Entrepreneurial Opportunities
UConn R & D is looking for entrepreneurs who have expertise in specific
industry areas, familiarity with start-up companies or have started a
company, or are in a career transition and looking to be involved in the
development of new companies. Opportunities also exist for part-time
advisory board level participation at all stages of company development.
Interested entrepreneurs should send a resume to UConn R & D to be entered
into our entrepreneur database.
UConn’s technologies are at various stages of development, ranging from
proof of concept to established technologies in prototype development. Most
often, the technology evaluated by UConn R & D is at an early stage. Strong
leadership is needed to move these projects forward, increase their appeal
to investors, and position them for further industry collaborations.
UConn R & D encourages prospective entrepreneurs to meet with University
professors and review the research on the UConn campuses. We can
facilitate meetings with professors and help coordinate information
regarding research centers at UConn.
There are numerous research projects underway at the University’s campuses, including Storrs, Avery Point (Groton, CT), and the UConn Health
Center (Farmington, CT). We encourage interested entrepreneurs to
periodically consult our Entrepreneurial Opportunities pages for potential
new projects under review. More information on University research can be
found in the section University Research Centers.
New Ortho Polymers, Inc.
New Ortho Polymers, Inc. (NOP) is based on patented technology using polymer
materials in orthodontic appliances developed by Drs. Charles Burstone and
Jon Goldberg at UConn's School of Dental Medicine. NOP is applying
self-reinforced polymer material to create the first polymer-based, esthetic
arch wire for commercial use. NOP also utilizes a patented shape memory
polymer technology developed by Dr. Pat Mather, formerly at UConn's
Institute of Materials Science in Storrs, to create orthodontic
appliances for tooth movement. The Company has been awarded an STTR grant from the
National Institutes of Health and has recently secured seed capital
financing. See Press
Release.
Renzulli Learning
Dr. Joe Renzulli and Dr. Sally Reis, of the School of Education’s Neag
Center for Gifted Education & Talent Development at Storrs, have
developed a series of tests and teaching materials to identify a
student's primary learning style, abilities, interests, and preferred
modes of expression. Using this student profile as a guide, the
Company’s enrichment activity search engine instantly matches every
student’s strength and interest to a vast variety of relevant learning
activities and resources, including virtual fieldtrips, real fieldtrips,
creativity training, summer programs, books, projects, independent
studies, and much more. The Company has also released a home edition
called the Renzulli ScoreBooster (see
Print Release).
Renzulli Learning reported sales of over $3
million in 2007, a 100% increase over FY2006. See additional
News
Article and web site.
Synaptic Dynamics, Inc.
Based on the research of Dr. Ben Bahr, Associate Professor of
Pharmacology and Neurotoxicology, and Dr. Dennis Wright, Associate
Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, the Company plans to develop drugs
that promote the clearance of protein accumulations at neural synapses
found in Alzheimer's Disease. The project has secured $65,000 in
prototype funding and is in the process of establishing
proof-of-concept. See News
Article.
Venomix
The Company is based on the work of
Dr. Glenn King, formerly at UConn's Department of Molecular, Microbial and Structural Biology.
Dr. King's research focuses on the use of spider
venoms as a source of natural insect toxins. Venomix, using proprietary
targets with little or no vertebrate toxicity, develops new insecticidal
compounds using high-throughput screening and
rational design methods. These products are targeted at the
agricultural, specialty non-crop, and animal health markets, which have a
combined market value (for insecticides only) of $15 billion. The
Company has a cooperative research agreement with Chemtura
Corporation, a $3 billion specialty chemical company. Recently, Venomix
completed a Series A financing with
SWMF Life Science Venture Fund, LP
for $2.25 million. See additional
Press Release and
News Article.
Contact UConn R & D for more
information on its companies.
[back to top]
UConn R & D is in the process of soliciting funding and recruiting
management for several projects. These include:
Treatment for Cardiac
Failure
Dr. Bruce Liang, Director of
the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center, in conjunction with the
National Institutes of Health, has identified a new target
and class of compounds to treat cardiac
hypertrophy and failure. UConn R & D is seeking funding to complete
large animal studies (canine) and perform preliminary toxicology
testing.
Contact UConn R & D for more
information on current projects seeking funding and management.
[back to top]
Active Toy Technologies
Utilizing shape memory
polymers (SMP) developed at the Institute of Materials Science, UConn
R&D is partnering with a toy development company to develop action
figures based on these new polymers. The first phase is to complete
three to four prototypes that demonstrate the feasibility of SMP in
several toy concepts. The Company recently secured $45,000 in prototype
development funds.
Applications for
Photoactive Proteins
Dr. Robert Birge, Harold S.
