Dr. Piyush Jain & Dr. Rushi Shah, CasNx

In this week’s Tech Tuesday, UF Innovate highlights CasNx, a company that uses CRISPR-based technologies for diagnostics and to genome-edit donor organs before transplant. This makes the organs virus-free and less likely to trigger an immune response, improving their safety and durability.

“The University of Florida has some of the best organ transplant outcomes in the country. We’re here with CasNx to learn more. Dr. Jain, Dr. Shah, tell us a little bit more about who you are and what you do,” said Elora Duong, host of UF Innovate.

“Hi. I’m an associate professor of chemical engineering at [the] University of Florida, and my lab focuses on building CRISPR-based technologies for diagnostics and therapeutics,” said Dr. Piyush K. Jain, co-founder of CasNx.

Read more about University of Florida Lab Diagnoses and Removes Viruses Through Genome Editing.

Think of CasNx’s game-changing research as a dishwasher for human organs on deck for transplants.

Looking like an oversized crockpot, the pump that keeps organs functioning before transplant surgeries is the washer. And thanks to new technology and collaboration between Gainesville neighbors, University of Florida researchers are creating the detergent.

The goal: Healthier organs ready for transplant. The UF-developed process stands to revolutionize organ transplants and post-surgical treatment.

CasNx — motto: Rewriting Organ Biology — is an award-winning startup company founded in 2024 by UF chemical engineering professor Piyush Jain, Ph.D., recent UF Ph.D. graduate Santosh Rananaware and UF Health Shands surgeon Rushi Shah, MD, who specializes in organ transplants. Jain and Shah are neighbors, and they said the idea evolved after they talked while their daughters played together at a park.

Read more about UF Researchers ‘Rewriting Organ Biology’ With Revolutionary Transplant Technology.