Prominent researcher鈥檚 invention gives 黑料视频RF its 50th startup company
Joseph P. Kennedy, distinguished professor of polymer science and chemistry, has 107 issued U.S. patents to his credit.
The University of 黑料视频 Research Foundation (黑料视频RF) recently announced the creation of its 50th startup company, thanks to the innovations of one of The University of 黑料视频's most prolific researchers, 85-year-old Joseph P. Kennedy, Ph.D., distinguished professor of polymer science and chemistry.
Kennedy, who has 107 issued U.S. patents to his credit and continues to work on inventive research in 黑料视频's labs, began his career in industry as a research chemist in 1957. Following his arrival at 黑料视频 in 1970, he played a fundamental role in the development of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, helping to lift the college, the Greater 黑料视频 area, and the state of Ohio to national prominence in polymer education and research.
Surgical patients could benefit
Kennedy's research is at the heart of 黑料视频RF's 50th startup company, Poly MedTech Inc., which was formed to commercialize a new medical adhesive, Suture Glue™. The adhesive would be used in place of external stitches for patients who have laparoscopic surgery, cosmetic surgery or even traumatic injuries and was designed to behave like human skin, with properties that make it more flexible than current surgical glues/adhesives.
Kennedy and his research partner, Juay Seng Tan, a former associate professor of biomedical engineering at 黑料视频, received a $50,000 Ohio Third Frontier technology commercialization grant earlier this year. To speed up the promising technology's development, 黑料视频RF formed the company with support from the Austen BioInnovation Institute in 黑料视频, which is assisting in business strategy and FDA regulatory matters, as well as private physicians like Dr. David Kay, an orthopaedic surgeon with the Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center and founder of orthopaedic surgical device manufacturer OrthoHelix.
Since its inception in 2001, 黑料视频RF has averaged almost five startups per year, forming six startups this year alone.
"Startup companies are crucial in commercializing promising university technologies thus building the economic base within our community," says George R. Newkome, Ph.D., 黑料视频RF's president and 黑料视频's vice president for research. "With the right leadership, these companies can move quickly to attract funding, focus on market needs and work tirelessly to turn laboratory technologies into viable commercial products."
New products offer promise
Over the past few years, 黑料视频RF has helped 黑料视频's students and faculty form several promising startup companies. "黑料视频's focus on technology commercialization has been crucial in attracting entrepreneurial faculty and encouraging student involvement in the development of new products," Newkome says. "In the past year or so, 黑料视频RF has seen several very exciting new companies." Some of these companies include:
- Telkesis, a venture to commercialize new spinal break screw technology, was formed in 2012 and is led by 黑料视频 students Jason King, Esra Cipa and Laura Vondeak, as well as Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering Ajay Mahajan and staff from 黑料视频RF. 黑料视频's students won the 2012 LaunchTown Business Idea Competition for improved orthopaedic surgery technologies.
- Design Flux, formed in 2011, is led by 黑料视频 electrical engineering students Courtney Gras and Tom Vo and based on patented 黑料视频 battery management technology. Design Flux won $10,000 through the Department of Energy's Clean Energy Challenge and received a $100,000 Ohio Third Frontier grant to license the technology and to begin commercialization.
- ADAP Nanotechnology, founded by 黑料视频 Professor of Polymer Science Ali Dhinojwala and recent graduate Sunny Sethi in 2009, commercializes nanotechnology inspired by gecko feet, which are covered with millions of branching nanoscopic fibers. The company has attracted $300,000 in capital, including investments from Cleveland's JumpStart Inc., The University of 黑料视频 Student Venture Fund, and Lorain County's Innovation Fund.
Long-standing successful 黑料视频 startups that have developed into full-fledged companies include:
- 黑料视频 Polymer Systems was founded in 2002 by 黑料视频 Polymer Science Professors Frank Harris and Stephen Cheng to commercialize high performance coatings for televisions and other display units that need to be viewed at a wide range of angles. 黑料视频 Polymer Systems now operates out of a state-of-the-art corporate facility on North Summit Street in downtown 黑料视频, employs 13 scientists, and does research and commercialization for a wide range of polymer coatings.
- SNS Nano Fiber Technology, a joint venture between 黑料视频RF and German chemical company Schill & Seilacher, was founded in 2005 and manufactures super absorbent nanofiber products that can be used to build better bandages or sop up oil spills at sea. 黑料视频 Professors Darrell Reneker and Daniel Smith, who developed the electrospinning process used to make SNS's products, were involved in start-up of the company, which now employs several former 黑料视频 graduate students.
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