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Beth McCormick, PhD |
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Regino Mercado-Lubo, MD |
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Jie Song, PhD |
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Gang Han, PhD |
Four researchers from UMass Medical School have been awarded funds for technology projects that could lead to better cancer-fighting drugs with fewer side-effects; an injectable surgical adhesive designed to reduce scarring; and bioluminescent nanocrystals for noninvasive biomedical imaging of living beings. The awards were made through the Tech Development Funds initiative of the Office of Technology Commercialization and Venture, based at the UMass President’s Office. To date, the program has funded more than $2.3 million in seed grants for faculty research and development, generating $15 million in commercial licenses and patents and resulting in numerous startup companies in Massachusetts.
“With these awards, we are investing in today and seeding tomorrow,” said UMass President Marty Meehan said. “This program pays enormous scientific and economic dividends and demonstrates the critical role that public research universities play in our world.”
Beth McCormick, PhD, professor of microbiology & physiological systems, and Regino Mercado-Lubo, MD, postdoctoral fellow in Dr. McCormick’s lab, were funded for “Development of SipA ajuvant chemotherapy targeted to multidrug resistant tumors.” This technology will develop and utilize a bacterial pathogen to assist in cancer therapeutics, with the aim of reducing the amount of chemotherapeutics needed for effective cancer cell killing, lessening side effects and reducing the incidence of drug resistance. It could lead to the development of a new and robust class of multidrug-resistance therapeutics targeted to certain cancers.
Jie Song, PhD, associate professor of orthopedics & physical rehabilitation, received seed money for “Injectable temporary surgical adhesion barriers,” which features hydrogels with precisely controlled degradation over a broad timeframe to prevent scarring and internal tissue adhesions following surgical procedures.
Gang Han, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology, received funding for the project, “The development of near-infrared persistent luminescence nanocrystals for biomedical applications,” which builds on the earlier development of new bioluminescence-like nanoparticles in Dr. Han’s lab. Development of long-lasting, light emitting nanocrystals would provide a much-improved noninvasive technology for evaluating structural and functional biological processes in living animals and people.
In addition to the four researchers at UMMS who received awards, scientists at UMass Amherst, Lowell, Dartmouth and Boston were also funded, for a total of eight projects at $25,000 each. Two additional discretionary awards were funded to help inventors identify potential commercial markets.
This year’s recipients, from among 35 applicants, were chosen for the commercial viability of their project proposals.
“I am extremely proud of the invention and discovery going on at our campuses. Our researchers are advancing in so many diverse fields and are spurring entrepreneurship—and new startups—throughout the state,” said President Meehan.
