Researchers & UT Community
PROOF OF CONCEPT AWARDS
Technology Development
The Texas Proof of Concept Awards provide competitive funding for faculty membersor permanent researchers with principal investigator (PI) status to demonstrate the feasibility of their innovations to accelerate the process towards commercialization. We invite you to learn more about the past awardees and consider applying.
Award recipients
Guihua Yu
Super Moisture-Absorbent Gel for Sustainable Agriculture
Synopsis:
Water scarcity is a global issue, especially when striving for more sustainable agriculture. Engineer Guihua Yu and his team are further developing a super moisture-absorbent gel that can extract water from the air to create a self-watering soil.
UT Austin Startup:
Tribal Tech Innovations, Inc.
Details
Website
Aaron Baker
A Polysaccharide-Based Therapy for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Synopsis:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive type of fatty liver disease. It is currently the most common form of chronic liver disease worldwide, with a prevalence of approximately 25% in the general population. Despite its profound prevalence, there are currently no approved treatments for treating NAFLD. UT researchers have found a promising natural compound that can reduce the incidence of NAFLD in mice and they are working on modifying the compound for increased effectiveness.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
Aaron Baker
Stem Cell Conditioning for Enhanced Vascular Regeneration
Synopsis:
Currently, there is no treatment available that addresses the lack of microvasculature caused by long-term peripheral arterial disease, a chronic, progressive disease that affects 20% of the US population over 65 years old. UT engineers and physicians have invented a device that can enhance stem cell therapies for treating peripheral arterial disease in a brand new way. Using novel technology, we have found ways to increased stem cell expansion and efficacy in treating peripheral arterial disease and ischemia.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
Lisa Griffin
Vibrating Insoles for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Synopsis:
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.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
Debadyuti (Rana) Ghosh
Pulmonary Delivery of Gene Editing to Cure Cystic Fibrosis
Synopsis:
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.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
