Launch Blue Announces Sixth UAccel Cohort
February 1, 2023
Launch Blue is pleased to announce that 12 teams have been selected to participate in the 12-week Spring 2023 UAccel program.
Organized in partnership with the University of Kentucky Office of Technology Commercialization and Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, the UAccel program is designed to offer 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 grant applications, the creation of a startup, or licensing of the technology.
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. The application for the Fall 2023 UAccel cohort will open later this summer (click here to sign up to be notified when the application opens).
Participants in the Spring 2023 Cohort are:
Kaile Alford
Vrushali Angadi, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky
Ming-Yuan Chih, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky
A smartphone application that delivers and monitors home practice for a strongly evidence-based voice therapy program, VFEs. In addition, the app provides videos of each exercise performed by trained clinicians and the ability for the patient to record their attempts for a clinician to review.
Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, PhD, Professor, College of Pharmacy; Associate Vice President for Research, University of Kentucky
Oleg Tsodikov, PhD, Professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky
Antifungal agents that could potentially act by a novel mechanism of action, different of those of the antifungals currently on the market, to help curb the fungal resistance problem.
James Brusuelas, PhD, Associate Professor of Classics, College of Arts of Sciences, University of Kentucky
A Mixed Reality application for language learning using Microsoft's HoloLens2.
Michaela M. Keener, MS, Research Administrative Coordinator, UK Sports Medicine Research Institute
The Graham Test provides a quick field concussion test that is occupation-specific for equestrians, specifically race riders. This technology removes the subjectivity on if an individual is ready to return to ride, and offers insight to bodily functions often impaired by concussion, such as reaction time, stability, and cognitive function.
Brittany E. Levy, MD, General Surgery Resident Physician, University of Kentucky
Jennifer T. Castle, MD, General Surgery Resident Physician, University of Kentucky
An automated emergency tourniquet, which provides feedback to the user regarding adequacy of tourniquet application. It provides step by step instruction to the user on how to apply the tourniquet, for life saving care.
Joneen Lowman, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky
The Telehealth Training Toolkit seeks to ameliorate the training-to-practice gap by providing university healthcare educators with a comprehensive set of resources designed to prepare students to effectively integrate telehealth into their clinical milieu. Grounded in research and published standards, the toolkit contains interprofessional case vignettes, simulations, and fillable forms each designed to ensure learners master telehealth competencies and skills.
Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez, PhD, Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky
Rob Pace, PhD, Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky
Great Umenweke, Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky
Active, selective, stable, recyclable and inexpensive catalysts capable of converting different waste and renewable feeds to Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend stock. This novel catalytic technology is not only practicable, but addresses several of the drawbacks of the technology currently employed to perform this transformation.
Doug Strachan, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky
A nanopore device using cross gaps of two-dimensional materials to provide real-time readouts to detect and sequence DNA, RNA, and other polymeric molecules.
Jaleesa Wells, PhD, Founder and CEO, BossiRainbow
The development of an art material made from renewable and/or recyclable raw materials. The goal is to reduce or remove the reliance of artists and art practices on art materials that contribute to harming the environment by developing an renewable or recyclable art material that is familiar in its properties and functions.
Leslie Woltenberg, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky
Scott Black, MD
The Food Choice Tool provides an accessible mechanism to review nutritional quality and energy quantity in food. Current fitness or wellness trackers limit the average consumer’s ability to make informed food choices, typically utilizing one nutrient profiling system or calorie counting alone. The Food Choice tool integrates multiple nutrition data sources in a single system and can be customized based upon an individual’s needs and ultimately supporting their wellness goals.
Jason Applegate, MSRS, RT(R)(CT), CNMT, Assistant Professor, School of Allied Health, Northern Kentucky University
A process for creating 3D printable files from DICOM data to use for creating replica's of organs for educational purposes or bioimplantable prosthetics.
Kimberly Green, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Department Chair, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Western Kentucky University
Daniel Boamah, Ph.D., MA. LCSW, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Western Kentucky University
A virtual reality training environment platform for child welfare practitioners to increase their awareness of implicit biases.