Proof of Concept Awards

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.

Jessica Ciarla Sustainable Trimmings for the Fashion Industry

Synopsis:

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.

Aaron Baker Drug Eluting Chest Tube for Pain Reduction Following Surgery

Synopsis:

Traditional chest tubes are simple medical devices that are essential for draining the area around the lungs following surgery or injury. While these devices provide an important, lifesaving function they also cause constant, intense pain that requires treatment with opioid pain medication. UT innovators have developed a new chest tube that elutes local non-opioid anesthetic agents for pain reduction following cardiothoracic surgeries and trauma.

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.

Salvatore Salamone Rail Defect Detection by Noncontact Vibration Measurements

Synopsis:

Nonvisible transverse defects in railways are one of the main causes of railway track-related incidents, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in the past two decades. Current rail inspection technologies cannot be mounted on operating train cars and are only reliable at slow speeds, costing railway operators time and money. UT engineers have developed a laser doppler system that can be used on operating trains and at much higher speeds.

Jonathan Chen Fabric Strain Sensor Device for Pharyngeal Rehabilitation

Synopsis:

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.

Farshid Alambeigi Steerable Surgical Drilling Device

Synopsis:

Current orthopedic drills can only drill in a straight line, making surgeries involving complex anatomies more time consuming and less successful. UT engineers have invented a handheld steerable drill for surgeries that require curved trajectories, allowing more efficient and more successful procedures.

Janet Zoldan Sustainable Beef Brisket

Synopsis:

Current meat production will not be able to meet the increasing demand across the globe and it’s negative environmental impact is only growing. UT biomedical engineers are using a patented scaffolding technology to develop cultured beef brisket with similar look, texture, and taste.

Delia Milliron Flexible and Smart Window Film for Energy Efficiency

Synopsis:

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.

Tom Yankeelov Predicting and Optimizing Cancer Treatment

Synopsis:

When treating cancer, some treatments are more or less effective for different patients and physicians often lack tools that predict how patients will respond. UT researchers have developed a mathematical model that uses patient-specific imaging data to make accurate, patient-specific predictions of eventual response early in the course of therapy. They are currently focused on advanced brain, breast, and prostate cancer and are collaborating with UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Andrew Ellington Low-cost Rapid Diagnostic Enzyme Complex

Synopsis:

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.

Manish Kumar Advanced Water Filtration Material

Synopsis:

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.