COLLEGE PARK, Md., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland's Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program (MIPS) today announces the approval of 23 new research projects partnering Maryland companies with university researchers to develop high-tech commercial products.
Worth $3.6 million, the projects combine $2.1 million from participating companies and $1.5 million from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program. Funding supports work in the laboratories of participating university system faculty, who work closely with partner companies to advance their product development.
Seven approved projects are related to homeland security, while 13 are in the biotechnology market segment. Four institutions are participating: the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with nine projects; the University of Maryland Baltimore County, with one project; the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, with one, and the University of Maryland, College Park, with 12. Five projects involve Baltimore and Baltimore County-based companies, while two are on the Eastern Shore. Company partners include 14 start-ups, seven small companies, and two medium-sized firms.
Projects approved include:
-- Bethesda-based ADF Solutions Inc. and the University of Maryland,
College Park (105,597): developing image recognition technology that
enables law enforcement agents and private investigators to help
categorize pictures found on suspect computers during onsite
investigations. The new technology will enhance ADF's existing triage
and preview software applications for digital forensic analysis.
-- Ellicott City-based Aid Networks LLC and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($104,800): developing a testbed for wireless sensor
networks that can be applied to the monitoring of animals, personnel,
and environmental patterns.
-- Baltimore-based Alba Therapeutics Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore: exploring the use of Alba's proprietary technology to
deliver drugs and vaccines via the lung and nasal cavity.
-- Baltimore-based Alba Therapeutics Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore: examining the role of tight junction modulation in acute
respiratory distress syndrome, as well as the potential of the
company's lead therapeutic molecules as a treatment for ARDS.
-- Rockville-based APC Biotechnologies Inc. and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($77,525): developing a fertility test for dairy
cattle that could aid in commercial breeding and maintaining the 9.2
million cows needed to meet annual U.S. milk and milk product
consumption.
-- Arnold-based Applied Sensor Research and Development Corporation and
the University of Maryland, College Park ($106,856): developing a
commercial concrete maturity monitor prototype based on proprietary
acoustic wave sensors that can determine and predict the strength of
concrete at early stages to ensure the safety and quality of
construction projects.
-- Baltimore-based Baltimore Animal Medicine and the University of
Maryland, Baltimore ($95,550): further developing a new drug delivery
system for pain relief in animals.
-- Biomedica Management Corp. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore
County ($105,000): developing ClotFoam, a medical treatment that would
arrest severe internal bleeding and promote blood clotting. ClotFoam
could be used on-site when a traumatic injury occurs.
-- Waldorf-based Cardinal Scientific Inc. and the University of Maryland,
College Park ($168,960): Designing a Web-based interface for
manufacturing parts using a water-jet cutting machine.
-- Rockville-based CertusNet Inc. and the University of Maryland, College
Park ($272,178): developing an intelligent, network-level load
management solution for data centers, offering dynamic load balancing
and automatic service restoration, as well as enabling automatic server
load consolidation to save energy costs.
-- Frederick-based ChromoTrax Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($71,991): developing a test reagent that will help the
company create a technology to detect abnormal DNA which is associated
with birth defects and other genetically-linked diseases including
cancers.
-- Baltimore-based Gliknik and the University of Maryland, Baltimore
($116,627): advancing the development of an identified pre-clinical
lead compound for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune inflammatory
diseases.
-- Easton-based Green Eyes LLC and the University of Maryland Center for
Environmental Science ($104,598): creating a device to protect moored
water quality sensors from the impairment and degradation caused by the
growth and activity of living organisms (biofouling).
-- Rockville-based HeMemics Biotech and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($107,278): Developing preserved, dried cellular products for
diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the veterinary market.
-- Salisbury-based K&L Microwave and the University of Maryland, College
Park ($145,140): developing a new product line to manufacture space
hardware for the satellite communications industry.
-- Hyattsville-based Maxion Technologies Inc. and the University of
Maryland, College Park ($105,000): developing high-power, compact,
high-brightness, efficient, mid-infrared lasers for chemical sensing
applications such as monitoring pollutants, industrial process control,
medical diagnosis, and infrared countermeasures.
-- Annapolis-based PharmAthene Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($290,636): conducting mechanism of action studies for
Valortim(TM), a fully human monoclonal antibody designed to protect
against inhalation anthrax, which is the most lethal form of anthrax in
humans caused by the Bacillus anthracis bacterium. Valortim(TM) is
being co-developed by Medarex, Inc. and PharmAthene.
-- Gaithersburg-based Promogen Inc. and the University of Maryland,
Baltimore ($105,015): developing synthetic gene promoters capable of
targeting gene expression to specific cell types with unprecedented
levels of precision. The technology will be used in gene therapy drug
development and in recombinant protein production and manufacturing.
-- Bethesda-based Quantum Molecular Technologies Inc. and the University
of Maryland, College Park ($454,628): developing a new radiation sensor
that could significantly reduce the size and cost of positron emission
tomography (PET) scanners. PET is a nuclear medicine medical imaging
technique that produces three-dimensional images of functional
processes in the body.
-- Bethesda-based RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. and the University of
Maryland, Baltimore ($232,146): developing a novel, efficient heart
attack treatment that could prevent damage and accelerate healing of
cardiac tissue.
-- Bethesda-based RioRey Inc. and the University of Maryland, College Park
($267,370): improving the performance and enhancing the filtering
capabilities of RioRey's system for preventing distributed denial of
service (DDOS) attacks on computer networks.
-- Beltsville-based SunEdison LLC and the University of Maryland, College
Park ($40,394): Enhancing SunEdison's solar photovoltaic array
technology.
-- College Park-based Zymetis Inc. and the University of Maryland, College
Park ($112,153): improving yeasts strains to enhance ethanol fuel
production.
This is the 40th round of MIPS funding. The program has supported research projects with over 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' HughesNet(TM), MedImmune Inc.'s Synagis(R), and Black & Decker's Bullet(R) Speed Tip Masonry Drill Bit.
The MTECH 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.
Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute
CONTACT: Eric Schurr of Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute, +1-301-405-3889, schurr@umd.edu
.gif)
