NanoFlorida 2026 Award Winners and Next Year's Location

We are excited to announce the winners of the 2026 NanoFlorida International Conference presentation and NanoInnovation Pitch Competition awards! This year’s conference spotlighted emerging talent in nanotechnology, showcasing innovative research from students and early-career scientists. The high quality of work made choosing the winners a rewarding yet challenging experience for our esteemed judges.

NanoInnovation Pitch Competition Winners

The competition was established to accelerate the translation of innovative nanotechnology discoveries into impactful commercial, healthcare, environmental, and industrial solutions. The live finals featured presentations before a panel of investors, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and technology experts. The competition attracted innovative submissions spanning nanomedicine, advanced materials, semiconductor technologies, environmental applications, AI-enabled nanotechnology, and next-generation manufacturing.

• 1. Jorge David Tovar Castro - University of Miami

  • Company Name - CerebroCool

  • Pitch Title - An intranasal nanodrug spray designed to buy time for the brain during EMS transport.

• 2. Akshata Yashwant Patne - University of South Florida

  • Company Name - NephroZIP

  • Pitch Title - Kidney-Targeted Steroid Therapy for Lupus Nephritis

• 3. Naroa Zubimendi Varela - University of Miami

  • Company Name - EpiGuard

  • Pitch Title - Detection of Breath Biomarkers for Prediction of Epileptic Seizures

Poster Presentation Award Winners

The Poster Presentation Awards recognize the many wonderful presentations that demonstrated the research excellence on display at NanoFlorida 2026. Judges were impressed by how clearly participants communicated their ideas and the strong visual presentation incorporated into their posters.

• James Tedder - Florida Polytechnic University

• Dakota Brown - University of South Florida

• Minh Tran - University of Central Florida

• Alejandra Planells Devesa - University of Miami

• Peter Kveton - University of South Florida

• Vimukthi D.G. Arachchige - University of South Florida

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the NanoFlorida 2026 conference presentation awards! Their dedication and innovative spirit exemplify the advancements in nanotechnology and inspire others to push the boundaries of research.

NanoFlorida Conference Location for 2027

We are excited for the NanoFlorida 2027 Conference to be hosted at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida!

We can't wait for next year and look forward to hear more about the conference in the coming months!