We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 MnDRIVE ACTIVATE Fellowship: Dr. Matthew Johnson and Dr. Elizabeth Bottorff.
The MnDRIVE ACTIVATE ((FACulty & sTaff InnoVATion & Entrepreneurial) Fellowship supports postdoctoral researchers and faculty dedicated to translational research that addresses brain health conditions affecting Minnesotans. The program is funded by the Brain Conditions area of the Minnesota Discovery and Research InnoVation Economy (MnDRIVE) initiative. ACTIVATE Fellowships are a collaborative partnership between MnDRIVE and the UMN Earl Bakken Medical Device Center (MDC) and will be awarded to applicants who have an interest in intensive innovation-training with focus on neuromodulation translation and entrepreneurship. The program provides resources and mentorship to help emerging scientists transition their research from the lab to real-world impact, in alignment with the MnDRIVE initiative’s mission of aligning research with the state’s most pressing challenges.
Dr. Matthew Johnson is primarily interested in developing and refining neural interface technologies to improve the quality of life for people with movement disorders. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one such technology, which over the past twenty years has helped numerous patients with Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor reclaim control over their motor function. The therapy involves placing small electrodes in regions of the brain that exhibit pathological activity, which contributes to the movement disorder, and then stimulating those regions with continuous pulses of electricity. His lab focuses on understanding how the brain responds and adapts to such stimulation-based therapies from a combination of computational and experimental perspectives. The knowledge gained from these studies in turn provides us with a framework to develop, evaluate, and translate new approaches for improving patient outcome.
-Dr. Johnson brings a wealth of research expertise and leadership but sensing the need for formal training in commercialization.
-Dr. Johnson's participation will enable him to more effectively train and direct his research teams in the effective translation.
Dr. Elizabeth Bottorff is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on neuromodulation to restore sexual function and pelvic organ health after spinal cord injury, addressing an often-overlooked aspect of recovery. Using both preclinical and clinical models, she investigates how targeted nerve stimulation can improve genital blood flow and pelvic function. Dr. Bottorff aims to advance therapies that go beyond mobility to improve overall quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries, integrating insights from neurophysiology, rehabilitation science, and engineering.
-Dr. Bottorff has extensive experience in neuromodulation research and a clear vision for advancing therapies for spinal cord injuries.
-Dr. Bottorff seeks entrepreneurial knowledge to bridge the gap between research and business, aligning with ACTIVATE’s mission.
Both awardees were selected through a competitive review process based on the innovation, translational potential, and societal impact of their proposals. Their projects embody the mission of MnDRIVE Brain Conditions and the ACTIVATE Fellowship: to catalyze discovery into action for the benefit of Minnesota communities.
Please join us in congratulating Drs. Johnson and Bottorff on this well-deserved recognition. We look forward to supporting their impactful work in the coming year.
