This article appeared in the June 6, 2007, edition of the Herald Dispatch (Huntington).
By Jean Tarbett Hardiman
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- It helped in the early stages of Vandalia Research Corp., and it helped Progenesis Technologies get going.
Both are biotechnology companies founded through research at Marshall University, with some help from the West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (WVEPSCoR).
And now, Marshall associate professors Eric Blough and Philippe Georgel hope a half million dollar grant from the WVEPSCoR program will give them just enough juice to turn their project into both a commercial enterprise and a way to help folks identify health problems earlier.
Blough and Georgel are co-principal investigators on the grant, which will help them with the development of a Cell Differentiation and Development Center. The focus at the center will be cardiovascular and cancer research.
The research will focus on mechanisms that cause diseases to progress, and how to identify diseases earlier for prevention purposes.
"We wanted to pick areas (in which we have expertise) but also areas important to Appalachia and West Virginia," Blough said. With the state ranking so high in deaths related to cardiovascular disease and various types of cancer, it's an area of research that could benefit people locally, he said.
"We're not trying to solve everything," he said. But the center "will bring new people in and help existing faculty already here. This has potential to generate new jobs in town and, long term, to develop new markers or new diagnostic tests for these diseases."
The project will get $500,000 the first year, and then more grants for five consecutive years, receiving $1 million to $1.2 million over the course of five years, said Jan Taylor, deputy director of the WVEPSCoR program.
Blough's and Georgel's project is one of five that received WVEPSCoR grants this year. The four others are at West Virginia University.
About $2.5 million is going out overall, and with that big of an investment, "the state has expectations of great things," Taylor said. "We understand that it takes a long time to turn intellectual property and research into economic development, but this is the state's way of priming the pump."
The Research Challenge Grant program was developed by the Legislature about five years ago, and WVEPSCoR started to administer it about three years ago, Taylor said. This is the second round that these grants have been given, Taylor said.
The Marshall spin-off Vandalia Research Corp. used its money in developing a company that produces custom DNA sequences and DNA products. It started with a couple of undergraduate students, who were assigned to create a machine that could mass-produce DNA sequences, though at the time they were working with water.
Progenesis Technologies, which was founded by two professors at Marshall and officially launched just last month, produces a biopolymer that could be used in a number of ways. Its possibilities are to preserve water in garden soil, to be used as a thickening agent in cosmetics and food, to be used in cleanup of radioactive material from bombs, or to slow the release of medication, such as insulin for diabetics, into the body.
To receive a grant, projects must be innovative and have potential for economic impact, Taylor said.
"The competition is very stiff," she said. WVEPSCoR sends out proposals for external review. Both the science and the management plans are evaluated, and their possibility for economic impact.
By the end of the fifth year, the researchers should be self-sufficient in running their operation, either by getting grants from elsewhere or from turning their research into a viable business, Taylor said.
WVEPSCoR Advisory Council makes the final decision about who gets a grant, she said.
The Cell Differentiation and Development Center will be located at Marshall's new Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology and Science Center, which opened last year.
"EPSCoR is a wonderful mechanism to develop university infrastructure and science," Blough said. "We're going to be doing what I hope is very important research but also educating undergraduate and graduate students in the area and performing other outreach and educational opportunities. It has many different facets besides the science."
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Aurora Wins Laser Assisted Machining Grant
Aurora Flight Sciences has announced that the company has been award a grant from the West Virginia High Technology Consortium and NASA for the development of Laser Assisted Machining of Silicon Carbide Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) for Space Propulsion Structures.
CMCs are becoming widely used in aerospace applications, especially in rocket motors and turbine engine hot exhaust areas, as a method to reduce weight while increasing performance and efficiency. They are replacing the nickel, chromium and titanium alloys historically used in high-temperature applications, resulting in reduced engine weight--as much as 50%.
