Proof of Concept Awards

Roughly 20% of the nearly 400 million tons of plastic produced globally using fossil fuels is for textile fibers and only about 15% of it is recycled. UT inventors are developing non-plastic sustainable trimmings and embellishments, such as sequins, for the fashion industry using compostable polylactic acid.

Swallowing dysfunction affects roughly 500,000 children and nine million adults in the US, potentially resulting in life-threatening choking and pneumonia. Clinical swallowing evaluations and technology only capture a snapshot of behavior, resulting in low validity of current testing, especially for children. UT scientists are seeking to provide a noninvasive and unobtrusive testing procedure for patients using novel sensing fabric that is able to be worn and washed for daily living.

Monitoring the friction levels of roadways, runways, and other pavement surfaces is critical for safety, but current methods are too costly, inefficient, and often use a lot of water. UT scientists have developed a robust and fast system that doesn’t rely on water, using lasers and artificial intelligence to collect three-dimensional data of pavement texture and corresponding friction predictions to increase highway satefy.

A new therapeutic strategy is being advanced to address tyrosine kinase inhibitor–resistant non‑small cell lung cancer by targeting a newly identified cancer mechanism involving biomolecular condensates formed by the EML4‑ALK fusion protein. The approach uses mRNA lipid nanoparticles to deliver short peptides that selectively disrupt these condensates, shutting down cancer signaling while sparing normal cells and reducing the likelihood of resistance. Proof of concept funding supports formulation optimization and cell‑based validation to position this platform for future animal studies, licensing, and potential startup formation.

This award supports development of a low‑cost, modular, multimodal medical imaging system that combines in‑beam PET and prompt gamma imaging to improve proton therapy guidance and expand research applications. The technology enables high‑resolution, adaptable imaging during and after irradiation, addressing a critical gap in real‑time proton range verification while remaining significantly more affordable than existing clinical scanners. Proof‑of‑concept funding advances prototype development and in‑beam validation, positioning the platform for preclinical adoption and future clinical translation.

Researchers are developing a new class of small‑molecule antibiotics that target an essential bacterial process to treat non‑tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infections, which are rising rapidly and lack effective FDA‑approved therapies. The team has identified novel oxadiazole compounds that kill the most common and drug‑resistant NTM species without the iron‑binding limitations that hinder prior candidates, positioning them for oral administration and improved patient outcomes. Proof‑of‑concept funding supports lead optimization and early pharmacology studies to advance these candidates toward animal efficacy testing and future clinical development.

A new one‑step dry transfer method is being developed to overcome a major manufacturing bottleneck in integrating two‑dimensional materials into next‑generation semiconductor devices. By replacing slow, contaminating wet‑transfer processes with a rapid wafer‑bonding and delamination approach, the technology enables dramatically faster transfer, far lower contamination, and reuse of growth substrates. Proof‑of‑concept funding supported validation of the transfer mechanics and wafer‑bonding parameters needed to demonstrate a scalable, sustainable manufacturing tool for advanced microelectronics.

Currently, 38% of adults in the United States have diabetes and half of them have diabetic peripheral neuropathy which reduces sensory feedback from the foot, disrupting balance and often causing falls. Drugs do not address non-pain symptoms of this condition and there are currently no devices that can treat this type of neuropathy. A team led by Dr. Lisa Griffin is developing insoles that provide unnoticeable vibrations to increase blood flow and sensation, ideally providing a therapeutic effect for patients.

Water is a critical resource for many different industries and it must be treated to specific standards, often involving chemicals or energy-intensive operations. Innovators at UT have developed sustainable, low-cost plant-based filters that remove high amounts of viruses, bacteria, and oil from water.

This project advances a novel hydrogel‑based oral delivery platform that enables reliable administration of vaccines and biological drugs through chewing‑activated release, overcoming major limitations of existing wildlife bait technologies. The approach demonstrates improved stability of live and other sensitive biologics at ambient conditions while ensuring effective dosing through adhesion and controlled release in the oral cavity. Proof‑of‑concept funding supports validation of the platform’s versatility and performance, positioning it for application in wildlife disease prevention with future potential translation to human health.

Human milk provides critical nutrients for babies, but caregivers are often frustrated when trying to store and warm the milk. Additionally, the nonuniformity and overheating/overcooling of milk by current methods can degrade the milk and cause burns. UT engineers have invented a device that can precisely pasteurize, thaw, refrigerate, and rewarm human milk with a single device. The technology can also be used for wine and other beverages.

Nutri© is a clinical decision‑support platform that enables primary care providers to deliver personalized, evidence‑based nutrition care during routine medical visits, addressing a major gap in diabetes and cardiometabolic care. By integrating patient‑reported diet data with a user‑tested, behavior‑science–driven workflow, the tool supports shared goal setting, documentation, and follow‑up without requiring dietitian involvement. Proof‑of‑concept funding advanced development of commercially viable patient and clinic administrator features to support workflow integration, reimbursement, and broader adoption in real‑world clinical settings.