Philadelphia, PA – (July 28, 2021) – Twelve academic-based technologies have been selected as finalists for the 14th round of the Science Center research accelerator known as the QED Proof-of-Concept program. The QED Program (from the Latin Quod Erat Demonstrandum, or, “that which is demonstrated”) solicits life science R&D project proposals from leading research centers across PA, NJ, and DE. The key goal of the program is to retire the business risk in these early-stage projects, increasing their attractiveness to follow-on investment by life science companies and private investors.
All finalists will receive guidance and support from business advisors, patent attorneys and regulatory experts, and access to the Science Center’s network of investors and partners as they develop a proof-of-concept commercialization plan.
Each of the technologies was identified as having high potential for improving human health and for being of interest to industry and investors. Since its inception in 2009, the QED program has provided development services for over 150 academic researchers with over $8M invested in 44 projects. Fourteen startups or licensing deals have resulted.
Three finalists from the cohort will be selected to receive up to $200,000 each in funding. The award funding is provided equally from the Science Center and the finalist’s host institution. The awardees will be announced in early 2022 following investor-pitch style presentations by the finalists to a selection committee of life science and medical device executives and investors.
2021 QED Finalists:
Fox Chase Cancer Center
John Karanicolas
Designing tumor-localized activation into therapeutic antibodies
Monell Chemical Senses Center
Hong Wang
Olfactory biomarker test for Parkinson’s disease
Pennsylvania State University
Arun Sharma
Development of a unique Notch1 inhibitor for metastatic breast cancer
Mohammad Tofighi
Non-invasive blood perfusion device to reduce flap failure
Princeton University
Maksim Mezhericher and Howard Stone
System for rapid room temperature dehydration of vaccines and biopharmaceutical formulations using ultra-fine droplet aerosols
Rowan University
Mohammad Abedin-Nasab
Robossis: surgical robotic system for long-bone fracture alignment
Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya
MRIMath: trustworthy AI for radiation oncology
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
KiBum Lee
Stemgraft: a novel 3D tissue construct for the treatment of severe burns
Temple University
Hai-Lung Dai and Michael Wilhelm
A - gram-stain differentiation method and instrument based on nonlinear light scattering
Rouzbeh Tehrani
Nano-enhanced hemodialysis for personalized treatments
The University of Pennsylvania
Pavan Atluri
Femoral arterial perfusion cannula embolic protection system
Geelsu Hwang
Smart dental implant system for prevention of peri-implant diseases
The Science Center is a leader in the development of healthcare innovation across the region. Equipped with deep expertise both in-house and in its network of advisors, the Science Center can efficiently identify, evaluate, accelerate, and finance the most promising life science ideas and businesses.
In recent years, the program has benefited from financial support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
About the Science Center
Established in 1963, the Science Center is a mission-driven nonprofit that commercializes promising technology, cultivates talent, and convenes people to inspire action. With partnerships across top academic and research institutions, industry, and healthcare systems, the Science Center is helping life-saving technologies transition from bench to bedside and nurturing a workforce that supports a 21st century economy. For more information, visit sciencecenter.org and follow @UCScienceCenter.
About the QED Proof-of-Concept Program
The QED Program provides funding and business development support for academic researchers developing early-stage life science and healthcare technologies with high commercial potential. A common participation agreement that defines matching funds, indirect costs, and intellectual property management, has been signed by 22 universities and research institutions in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Delaware State University, Drexel University, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Lehigh University, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Moravian College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, The Pennsylvania State University, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Princeton University, Rowan University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Temple University, Thomas Jefferson University, University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, University of the Sciences, Widener University, and The Wistar Institute.
