By DoM Communications | Date published: July 7, 2026
Neil Marya and Kate Fitzgerald Present Company Pitches at BRIDGE Innovation Event
Neil Marya, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, and Kate Fitzgerald, PhD, the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III, professor and executive vice chair of medicine, associate vice provost for basic science research, chief of innate immunity and director of the Program in Innate Immunity, recently presented pitches for their companies to nearly two dozen venture capital firms, corporate venture groups, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies during an event hosted by the BRIDGE Innovation and Business Development Office. The event facilitates new venture formations built on the scientific discoveries and innovations at UMass Chan.
Please join us in recognizing Drs. Marya and Fitzgerald on their pitches:
- Surgitas, co-founded by Neil B. Marya, MD, assistant professor of medicine, is developing AI-guided support tools for complex gastrointestinal surgery and disease diagnosis.
- Emfytos Therapeutics, co-founded by Katherine A. Fitzgerald, PhD, the Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III, professor and executive vice chair of medicine, associate vice provost for basic science research, chief of innate immunity and director of the Program in Innate Immunity, and Paul R. Thompson, PhD, the Endowed Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology II, professor of biochemistry & molecular biotechnology and director of the Chemical Biology Program and the Small Molecule Screening Facility, is advancing small molecule modulators of innate immunity for inflammatory diseases.