Christa Pawlowski turns Ohio research into lifesaving technology

Severe bleeding due to traumatic injury, surgery, and bleeding disorders is still the #1 cause of preventable death. Dr. Christa Pawlowski is developing a solution that doesn't depend on donated blood.

As co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Haima Therapeutics, Pawlowski leads the development of SynthoPlate, a synthetic, platelet-inspired drug that helps the body stop bleeding quickly and safely. The technology amplifies the body's natural clotting response right at the site of injury, and it's shelf-stable, easy to administer, and designed to work where traditional blood products fall short, from ambulances and operating rooms to remote environments and battlefields.

Pawlowski is a biotechnology leader with more than 15 years of experience turning scientific ideas into real-world medical solutions. Previously, she served as Director of Operations at BioMotiv, a biotech accelerator, where she managed two startup companies developing new treatments for cancer and heart-lung diseases, including one that later partnered with a global pharmaceutical company.

She earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where the foundational research behind SynthoPlate was born. Now she's advancing that technology through an Ohio-based company, keeping innovation, jobs, and investment rooted in the state.

Beyond her work at Haima, Pawlowski is committed to helping Ohio grow its reputation as a credible, competitive hub for life sciences and advanced technology. She's an active mentor in CWRU's Venture Mentor Program, serves on the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program Advisory Board, and is a founding steering committee member of the Cleveland Women in Biotech group — investing her expertise in the next generation of Ohio founders and researchers.

Christa's vision for Ohio innovation

By 2050, Pawlowski envisions successful commercialization of technologies like SynthoPlate helping establish Ohio as a proven place to build and scale life-science companies. Each success adds to a growing track record that attracts both local and coastal investment, reinforcing confidence that Ohio is not just a source of innovation, but a place where companies can thrive long term.

As more businesses are built and scaled in the state, Ohio will develop a deep, experienced talent pool across science, operations, manufacturing, and leadership — creating a strong foundation for the next generation of startups. The state's research quality already rivals Boston and San Francisco. With the right support infrastructure, Ohio can compete at the highest level.

Picturing Ohio's next moonshot

Pawlowski's boldest idea: build a statewide life sciences investment and translation platform that matches Ohio's scientific and manufacturing strengths.

Ohio already produces exceptional technical talent through its universities and has a proven advantage in advanced manufacturing. The missing piece is dedicated investment and incubation infrastructure designed specifically to build, fund, and scale life science companies.

Creating large, patient-capital funds, shared translational hubs, and risk-tolerant public-private partnerships would allow Ohio innovations to move from the lab to the clinic and the market without leaving the state. Regions like Boston and San Francisco became global tech hubs by embracing long-term investment in high-risk, high-reward science.

With the right infrastructure to support translation and commercialization, Ohio can emerge as a nationally recognized life sciences powerhouse.

This profile is part of the OhioX and Ohio Tech News Next25, a series highlighting the leaders, 35 and under, driving the state's innovation economy. From responsible AI to medtech breakthroughs, discover the full class of 2025. Meet the Next25.