Launch Blue Announces Spring ‘24 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps Cohort
Launch Blue is pleased to announce, 11 teams have been selected to participate in the 12-week Spring 2024 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps program. This is the tenth UAccel cohort under the Launch Blue banner.
UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps offers business development and an experiential learning opportunity to innovators in higher education interested in learning the best commercialization path for their technology. The goal of the program is to advance the technology toward commercialization, including preparations for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications, the creation of a startup, or licensing of the technology. UAccel Quick Start is organized in partnership with the University of Kentucky Office of Technology Commercialization and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures.
UAccel Quick Start is the first phase of Launch Blue’s two-phase program for innovators in higher education, the second phase is Innovation Corps (I-Corps). The National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program is an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact. The University of Kentucky is a member of the NSF’s Mid-South I-Corps Hub and offers a regional I-Corps program through Launch Blue.
Candidates were selected through a competitive application and interview process. The final selections for the cohort were determined by a selection committee appointed by the organizing partners. Applications for the Summer 2024 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps program will open on April 1.
Yuha Jung, PhD, Associate Professor of Arts Administration, College of Fine Arts, University of Kentucky
This consultancy is dedicated to expediting the development of legal expertise within arts and cultural nonprofit organizations in Kentucky through research and education.
Thomas Goebel, PhD, Assistant Professor, Center for Earthquake Research and Information, University of Memphis
A new, large-scale effort for the recording and analysis of seismic data using a combination of novel instrumentation and artificial intelligence.
Deepak Kotiya, PhD, Scientist, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
A sandwich ELISA that detects amylin-Aβ hetero-oligomers in brain tissue and blood samples of Alzheimer’s disease patients. This ELISA is helpful in assessing the effect of diabetes on Alzheimer’s disease.
Daniel Scott, PhD;
Luke Hartline, D12 Scientific
D12 Scientific is focused on the development of cost-effective and user-friendly point-of-care diagnostics for communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Maame Abena O. Afrifa, Biomedical Engineering graduate student, University of Kentucky
NanoMed is an adaptive and non-invasive targeted drug delivery technology, NAT-1, for treating superficial cancers. NAT-1 enables the simultaneous delivery of dual chemotherapy agents, thereby reducing cancer drug resistance.
Shulin Zhang MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Director at the Clinical Molecular Genomic Pathology Laboratory, Director at Oncogenomics Core Lab, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky
Chunming Liu, PhD, Professor, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky
Chi Wang, PhD, Professor of Internal Medicine, Associate Director at Biostatistics and Bioinformatics SRF, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky
A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism-based, Mixed Cell Screening platform, where the reactions of each cell line toward the candidate compound treatment can be differentiated by using “genetic tags” of each cell line and subsequent proprietary statistical deconvolution algorithm.
Liang Luo, PhD, Professor of Chinese Studies, Convener of Chinese Working Group, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Kentucky
Global Asias Research and Creativity Incubator aims to synthesize current research concerning Asia, the AAPI communities in Kentucky, the global Asian diaspora, and other underrepresented communities through international and local collaboration, and making such research accessible.
Sabrina Brown, DrPH, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky; Core Director of Intentional Injuries, Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center
The Death Scene Investigation Mobile Technology aims to improve written scene documentation and photo evidence and documentation of decedent information.
Suzanne Pilon, RN, DNP, Senior Lecturer, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky
An educational board game to review fundamental nursing concepts, making learning and reviewing key concepts fun and interactive.
Madhumathi Rao, MD, Professor, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky; Anthony Swoboda, Jason Hargadon, Florence Lima, Clay Larkin
A tool used during the retrieval of bone via a bone biopsy procedure by refining the cutting method used to minimize bone damage and optimize bone core sample retrieval.
Ketrell L. McWhorter, PhD, MBA, ACE-CPT, ACE-FNS, Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Director of Global Health Graduate Certificate, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky
A 10-minute 'anywhere workout' program hosted on an innovative digital platform, where users can engage directly with the trainer and offers a holistic experience that rejuvenates the body, mind, and soul.