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2005 FLC MAR Hot Technologies Press Release |
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October 7, 2005 The
2005 “Hot Technologies” contest featured ten winners at the Federal Laboratory
Consortium Mid-Atlantic Region annual meeting in The
purpose of this contest was to highlight technologies that are newly ready for
commercialization and that are being promoted by meeting attendees. Entries were judged subjectively by Scott Deiter, the Regional Coordinator, and Dottie Vincent, the
Regional Deputy Coordinator. As in 2004,
the criteria were the readiness for commercialization, the potential
marketplace financial value and the potential for beneficial impact on
civilization. Two
entries were judged sufficiently exemplary to warrant the “hottest” award, but
since there could be only one supreme winner, we divided the “hottest” category
into “most hottest” and “hottest.” Winning
the “most hottest” recognition was the “Modular
Portable Air-Conditioning System” described by Paul Fritz of the Pax River Division of the The
“hottest” recognition went to “Daclizumab for
Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis,” presented by Laurie Arrants
on behalf of the National Institute of Neurological disorders and Stroke. This composition was originally discovered by
a National Cancer Institute scientist in conjunction with Protein design Lab
for a cancer treatment and was marketed by Roche as Zenepax®
for kidney transplant rejection. NINDS
investigators interested in T-cell and immunology in multiple sclerosis
developed its use with interferon beta, a standard treatment for multiple
sclerosis. This use is awaiting FDA
approval and Phase III trials. Three
“hotter” recognitions were made. “Hotter”
recognition one was made for “High Efficiency Protein Conjugation Used to
Create Low Cost, Effective and Safe Menningitis
Vaccines for Sub-Saharan African and Developing Countries.” This topic was presented by Dano Murphy of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and
Research of the Food and Drug Administration.
The conjugation technology improves existing methods for producing
conjugated vaccines. Process features
include high efficiency, low cost and high yields with site directed
conjugation and low percent of discarded conjugate. The potential is to provide vaccine in areas
of the world where commercial vaccine is prohibitive. “Hotter”
recognition two went for new antiviral peptides as described by Tom Stackhouse
of the National Cancer Institute. Two
related technologies both correspond to antiviral peptides (scytovirin
and griffithsin) isolated from cyanobacteria
and red algae respectively. They have
demonstrated antiviral activities against HIV-1 and numerous other enveloped
viruses. They bind to viral coat glycoproteins thus inhibiting viral binding to cells. Both have been recombinantly
produced by expression of a corresponding DNA sequence tin Escherichia
coli. Both have demonstrated potential
as anti-HIV microbicides in the form of a
female-controlled virucidal gel, cream or
suppository. The anti-microbial
properties would be well suited as a control for HIV infections in developing
countries where the HIV outbreak is severe.
Also, they have potential use as therapeutic agents for systemic use,
similar to Fuzeon®. “Hotter”
recognition three was granted for “Liquid Atomizing Nozzle and Fine Water Mist
System,” presented by Paul Fritz of the Pax River
Division of the Naval Air Warfare Center.
Initially developed to use water for aircraft fire protection
applications instead of Halon and CO2,
which are both environmentally unfriendly, the nozzle is uniquely constructed
to propel 50-80 micron diameter droplets as a high momentum mist to a range of
up to 30 feet. The small diameter droplets
in the mist increase the suppressant surface area to maximize the efficient
absorption of heat and provide rapid cooling.
Exposed to air and the heat of a fire, the small droplets evaporate
quickly and in the process, expand to displace oxygen from the vicinity of the
fire. Considered to be a “water mist
system,” this particular technology approach is unique in that the nozzle
system provides an extremely fine mist with high momentum, thereby consuming
significantly less water than traditional spray and sprinkler systems, thus
conserving water and minimizing consequential water damage. This Atomizing Nozzle design has been
successfully demonstrated for fire suppression applications (i.e., aerospace,
rail, marine and offshore oil industries, and buildings and other fixed
structures). Additional potential
commercial applications/fields of use for this nozzle technology may be found
in the areas of snowmaking equipment, oral drug administration, paint and
adhesive sprayers, spray dryers, lubricating applications and others where a
highly efficient, low pressure, non-clogging, reliable and effective high
momentum misting system is needed. Recognition
of “hot” was given for “High Brightness, Low cost, Simple to Manufacture
Blue/white LED on Silicon Substrates,” as presented by David Day of the
Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development on behalf of a Federal
Lab. Current LEDs
are processed on Sapphire/SIC/GAN substrates which comprise about 40% of the
final packaged LED cost. Using a silicon
substrate cuts packaging costs by half, more than doubles internal efficiency
and results in higher brightness. The
technology has been demonstrated on well understood MOCUD equipment. Scale up can use current semiconductor
processing. This technology addresses
the general illumination market and is expected to contribute to the
evolutionary replacement of incandescent and florescent lighting products. Another
“hot” recognition was given for “Counter Weapon Containment Process,” as
described by Jennifer Murphy of A
third “hot” recognition was awarded for “Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
(LIBS) Field Detector for Explosives, Chem/Bio Agents
and Toxic Industrial Chemicals,” as described by Rich Dimmick
of the Aberdeen Army Research Labs. A
single nanosecond pulse from a laser is focused on a sample area, creating a plasma. The excited
elements in the plasma emit light in wavelengths distinct to each sample. Emissions are sent to a broadband
spectrometer (200-950 nm) and the spectrums are identified. Applications include military operations,
homeland defense and civilian first responder uses. There are several LIBS systems in
development. A man-portable LIBS system
has been demonstrated with several prototypes.
Standoff systems using 25 ft fiber optic probes and also 30 meter remote
optics have been demonstrated.
"Hot”
recognition 4 went for “Wearable Tissue Viability Diagnostic Unit,” described by
Maryam Azarion of the U.S.
Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
This technology uses image intensification and infrared lighting in a
wearable device that includes night vision goggles that are responsive to a
contrast agent. This technology could be
utilized to identify the viability of a tissue region without any bulky
instruments, hands-free, and at standard distances. An aspect of the present technology is
directed to a method including delivering a contrast agent proximate to a
tissue region and acquiring an image of the tissue region with a wearable
device. The wearable device is
responsive to the contrast agent. The
severity of a burn (or viability of the tissue) is assessed in response to the
acquired image. Applications of this technology would be at any medical
facility, any battlefield medic station or higher echelon hospital, any
burn/trauma center, small ER, general surgical unit and outpatient clinic. “Hot”
recognition 5 was for “Portable, Battery Operated DNA-based Detection Device,
described by Jerry Bortman of TRsG
on behalf of the U.S. Army APC-BDO (CHPPM).
He described a patented, rotary thermal cycler
for DNA detection in the field.
Practical field uses include genetic detection and identification of
diseases, pests, biological agents.
World-wide application areas include public safety, food security, plant
pathogens, and counter-terrorism activities.
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