Engineering, Medicine faculty awarded $2.3 million by Ohio Third Frontier Program

August 9, 2013 | Research, UToday, Engineering, Medicine and Life Sciences
By Casey Cheap



The University of Toledo colleges of Engineering and Medicine and Life Sciences will collaborate with three Ohio companies to develop improved spinal implants and exercise machines for rehabilitation services needed to treat spinal injuries.

Goel

Goel

The three companies collaborating with UT are X-Spine, Metro Medical Innovations and Turning Point Biotechnology.

The Ohio Third Frontier Commission recently approved the expenditure of $20.5 million for the support of new technologies that will prepare Ohio students for employment in technology-based industries. And an interdisciplinary proposal by the UT colleges of Engineering and Medicine and Life Sciences has been awarded $2.3 million for spinal research and product development.

A dollar-for-dollar match in funds is committed jointly by UT and the three companies.

Dr. Vijay Goel, UT Distinguished University Professor and endowed chair of orthopedic bioengineering, is the principal investigator.

The Ohio Third Frontier Program is administered through the Ohio Development Services Agency.

“Ohio Third Frontier sent out an email to UT,” Goel said. “Once we became aware of the grant opportunity, I attended a bidder’s conference in Columbus, submitted a letter of intent, and sent in our proposal.”

Goel cited the peer-recognized collaborations between the colleges of Engineering and Medicine and Life Sciences and between the departments of Bioengineering and Orthopedics as to why UT was chosen for the grant.

The proposal strives to accomplish the development of several next-generation spinal implants and therapeutic devices from concept to market at the request of several clients and companies.

“I want to thank UT President Lloyd Jacobs; co-investigators Dr. Anand Agarwal, research professor and orthopedic spine surgeon; Dr. Sarit Bhaduri, professor of mechanical, industrial and manufacturing engineering and surgery; Dr. Hossein Elgafy, associate professor of orthopedics; and Dr. Mustapha Khan, assistant professor of orthopedics; and everyone from the three companies for making this happen,” Goel said.

He also thanked Dr. Nagi Naganathan, dean of the College of Engineering; Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor and executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences; Dr. James Trempe, vice president for research; Dr. Frank Calzonetti, vice president for government relations; and Anne Izzi and Stephen Snider from the Tech Transfer Office for their support of this project.

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