CMCs are also being considered for use in naval and aircraft structures and are becoming a standard material of choice for new turbine engines, such as the General Electric-Rolls Royce F136 used on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
"This program will develop a technology to significantly reduce the manufacturing time currently associated with final machining of CMC components as well as allow the fabrication of complex geometry components that cannot be fabricated using current technologies such as grinding," said Aurora Flight Sciences President and CEO John Langford. The laser assisted machining process will be performed by heating the surface of the material to approximately 1000 degrees F with a laser just prior to the removal with advanced cutting tool.
In this effort, Aurora Flight Sciences will be assisted by Kansas State University and General Electric Aviation. The program will develop a variety of characteristic features to be installed into CMC substrates and be representative of those found in many space propulsion and turbine engine structures. Additionally, Aurora will perform physical testing of the fabricated components to determine the effects of laser assisted machining.
"If proven successful, this program would provide Aurora with a highly desirable sole source technology capable of fabricating complex components at significantly reduced costs as well as open new doors into the space propulsion and turbine engine markets," said Ron Richman, Aurora Flight Sciences of West Virginia General Manager.
About Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences develops and provides robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA, and operates production plants inClarksburg, WV, and Columbus, MS, and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA.
CMCs are becoming widely used in aerospace applications, especially in rocket motors and turbine engine hot exhaust areas, as a method to reduce weight while increasing performance and efficiency. They are replacing the nickel, chromium and titanium alloys historically used in high-temperature applications, resulting in reduced engine weight--as much as 50%.
CMCs are also being considered for use in naval and aircraft structures and are becoming a standard material of choice for new turbine engines, such as the General Electric-Rolls Royce F136 used on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
"This program will develop a technology to significantly reduce the manufacturing time currently associated with final machining of CMC components as well as allow the fabrication of complex geometry components that cannot be fabricated using current technologies such as grinding," said Aurora Flight Sciences President and CEO John Langford. The laser assisted machining process will be performed by heating the surface of the material to approximately 1000 degrees F with a laser just prior to the removal with advanced cutting tool.
In this effort, Aurora Flight Sciences will be assisted by Kansas State University and General Electric Aviation. The program will develop a variety of characteristic features to be installed into CMC substrates and be representative of those found in many space propulsion and turbine engine structures. Additionally, Aurora will perform physical testing of the fabricated components to determine the effects of laser assisted machining.
"If proven successful, this program would provide Aurora with a highly desirable sole source technology capable of fabricating complex components at significantly reduced costs as well as open new doors into the space propulsion and turbine engine markets," said Ron Richman, Aurora Flight Sciences of West Virginia General Manager.
About Aurora Flight Sciences
Aurora Flight Sciences develops and provides robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles for scientific and military applications. Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, VA, and operates production plants inClarksburg, WV, and Columbus, MS, and a Research and Development Center in Cambridge, MA.
Piedmont Set to Launch NASA Project
This article appeared in the June 4, 2007, edition of the Charleston Daily Mail.
By Elaine McMillion
Daily Mail staff
Piedmont Elementary School is counting down the days until students take off on a journey with the NASA's Explorer School program.
"We are all very excited," said Principal Steve Knighton.
The school is trying to help students develop an interest in careers available through science. So the school, which operates year-round, entered into a partnership with NASA for a special curriculum that starts July 11.
The competitive program is a three-year partnership between elementary and secondary schools and NASA. It was developed to inspire students' curiosity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
It is mainly targeted toward children in fourth grade through ninth grade. But Knighton says all students--kindergarten through fifth grade--will benefit from participation.
Piedmont Elementary is the only school chosen from West Virginia. There are 25 schools participating across the country. Tucker Valley Elementary School in Hambleton was accepted in 2006 and will finish the last year of the three-year commitment this coming school year.
Knighton said classes will take the new material provided by NASA--which emphasizes math and science--and incorporate it in the general curriculum.
The school will attempt to integrate math and science with reading. Knighton says reading about topics. such as space travel. will help students gain knowledge in all three of the subject areas.
"There is a linkage between the disciplines," Knighton said. "In 21st century learning students have to do problem solving. That's one of the things we are trying to do--make kids critical thinkers and problem solvers."
For the next three years, NASA will provide supplemental educational resources for Piedmont classrooms, depending on the related curriculum for each grade. The school will be provided with up-to-date pictures and other visual learning tools for students based on the latest space discoveries and experiences, Knighton said.
