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
Emily Porter
Infection Detective
Synopsis:
Surgical site infections are far too common, with 60% of infections being identified after the patient leaves the hospital. A multidisciplinary team from UT Austin and MD Anderson are developing a remote wound monitoring system that can detect infections early and automatically relay data to the patient's physician. Earlier identification can allow for proactive and inexpensive treatment, as opposed to potential rehospitalization and corrective surgeries.
UT Austin Startup:
Longhorn Life Sciences
Details
Website
Tanya Hutter
Technology for At-Home Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Synopsis:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the 3rd leading cause of death globally, but there are currently no options for accessible, affordable, interactive, and at-home pulmonary rehabilitation. A team led by Dr. Tanya Hutter is developing a wearable device that can provide remote breath training exercises and extensive monitoring capabilities to help patients rehabilitate at home.
UT Austin Startup:
RespiraMetrics
Details
Website
Andrew Dunn
New Method for Quantitative Blood Flow Imaging During Surgery
Synopsis:
Continuous and quantitative blood flow visualization during surgery could reduce complications and shorten time of surgery, but is not currently available to surgeons. The Dunn laboratory is developing laser imaging technology that could enable surgeons to visualize and measure real-time blood flow within the surgical field.
UT Austin Startup:
Dynamic Light
Details
Website
Alan Groves
Trinity Tube Feeding Tube
Synopsis:
Premature birth affects around 10% of infants and is the most significant cause of newborn death in the USA. Premature infants need to have their vital signs (heart rate, breathing rate, temperature) monitored continuously. At present this monitoring is carried out by skin mounted sensors which can damage the delicate skin. Realizing that all premature infants need a tube placed through their nose/mouth into the stomach to deliver milk feeds, UT physicians and engineers are developing an ‘intelligent’ feeding tube which can continuously and wirelessly monitor an infant’s vital signs while avoiding damage to the skin. Placement of sensors inside the chest will also allow the team to develop novel markers of airway pressure and work of breathing to guide clinical care for these vulnerable infants.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
Huiliang (Evan) Wang
Wearable Brain Computer Interface System for In-home Stroke Rehab
Synopsis:
With stroke being the leading cause of severe disability in the United States, there is a huge economic burden and challenge for patients regarding rehabilitation strategies, including the need to physically visit a rehab center. To help solve these challenges, UT engineers and scientists are developing an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based wearable brain-machine interface system for in-home continuous stroke recovery.
UT Austin Startup:
Details
Website
