Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: "University of Maryland Announces 28 Research Projects to Help Maryland Companies Develop Commercial Products: Projects Worth $5.2 Million"

Home > Press > University of Maryland Announces 28 Research Projects to Help Maryland Companies Develop Commercial Products: Projects Worth $5.2 Million

Abstract:
The University of Maryland today announces 28 new research projects partnering Maryland companies with university researchers to develop high-tech commercial products.

University of Maryland Announces 28 Research Projects to Help Maryland Companies Develop Commercial Products: Projects Worth $5.2 Million

COLLEGE PARK, MD | Posted on March 5th, 2007

Worth $5.2 million, the projects combine $3.3 million from
participating companies and $1.9 million from the Maryland Industrial
Partnerships Program. Funding supports work in the laboratories of
participating faculty, who work closely with partner companies to advance
their product development.

Two approved projects are related to homeland security, while 16 are in
the biotechnology market segment. Four institutions are participating: the
University of Maryland, Baltimore, with seven projects; the University of
Maryland Biotechnology Institute, with four projects; Salisbury University,
with one, and the University of Maryland, College Park, with 16. Four
projects involve Baltimore-based companies. Company partners include 23
start-ups, four small companies, and one medium-sized firm.
Projects approved include:

-- Rockville-based BioSurface Engineering Technologies Inc. and the
University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute ($397,669): pre-
clinical study testing the efficacy of BioSET's spinal fusion
product, which combines a proprietary, bone-stimulating peptide with
a scaffold to induce bone formation between two vertebrae.

-- Baltimore-based Comprehensive Cancer Cells Diagnostics LLC and the
University of Maryland, Baltimore ($410,477): University of Maryland
Greenebaum Cancer Center-based clinical studies of the company's
diagnostic service for personalized chemotherapy, which measures a
tumor's resistance to commonly used cancer drugs.

-- Frederick-based Core-IT Technologies LLC and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($407,173): developing software enabling first
responders and emergency management organizations to seamlessly use
wireless phones and devices during a catastrophic network outage,
regardless of the phone services they are using.

-- Rockville-based eClinForce.com Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($104,478): testing eClinforce's web-based system for
managing the entire process of conducting medical clinical trials
effectively and efficiently. The system helps researchers streamline
processes, improve data quality, shorten development cycles, and
reduce costs.

-- Laurel-based Five Aces Breeding LLC and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($95,000): studying standard breeding and genetic
engineering techniques to yield strawberry crops that grow well in
warm environments and produce single-fruited trusses that ripen at
the same time, enabling easy mechanical harvesting.

-- Bethesda-based Hemodyne Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($164,877): clinical trial of Hemodyne's hemostasis
analyzer to determine a patient's risk for blood clotting. The
analysis system, which assesses a patient's balance between bleeding
and clotting, also measures receptivity to anticoagulants and
coagulant drugs, as well as the risk of surgical bleeding.

-- Columbia-based iBiquity Digital Corporation and Salisbury University
($81,000): studying the company's radio technologies.

-- Potomac-based Imagilin Technology LLC and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($131,747): evaluating the toxicity of Imagilin's
probiotic product for animal and pet foods. Probiotics are dietary
supplements containing live bacteria that may strengthen the immune
system. Probiotic use could reduce antibiotic use in animal feed, as
well as prevent diseases such as salmonella.

-- College Park-based LeukoSight Inc. and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($107,023): tethering LeukoSight's novel anti-
inflammatory therapeutic to nanoparticles to effectively and
efficiently deliver the drug to inflamed tissues. LeukoSight's
therapeutic could treat rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel
disease, and sepsis.

-- Gaithersburg-based Minkon Biotechnology Inc. and the University of
Maryland, Baltimore ($103,950): advancing toward product launch with
a pre-clinical study measuring the efficacy and safety of Minkon's
novel product for preventing obesity. The product may inhibit a
metabolic pathway. It has shown it can completely prevent diet-
induced obesity in animal models without apparent toxicity.

-- Silver Spring-Based MobiLaps LLC and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($127,415): enhancing and extending the functionality of
MobiLaps' ISP Screen-Estate product. The Screen-Estate, which
unobtrusively appears in the web browser as a toolbar and does not
require client-side software installation, will play a key role in
transforming ISPs into providers of location-specific content, and
will enable e-commerce between local users and locally-owned
businesses.

-- Annapolis-based Mobile Digital Systems Inc. and the University of
Maryland, College Park (108,454): testing the ruggedness of Mobile
Digital Systems' wireless, vehicle-based video surveillance system
for law enforcement, homeland security, and military personnel. The
video system streams live feeds back to a base station, where it is
viewed and stored.

