Five Purdue innovations receive more than $200,000 from Trask Innovation Fund
July 24, 2013
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue researchers received more than $200,000 through the Trask Innovation Fund to help commercialize their innovations in the fields of chemistry, engineering, and speech, language and hearing sciences.
The Purdue Research Foundation-managed Trask Innovation Fund is a development program to assist faculty and staff whose discoveries are being commercialized through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization.
Corey Neu, assistant professor in Purdue University's College of Engineering, received $50,000 to support "Critical Advancement to a New AFM/NMR Instrument." His innovation allows researchers to better understand cell movement and physical and chemical properties at a single-cell level.
"We will be able to build a new kind of microscope system and generate data using the system that is essential to help commercialize the technology," he said.
The other researchers, projects and award amounts for the spring 2013 round of funding are:
* "Metamaterial Sound Insulation Panels," Thomas Siegmund, professor in the College of Engineering, $33,626. The technology can be used to fabricate materials that control, direct and manipulate sound in various applications including aerospace, automotive and civil.
* "Wireless Positioning and Tracking Technology for Indoor Location Based Services," Byunghoo Jung, associate professor in the College of Engineering, $49,548. This technology shows promise for an automated positioning and tracking system for indoor and outdoor applications with substantially higher resolution than GPS-style positioning systems.
* "Development of SPEAK more! A Language Training App for Individuals with Severe Autism," Oliver Wendt, assistant professor in the College of Health and Human Sciences, $50,000. The technology shows promise in helping individuals affected by severe, non-verbal autism to foster more robust communication with their families and others.
* "Fast Spectroscopy Imaging by Parallel-detection of Stimulated Raman Scattering," Ji-Xin Cheng, associate professor in the College of Science, $50,000. The technology will allow researchers, clinicians or pathologists to look at live biological samples, without labeling, in real-time.
Dan Hasler, president of Purdue Research Foundation and chief entrepreneurial officer at Purdue University, said the university's culture of innovation impacts the globe.
"Faculty, staff and students and their dedication to improving the world are at the center of Purdue's environment of innovation," he said. "The researchers who earned Trask Innovation Fund awards are developing work that represents just a fraction of the life-changing ideas from Purdue that could lead to longer, healthier, happier and more productive lives."
The next proposal submissions from Purdue faculty and staff for the Trask Innovation Fund will be due Sept. 13. Information about submissions is available at http://otc-prf.org/node/337. The Trask Advisory Council will meet Oct. 25.
Purdue University has nearly 500 technologies available for licensing through the Office of Technology Commercialization. For more information, call 765-588-3341.
About the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization
The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the United States. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities.
Purdue Research Foundation Contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
Source: Elizabeth Hart-Wells, Office of Technology Commercialization, 765-588-3473, eahart-wells@prf.org
