2010 Winners
1st Place: SLP Diagnostics - University of Alabama in Huntsville
SLP Diagnostics, Inc. is developing a portable medical device to detect any known infection within one hour. SLP's proprietary DNA-based GATE Reader will revolutionize the way infections are diagnosed. Today and for the past 50 years, culturing cells in a lab has been the standard method for infection diagnosis in humans, requiring 24-72 hours for a reliable result. SLP has invented a breakthrough solution - a one hour infection detection technology that uses DNA hybridization to rapidly identify the pathogen. The GATE Reader will target the point-of-care market that is beset with these current problems. SLP Diagnosis is poised to eventually displace the incumbent "culture" technique, saving billions of dollars, while significantly improving patient care.
Visit the company's website at www.slpdiagnostics.com for more information.
2nd Place: Swift Biotechnology - University of South Alabama
Swift Biotechnology has licensed technology from the University of South Alabama's Mitchell Cancer Institute (USA-MCI) that can provide early detection of two of the deadliest cancers in women: endometrial and ovarian cancer. These cancers claim over 22,000 lives each year, but early detection can increase five-year survivability rates from 24% to 96%. Using this patented technology, the company is developing an in-clinic testing kit to detect specific proteins in a women's cervical fluid that can identiy a cancer "fingerprint." If this fingerprint is found, a tissue sample is taken and analyzed to confirm weather cancer in fact exists.
3rd Place: PheroGreen - The University of Alabama
PheroGreen is a startup company using a patent-pending technology to provide farmers of all crops with a biodegradable and environmentally-friendly insect control management option. Even with current insecticides, estimated annual crop loss due to insect infestation tops $100 billion worldwide. PheroGreen's technology will be used to encapsulate insect pheromones in pectin, a naturally occurring and biodegradable substance. When distributed, the pheromones disrupt the mating patterns of several harmful insects, reducing insect populations. PheroGreen will be able to help farmers yield more produce and provide the very first 100% biodegradable method for controlling insect populations.
Remaining finalists:
Construction Solutions, Inc. - Auburn University
Construction Solutions, Inc. is dedicated to leveraging an existing pipeline of concepts to develop and commercialize products for the construction industry.
Endomimetics - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Endomimetics, LLC is a life sciences and nanotechnology company dedicated to creating natural bionanomatrix coating technologies for medical devices and clinical problems in cardiovascular disease. Please visit the company's website at www.endomimetics.net for more information.
HydrogeNow - The University of Alabama
HydrogeNow is an early stage start-up company applying a technology platform for the production and storage of hydrogen as a fuel source for fuel cells.
RogueIP - University of Alabama in Huntsville
IPSoft is the provider of Intellectual Property compliance software which allows employers to indentify IP that are incorrectly assigned.
Novicure Biotechnology - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Through our unique primary cell lines, state-of-the-art techniques and world renowned expertise, Novicure aspires to lead the 21st century quest for a new treatment against prostate cancer bone metastasis. Please visit www.novicure.com for more information.
VIPAAR, Inc. - University of Alabama at Birmingham
VIPAAR integrates remote expertise directly and interactively into your local field of operation. The system was developed collaboratively by surgeons and engineers with a mission to be the definitive provider of shared first person virtual interactive solutions.
Remaining semi-finalists:
525 Pain Management - The University of Alabama
525PM intends to use its proprietary process of preparation of new dual-functional Ionic Liquids (ILs; now defined as salts which melt below 100 °C) and ILs' inherent design flexibility to develop examples of ILs based on common pain management drugs.
Fastcomcorp, LLC - University of South Alabama
Fastcomcorp is a newly incorporated entity formed to develop, manufacture and distribute a new format for optically based data storage discs along with supporting drives and security mechanisms.
IR Wraps - The University of Alabama
IR Wraps will sell therapeutic wraps that emit infrared for the relief of musculoskeletal pain.
KOR Therapies - University of Alabama at Birmingham
Fresh headwaters for the anti-arrhythmic pipeline.
LifeTouch Health - University of Alabama in Huntsville
Healthcare on demand.
NovalTech - University of South Alabama
NovalTech is developing "The Wound Explorer" - the most effective and cost efficient device available for assessing penetrating trauma.
NuVAIR - University of Alabama in Huntsville
NuVIAR has licensed the exclusive rights to a patented therapeutic that has demonstrated the ability to slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
PDH Technologies - The University of Alabama
PDH Technologies (PDH) is a R&D company focused on developing specialty fibers with embedded additives for the wound care market.
Stronghold Defense - University of Alabama in Huntsville
Stronghold Defense is developing innovative personnel armor by uniquely combining the latest medical and engineering technologies.
SynerCom - University of Alabama in Huntsville
Why pay more for less? The SBICS is an intelligent phone system that offers small businesses many more calling features while lowering monthly costs.
Thin-Film Antimicrobial Nanocomposites - Auburn
Nano-technology offers strong, permanent antibacterial surfaces to prevent the spread of infection.
(Summaries provided by companies)
