MelodiaSync Wins Texas Tech Breakthrough Award, Showcasing the Power of Cross-Disciplinary Research and Entrepreneurial Support
At Texas Tech University, research doesn’t just stay in the lab- it becomes something bigger. That promise was on full display at the Promoting Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Collaborations in Research Conference on Friday, April 11th, where a team of collaborative faculty, who also lead Texas Tech Accelerator startup company (MelodiaSync), was awarded the prestigious Breakthrough Award at the 2025 Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Research Excellence Awards.
"The Faculty Breakthrough Research Award is designed to support innovative research aimed at addressing complex societal challenges, focusing on TTU’s strategic initiatives and employing an interdisciplinary approach. We were delighted to receive many innovative project submissions, which were evaluated based on their interdisciplinary nature, innovation and impact, relevance to strategic initiatives, and previous evidence of collaboration,” shared Professor Elize Bisanz, for the Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Initiative.
The Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Award is a project of the Cross-Disciplinary Faculty Initiative, supported and funded by the Provost’s Office (Faculty Success) and directed by the Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism. The team’s recognition as the Breakthrough Award recipient shines the spotlight on how powerful faculty innovation can be when it’s supported by mentorship and entrepreneurial resources.
The Innovation: Where Neuroscience Meets Sound and Music
MelodiaSync’s award-winning technology integrates neuroscience, psychology, and audio engineering to create a science-backed wellness solution. Their product combines a mobile app and custom EEG headset to monitor brain activity and deliver guided binaural beats- customized audio frequencies designed to help users relax, reduce anxiety, and achieve better sleep.
Using this technology, the award application was led by:
- Kim Walker, Professor of Music and Arts Entrepreneurship at TTU who is also a world renowned business coach and the primary mentor of the MelodiaSync team in NSF I-Corps (principal investigator)
- Samudani Dhanasekara, MD PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience at TTUHSC and a co-founder / Chief Operations Officer of MelodiaSync
- Chanaka Kahathuduwa, MD PhD, Resident Physician in the Department of Neurology, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at TTUHSC and a co-founder / Chief Scientific Officer of MelodiaSync
Together, this team has transformed evidence-based research into a scalable product with life-enhancing potential.
A Launchpad for Faculty-Led Innovation
MelodiaSync’s journey took off in the Texas Tech Accelerator, where they were immersed in the university’s innovation ecosystem and gained access to specialized training and resources to launch their startup. As participants in the NSF I-Corps program, the team explored customer discovery, market validation, and commercialization strategies- all with the guidance of experienced mentors.
Dr. Dhanasekara and Dr. Kahathuduwa express their heartfelt gratitude to their lead NSF I-Corps mentor, Kim Walker, for her guidance and collaborative leadership in the proposed study and their iTTU Mentor team, who helped sharpen their business model, strengthen their vision, and keep them focused on the real-world impact of their research as well as the TTU Office of Research Commercialization and TTU Innovation Hub for their continuous support from early ideation stage to build the MelodiaSync technology to the current stage.
A Call to Faculty: Your Research Has Startup Potential
MelodiaSync’s success is more than a startup story- it’s a clear example of what’s possible when faculty researchers engage in Texas Tech’s growing portfolio of innovation and commercialization programs. From iLaunch to NSF I-Corps, the Prototype Fund, and the Texas Tech Accelerator, the Innovation Hub provides the tools, training, and community to take research beyond paper and into the world.
The Future of MelodiaSync
Now with a growing foundation of scientific validation, customer discovery, and recognition, MelodiaSync is preparing to scale its product and launch pilot programs. Their vision is bold: help people around the world relax and sleep better, think clearer, and live healthier by putting brain-powered wellness in the palm of their hand.