The University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Medical Innovation (CMI) recently awarded grants totaling $165,000 to eight research groups through its Pilot Funding Program for Early Stage Medical Technology Research and Development. 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. CMI also educates engineering students in medical product design and development through participation in real-world projects.
Grant 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.
"This is our seventh year of pilot funding, and our leadership team could not be more excited with the breadth and depth of this round’s awardees,” said Alan D. 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."
Since 2011, CMI has funded 67 projects, 9 of which have been spun out of Pitt as startups.
Here are the projects awarded grants in the latest rounds:
E-mag system for Rapid Cannulation of Fenestrated Stent Grafts to Reduce Radiation Exposure
For the development of a vascular stent graft system that will magnetically guide cannulation of endograft branches.
Bryan W. Tillman Division of Vascular Surgery Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Youngjae Chun Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Valved stent conduit for the treatment of severe advanced tricuspid regurgitation
For the development of an artificial tricuspid valve that will treat decreased right ventricular performance due to cardiac disease.
Catalin Toma Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Heart and Vascular Institute
Youngjae Chun Associate Professor, Industrial Engineering, Swanson School of Engineering
PopSole™ Foot Off-Loading Device
For the development of a shoe insert that will reduce foot pain due to fat pad atrophy in the feet.
Jeffrey Gusenoff Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Beth Gusenoff Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Kurt Beschorner Associate Professor, Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Seyed Reza Moghaddam Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Steven Donahoe Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Local Induction of Tolerogenic T cells to Ameliorate Inflammation in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
For the development of a potent IBD therapy with fewer side effects than current medical therapy.
R. Warren Sands T32 Clinical and Research Fellow, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Steven R. Little William Kepler Whiteford Endowed Professor and Chair, Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
David G. Binion Professor of Medicine, Clinical and Translational Science Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh Medical School
MOVISU-FIT: Mobile Wearable System for Real Time Visual Feedback and Gait Training
For the development of a system to provide real-time visual feedback to patients working on gait corrections during mobility rehabilitation training.
Goeran Fiedler Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Science and Technology,
William Clark Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Swanson School of Engineering
David Brienza Professor, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Krista Kutina Researcher, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Alicia Koontz Associate Professor, Veterans Administration Hospital
April Chambers Research Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering
Polyelectrolyte Multilayer Coating for Delivery of IL-4 from Contact Lenses for Dry Eye Disease
For development of a drug-eluting contact lens for treating dry eye disease
Bryan Brown Assistant Professor, Department of Bioengineering, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Vishal Jhanji Professor of Ophthalmology, UPMC Eye Center
Mangesh Kulkami Research Assistant Professor, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Quantitative Analysis of a New Tonometer to Manage/Prevent Glaucoma
For development of a novel pulse wave device for measurement of ocular tissue characteristics in the detection and treatment of glaucoma.
Piervincenzo Rizzo Professor, Department of Ophthalmology
Ian Sigal Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology
Ian Conner Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
Acetone Breathalyzer for Monitoring the Ketogenic State
For development of a cost-effective rapid acetone breath-alyzer for clinical and consumer usage in ketogenic diets
Sung Kwon Cho Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
David Rometo Assistant Professor, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
David Finegold Professor, Department of Human Genetics
Alex Star Professor, Department of Chemistry
If you are a Pitt researcher that would like to submit a CMI grant application, click here.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these projects, including sponsored research and licensing, contact the Innovation Institute at innovate@pitt.edu.