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Study to Assess Regulations’ Impact on Tobacco Users
The Food and Drug Administration and National Institutes of Health today announced a joint national study of tobacco users to gauge the behavioral and health impacts of new government tobacco regulations. The Tobacco Control Act National Longitudinal Study of Tobacco Users is the first large-scale collaboration on tobacco regulatory research since Congress granted FDA the…
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SBIR Grant Awarded to Rutgers Spin-Off for Biopsy Imaging
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a spin-off company from Rutgers University in New Jersey a small-business grant to develop a quick and economical analysis of tissue from breast cancer biopsies. The grant of $207,000 to Ibris Inc. of Piscataway, New Jersey, was made through through NIH’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Ibris…
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Survey: VCs Pulling Back from Biopharma, Devices Companies
A survey of venture capital (VC) companies investing in health care enterprises says they have shifted funding away from businesses that develop drugs and medical devices toward less regulated services and information technology firms. The survey, conducted by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) from July to September 2011, covers 156 of its members with…
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University of Michigan to Invest in Campus Start-Ups
University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman said Wednesday that the university would begin investing directly in new businesses created from research conducted on its campus. The program, called Michigan Investment in New Technology Startups (MINTS), would provide up to $25 million in early-stage capital over the next 10 years. The university says eligible start-ups…
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Stanford Using Sensor-Packed Mouthpiece to Study Concussions
Football and other athletes at Stanford University in California are wearing mouthpieces equipped with sensors to measure the force of head impacts during games and practices. The devices (pictured right) are manufactured by Seattle-based X2 Impact, which has donated the devices for the research. The mouthpieces will collect data for a study led by Dan…
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Univ., IBM Team Creates Enhanced Cloud Security Technique
Computer scientists from North Carolina State University in Raleigh and IBM have developed a technique to better protect sensitive information in cloud computing, without compromising overall system performance. The research team, led by NC State professor Peng Ning (pictured left), will present its findings later in October at the 18th ACM Conference on Computer and…
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Grant to Fund Research on Biodegradable Implant Materials
The engineering school at University of California in Riverside has received funding for research on alternative materials for medical implants that degrade naturally. National Science Foundation awarded the two-year grant for $175,000 to assistant professor of bioengineering Huinan Liu. Liu’s research will focus on developing biodegradable medical implant materials that would promote tissue regeneration and…
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FDA to Tap Outside Specialized Experts on Devices
The Food and Drug Administration announced plans to form a new network of outside experts to offer specialized advice on medical devices. The FDA is also seeking public comment on draft procedures for recruiting and operating this network. FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), the part of the agency that regulates medical devices,…
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Illumina, University of North Texas to Partner on Forensics
Illumina Inc. in San Diego and University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth will collaborate on several forensics projects using Illumina’s genetic sequencing technologies. The partnership will involve the university’s Center for Human Identification and its Department of Forensic and Investigative Genetics. The collaboration is expected to cover research, development, and implementation…
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Dow Chemical to Invest $25 Million in Universities
Dow Chemical Company in New York said today it plans to invest $25 million in U.S. university research and education programs over the next 10 years. Dow also announced a collaboration with Argonne National Lab on advanced battery materials. The company says its university funding will support faculty, students and infrastructure at 11 campuses in…