UF Innovate Tech Licensing

Solid Biosciences Inc., a trailblazer in precision genetic medicines for neuromuscular and cardiac diseases, and UF Innovate Accelerate client, announced its exciting inclusion in the Russell 3000® Index, effective July 1, 2024. 📈

This annual reconstitution ranks the 4,000 largest U.S. stocks by market capitalization, marking a significant milestone for the company. Solid Biosciences acquired and former UF Innovate | Accelerate client, AavantiBio.

"Our inclusion in the Russell 3000 Index reflects our significant progress and enhances our visibility within the financial community," said Bo Cumbo, President and CEO of Solid Biosciences.

Read more here: https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/2024/07/02/solid-biosciences/

Meet one of our own, Noel Burmeister, a licensing associate for UF Innovate | Tech Licensing! 🎓🔬 Noel works with Mingder Yang's portfolio, handling inventions from University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, and UF College of Dentistry. Noel is responsible for managing patents and overseeing the incredible inventions that come from the University of Florida researchers. She thrives on the challenges of her role and loves knowing she’s helping bring these innovations to market, accelerating businesses, and driving progress. 🚀💡

The University of Florida's Dr. Rob Ferl made history as the first NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration-funded researcher to fly their experiment on a commercial suborbital rocket! 🚀 Last Thursday, Dr. Ferl flew aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard to study how gravity shifts impact plant biology.

He activated plant experiments mid-flight, while co-investigator Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul conducted identical controls on the ground. The mission, part of NASA's Flight Opportunities program, examines the effect of gravity transitions on the plants' gene expression. These findings will be key to understanding how changes in gravity affect plant growth and will support future missions to the Moon and Mars. 🌱🌌

Check out more on this mission, here. 🔗https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/2024/08/28/first-nasa-supported-researcher/

Dr. Rob Ferl, director of the UF Astraeus Space Institute and distinguished professor in the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, made history on Thursday as the first NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration-funded researcher to conduct space experiments aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. 🚀

In a groundbreaking sub-orbital mission, the rocket soared from West Texas at 8:07 a.m. CDT, reaching an altitude of 345,958 feet, well beyond the Karman Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. Ferl and his fellow crew members enjoyed several minutes of weightlessness before their capsule gently touched down with a spectacular parachute-assisted landing. 🛰

This project is funded by a grant from NASA's Flight Opportunity program. The University of Florida's ability to leverage capabilities like Blue Origin's with NASA support opens a new era of space research.

🔗 https://lnkd.in/epae_wwK

Get excited -- and mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 30! 📅

We are exactly TWO months away from , UF Innovate Tech Licensing’s annual of innovation showcasing the University of Florida’s finest minds. Our team is dedicated to making this year’s event the biggest and best yet as we honor the outstanding achievements of our for FY24!

This is an event you won’t want to miss. 💡

UF Research

A groundbreaking HIV-detection test kit from the University of Florida, harnessing advanced CRISPR technology, could revolutionize early detection and save millions of lives. Unlike current tests that detect HIV only weeks after infection, this kit aims to offer results in minutes, allowing for earlier treatment and potentially reducing the virus to undetectable levels. 🦠

Developed by Dr. Piyush Jain and his team at the UF Department of Chemical Engineering, this user-friendly test is designed to act as a reliable early-warning system. With 1.3 million new HIV cases and 630,000 related deaths reported in 2022, the need for early detection has never been more critical.

Read more on how this innovation could significantly reduce outbreaks and save lives.⏩ https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/2024/06/26/at-home-hiv-test/

is transforming how Emerging Pathogens Institute researchers are forecasting and responding to disease. 🌐

In southwest Texas, the soil-dwelling bacteria Bacillus anthracis poses a yearly threat to livestock, wildlife, and humans with the often-fatal disease anthrax. Jason Blackburn, Ph.D., from the Emerging Pathogens Institute and professor at the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Geography, uses AI to predict risk and track outbreaks -- notably severe in 2001, 2005, and 2019. 🦠

Blackburn's lab collaborates with veterinarians and ranchers, offering diagnostic services for their animals. Utilizing remotely sensed data from Google Earth Engine, Blackburn's team automates the gathering of environmental data to study disease transmission. 🔬 They use machine learning to look at the potential peaks and seasonality of the disease. Blackburn is developing an AI-based model that can forecast the likelihood of an outbreak based on what the first few months looked like.

This effort is part of UF's broader AI initiative, which includes an expanded AI curriculum, faculty expertise, and infrastructure like the supercomputer. Other EPI researchers, Marco Salemi, Simone Marini, and Mattia Prosperi, are turning to AI to tailor and optimize public health measures.

This further ties into how these researchers are using AI to predict new COVID-19 variants. Throughout the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 demonstrated its adaptability, and even with the implementation of various public health measures, COVID-19 mutated and spread worldwide. However, Salemi, Maini, and Prosperi developed algorithms to track the virus' evolution. This can help scientists develop specific drugs to target the latest variations.

“What really excites me right now is having an algorithm that can very quickly predict new and more aggressive variants,” Salemi remarked. “That’s obviously a good safeguard for the future.”

