Alex Travis is a veterinarian and research scientist, who has invented multiple new medical diagnostics. He received his A.B. magna cum laude from Princeton University, and his V.M.D. summa cum laude and Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. In his laboratory at Cornell University, Dr. Travis performs NIH-funded research in reproduction. He invented a diagnostic assay for male fertility that has been licensed by Androvia LifeSciences LLC. Known as the “Cap-Score,” this assay is the only commercial diagnostic that has prospectively been shown to predict the probability of a man’s fertility, and which received a first-in-class PLA code from the American Medical Association. The Cap-Score has already been used clinically to help over 6500 men who are struggling with fertility.

Dr. Travis also invented a novel approach to add function to nanoparticles with tethered enzymes, for which he received a prestigious Pioneer Award from the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Together with Dr. Roy Cohen, he is developing this technology into a platform for point-of-care diagnostic assays for conditions such as stroke and concussion, as well as diagnosis of specific pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, etc. This platform technology has been licensed by TETmedical, Inc.

In addition to his entrepreneurship, Dr. Travis founded and directs Cornell’s Master of Public Health Program; he is founding Chair of the Department of Public & Ecosystem Health, and Director of Cornell’s Center for Pandemic Prevention & Response. He has received multiple awards including a Rotary Graduate Fellowship, the Pfizer Animal Health Award for Research Excellence, and a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.