UCSD: 5 Teams Get Research Funding for Test Prototypes

August 24Five UC San Diego research teams will be able to bring their innovation one step closer to marketing thanks to the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur (IGE). Each team received up to $50,000 in new research funding so they can field test their prototypes. By being selected to join the IGE’s new technology accelerator program the teams will also receive $25,000 in expert consolations and facility access to the Nano3 clean-room labs as well as the world class Prototyping Facility at the UC San Diego’s Qualcomm Institute.  Four of the five projects cover advances in medical device and diagnostic technologies. The fifth works with Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology for use in autonomous-vehicle navigation. 

(Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

The IGE is a collaboration between the Jacobs School of Engineering and the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego. The IGE Technology Accelerator program provides research funding for developing, fine tuning, and testing prototypes with actual users. In an article for the UC San Diego News Center, Dennis Abremski, executive director of the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur, stated, “With this accelerator, we are working to fill the gaps in the path to commercialization,” He went on to say, “Testing prototypes with potential customers or other partners is one of the critical steps toward successful commercialization that many teams struggle with.”

As part of the program, the teams will work with dedicated, experienced entrepreneurs and technical experts who serve as their mentors. In the same article Dr. Vish Krishnan, associate director of the IGE explained, “One thing we see over and over is a gap between what entrepreneurs perceive as their value proposition, target market, and success strategies versus their actual value and eventual business strategies.” The Rady School director of Entrepreneurship programs and Professor of Innovation, Technology and Operations went on to say, “It is important to equip the teams with mentoring and peer group support that prepares them for the turbulent world of new venture creation.”

All five teams in this inaugural IGE Technology Accelerator program are based in the Jacob’s School of Engineering. Their research projects include:

• Stretchable, Conformal Batteries for Wearable Applications with faculty advisers of Shirley Meng and Joseph Wang of the NanoEngeneering Department. This project’s goal is the development of printable, stretchable, nanoparticle-based materials for batteries.
• Cardiac Risk Assessment Imaging with Carlos del Almo, Professor from the Department of Mechanical Aerospace Engineering, and Andrew M. Khan M.D.  from the Department of Medicine as faculty advisers. The VeoCor team aims to prevent thousands of strokes a year by deploying its personalized tool that assesses the risk of blood clots in patients with heart failure and heart attacks.   
• Electromagnetically Shielded Devices for MRI Guidance of Minimally Invasive Procedures overseen by Professor Prabhaker Banaru of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department. This teams innovation is a specialized nanoparticle-based coating that would make it possible to us standard medical instruments in MRI assisted medical procedures.
• Esophageal Deflection Device for Cardiac Surgery with Frank Talk, PhD  as faculty adviser, this team is developing a medical instrument to safely and reliably prevent thermal damage to the esophagus during cardiac ablation procedures.
• Compact, Solid State Lasers for LIDAR Applications in Autonomous Vehicles working under Assistant professor Boubacar Kodigala with Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This team, is developing a turnable, chip-level, solid state BIC (bound in states continuum) laser for use in the LIDAR of autonomous vehicles.

The IGE Technology Accelerator program received funding support from the Office of the Chancellor and from California Assembly Bill 2664. This assembly bill provided $2.2 million to every UC campus can expand its innovation and entrepreneurship activities. The program is also funded by a gift from The Legler Benbough Foundation.

UC San Diego Researchers meet with Laboratory Equipment Suppliers at BioResearch Product Faire:

Twice a year, Biotechnology Calendar Inc. hosts a vendor showcase where laboratory equipment suppliers can connect with UCSD researchers and lab managers on campus. The 45th  Semiannual Biotechnology Vendor Showcase event at UC San Diego will be on Thursday, August 24, 2017. 

The vendor showcase gives laboratory suppliers the opportunity to meet with some of the 1,400 physicians and researchers who make up the UCSD faculty. At this event, suppliers can demonstrate their products and build relationships with the researchers, like those at UCSD's Department of Medicine and Jacob's School of Engineering, who will put their equipment general lab supplies to use.

Those interested in increasing lab product sales by participating in the UCSD biotech vender trade show should visit the link below or call (530) 272-6675: 

 Science professionals are invited to attend for free.