Proof of Concept Awards

There is a global need for point-of-care diagnostic tests for infections but the key enzyme components of these tests can be expensive or hard to obtain. UT researchers have invented an extremely low-cost preparation method for key enzymes used in diagnostic tests that can enable rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

This project supports the development of CerebroSonic, a portable, non‑invasive, ultrasound‑based robotic imaging system designed to enable pre‑hospital diagnosis of stroke during patient transport. By providing rapid, user‑independent, volumetric brain imaging, the technology aims to distinguish stroke type and severity early, enabling faster triage to appropriate stroke centers and earlier treatment, when minutes are critical. The proof‑of‑concept work advances prototype refinement, data acquisition, and reconstruction algorithms to de‑risk the technology and position it for regulatory clearance and clinical adoption.

Researchers are advancing biologically produced, electrically conductive protein nanowires as a new class of materials for human–machine interfaces, addressing limitations of metallic electrodes and synthetic conducting polymers in flexibility, cost, and biocompatibility. The project focuses on optimizing microbial production and scale‑up of the OmcZ protein nanowire and validating its cytocompatibility with mammalian cells, a critical step toward neural and bioelectronic applications. Successful completion will de‑risk translation of biodegradable, engineerable biological conductors for next‑generation brain–machine interfaces and related bioelectronic devices.

Silver‑ion–facilitated membranes are being developed to significantly reduce the energy use and capital costs of olefin–paraffin separations, a critical and highly energy‑intensive step in petrochemical production. The technology leverages chemically stable silver‑ion polymer membranes that can be integrated with existing cryogenic distillation systems to boost throughput, recover lost olefins, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Proof‑of‑concept funding supported scale‑up, module fabrication, and mixed‑gas testing to advance the membranes toward pilot‑scale deployment and commercialization.

A new subcutaneous implant is being developed to address a critical gap in opioid use disorder treatment by easing the detoxification phase that often prevents patients from transitioning to long‑term maintenance therapy. The implant combines sustained release of naltrexone to block opioid effects with lofexidine to reduce withdrawal symptoms, offering a one‑time, low‑burden alternative to complex oral detox protocols. Proof‑of‑concept funding supports optimization of drug release and early in‑vivo validation to advance this approach toward clinical development and potential commercialization.

This project aims to develop a new metabolic cancer therapy that selectively targets aggressive tumors by exploiting their heightened dependence on glucose and lipid metabolism. The team is optimizing and evaluating a novel small‑molecule compound that more effectively enters tumor cells and disrupts energy production, with promising early results in preclinical cancer models. Proof‑of‑concept funding supports improving the compound’s formulation and testing its efficacy across multiple hard‑to‑treat cancers to advance it toward clinical and commercial development.

A new nanostructuring approach is being advanced to transform sapphire into a multifunctional optical window that is simultaneously anti‑glare, anti‑dust, anti‑fogging, and highly scratch‑resistant, while retaining sapphire’s exceptional strength, thermal tolerance, and optical transmission. The team has demonstrated high‑resolution nanostructures on single‑crystal sapphire that dramatically reduce dust adhesion and surface reflection and exhibit mechanical durability comparable to tungsten and bulk sapphire. Proof of concept funding supports prototype fabrication and testing with industry partners to validate performance in extreme aerospace, defense, space, medical, and consumer‑electronics environments and to de‑risk scalable manufacturing.

Standard treatments for aggressive brain cancers are often ineffective and non-curative due to many challenges with treating tumors within the brain. UT engineers are developing a multifaceted catheter system that can deliver therapeutic agents and heat directly into desired positions in the brain tumor in order to maximize treatment potential.

Pediatric intensive care patients require ventilation via endotracheal tubes that are secured to the baby’s face with tape, making adjustment difficult, risky, and often ineffective. UT physicians and scientists are developing a novel device for endotracheal tube securement and precise adjustment, resulting in better tube positioning and more effective treatment.

A novel, low‑cost flood alarm is being developed to function as a last line of defense for flash‑flood safety, activating automatically when rising water physically reaches a site rather than relying on regional alerts, connectivity, or human judgment. Designed as an outdoor, fully autonomous device, the alarm provides immediate, site‑specific audible and visual warnings to protect occupants of homes and high‑liability facilities such as camps, RV parks, and short‑term rentals in flood‑prone areas. Proof of concept funding supports prototype refinement and field validation to demonstrate reliable performance and enable future manufacturing, licensing, and large‑scale deployment.

There are over 100 thousand people with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease with no cure, where the median age of death is 37. UT scientists are developing safer and local delivery of gene therapy using non-virus-based technology to effectively and functionally treat the genetic disease of cystic fibrosis.

Roughly half of the energy consumption in the United States for buildings is for thermal control and lighting. New smart windows can control heat and light from the sun to improve energy performance in buildings but nearly all installed windows lack these capabilities and it is extremely expensive to replace windows in commercial buildings. UT researchers are developing an innovative, low-cost, film that can be applied to existing windows to dynamically control the amount of heat and light that goes through windows.