Award Data

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Molecular interactions form the foundation of biology and chemistry. They are central to life itself and determine catalytic activity, cellular function, and therapeutic efficacy. The vast majority of diagnostic procedures depend on some type of specific molecular interaction. Therefore, the ability to perform pure liquid-phase molecular binding analysis at hi ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): A major contamination issue at over 8,000 sites in the United States are PAHs. This contamination results from almost all combustion processes, creosote treatment of wood, former town gas sites, and many others. Many of these chemicals are both toxic and carcinogenic. It has been observed that these highly hydrophobic chemicals bind tightly to soil by a numb ...

The incidence of asthma has more thandoubled from 6.7 million in 1980 to 17.3 million in 1998 in the U.S., including 4.3 million children. Current therapies for asthma have serious side effects. Airway adenosine levels are increased in patients with asthma. Activation of A1 adenosine receptors produces bronchoconstriction, airway edema, and acute inflammation, leading to airflow obstruction. Endac ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Cyclotec AMT, Inc. is developing 'non-invasive' transcutaneous electrical stimulators (TENS) that may prove to be viable adjuncts to or alternatives for drugs for management of recent onset "acute" pain. TENS has long been used for "chronic" pain management. The device complexities have made them prohibitive for short-term 'acute' applications; an application ...

Delivery of drugs to the lungs by aerosol (either via a metered dose inhaler, MDI, or nebulization of a solution) is fundamental therapy for a host of lung diseases. Aerosol administration to mechanically ventilated patients is most commonly done by a nurse or respiratory therapist. This approach can be highly variable, is prone to errors particularly in patients on multiple MDIs and nebulizers, h ...

Improved imaging technologies are critically needed for noninvasive detection of cancer. We have recently shown excellent imaging feasibility of prostate cancer, breast cancer and brain tumors using F-1 8 labeled choline (FCH) and positron emission tomography (PET). In order to minimize radiation exposure to radiochemistry personnel and increase th; reliability of radiotracer synthesis, it is prop ...

Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), a sporadic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder, suffer from orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension and supine hypertension. Hypotension causes presyncopal symptoms usually within seconds of standing and requires the patient to sit or lie down to prevent syncope. Supine hypertension reduces leep quality through excessive nocturnal diur ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Controlling mechanical signal transduction to treat osteoarthritis Abstract The TRPV4 calcium (Ca++) permeable ion channel has been shown to be expressed and functional in chondrocytes, the cells responsible for the maintenance of cartilage in weight-bearing joints. Trauma of joints with subsequent damage of cartilage, as well as chronically increased joint loa ...

Sinmat Inc. working with University of Florida, proposes to develop an economical and scalable process for fabrication of diamond light emitting diodes (LEDs) that operate in the deep ultraviolet regime. These LEDs are expected to have significant usage inBMDO related activities as compact sources in detection and probes. The formation of diamond LEDs has recently been shown on doped homoepitaxial ...

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Development of a new method for prophylaxis and treatment of urinary stone disease is proposed. Since a majority of urinary stones are made of calcium oxalate, the level of urinary oxalate is one of the major risk factors of stone formation. Unfortunately, there is no effective pharmacological treatment of stone disease that targets urinary oxalate concentratio ...