$5.2 million in research funds awarded: Maryland biomedical firms benefit from university/commercial partnerships

A total of $5.2 million in funding will fuel 28 new research projects partnering Maryland firms with university researchers, the University of Maryland has announced.

The projects combine $3.3 million from participating companies and $1.9 million from the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program. Funding supports work in the laboratories of participating faculty, who work closely with partner companies to advance product development.

Two approved projects are related to homeland security, while 16 are in the biotechnology market segment. Four institutions are participating: the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with seven projects; the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, with four projects; Salisbury University, with one, and the University of Maryland, College Park, with 16. Four projects involve Baltimore-based companies. Company partners include 23 start-ups, four small companies, and one medium-sized firm.

Among the approved projects:

• Gaithersburg-based Minkon Biotechnology Inc. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore ($103,950): advancing toward product launch with a pre-clinical study measuring the efficacy and safety of Minkon's novel product for preventing obesity. The product may inhibit a metabolic pathway. It has shown it can completely prevent diet-induced obesity in animal models without apparent toxicity.
• Baltimore-based Theradigm Inc. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore ($107,477): animal study tracing the path neural stem cells take to replace dying or dead brain cells. The study, using the university's unique, image-guided cell delivery system, could provide Theradigm with an effective tool for delivering neural stem cells during clinical trials.
• Potomac-based Imagilin Technology LLC and the University of Maryland, College Park ($131,747): evaluating the toxicity of Imagilin's probiotic product for animal and pet foods. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing live bacteria that may strengthen the immune system. Probiotic use could reduce antibiotic use in animal feed, as well as prevent diseases such as salmonella.
• Rockville-based eClinForce.com Inc. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore ($104,478): testing eClinforce's web-based system for managing the entire process of conducting medical clinical trials effectively and efficiently. The system helps researchers streamline processes, improve data quality, shorten development cycles, and reduce costs.
• Rockville-based Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the University of Maryland, Baltimore ($215,408): developing non-toxic, water-soluble polymers for delivering cancer drugs. With drugs attached, Rexahn's polymers could be wrapped around a tumor, after which they would release drugs to attack just the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed.
• Beltsville-based SD Nanosciences Inc. and the University of Maryland, College Park ($105,714): developing a novel, nanotechnology-based delivery system for a bacterial meningitis B vaccine.

This is the 39th round of MIPS funding. The program has supported research projects with close to 400 different Maryland companies since 1987.

Commercial products MIPS-related research has contributed to have generated more than $12.1 billion in revenue, added jobs to the region, and contributed to successes such as Martek Biosciences' infant formula additives, Hughes Network Systems' HughesNetO, MedImmune Inc.'s Synagis, and Black & Decker's Bullet Speed Tip Masonry Drill Bit.

Read the full list of projects and partnerships.