Michael P. Francis, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
CEO, Asante Bio

40 U.S. Patents

Michael P. Francis, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine. He is also the CEO and founder of Asante Bio, a Florida-based biomanufacturing company focused on advancing regenerative medicine and orthopedic medical devices.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Francis has made transformative contributions to the field of regenerative medicine and musculoskeletal health, developing, patenting, and commercializing numerous innovations that are used in the treatment of common orthopedic and spinal conditions. His groundbreaking work includes the invention of bioengineered implants and regenerative biomaterials, which have significantly advanced the treatment of conditions such as rotator cuff repair, spinal fusion, ACL regeneration, and pediatric musculoskeletal disorders. These technologies are used by hundreds of clinicians and have benefited millions of patients, improving surgical outcomes and enhancing quality of life. Among his most notable commercialized inventions are Tapestry™ for rotator cuff regeneration and ActiBraid™ for ACL repair, both now considered industry standards.

As co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Embody, Inc., Dr. Francis developed groundbreaking technologies, including the first-ever microfluidic collagen suture and electrospun orthopedic implants. These technologies represent significant advancements in the field of musculoskeletal repair, with wide-reaching clinical implications for millions of patients annually. In 2023, Embody was acquired by Zimmer Biomet for $275 million, one of the largest recent exits in the life sciences sector.

Beyond his technical expertise, Dr. Francis has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing biomedical research and entrepreneurship. His work has brought together cutting-edge research, patenting, commercialization, and venture funding to produce practical, life-saving medical solutions. Notably, Dr. Francis’ innovative research has secured more than $30 million in private funding and over $25 million in federal grants, enabling the development and commercialization of next-generation biomedical technologies. He is actively involved in national and international standards committees and lectures widely on inventorship, entrepreneurship, and biomanufacturing.

Dr. Francis holds 25 U.S. Patents and is a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). He also serves on various advisory boards and committees, contributing to the advancement of medical technologies and standards.

Dr. Francis received a joint Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond in Pathology & Molecular Medicine. He went on to complete his post-doctoral training in Biomedical Engineering & Regenerative Medicine at LifeNet Health Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

A MENTION ABOUT INVENTION – 3 Questions for the Inventor

Q1. Of your patents/inventions, which one is your favorite and why?

Among the many technologies I’ve had the privilege of bringing to clinical use, the TAPESTRY™ biointegrative collagen microfiber implant stands out as particularly meaningful. Evolving from my doctoral work in electrospun, collagen-based orthopedic implants, TAPESTRY™ was engineered to regenerate tendons and ligaments by replicating the highly organized extracellular matrix of native musculoskeletal tissue. It represents the culmination of decades of translational research across collagen, biopolymers, regenerative medicine, orthopedics, and biomechanics—bioengineered into a single, elegant device with broad clinical application.

A key challenge we overcame was scaling safe chemistries for human use. Electrospun, collagen-based devices had long faced barriers to clinical translation. My new benign chemistries and high-output engineering inventions, combined with my team’s R&D execution excellence, solved these decades-old problems.

What further distinguishes TAPESTRY™ is its journey from fuzzy concept to wide clinical adoption. It was developed through more than $20 million in grant funding I was gratefully awarded from DARPA, the Air Force, Army, and NIH, and commercialized through Embody Inc., a company I co-founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer. TAPESTRY™ received FDA clearance and over $30 million in angel and venture investor support before being acquired by Zimmer Biomet in a $275 million total deal—helping expand access to the transformative technology my team built.

Today, my patented inventions continue to improve outcomes in rotator cuff, Achilles tendon, and other soft-tissue repairs. The impact on patient mobility and quality of life underscores the transformative potential of regenerative medicine and next-generation orthobiologics. I remain deeply grateful for the role that federal grant funding has played in translating high-need, high-value technologies into clinical reality. I continue to advocate for sustained federal funding support through my service as a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and through the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) chapter at the University of South Florida (USF).

Q2. What inspired you to become an inventor/innovator?

My journey as an inventor began with a fascination for how biology and engineering could converge to heal the human body. From early studies in biology, genetics, and the philosophy of science to advanced training in stem cells, biomaterials, and tissue engineering, I became driven by a conviction to help create impactful medicine and witness its benefits within my lifetime.

As both a serial entrepreneur and a serial sports medicine patient, I’ve seen the urgent need for better solutions firsthand. This personal experience, along with extensive exposure to patients with limited treatment options, continues to fuel my mission to restore function, reduce musculoskeletal injury–related suffering, and improve human longevity and healthspan.

Outside the lab, I’ve always found joy in building. My garages are filled with tools and tech—classic cars in resto-modification, GaN FET and tube amplifiers I’ve hand-built, and custom software and LLMs I’ve developed simply for the challenge. Many of these ventures crash and burn (literally and figuratively), but the creative process—the pursuit itself—keeps the energy and ideas flowing.

On a personal note, my family has been instrumental in shaping my path. My mother, Susan, worked in medicine and filled our home with advanced medical texts that sparked my early passion for science and further inspired me with her boldness and success in entrepreneurship. My loving and talented father, Thomas, an electrical engineer, instilled in me a love for engineering, logic, and critical thinking. My grandfather, Joseph, taught me unbounded curiosity and resilience—though my grandmother might have called it stubbornness. And my wife, Anna, along with our children, Aurora and Andrew, continue to inspire me to create a better future—and, hopefully, pass along the spark.

Q3. What is your process when developing new inventions/innovations?

Begin with the end in mind. I anchor invention in a clear clinical need and target a solution that is not only technically sound but also imminently manufacturable, regulatory-aligned, scalable, and economically viable. It all starts with deep engagement with surgeons and other healthcare providers to define unmet needs. Team building is also key—bringing together scientific talent, clinical advisors, and regulatory, quality, and commercial leads early in the process helps focus the grand vision on the highest-impact, highest-value innovations in the end.

Creatively, my process draws from the crossroads of science fiction, nature, and cross-industry adaptation. For example, the 3D bioprinting in The Fifth Element and Westworld directly inspired my collagen microfiber implants, such as ActiBraid™. Through my new startup, Asante Bio, I recently repurposed industrial filament winding—typically used in spacecraft hulls, helicopter blade manufacturing, and carbon fiber bike production—to manufacture ultra-strong, collagen-based scaffolds for orthopedic applications. Even plant burrs stuck to my Hoka shoes inspired a new patented solution to prevent suture pull-through in tendon repair.

At a deeper level, many of my best ideas arrive during nature hikes, bike rides, music sessions, or moments of mental detachment—whether on vacation, at a conference, or while helping others tackle their challenges. Getting “out of the building” and adopting a Zen Buddhist-like mindset—a “still mind”—is central to my creative process. It’s about not overthinking, but instead getting hands-on, experimenting, and learning quickly by making and breaking things.