Companies License Real-time Pathogen Detection Technology Developed at Kent State, NEOUCOM.KENT, Ohio -- Innovative technology developed at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine Northeastern Ohio Universities College Of Medicine (NEOUCOM) is a community-based, state medical school that offers a combined B.S./M.D. program that allows students to graduate with their B.S./M.D. in as few as six or seven years. (NEOUCOM NEOUCOM North Eastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine ) and Kent State University with the capability of detecting bioterrorism agents and pathogens in food and water has led to two licensing agreements. Liquid crystal biosensor A device that detects and analyzes body movement, temperature or fluids and turns it into an electronic signal. See lab on a chip and data glove. Biosensor technology developed jointly by investigators at Kent State and NEOUCOM has been co-licensed to two companies, Oringen LLC (Logical Link Control) See "LANs" under data link protocol. LLC - Logical Link Control of Tallmadge, Ohio, and Pathogen Detection Systems of Boulder, Colo., for further development. Each company has committed to bringing research and development, production, sales and other jobs to Kent, Ohio, and surrounding areas, once the technology has been developed. The liquid crystal biosensor technology is expected to change radically the detection and identification of harmful pathogens. While current detection methods can take up to three days to identify disease-causing agents, this new technology offers the promise of detection and identification within minutes. The researchers combined their expertise in liquid crystals and biomedical sciences to develop a device that can quickly detect harmful microbes, such as anthrax or plague. Potential applications for this technology include environmental protection, homeland security and medical diagnoses. Christopher Woolverton, Ph.D., Kent State associate professor of biological sciences, Gary D. Niehaus, Ph.D., NEOUCOM associate professor of physiology and pharmacology, Oleg D. Lavrentovich, Ph.D., director of Kent State's Liquid Crystal Institute The Glenn H. Brown Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI) is the nation's leader in liquid crystal technology and education, blending basic and applied research on liquid crystals. , and Kathleen Doane, Ph.D., NEOUCOM associate professor of anatomy, formed the team of investigators that produced a portfolio of patents and, ultimately, two licensing agreements. The biosensor works by placing antibodies into liquid crystals and then introducing microbes (bacteria or viruses that cause disease) which are attracted to these antibodies. The biosensor can be used to diagnose infectious diseases of all kinds, as well as bioterror agents. This research was funded in part through an $800,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security Noun 1. Department of Homeland Security - the federal department that administers all matters relating to homeland security Homeland Security executive department - a federal department in the executive branch of the government of the United States , a $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and a Research Challenge grant from the Ohio Board of Regents The Ohio Board of Regents is the coordinating board for higher education in Ohio. The board was created in 1963 by the Ohio General Assembly to: provide higher education policy advice to the Governor of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly; develop a strategy involving Ohio's public . Both NEOUCOM and Kent State supported development of the liquid crystal biosensor, and combined resources for two pilot studies. |
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