Twelve experimental technologies under development at nine academic institutions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware were named finalists Monday for the University City Science Center’s QED Program.
The QED program, established in 2009, is designed to bridge the gap between academic research and product commercialization. Through the program, the Science Center works with 21 academic and research institutions to identify the most promising university research — and build business plans around them.
The finalists for this year’s program were picked by a panel of 22 industry experts and investors, who judged applicants based on the product potential of their ideas in the life science and health care markets. Finalists will work with QED business advisors, who are seasoned industry veterans, to develop a comprehensive proof-of-concept plan.
This year’s finalists are:
- Ahad Behboodi, from the University of Delaware, who is working on a device for improving foot and ankle movement;
- Jacob Brenner, University of Pennsylvania, who is working on a device to ameliorate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- X. Lucas Lu, University of Delaware, who is working on a device for the capture of circulating tumor cells;
- John Maris, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who is developing a gene therapy for brain cancer;
- Patricia McLaughlin, Penn State College of Medicine, who is developing a novel treatment for wound healing;
- Peter Nguyen, New Jersey Institute of Technology, who is developing a therapeutic for neovascular disease;
- Oscar Perez, Temple University, who is working on a tool for cell lines for drug discovery;
- Qinyin Qiu, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, who is working on a tool for post-stroke rehabilitation;
- Servio Ramirez, Temple University, who is working on a diagnostic for traumatic brain injury;
- Roozbeh Sadeghian, Harrisburg University of Science & Technology, who is developing a diagnostic tool for dementia;
- Frederick Silver, Rutgers, who is developing a novel imaging of skin lesions;
- Eric Wickstrom, Thomas Jefferson University, who is developing a therapeutic for breast cancer.
In January 2019, three projects will be selected to receive up to $200,000 each to validate their proof-of-concept. Funding for each project is contributed equally by the Science Center and the researcher’s home institution. Each research institution retains ownership of all intellectual property.
Since its inception, the QED program has reviewed more than 600 proposals, accepting 128 projects. QED has awarded more $6 million to 34 projects, which have gone on to raise more than $22 million in follow-on funding. In addition, 10 technologies backed by QED have been licensed and eight companies have been launched.
