Science and Enterprise

Month: July 2010

  • Biotech Company Finds Genes Enabling One-Step Biofuel Process

    A team from LS9 Inc., in South San Francisco, California published results of research describing the discovery of engineered genes that create alkanes — the hydrocarbon building blocks of gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel — from sugar. The company says this discovery, published in today’s issue of Science magazine, accelerates the process of converting biomass…

  • Clinical Trial of Embryonic Stem Cell Therapy Authorized

    Geron Corporation of Menlo Park, California said today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the clinical hold placed on the company’s investigational new drug and its Phase I clinical trial of GRNOPC1 in patients with acute spinal cord injury may proceed. GRNOPC1 is Geron’s lead human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based candidate.…

  • Nanomaterial Reduces Fumes from Imported Drywall

    A company in Manhattan, Kansas has adapted a nanotech material developed to counter toxic waste into a product that cuts down on sulfur fumes given off by imported drywall installed in homes throughout the U.S.  The company, Nanoscale Corporation, uses its FAST-ACT product, which breaks down and removes the corrosive sulfur compounds, thus reducing the…

  • New X Prize Challenge for Ocean Oil Cleanup

    The X Prize Foundation unveiled today a $1.4 million challenge competition to inspire scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to develop innovative new methods for cleaning up ocean oil spills. Teams taking part are encouraged to submit ideas for cleaning up spills or leaks from ships or tankers, land drainage, waste disposal, or oil platforms, the best-known…

  • Chile Seeking International Start-Ups

    The Chilean Economic Development Agency has launched a new program to help entrepreneurs and early-stage companies with innovative and high-growth business plans quickly launch and run their businesses in Chile.  The program, Start-Up Chile (InnovaChile), offers entrepreneurs entry and logistical assistance, funding, and a support network to aid in the successful launch of their operations.…

  • Coronary Stent Approved for Sale in Europe

    Devax Inc., a medical device developer in Lake Forest, California says it received the Conformité Européenne (CE) mark for its AXXESS stent system designed for the treatment of coronary and vascular bifurcation lesions. The CE mark certifies that a product has met EU health, safety, and environmental requirements, allowing the company to market the stent…

  • New Study Assesses Potential of Nanotech in Construction Industry

    The use of new materials based on nanotechnology can spread widely through the construction industry, where they offer significant advantages over traditional materials. But their widespread use in building materials comes with potential environmental and health risks that cannot be ignored. These findings were published in a study appearing this month in the journal ACS…

  • Trial Shows Results for Topical Treatment of Head Lice

    Topaz Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Horsham, Pennsylvania presented results of a clinical trial showing topical ivermectin cream effective at treating head lice. Findings from a related study, also presented at the recent annual meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology in Portland, Oregon, showed minimal plasma absorption of ivermectin when the topical formulation was applied to…

  • Instrumention, Engineering Firms Produce Immunoassay Platform

    Bodkin Design & Engineering in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, with Boston University and Zoíray Technologies, also in Boston, have developed a commercial instrument based on the partners’ basic research. The product, the Spectral Reflectance Imaging Biosensor (SRIB), is a multiplexed immunoassay platform for life science research and clinical diagnostics. Immunoassays are chemical tests used to detect…

  • Packaging, Insulation Produced from Agricultural Byproducts

    Ecovative Design of Green Island, New York, is producing a new packaging material (pictured left) made from inedible agricultural waste and mushroom roots. The company is also developing a process for sterilizing this material based on spice oils rather than steam. The technology to create this composite, marketed under the name Eco-Cradle, requires one-eighth the…