The rise of antibiotic-resistant infections is a critical global health crisis, causing over 23,000 deaths annually in the U.S. alone and leading to tens of billions in healthcare costs. Traditional antibiotics are losing effectiveness quickly, often within just two years, leaving patients vulnerable to dangerous infections. 😷

Drs. Timothy P. Spicer and Louis Scampavia from the Department of Molecular Medicine at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute have developed an ultra-high throughput screening method. This advanced technique has combed through over 645,000 compounds to identify 19 novel small molecules with the power to combat a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria, including notorious pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These new compounds, with their unique structures and low toxicity, could be the key to developing the next generation of powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics.

This breakthrough holds the potential to revolutionize the treatment of bacterial infections, offering new hope in the fight against antibiotic resistance. The development of these compounds could significantly reduce the prevalence of resistant infections, save lives, and cut down on the massive healthcare costs currently burdening the system. 💵

This 🐊 new tech is now available for licensing:▶️ https://ufinnovate.technologypublisher.com/techcase/MP24022

Satlantis, a University of Florida startup and resident client at UF Innovate Accelerate, is on a thrilling mission to unveil the secrets of dark matter in the universe. Their latest 300-kilogram satellite boasts four cutting-edge cameras, including two with infrared capabilities, designed to capture the unseen. These powerful instruments will scan the structures around small galaxies, aiming to map out the elusive dark matter. 🛰️

The project, called ARRAKIHS (Analysis of Resolved Remnants of Accreted Galaxies as a Key Tool for Halo Studies), marks the ESA - European Space Agency's first scientific mission led by Spain. Founder and CEO of Satlantis Juan Tomás Hernani mentions how he is so "used to scientists defining the problem and then consulting with the industry. But in this case, we are hand in hand from the beginning."

The satellite's camera optics are exceptionally precise, featuring lenses with a tolerance of one micron and a roughness of just 40 nanometers. If everything goes as planned, this mission could reveal findings that defy current scientific understanding. 📡

Rise Therapeutics, a University of Florida startup licensing technology from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Infectious Disease & Immunology, has kicked off its groundbreaking R-5280 Phase 1b clinical trial, enrolling the first patient in this crucial study for type 1 diabetes. 💉

Type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune condition, leaves the pancreas unable to produce insulin, causing dangerously high blood sugar levels. It often strikes in childhood or adolescence, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. In the U.S., approximately 1.6 million people live with type 1 diabetes, with 40,000 new cases annually.

Gary Fanger, CEO of Rise Therapeutics, shared his excitement: “With our third drug now in clinical development, we have the opportunity with R-5280 to control another devastating disease using an oral immunotherapy approach.”

The Phase 1b trial (NCT06057454) is a placebo-controlled, blinded study conducted at multiple U.S. sites. It aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of R-5280 in halting the progression of beta islet cell destruction in new-onset type 1 diabetes patients. The trial will involve 39 participants, assessing improvements in disease severity through key biomarkers.

The Natural Products Discovery Center is a fascinating labyrinth of vials, each containing a unique freeze-dried microbe from some of the world's most diverse ecologies — rainforest soils, coastal marshes, deep ocean waters, and even decomposing animal dung. This incredible collection, compiled over 80 years, includes organisms that may now be extinct, offering a precious window into Earth's past. 🌍

For Ben Shen, PhD, and his team at The Wertheim UF Scripps Institute, these tiny treasures hold immense promise for the future of medicine. These unexplored microbes could be the key to groundbreaking treatments and cures.

Natural products, substances produced by living organisms, offer remarkable evolutionary advantages and can be found in various environments. They are highly valued for their unique adaptations and complex structures, which have significant pharmacological and medicinal potential. 😷

"Natural products have made a profound impact on the history of drug development, leading to the creation of some of the world’s most important medicines,” says Dr. Shen. The future of drug discovery might lie in these tiny, yet mighty, microbes.

Glass surfaces often lose some transmitted light due to surface reflections, requiring antireflective coatings to prevent optical loss and image distortion. Traditional antireflection coatings, often made using expensive and inefficient vacuum-based methods, are also prone to scratches and wear, reducing their durability and performance. 🔎

Dr. Peng Jiang along, with Jiachen Wu and Fan Gao in the UF Department of Chemical Engineering, have developed a game-changing nanoparticle-based antireflective coating for glass.

This innovative solution uses nanoparticle self-assembly to create a transparent, durable, and abrasion-resistant coating, revolutionizing how we combat reflection and optical loss.

This new is now available for licensing!▶️
https://ufinnovate.technologypublisher.com/techcase/MP24002

Cannabix Technologies Inc., a University of Florida startup, reports positive early test results for its ma*****na breathalyzer technology, conducted by Omega Laboratories Inc. 🥼

Omega has begun pre-validation work to determine detection limits, quantification limits, and the cutoff level for delta-9 THC (the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) in breath.

Cannabix recently entered a strategic partnership with Omega Laboratories to develop and commercialize the breathalyzer technology. Omega Laboratories is a leader in forensic drug testing with multiple international certifications and accreditations.

