On Monday, Feb. 24, State senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and Vincent Hughes (D-7) visited Temple University’s Innovation Nest (iNest) to celebrate a $750,000 investment in a life-saving medical device.  

The BASHIR Endovascular Catheter was co-invented by Riyaz Bashir, director of vascular and endovascular medicine at Temple University Hospital and professor of medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. The device provides treatment for blood clots with an outstanding safety and effectiveness compared to other currently available therapies, and it has already saved thousands of lives. 

On Monday it was announced that Bashir and Thrombolex, a Bucks County-based biotech company helping to develop and commercialize the device, received a $750,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to further advance their work. 

“Innovation-driven progress, like we see here today, doesn’t just happen,” said Josh Gladden, vice president for research at Temple University. “It started with Dr. Bashir’s passion for improving the lives of his patients, matched with his ingenuity, creativity and persistence to move beyond the status quo to a more effective solution. But it also requires partnership with entrepreneurs and investors that can advance this technology beyond Temple labs and drawing boards to patients.” 

Commercialization of the life-saving device wouldn’t have been possible without nearly $2 million in prior funding from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and support from Temple’s Technology Commercialization team, located in the iNest, which launched in March 2024 with the mission of commercializing innovations from faculty researchers and spurring student innovation. Bashir also utilized $3 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to conduct the clinical trial that led to the FDA approval of the device.  

Those in attendance on Monday applauded partnerships between lawmakers, university researchers and industry professionals, leading to important innovations like the BASHIR Endovascular Catheter. 

“This achievement is a testament to what we can accomplish when physicians, engineers, policymakers and industry leaders come together with a shared vision of saving lives,” Bashir said. “On behalf of the patients whose lives have been changed, and the countless more who will benefit in the future, I extend my deepest thanks to our senators, to the people of Pennsylvania and most importantly, to the patients who have participated in the clinical trials that led to this development.” 

One of the patients who participated in clinical trials, Irving Vaughn, was also in attendance. 

“The main person I want to thank is Dr. Bashir. He was not just a doctor, but a compassionate doctor who really relates to you and makes you feel comfortable,” Vaughn said. “And I want to thank everybody who supported him. I’m a prime example of what can happen.” 

State Sen. Santarsiero emphasized the importance of universities and government collaborating with industry leaders like Thrombolex to advance science and save lives. 

“Dr. Bashir, you mentioned that in many parts of the world these blood clots are a death sentence for people, because they do not have access to treatment. So it’s wonderful that we’re celebrating this achievement today, and we’re expanding the production of these devices at Thrombolex and hopefully getting it to more people,” he said. “I want to pause and think about the people in this world who need the help that we here in the United States are uniquely positioned to give. I know Governor Shapiro understands that, and I’m grateful for his leadership and his proposals in this year’s budget, which are critically important on the life sciences side of the ledger.” 

Gladden promises that Temple will continue to hold up the university’s end of the collaboration. Temple is already expanding support for the iNest, hoping that the next life-saving innovation is just around the corner. 

“The Innovation Nest came to fruition thanks to support from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Sbarro Health Research Organization as well as Temple University, and we’ve created a feedback loop to improve how we advance innovation via our iNest advisory board,” Gladden said. “We’re trying to tap into our innovator network to develop impactful programs in this space for our next crop of innovators and help them overcome hurdles toward an impactful solution.”