The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) awarded grants totaling $60,000 to three research groups through its 2018 Round-2 Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. The latest funding proposals include a new drug-eluting contact lens for treatment of dry eye disease, a new method of measuring ocular changes in glaucoma, and a new instrument for management of ketogenic diets. Each of these projects includes McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine affiliated faculty members on their research teams.
This is our eighth year of pilot funding, and our leadership team could not be more excited with the breadth and depth of this round’s awardees,” said McGowan Institute affiliated faculty member Alan Hirschman, PhD, CMI Executive Director. “This early-stage interdisciplinary research helps to develop highly specific biomedical technologies through a proven strategy of linking UPMC’s clinicians and surgeons with the Swanson School’s engineering faculty.”
AWARD 1: “Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Coating for Delivery of IL-4 from Contact Lenses for Dry Eye Disease”
For the development of a drug-eluting contact lens for treatment of chronic “dry eye” disease.
- Bryan Brown, PhD, Assistant Professor, Departments of Bioengineering, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
- Vishal Jhanji, MD, FRCSG, FRCOphth, Professor of Ophthalmology, Cornea, External Eye Diseases and Refractive Surgery Services, UPMC Eye Center
- Mangesh Kulkarni, MD, PhD, Research Assistant Professor, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Pitt’s Department of Bioengineering
AWARD 2: “On the quantitative analysis of a new tonometer to manage/prevent glaucoma”
For the development of a novel pulse wave device for measurement of ocular tissue characteristics in the detection and treatment of glaucoma.
- Piervincenzo Rizzo, PhD, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
- Ian A. Sigal, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Eye & Ear Institute
- Ian Conner, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh
AWARD 3: “Acetone Breathalyzer for Monitoring the Ketogenic State”
For the development of a cost-effective, rapid acetone “breath-alayzer” for clinical and consumer usage in ketogenic diets.
- Sung Kwon Cho, PhD, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Swanson School of Engineering
- David Rometo, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- David Finegold, MD, Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health
- Alex Star, PhD, Department of Chemistry, Dietrich School of Arts and Science
CMI, a University Center housed in Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering (SSOE), supports applied technology projects in the early stages of development with “kickstart” funding toward the goal of transitioning the research to clinical adoption. Proposals are evaluated on the basis of scientific merit, technical and clinical relevance, potential health care impact and significance, experience of the investigators, and potential in obtaining further financial investment to translate the particular solution to healthcare.
Congratulations, all!
Illustration: University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation.
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University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering News Release
