In the world of dental health, a dedicated team from the University of South Dakota is developing innovations for targeted drug delivery. Dentifrice Advances, comprised of Dr. Grigoriy Sereda, Sajith Wijewardhane, and Dr. Greg Bertsch, furthered their research through completing the NSF National I-Corps program, funded by a $50k grant. The team’s journey began with their participation in the Great Plains Regional I-Corps program, which laid the foundation for their future success. This initial experience was crucial in preparing them for the national stage and in honing their research and business strategies.
The road to innovation was filled with challenges, particularly in engaging with potential customers. Conducting over 100 customer interviews in the National I-Corps program was a daunting task, one that was initially met with considerable resistance. Entrepreneurial lead Sajith Wijewardhane vividly recalls the early struggles: “Initially, I emailed and made phone calls to many dentists… But most replies were negative.” The game changed when the team shifted their strategy to in-person interviews, especially at dental conferences. This hands-on approach started yielding positive responses and crucial feedback.
The team quickly learned about the specific needs and preferences of the dental market. “We identified the drug that the customers are most interested in, the drug formulation, expanded the technology application to gum diseases, learned an unexpected value of our particles to avoid alcohol in formulations, and focus on periodontists as the beachhead market,” shares Dr. Grigoriy Sereda. These valuable insights led them to pivot their focus from fluoride treatments to more pressing concerns in oral drug delivery, particularly noting the preference for water-based mouth rinses among periodontists.
“The biggest challenge was not to give up…”
The National I-Corps program wasn’t just about gathering technical insights; it was also a journey of personal growth and professional development. Sajith highlights this aspect, saying, “The biggest challenge was not to give up… not all of them were willing to talk.” The experience not only improved their research direction but also sharpened their communication skills and expanded their professional networks.
Dr. Greg Bertsch points out the key to their success: intellectual honesty. “Teams must be willing to accept that their initial concept might need changing based on market data,” he advises. This willingness to adapt based on customer feedback has been a cornerstone of their progress.
Looking ahead, Dentifrice Advances is poised for further growth and innovation. They are gearing up for an NSF STTR application in the first quarter of 2024, with a continued focus on customer discovery and refining their research and development to minimize technical risks. The journey of Dentifrice Advances through the National I-Corps program is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the vital role of customer feedback in fostering successful, market-driven innovations.
Join us in congratulating Dentifrice Advances on their achievements!