Nicotinamide riboside, a form of vitamin B3, significantly boosted walking endurance for peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients during a groundbreaking six-month trial. PAD affects more than 8.5 million Americans over the age of 40.

Dr. Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, a University of Florida physiology professor in the UF College of Medicine and senior author of the study, alongside scientists from Northwestern University, found that patients who took the supplement walked over 57 feet farther than those on a placebo. This promising result counters the usual decline in walking ability seen with the disease.

"This is a signal that nicotinamide riboside could help these patients," said Dr. Leeuwenburgh. The team is excited to plan a larger follow-up trial to confirm these exciting findings.

🔗 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/2024/06/20/peripheral-artery-disease/

Airplane manufacturers now have an affordable option for noise testing, thanks to a wireless microphone array developed with NASA's help. This innovative tech also helps farmers detect crop-threatening insects, making it versatile for various industries. ✈️

Since its first product release in 2017, University of Florida startup Interdisciplinary Consulting Corporation (IC2) has doubled its staff and expanded to produce its new WirelessArray. Founded in 2014 and based on technology from ECE Florida and the Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Department at UF Dr. Mark Sheplak, IC2 has thrived with support from NASA Langley Research Center through SBIR contracts and expert consulting.

The WirelessArray features small, saucer-shaped bases with multiple sensors that measure air pressure changes from overhead sounds. It helps ensure airplanes meet FAA noise regulations by collecting noise data and mapping sound pressure sources. Custom software then translates this information for the user.

The University of Florida has promoted Dr. Lorenzo Rossi to associate professor of Plant and Root Biology at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, recognizing his groundbreaking work in combating citrus greening, the world's most serious citrus disease.

At the University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center, Rossi leads innovative research and explores alternative crops for diversification, ensuring a sustainable future for citrus growers. 🍊 As a plant root biology professor, Rossi focuses on understudied areas of horticultural sciences. He highlights the importance of healthy soil and roots for crop health and researches soil amendments and the interaction between soils, roots, and microorganisms. 🌱

Rossi's promotion underscores his exceptional research program, mentorship of graduate students, and successful international collaborations.

Cells face a significant challenge in maintaining RNA quality and preventing harmful accumulations of non-coding or defective mRNA. Traditional RNases struggle to break down single-strand DNA (ssDNA), despite its structural similarity to RNA, leaving a gap in cellular cleanup processes. 🧬

Drs. Julie Maupin-Furlow and Huiyong Jia along with Swathi Dantuluri in the UF Microbiology and Cell Science & ASM Gators Department have harnessed the power of RecJ enzymes from the extremophile Haloferax volcanii to create a supercharged nuclease complex. This cutting-edge complex combines endo- and exoribonuclease activities and, remarkably, can degrade ssDNA.

This new technology has the potential to lead to enhanced cleaning processes in applications like reverse transcription, where unwanted RNA and ssDNA are swiftly and effectively removed.

License this tech!▶️https://ufinnovate.technologypublisher.com/techcase/MP24020

Researchers from the University of Florida, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and Stanford University have made a groundbreaking discovery: a new compound, compound 368, that could revolutionize the treatment of opioid overdoses.

The epidemic, fueled by the widespread abuse of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has left a devastating impact on communities nationwide. In the last year, more than 81,000 Americans lost their lives to opioid overdoses. 💊

"Fentanyl is driving the need to find better treatments for opioid overdoses," said Dr. Jay McLaughlin, a professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. "Every opioid death is preventable, highlighting the immediate need to improve the treatment options.”

Compound 368, when paired with the drug naloxone, increases the medication's ability to reverse the lethal effects of opioid overdose. Narcan and the compound 368 bind at different sites of the opioid receptor, enabling them to complement each other in blocking opioids like fentanyl.

Current endotracheal tube holders often fall short in emergencies. The Hayes Hitch demands skill and time, while the bulky Thomas Tube Holder struggles with fit and reliability, especially in messy, high-stress situations.

The Heath Hitch, developed by Alan Schmidt, a University of Florida researcher and Florida State Firefighter and Critical Care Paramedic, revolutionizes tube security. Its non-compliant material, pre-tabbed clove-hitch, and closure clamp ensure quick, adjustable, and tape-free intubation.

The Heath Hitch delivers unmatched stability during intubation, maintaining tube security through patient movement and transport, and it's versatile enough for veterinary applications too. 😉

License this new tech, here: ▶️ https://ufinnovate.technologypublisher.com/techcase/MP23063

University of Florida researchers Drs. Duane Mitchell and Elias Sayour, from the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida and the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test two new experimental therapies in the first-ever human clinical trials for Group 4 medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. 😷

This fall and next spring, these groundbreaking Phase I trials will be separately led by Drs. Mitchell and Sayour. Dr. Mitchell will merge two powerful techniques: precision adoptive T-cell therapy and immune checkpoint blockade with PD-1 inhibitors. Dr. Sayour will use an mRNA cancer vaccine developed in his lab to reprogram the immune system to attack the cancer.

🔗 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/2024/06/27/medulloblastoma-therapies/