# Debra Weidanz

> Debra Wawro Weidanz is the co-founder, CEO and chief scientist of Resonant Sensors Incorporated, an Arlington, Texas biotech that builds label-free, high-throughput biosensor systems used to speed antibody discovery, drug screening and diagnostics. An electrical engineer turned inventor, she developed the company's guided-mode resonance sensor technology out of research at the University of Texas at Arlington, and later co-founded the cancer-immunotherapy startup Abexxa Biologics, which Boehringer Ingelheim acquired in 2021. With her husband Jon, she has become a notable UTA benefactor, funding a named tissue-engineering lab and research fellowships.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, CEO & Chief Scientist at Resonant Sensors Incorporated
- **Organizations:** Resonant Sensors Incorporated, Abexxa Biologics (co-founder, acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim), University of Texas at Arlington (alumna, advisory boards), SPIE
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** MS, Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, BS, Electrical Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington
- **Known for:** Co-invented and commercialized guided-mode resonance (GMR) label-free biosensor technology., Co-founded and leads Resonant Sensors Incorporated as CEO and chief scientist., Co-founded Abexxa Biologics, acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in 2021.

## Career timeline

- **1997** — Earns BS in Electrical Engineering from UT Arlington.
- **1999** — Earns MS in Electrical Engineering from UT Arlington; develops guided-mode resonance sensor work with Robert Magnusson and Sorin Tibuleac.
- **2004** — Co-founds Resonant Sensors Incorporated in Arlington, Texas, leaving a telecom career.
- **2014** — Co-founds Abexxa Biologics with husband Jon Weidanz to pursue cancer immunotherapy targets.
- **2017** — Abexxa Biologics named one of 40 'Best University Startups 2017' by the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer.
- **2021** — Abexxa Biologics acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim; RSI biosensor technology applied to COVID-19 testing.
- **2025** — UT Arlington names the Debra and Jon Weidanz Tissue Engineering Laboratory following the couple's philanthropic support.

## Achievements

- Co-invented and commercialized guided-mode resonance (GMR) label-free biosensor technology.
- Co-founded and leads Resonant Sensors Incorporated as CEO and chief scientist.
- Co-founded Abexxa Biologics, acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in 2021.
- Abexxa named a top-40 US university startup in 2017 and won a MassBio Innovation Day competition.
- Longtime SPIE member with publications on GMR biosensor principles and applications.
- Named benefactor of the Debra and Jon Weidanz Tissue Engineering Laboratory at UT Arlington.
- Serves on UT Arlington Bioengineering and Electrical Engineering Industrial Advisory Boards.

## Latest updates

- **2025-09** — UT Arlington named the Debra and Jon Weidanz Tissue Engineering Laboratory, recognizing the couple's cumulative gifts of more than $500,000.

## Links

- Website: https://resonantsensors.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-weidanz-2bab201/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ResonantSensors
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pages/Resonant-Sensors-Incorporated/202698999765399

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/debra-weidanz
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-20