November 11, 2008

Purdue's Alfred Mann Institute provides seed funding for life science development projects

"Our mission is to support the commercialization of life science technologies created at Purdue that help mankind," said John C. Hertig, executive director of the $100 million Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development (AMIPurdue). "We feel these technologies that are emerging from the discovery stage have the potential to make a significant contribution toward improving health care."

The Alfred Mann Institute for Biomedical Development at Purdue was established in 2007 through a $100 million endowment from the California-based Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering. The Purdue institute works closely with Purdue's Office of Technology Commercialization, which is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University.

"AMIPurdue funds faculty projects in the early stages of development through supplemental funding agreements," Hertig said. "The purpose of this funding is to provide additional support to faculty working on high-potential projects in life sciences for which we believe we can provide enabling resources to facilitate rapid commercialization."

The first four development projects and areas selected for funding by AMIPurdue are:

* Soft-tissue repair through an electrochemically-oriented collagen matrix to improve the regeneration or replacement of tendons as well as to create a template for directing nerve regrowth. The principal investigator is Ozan Akkus, an associate professor of biomedical engineering.

* Tissue scaffolds to improve damaged ligament reattachment to bone structures. The principal investigator is Eric Nauman, associate professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering. The goal of the development effort is to improve the healing and long-term health of ligament tissues while minimizing the secondary wound recovery from harvested tissue.

* Early detection of breast cancer using an electrochemical biosensor that provides health-care clinicians with test results in 10-15 minutes. The principal investigator is Stephen Beaudoin, a professor of chemical engineering. The goal of this development activity is to improve cancer diagnostics, thus minimizing the invasive nature of breast cancer surgery and reduce the likelihood of cancer recurrence.

* Synthetic proteoglycans, or the "filler" between cells, that improve the natural wound-healing processes such as scarring and blood clotting. The principal investigator is Alyssa Panitch, an associate professor of biomedical engineering. The objective of this development program is to create a scar-prevention therapy to improve healing of surgical wounds and an anticlotting therapy to minimize the risk of postsurgical stroke.

"This initial funding represents the beginning of support for innovative ideas created by Purdue researchers," Hertig said. "We are currently evaluating a second phase of emerging technologies for seed funding support."

AMIPurdue is located in Purdue University's Discovery Park at 203 Martin Jischke Drive, Suite 105, West Lafayette, IN 47907. For inquiries, contact Steve Mogensen at (765) 494-8316, smogensen@AMIPurdue.org

The Purdue University-based Alfred Mann Institute is the third in the world created by the efforts of the Mann Foundation. The first institute became fully operational in 2002 at the University of Southern California. The second was established in October 2006 at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel.

The institutes have a goal of commercializing biomedical technologies and moving the products to the public. The supplemental funding agreements are grants given to promote the development of a research project, but are not a commitment to commercialize a potential discovery. 

About the Alfred Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering

The Alfred Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering is a philanthropic organization that establishes and supports university-based institutes for biomedical product development. It has the primary goal of expediting the commercialization of compelling life science technology for the benefit of mankind. The foundation is located in Valencia, Calif., which is north of Los Angeles. Mann, who is a successful serial medical device entrepreneur and prominent philanthropist, has established a new model of technology transfer through his foundation, which builds a bridge between academia and industry to move health-related products to doctors and their patients in an accelerated and industry-inspired and industry-focused process. In November Mann was named the 12th most generous philanthropist out of 50 individuals ranked in the United States in a study conducted by Business Week magazine.

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. The foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds research, scholarships and grants; acquires property; and negotiates research contracts on behalf of Purdue. In the 1990s, the foundation was charged with helping the university in the realm of economic development. The Purdue Research Foundation oversees the Purdue Research Park, which is the largest university-affiliated business incubator in the country. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana that include Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, casequin@prf.org

Sources:  John Hertig, (612) 723-7200, jhertig@amipurdue.org

Steve Mogensen, managing director, (765) 494-8316, smogensen@amipurdue.org  

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

To the News Service home page