. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Bioengineering at the University of Toledo and training toward a career as an orthopedic surgeon, Shawn actively builds solutions to improve the lives of both patients and surgeons.

His latest development, a novel plate and strap immobilizer, is driven by a deep understanding of both biomechanical testing and real-world surgical outcomes. Shawn already has a proven track record of translating academic research into patient-centered care, from publishing clinical orthopedic studies to developing award-winning, nationally recognized health platforms.

Driven by a commitment to elevate the standard of orthopedic care, Shawn is dedicated to designing practical, accessible devices that streamline the work of medical providers and improve patient recovery. For him, engineering is about giving people their lives back.

Michael Vanderpool is an entrepreneur, educator, and technology innovator passionate about building products that solve real-world problems. Throughout his career, he has combined expertise in design, software, and learning to help individuals and organizations adapt to an ever-changing world.

After earning a bachelor's degree from Oakland University, Michael worked as a consultant and entrepreneur, developing skills in video production, photography, web development, marketing, and digital strategy. Driven by a lifelong passion for education, he earned a Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology from Bowling Green State University, where he also taught video production and visual communication as a graduate assistant.

Michael has held leadership roles in higher education, instructional design, and workforce development, including positions at The Learning House, The Software Guild, Northwest State Community College, Defiance College, and most recently as Director of Innovation & Design at Anthony Wayne Local Schools. Throughout his career, he has designed curriculum, launched innovative educational initiatives, and helped students, educators, and organizations embrace emerging technologies.

As the founder of Echo, Michael is focused on building technology that solves practical, everyday challenges. Echo streamlines how facilities receive and respond to maintenance requests, improving communication, accelerating response times, and providing actionable operational insights. His work is guided by a simple belief: the best technology is human-centered—it removes friction, empowers people, and creates meaningful impact.