Researchers & UT Community
PROOF OF CONCEPT AWARDS
Technology Development
The Texas Proof of Concept Awards provide competitive funding for faculty members or 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. Email Matt Sorenson, Program Manager with questions.
Award recipients
Farshid Alambeigi
Clinician-AI Interactive Framework for Early Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer Polyps
Synopsis:
Early and accurate diagnosis of colorectal cancer polyps is important but difficult due to the high degree or variation in stiffness, shape, and size of polyps across patients. Dr. Farshid Alambeigi's team at UT Austin in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center are developing an interactive artificial intelligence system that couples with their vision-based tactile sensor to non-invasively and accurately help clinicians detect and classify colon polyps.
UT Austin Startup:
AcurAI Health
Details
Website
Farshid Alambeigi
Flexible Pedicle Screw for Spinal Fixation Procedures
Synopsis:
Over 350,000 spinal fixation (SF) operations are performed each year in the US, with rigid screw fixation being the gold-standard procedure, even though 22-50% of normal patients and >90% of osteoporotic patients will require an additional revision surgery due to screw pullout or loosening. UT engineers have invented a steerable drill and flexible screws that bend and curve to ensure the screws are secured in less-osteoporotic regions and minimize the risk of surgical failure, which should lead to better surgical outcomes.
UT Austin Startup:
ARTS Surgical Inc.
Details
Website
Zhengrong (Rong) Cui
Novel Red Blood Cell Dry Powders and Method of Preparation
Synopsis:
Blood transfusions are the single most used lifesaving procedure in hospitals worldwide but packed blood cells used for transfusion can only be stored in refrigeration for 42 days before needing to be discarded. College of Pharmacy researchers have invented a technology that can successfully preserve human cells as a powder that can then be reconstituted. The inventors are seeking to prove out this technology for red blood cells to provide a better solution for life-saving blood transfusions in the hospital and battlefield.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
Nanshu Lu
Wireless Chest E-Tattoo as a Wearable Cardiac Output Monitor
Synopsis:
A significant number of adults and children develop low cardiac output syndrome after surgery or disease and it can often lead to death if not detected and treated for. Engineer Dr. Nanshu Lu and her team are developing a wireless chest e-tattoo that can provide seamless, non-invasive long-term cardiac output monitoring.
UT Austin Startup:
StretchMed
Details
Website
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
