Gap Funds Speed Development of Unique Inventions at Florida Atlantic University

Gap Funds Speed Development of Unique Inventions at Florida Atlantic University

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Florida Atlantic
University received a second round of funding from the Florida Atlantic
Research & Development Authority (Authority) in the amount of $50,000 to
continue to help fill the "gap" between basic research and the stage at
which commercial development can begin. FAU received initial funding of
$50,000 in late 2006 from the Authority, the operating agency for the FAU
Research Parks in Boca Raton and Deerfield Beach, Florida. The gap funds
are intended to translate university research into viable products or
services for the benefit of the public either through licensing the
inventions to existing companies or creating new companies to commercialize
the research results.

"So many vital discoveries come from universities," said Bob Swindell,
board

chair of the Authority. "We are extremely pleased that our support is

creating a strong momentum in the commercial development of FAU
technologies

and furthering the mission of the Authority by encouraging economic

development of our region."


Recipients of the FAU gap funds to date include:


* Dr. Ravi Shankar, professor, College of Engineering and Computer
Science, for a technology which reduces power dissipation in cell phones
using a novel mobile architecture and high speed scalable multiplier.

* Dr. Hari Kalva, assistant professor, College of Engineering and
Computer Science, for the development of a video transcoder to more
efficiently convert MPEG-2 videos to H.264, the latest video compression
standard. Kalva received a second gap award for a video encoder that
reduces the computing power required for high-quality video which will
improve performance of mobile devices, video telephony and H.264
high-definition video for personal computers.

* Dr. Yoshimi Shibata, associate professor, Charles E. Schmidt College
of Biomedical Science, for a unique process using micro-particles derived
from the exoskeleton of crabs, shrimp, insects and the cell wall of fungi
to enhance protective immunity against infectious agents. A Japanese-based
company which may serve as a potential commercial partner for this
patent-pending technology provided Shibata with matching funds.

* Dr. Guodong Sui, assistant professor, Charles E. Schmidt College of
Science, for an integrated microfluidic histology chip he designed to
provide real time, high throughput, highly specific detection of cancer
biomarkers for early and precise cancer diagnosis. This enabling technology
can also be used for diagnosis of other diseases from bodily fluids and
tissues.

* Dr. Herbert Weissbach, director of the Center for Molecular Biology
and Biotechnology and distinguished professor, Charles E. Schmidt College
of Science, for a compound he developed as a chemo-protective agent and to
shield skin against ultraviolet light, type B (UVB) damage. CHS Resources
LLC previously entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with FAU to
commercialize the compound for the prevention and treatment of skin, oral
and other cancers. As a result of the gap fund award, CHS and FAU are
finalizing an exclusive agreement for the chemo-protective agent that will
be targeted for use in sunscreen lotions and cosmetics. In addition to the
gap fund award, Weissbach received $25,000 in matching funds from the Hahn
Foundation and Dr. Elliott Hahn, former Andrx founder, president, CEO and
chairman of the board.

"FAU is among an elite group of universities nationally that currently
have gap funds to help increase the number of innovations that originate in
universities and enter the marketplace," said Dr. Ramaswamy Narayanan,
associate dean for research and industrial relations in the Charles E.
Schmidt College of Science at FAU and a member of the gap fund review
committee. "Commercialization of research is an integral part of a
university's increasingly important role to contribute to local economic
development."

FAU faculty, researchers and students compete for gap funds through a
request for proposal (RFP) process which requires proof-of-concept,
prototype development and commercial feasibility. Awards are made
semi-annually, and funding is limited to a maximum of $15,000 per award.
The gap fund program committee composed of industry and business leaders in
various fields, including a representative from the Authority, review and
select recipients of the awards.

"The gap fund is already yielding positive results for FAU in the early
stages of this program," said Stephen Nappi, director of technology
transfer at FAU. "In addition to matching funds, this program has generated
three new inventions, contributions from individual donors and four
prospective industry partnerships to commercialize these discoveries."

FAU formed the Florida Atlantic Research & Development Authority in
1986 with the support of the Broward and Palm Beach county commissions. The
Authority serves as the governing body responsible for the establishment of
the Research Park at FAU and works closely with the university and
prospective tenants for the Park.

- FAU -

Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth
public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 26,000
undergraduate and graduate students on seven campuses strategically located
along 150 miles of Florida's southeastern coastline. Building on its rich
tradition as a teaching university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts
ten colleges: College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F.
Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt College of
Biomedical Science, the Barry Kaye College of Business, the College of
Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Harriet L.
Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate College, the Christine E. Lynn College
of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science.