A healing scientist

Melissa Krebs, PhD ’10, a professor and researcher at the Colorado School of Mines, specializes in using biomaterials for tissue regeneration. She launched a company to apply her know-how and this year GelSana will introduce its first product: a polymer-based gel designed to heal stubborn wounds.

Called Cleragel, it promises to accelerate healing by reducing inflammation. Some see powerful medtech.

“Chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers, are notoriously difficult to treat,” Plastics Engineering observed. “Their persistent inflammation and elevated risk of infection can lead to serious complications, such as limb amputations.”

Krebs and her research team developed a synthetic polymer that repels bacteria while providing moisture to a wound, creating a better dressing, Pharmaceutical Executive told its readers.

“Krebs is leading the charge in developing innovative polymer-based solutions that address the underlying biological challenges of chronic wounds,” the magazine said. Krebs earned her doctorate in bio-medical engineering at the Case School of Engineering and devoted two years to postdoctoral research on Case Quad.

“My PhD work there laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since,” she said in an interview with CWRU’s Veale Center for Entrepreneurship. “It gave me both the technical knowledge and the spark to pursue translational research.”

She joined the School of Mines in 2012 and today is an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering. After seeing “remarkable healing results” with her cell research, she launched GelSana in 2020.

The company reports attracting $5.5 million in venture capital and grants. Investors include the CWRU Alumni Venture Fund. Cleragel, its first product, is expected to be for sale in 2026.