ROANOKE, Va. — Vectorial Corp. announced that co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Karthi Sreedevi, Ph.D., has been selected for the Fralin Commercialization Fellowship Program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. The program supports researchers and innovators working to translate scientific discoveries into commercially viable technologies.

Sreedevi is a biotechnology and glycobiology researcher with expertise in cardiac physiology and mitochondrial bioenergetics. At Vectorial, she leads the experimental and operational development of the company’s heart failure gene therapy program, directing preclinical studies that support its translational progress.

Her work combines mouse models of heart failure, gene delivery methods, and mitochondrial functional assays to evaluate how metabolic interventions can improve cardiac performance. Sreedevi’s research background in glycobiology and cellular metabolism informs investigations into the molecular mechanisms that regulate cardiac energy use.

“Karthi has played a central role in advancing the science behind our therapeutic platform,” said Alexey Zaitsev, Ph.D., chief executive officer and co-founder of Vectorial Corp. “Her participation in the Commercialization Fellowship will further strengthen the connection between our research programs and the broader translational ecosystem at Virginia Tech.”

“I’m honored to join the fellowship and engage with others focused on translating biomedical research into real-world applications,” Sreedevi said. “Opportunities like this help bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and new therapies that we hope will one day benefit many patients with heart failure.”

Sreedevi also received a $5,000 GO Virginia award as part of the fellowship, providing additional support for her participation in the program and the continued advancement of Vectorial’s translational research efforts.

Vectorial Corp. is developing a gene therapy platform designed to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics and energetic-contractile coupling in heart muscle cells. The company’s patented approach aims to improve cardiac function by strengthening the cellular energy systems that power cardiac contraction and endurance.