-- Silver Spring-based Mobitrum Corporation and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($118,710): developing a software library for
manufacturers of 802.11n wireless Internet equipment to use in easily
programming wireless routers, switches, and PC cards.

-- College Park-based MXF Technologies Inc. and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($446,948): developing algorithms and a
searchable database of signatures for explosive and non-explosive
liquids and solid chemicals. These will be coupled with MXF's
advanced X-ray technology to detect and identify explosives at
checkpoints in bottles, containers and luggage.

-- Personics Inc. and the University of Maryland, College Park
($162,778): developing a database of the way sound scatters in
various human ear shapes to personalize and deliver extremely high-
fidelity "surround sound" to Compact Disc and MP3 player headphones.

-- North Potomac-based Potomac Affinity Proteins LLC and the University
of Maryland Biotechnology Institute ($105,000): optimizing and
refining the company's protein purification system, which accelerates
and simplifies the process of accurately purifying proteins for
drug discovery and development.

-- Bethesda-based Prasidiux LLC and the University of Maryland, College
Park ($182,600): refining and expanding Prasidiux's smart polymer gel
for mass production. The gel, which could be attached to perishables
such as vaccines or meat products, indicates changes in temperature
that might be undesirable for sensitive materials.

-- Baltimore-based Profectus BioSciences Inc. and the University of
Maryland Biotechnology Institute ($225,622): pre-clinical study of a
pharmacological agent that could increase the efficacy of Profectus'
human immunodeficiency virus vaccine.

-- Hagerstown-based Rampf Molds Industries Inc. and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($303,652): integrating advanced materials and
structure technologies into Rampf's molds, which are sold to concrete
product manufacturers. The new technologies will extend the life
cycle of the molds, and possibly reduce their weight-and subsequent
setup times.

-- Hollywood-based Recovery Science LLC and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($308,750): scientific study and product testing trial
of Recovery's Wrist Isolator�, a new, low-cost, portable athletic
training and rehabilitation device that strengthens and increases
control within the full range of a wrist's six possible motions.

-- Potomac-based reoSYM and the University of Maryland, College Park
($173,478): developing compression protocols to carry radio signals
from the edge of a wireless network to its core.

-- Rockville-based Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the University of
Maryland, Baltimore ($215,408): developing non-toxic, water-soluble
polymers for delivering cancer drugs. With drugs attached, Rexahn's
polymers could be wrapped around a tumor, after which they would
release drugs to attack just the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells
unharmed.

-- Beltsville-based SD Nanosciences Inc. and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($105,714): developing a novel,
nanotechnology-based delivery system for a bacterial meningitis B
vaccine.

-- Bethesda-based TestSolvers LLC and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($96,400): developing algorithms to enhance the
company's tool for testing software, which detects more errors in
less time than currently used methods.

-- Baltimore-based Theradigm Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($107,477): animal study tracing the path neural stem cells
take to replace dying or dead brain cells. The study, using the
university's unique, image-guided cell delivery system, could provide
Theradigm with an effective tool for delivering neural stem cells
during clinical trials.

-- Rockville-based VorCat Inc. and the University of Maryland, College
Park ($106,250): benchmarking VorCat's turbulent fluid flow
simulation software for new uses in the chemical processing and
pharmaceutical industries. VorCat's software is currently used in the
automotive, aerospace, maritime, and biomedical markets.

-- Baltimore-based WellDoc Communications Inc. and the University of
Maryland, Baltimore ($196,402): evaluating the effectiveness of a
patient-to-physician interactive diabetes management system. The
system includes a cell phone-based software platform and supporting
web-based interface, which together enable real-time analysis,
feedback, and education between a patient and physician.

-- Boyds-based Zylacta Corporation and the University of Maryland
Biotechnology Institute ($115,963): developing optimal methods to
mass-produce Zylacta's hepatitis C therapeutic. The drug also could
be used to treat autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes and
rheumatoid arthritis, as well as chronic heart failure and multiple
cancers.

This is the 39th round of MIPS funding. The program has supported
research projects with close to 400 different Maryland companies since
1987.

Commercial products MIPS-related research has contributed to have
generated more than $12.1 billion in revenue, added jobs to the region, and
contributed to successes such as Martek Biosciences' infant formula
additives, Hughes Network Systems' HughesNetO, MedImmune Inc.'s Synagis(R),
and Black & Decker's Bullet(R) Speed Tip Masonry Drill Bit.

####

About University of Maryland
About MIPS ( http://www.mips.umd.edu )

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program, an initiative of the A.
James Clark School of Engineering's Maryland Technology Enterprise
Institute, brings university innovation to the commercial sector by
supporting university-based research projects to help Maryland companies
develop technology-based products.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) Program
2100 Potomac Bldg.
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742-3415
PHONE: 301-405-3891
FAX: 301-314-2658

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