pioneered
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌpaɪəˈnɪɹd// UK //paɪənˈiəd// pi·o·neered
v. to be one of the first people to do, find, or use something new. You use this when someone starts a new way of thinking or working that others follow later.
v. to develop or be among the first to use or apply a new method, area of knowledge, or activity. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the innovation or field.
She pioneered a new way to treat the disease.
The university pioneered online learning long before it became a standard practice in global education.
While many researchers contributed to the field, it was this specific laboratory that pioneered the surgical techniques now used in thousands of hospitals worldwide.
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.