The Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron (ABIA) has received a $2.6 million Ohio Third Frontier grant for biomedical sensor research and commercialization.
The project funded by the grant from the Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering at Cleveland State University is aimed at developing sensor technologies to diagnose medical conditions and monitor patients’ health, according to a statement from the institute.
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It will involve technologies to help patients at risk for chronic wounds or tissue degradation. Researchers will focus on creating sensor materials to solve issues relating to bladder control, wound healing, diabetic foot ulcers, skin health on amputee patients and the mechanics of connective vascular tissues.
The grant also looks to boost the regional economy by generating licensing revenue, new business and jobs for project partners, as well as Ohio-based spin-off companies, according to the statement.
A number of Northeast Ohio organizations will collaborate on the project, including Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Parker Hannifin Corp.
The ABIA-led project is one of six that recently received a total of $17 million in Third Frontier grants for the development of sensor technology.
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Cleveland State is leader of the $24 million sensor center grant, made by the Third Frontier in late 2006. But the university was so severely behind schedule for building a center, buying equipment, making grants to research partners — and most of all, raising $50 million in matching money — by late 2008, the Ohio Department of Development froze the grant funding, according to Crain’s Cleveland Business.
The original grant proposal was to build a Wright center at Cleveland State where researchers, scientists, business people and government workers could come together to solve nagging industrial problems with sensors.
The university and development department have since settled on a “Phase 2” plan for the sensor center and extended its grant funding another three years. Rather than build a center, sensor expertise and resources are housed at partner institutions, including Lorain County Community College.
In addition, rather than make research grants, the sensor center is making commercialization grants that create business and jobs by developing sensor products for market.
