UMass researchers awarded $320K for projects

EIGHT RESEARCHERS within the University of Massachusetts system have been awarded a total of $320,000 for projects.
EIGHT RESEARCHERS within the University of Massachusetts system have been awarded a total of $320,000 for projects.

BOSTON – Eight researchers within the University of Massachusetts system have been awarded a total of $320,000 to develop promising technologies ranging from safer helmets to new virus vaccines.
At $40,000 each, the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center’s Innovation Commercialization Seed Fund grants provide financing to researchers who have invented or developed innovative projects with commercial potential.
“These awards are designed to support the commercial development of some of the exciting new inventions coming out of UMass labs and fueling our innovation economy. We look forward to seeing these technologies become the foundation of new start-up companies throughout the commonwealth,” said Katie Stebbins, assistant secretary of Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship in the state Department of Housing and Economic Development and chairperson of the MTTC’s advisory board.
Housed within UMass’s Office of Technology Commercialization and Ventures, the MTTC is a state organization that assists the transfer of technology from the state’s research institutions to private industry. The awards supplement earlier funding for these research projects.
“The discovery and innovation underway at all five UMass campuses advances education and science while helping to fuel our economy,” said UMass President Martin T. Meehan.
University of Massachusetts, which ranked 57th in Thomas Reuters inaugural rating of the World’s Most Innovative Universities, is a national leader in converting faculty discoveries into innovative products and licensing income – generating $34 million in licensing income in fiscal year 2015.
Initiatives that won grants include:

  • “Commercial development of Flocked Energy Absorbing Materials for sport apparel and equipment applications,” by UMass Dartmouth researcher Yong K. Kim;
  • “Development of protocols for large-scale production of virus-like particle vaccine candidates for Respiratory Syncytial Virus,” by researcher Trudy G. Morrison in the UMass Medical School.
  • “Radiation detection and monitoring for radiation safety and medical applications employing self-powered High Energy Current nanofilms,” at UMass Lowell by researcher Erno Sajo;
  • “Bisphenol A (BPA)-free epoxy resins for food can liners,” at UMass Lowell by researcher Daniel Schmidt;
  • “Catheter-based ultrasound fiber optic temperature distribution measurement system for controlling the radiofrequency ablation,” at UMass Lowell by researcher Xingwei Wang:
  • “Commercialization of a two-stage Peltier cooling cell,” at UMass Boston by researcher Robyn Hannigan;
  • “Versatile nano-polymer platform for therapeutic delivery,” at UMass Amherst by researcher Sankaran Thayumanavan; and
  • “Versatile electronic tongue for environmental monitoring and food safety applications,” at UMass Lowell by researcher Pradeep U. Kurup.

No posts to display