Teachers are enthusiastic, he said.
"They are excited about the prospects, but have a lot of questions concerning the resources," Knighton says.
All 25 schools selected for the program are qualified to receive $17,500 during the three-year partnership to help buy technology tools. Knighton says Piedmont will receive $10,000 in the first year, $5,000 during the second and $2,500 in the final year.
The program also offers the opportunity for NASA officials to visit the school for events such as family night as guest lecturers.
This is the first year the school has applied to the program. Knighton said the school decided to apply after Peter DeDominici, the Clay Center's director of art and science education, brought an application to the school. The application required the school to explain how and why the program would be beneficial.
DeDominici said he brought in help from Majid Jaraiedi, president of the West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and one of its members, Jeanne Finstein. The three thought Piedmont would be a good fit for the program because of its aspiration to be a math/science magnet school.
"We met with teachers and the principal and gave them advice," DeDominici. "They shared their writing with us, and we told them how to tweak it and make it look good. They are a wonderful group to work with. The teachers and principal are incredible; they worked so hard to get it done."
From June 17 to 22, four teachers will be at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to learn more about the program and team planning. After the teachers return, they will educate the other staff members, Knighton said.
On June 28, 15 to 25 students will take part in a live videoconference with Expedition 15 Space Station at the Clay Center. The principal refers to the Clay Center as the school's backyard neighbor, and says the students take part in the center's many educational opportunities.
According to the NASA Explorer School Web site, 200 teams are currently involved in the project from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Knighton hopes the participation in the new learning program will help increase Westest scores, especially in the science and social studies subjects.
He is confident the three-year program will inspire many students and teachers while it's going on at the school. And he says the program benefits and memories will last forever.
"Once you're a NASA school, you're always a NASA school," Knighton said.
Contact writer Elaine McMillion at elainemcmillion@dailymail.com or 348- 7939.
By Elaine McMillion
Daily Mail staff
Piedmont Elementary School is counting down the days until students take off on a journey with the NASA's Explorer School program.
"We are all very excited," said Principal Steve Knighton.
The school is trying to help students develop an interest in careers available through science. So the school, which operates year-round, entered into a partnership with NASA for a special curriculum that starts July 11.
The competitive program is a three-year partnership between elementary and secondary schools and NASA. It was developed to inspire students' curiosity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
It is mainly targeted toward children in fourth grade through ninth grade. But Knighton says all students--kindergarten through fifth grade--will benefit from participation.
Piedmont Elementary is the only school chosen from West Virginia. There are 25 schools participating across the country. Tucker Valley Elementary School in Hambleton was accepted in 2006 and will finish the last year of the three-year commitment this coming school year.
Knighton said classes will take the new material provided by NASA--which emphasizes math and science--and incorporate it in the general curriculum.
The school will attempt to integrate math and science with reading. Knighton says reading about topics. such as space travel. will help students gain knowledge in all three of the subject areas.
"There is a linkage between the disciplines," Knighton said. "In 21st century learning students have to do problem solving. That's one of the things we are trying to do--make kids critical thinkers and problem solvers."
For the next three years, NASA will provide supplemental educational resources for Piedmont classrooms, depending on the related curriculum for each grade. The school will be provided with up-to-date pictures and other visual learning tools for students based on the latest space discoveries and experiences, Knighton said.
Teachers are enthusiastic, he said.
"They are excited about the prospects, but have a lot of questions concerning the resources," Knighton says.
All 25 schools selected for the program are qualified to receive $17,500 during the three-year partnership to help buy technology tools. Knighton says Piedmont will receive $10,000 in the first year, $5,000 during the second and $2,500 in the final year.
The program also offers the opportunity for NASA officials to visit the school for events such as family night as guest lecturers.
This is the first year the school has applied to the program. Knighton said the school decided to apply after Peter DeDominici, the Clay Center's director of art and science education, brought an application to the school. The application required the school to explain how and why the program would be beneficial.