Schwenk Distinguished Professor of Biophysical Chemistry, is researching
genetically engineered bacteriorhodopsin. Bacteriorhodopsin proteins
generate an electrical pulse when photo-activated. The Birge Lab
manufactures variants of the proteins and screens them to optimize their
photochemical properties. UConn R & D is working with the Birge Lab to
create a working prototype of an artificial retina that uses these
proteins.
Contact UConn R & D for further
information on these projects, or to inquire about other projects in
development.
[back to top]
Water Testing for Trace
Metals
Dr. Robert Mason, Professor
in the Department of Marine Sciences, is developing tests to measure
mercury levels in water. Dr. Mason's method may also be applicable to
measure other trace metals.
Contact UConn R & D for further
information on these technologies, or to inquire about other technologies
under review.
[back to top]
The following identifies some of the departments and centers of focused
research at the University campuses. Contact UConn R & D to arrange
a visit to any of these departments, a technology demonstration, or a
meeting with a professor.
UConn Health Center
Research Centers
There are over forty active
research centers at the UConn Health Center,
spanning a variety of departments. Some of these research centers include:
Alcohol Research
Center (ARC) – Although alcohol research remains the central focus, the
ARC now has programs that encompass research on other psychoactive
substances, pathological gambling, and HIV/AIDS.
Center for
Biomaterials – The Center’s focus is the study of material-tissue
interfacial behavior, which includes tissue response at the cell and
molecular level, characterization of surfaces, nanofabrication, and
development of new materials. The Center coordinates with the Institute for
Materials Science at Storrs and the UConn Health Center Musculoskeletal
Institute.
Center for Biomedical
Imaging Technology (CBIT) – The Center comprises several groups of
research faculty involved in diagnostic and cell biological imaging,
optoelectronic design, and computer/imaging science. CBIT has initiated
several collaborations to develop new technologies in the field of
biomedical imaging. CBIT is the home of NRCAM, the National Resource for
Cell Analysis and Modeling, which is developing the Virtual Cell Modeling
and Simulation Framework.
Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive
Cancer Center –
The Center provides state-of-the-art cancer services and research focused on
discovering innovative ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer.
The Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology
Center – The Center offers top quality care to diagnose and treat
diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and research focused on developing
new therapies and approaches in both the prevention and treatment of heart
and blood vessel diseases.
Genetics and Developmental Biology
– The Department offers a world-class opportunity for research and training
in cutting-edge areas of genetics and developmental biology.
Gregory P. Mullen NMR
Structural Biology Facility – The Facility provides a state-of-the-art
environment for studying the three-dimensional structure, dynamics, folding,
and interactions of biological macromolecules. The primary goals of the
facility are the application of advanced NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance)
techniques to important biomedical problems and the development of web-based
NMR tools.
Section of Hypertension and
Vascular Diseases – This is a state-of-the-art center specializing in
the diagnosis and management of a wide variety of vascular diseases. The
center also conducts clinical research primarily in high blood pressure,
elevated cholesterol, and diabetes mellitus.
Center for Immunotherapy and
Infectious Diseases (CICID) – The Center is a forum for research in
basic mechanisms of immune response, and its application to treatment of
cancers, and infectious and autoimmune diseases.
Center for Microbial Pathogenesis –
The major objective of the Center is to elucidate the parasitic strategies
which enable microbial pathogens to cause disease.
Center for Molecular Medicine – The
Center has a major focus on genetic approaches to human disease, including
use of relevant animal models.
Department of Molecular,
Microbial & Structural Biology (MMSB) – Research in the Department
focuses on fundamental processes of gene expression, cell division, DNA
replication, recombination and repair, intracellular transport of
macromolecules, molecular motors, protein folding, and membrane biology and
biochemistry.
Molecular Motors
Laboratory – The focus in this Laboratory is on understanding the
mechanisms which control motor function using a wide variety of techniques
ranging from physiological measurements and genetic analyses to structural
biology.
Molecular Ophthalmic
Genetics Laboratory – This Laboratory is studying the genetics of
glaucoma, focusing on adult-onset primary open-angle glaucoma caused by
mutations in optineurin.
Department
of Neuroscience – The Department offers an integrated community of
neuroscience investigators, with special strengths in the following areas of
research: cellular and molecular, neurotransmission, development, sensory
processing, systems, and neurological diseases.
Department of Pharmacology –
Research in this Department emphasizes cellular and molecular pharmacology
and includes the study of neuropharmacology, cardiovascular and pulmonary
pharmacology, endocrine-reproductive pharmacology, immunopharmacology and
chemotherapy, and chemical mechanisms of biotransformation.
Protein Structure and Engineering
Laboratory – The research in this Laboratory focuses on bacterial cell
division and isolating specific spider toxins as insecticide leads for
biopesticide development.
Department of Psychiatry and
Neuropsychiatric Institute – The Institute fosters strong basic and
clinical research programs focused on developing new understanding of
psychiatric disorders and formulating new and innovative treatments.
Radiology
(Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Therapeutics) – In addition to its
clinical services, the Department has two research divisions, Research in
Imaging for Diagnostic Medicine and the Biomolecular Structure Analysis
Center.
Division of Rheumatic Diseases
– This division includes basic research related to inflammatory and immune
mechanisms, and clinical research in rheumatic and autoimmune diseases
include social studies, epidemiologic analyses, and therapeutic trials of
diverse rheumatic diseases.
Center for Vascular Biology
(CVB) – The Center is interested in better
understanding the molecular mechanisms of blood vessels in normal
physiological conditions and in disease. State-of-the-art research is conducted in the areas of tumor angiogenesis, lipid mediators, signal
transduction, vascular proteomics, post-transcriptional gene expression,
vascular developmental biology and cell invasion/metastasis.
Waterborne Disease Center
– The Center is dedicated to developing solutions to global and national
health problems caused by waterborne diseases.
UConn, Storrs
Research Centers
There are approximately seventy active
research centers and institutes at
the Storrs campus, spanning a variety of disciplines. Some of these research
centers include:
Booth Engineering
Center for Advanced Technology (BECAT) – The Center’s mission is to help
revitalize the Connecticut technology-based economy through application of
University resources and know-how. BECAT research facilities include: the
Center for Thermal-Mechanical Processing, the Precision Design and
Manufacturing Center, the Engineering Systems Simulation Center, the
Optoelectronics Sciences Center, and the Energy Systems Center.
Biotechnology/Bioservices Center
(BBC) – The Center is dedicated to developing a center of excellence in
biotechnology research and to fostering biotechnology industry in
Connecticut. The Center promotes University-wide biotechnology research
programs and establishes research collaborations with industry, promotes
technology transfer, and offers biotechnology industrial associates
programs.
Center for Population Research
(CPR) – The CPR functions as a research, training, and service facility
within the University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Center for Regenerative Biology (CRB)
– The ultimate objective of this new center is to investigate areas of basic
science that might lead to the therapeutic production of new cell types,
tissues or organs as potential replacements for diseased tissues commonly
found in disorders such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, multiple
sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and many cancers.
Institute of Materials Science (IMS)
– The Institute serves as an outstanding research center in the
interdisciplinary fields of materials science at UConn, to provide superior
graduate research training, and to act as a source of advanced technology
for the support of industry in the State. Researchers in the Institute
conduct theoretical and experimental research in metallurgy, ceramics,
polymers, composites, electronic and photonic materials and biomaterials.
The Institute also houses the IMS Associates Program which assists
Connecticut industries in their research and development efforts.
National Research Center on the
Gifted and Talented – The Center plans and conducts a program of high
quality research that is theory driven, problem based, consumer oriented, and relevant to school practices. The three major
components of the research program emphasize research related to
identifying, nurturing, and developing a broad range of talent potentials in
students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds; research that
examines the larger contexts of school and community in which studies are
conducted; and research that creates nationwide cooperation among
researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and other persons and groups with
a stake in maximizing high performance.
UConn, Avery
Point Research Centers
The Avery Point Campus in Groton, Connecticut, supports a variety of
research, particularly focusing on marine sciences, underwater studies, and
coastal resources. Several of these research facilities work in
collaboration with various organizations, such as government agencies (e.g.,
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) and local maritime
industries, in order to study and evaluate the marine and coastal resources
of Connecticut and Long Island Sound. These research centers include:
Connecticut Sea Grant College
Program – The Sea Grant Program’s mission is to foster the conservation
and wise use of our nation's marine and coastal resources through research,
outreach, and education. Implemented as a partnership between UConn and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S.
Department of Commerce, the program collaborates with maritime industries
and coastal communities to identify needs, and fund research, outreach, and
educational activities that have special relevance to Connecticut and Long
Island Sound.
Marine Sciences and Technology
Center (MSTC) – The mission of MSTC is to foster and provide
infrastructure support for interdisciplinary research in the marine
environment. MSTC operates the fleet of research vessels, including the
recently built R/V Connecticut, the Rankin seawater facility, and the
research diving program at the University.
National Undersea Research Center
(NURC) – The NURC represents the North Atlantic and Great Lakes, and is
one of six undersea centers established by the National Oceanographic and
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Undersea Research Program to provide
the research community access to advanced underwater technologies. NURC's
mission is to advance understanding of the oceans and Great Lakes by
providing researchers access to specialized underwater technologies,
developing new ways to work underwater and promoting the underwater world.
[back to top]
|