DeDominici said he brought in help from Majid Jaraiedi, president of the West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and one of its members, Jeanne Finstein. The three thought Piedmont would be a good fit for the program because of its aspiration to be a math/science magnet school.
"We met with teachers and the principal and gave them advice," DeDominici. "They shared their writing with us, and we told them how to tweak it and make it look good. They are a wonderful group to work with. The teachers and principal are incredible; they worked so hard to get it done."
From June 17 to 22, four teachers will be at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., to learn more about the program and team planning. After the teachers return, they will educate the other staff members, Knighton said.
On June 28, 15 to 25 students will take part in a live videoconference with Expedition 15 Space Station at the Clay Center. The principal refers to the Clay Center as the school's backyard neighbor, and says the students take part in the center's many educational opportunities.
According to the NASA Explorer School Web site, 200 teams are currently involved in the project from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Knighton hopes the participation in the new learning program will help increase Westest scores, especially in the science and social studies subjects.
He is confident the three-year program will inspire many students and teachers while it's going on at the school. And he says the program benefits and memories will last forever.
"Once you're a NASA school, you're always a NASA school," Knighton said.
Contact writer Elaine McMillion at elainemcmillion@dailymail.com or 348- 7939.
NSF Current Newsletter Available by E-mail
Each month, the NSF Current newsletter highlights research and education efforts supported by the National Science Foundation. All editions are available below for viewing or downloading.
If you would like to automatically receive notifications when future editions of NSF Current are available, please click here.
If you would like to automatically receive notifications when future editions of NSF Current are available, please click here.
Nation Needs to Focus on Plasma Science
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science should reorient its research programs to promote plasma science research and create a focal point for federal efforts in that field, says a new report from the National Research Council. Breakthroughs in plasma science have the potential to enhance national and economic security, energy production, and general scientific knowledge.
Click here to read the report.
Click here to read the report.
Professor Inducted to Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars
A West Virginia University professor joined the ranks of some of the world’s most prominent research and medical leaders when he was inducted into the Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars on May 17.George Spirou, Ph.D., is WVU’s director of the Center for Neuroscience and director of research in otolaryngology. The Center’s faculty conduct a range of studies on normal brain function and disease states such as congenital blindness and stroke.
The WVU Otolaryngology Department faculty members study the receptor cells of the inner ear in health and disease models, sound processing in the brain, and how the auditory system develops. As the director of research, Spirou helped increasing the department’s National Institutes of Health funding to nearly $2.8 million. NIH lists WVU’s Otolaryngology Department as one of the top ten ear, nose and throat research departments in the country.
Spirou completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins in 1990. His former mentors were so impressed with Spirou’s research and administrative leadership at WVU, they were compelled to nominate him for the Society.
To read the rest of the announcement, click here.
WVU Pharmacy Student to Present Research at National Forensic Conference
For many, solving television shows’ criminal mysteries is as close as they will come to the forensic world. But one West Virginia University School of Pharmacy graduate student’s hands-on approach to forensics is earning him recognition in the field.Cody Peer, a pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences third-year Ph.D. student, will present research on a new drug detection method at the October 2007 Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc. (SOFT) conference in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.
Peer’s research project, “Direct-Injection Mass Spectrometric Method for the Rapid Identification of Fentanyl and Norfentanyl in Postmortem Urine of Six Drug Overdose Cases,” aims at getting quicker drug detection results from autopsies.
To read the rest of the announcement, click here.
WVU Names Cancer Center Director
Remick will lead growing research and cancer care effort
Scot C. Remick, M.D., a renowned cancer physician and researcher, has been named director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University.
Dr. Remick, currently the associate director for clinical research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, will join the WVU leadership team this summer. He currently holds the Dr. Lester E. Coleman Chair in Cancer Research and Therapeutics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
To read the rest of the announcement, click here.
Scot C. Remick, M.D., a renowned cancer physician and researcher, has been named director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University.Dr. Remick, currently the associate director for clinical research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, will join the WVU leadership team this summer. He currently holds the Dr. Lester E. Coleman Chair in Cancer Research and Therapeutics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
To read the rest of the announcement, click here.
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