Photo-Molecular Comb™ Biomolecular Separator Bait Matrices for Controlling

UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Federal Laboratory Consortium's Southeast Region presents the 2004 Project of the Year Award to UT/Battelle Oak Ridge National Laboratory for development of a technology that converts two-dimensional views of the internal structures of living animals into three-dimensional images for improved biological and pharmaceutical studies. Because the technology uses living animals as test subjects (e.g., mice), a test subject can serve as its own control and undergo subsequent imaging studies to determine effectiveness of therapeutic drugs.

The technology constitutes a critical breakthrough in the ability to study very small scale organ systems of mice and rats--animals that comprise over 90 percent of all health-related animal research. The MicroCAT™ is an x-ray-based device with resolutions that allow biologists to study small organ systems at a resolution scale that is similar to the scale at which human organs can be examined on a clinical x-ray CT scanner.

Two researchers who developed the MicroCAT™ technology at ORNL formed a company, ImTek, Inc. , in 1998 to commercially develop the technology. ImTek also obtained licenses for the copyrighted software packages developed for MicroCAT™ and for the trademark from UT-Battelle in 1998. The developers participated in a part-time entrepreneurial leave program at ORNL in order to start the company and market the product. In June, 2003, ImTek established a partnership with Philips Medical Systems, A Tier 1 medical imaging company. The partnership enabled ImTek to utilize the worldwide sales presence of Philips Medical Systems to enter high profile research universities, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology companies. Customers include these groups along with hospitals and other research entities that maintain small animal-based research programs in genetic, disease, and drug discovery research. Commercial sales exceeded $2 million in 2003 and are expected to exceed $4 million in 2004.

ORNL developers and team members include Dr. Shaun Gleason and Dr. Michael Paulus, co-project leaders and co-founders of ImTek, Inc. Other ORNL team members include Mr. Derek Austin, Mr. Miljko Bobrek, Mr. Gary Alley, Dr. Kenneth Tobin, Dr. Chris McKinney, and Mr. Larry Dickens. Philips Medical Systems Team member is Mr. Michael Licata.

More information:
MicroCAT™ Specifications
Team UT-Battelle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
CTI Molecular Imaging, Inc. (acquired ImTek, Inc.)

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UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Federal Laboratory Consortium's Southeast Region presents the 2004 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award to UT/Battelle Oak Ridge National Laboratory for development of a technology that provides early warning of contamination in primary-source water supplies. AquaSentinel collects real-time data in the field and transmits it by an encrypted wireless transmission to a remote computer to give decision-makers almost instantaneous warning of a potential problem. In this way, remediation efforts can be organized far more quickly and effectively.

As homeland defense has risen to a priority in the US and other countries, water security has received much attention. However, most current water quality monitoring systems rely on examining living biological tissues of fish and other fauna and flora. Time-consuming laboratory analysis is done to test for contaminants, and the subject organisms must be cultivated, maintained and replenished over time. ORNL's AquaSentinel obtains results by passively monitoring freshwater algae in their natural habitat and in real-time. Neither chemical reagents nor bench-top analysis of samples are required. In essence, AquaSentinel uses naturally occurring algae as biosensors by monitoring light emitted by healthy algae during photosynthesis. Light emitted by healthy algae differs from that emitted by algae exposed to a toxin. AquaSentinel detects this difference, thus providing a signature for the toxin.

ORNL granted an exclusive commercial license for the AquaSentinel technology to United Defense, LP, of York, PA, which is now marketing a device called "WaterSentryTM." United Defense continues to fund R&D at ORNL to further develop this licensed technology.

Dr. Elias Greenbaum served as the ORNL Project Leader and Principal Investigator for the development of the AquaSentinel technology. Other members of the ORNL team include Mr. Miguel Rodriguez, Jr., Ms. Charlene A. Sanders, Mr. David E. Hill, Mr. John D. Harrell, Dr. Mark E. Reeves, and Mr. Richard L. Stouder. Mr. Steven M. McCarter, of United Defense, LP served as the commercial partner in the effort..

More information:
AquaSentinel 092804 Fact Sheet PDF 782.6KB
Team UT-Battelle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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Photo-Molecular Comb™ Biomolecular Separator Bait Matrices for Controlling

UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The Federal Laboratory Consortium's Southeast Region presents the 2004 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award to UT/Battelle Oak Ridge National Laboratory for development of a technology that separates proteins and other biomolecules for identification and analysis. The entire device is miniature, and separations occur in a thin layer of gel immobilized on the surface of a semiconductor chip. Unlike microfluidic devices, the Photo-Molecular Comb™ does not require prefabricated channels in the semiconductor. Rather, the gel-semiconductor interface is electrified, and a low-power laser beam scans it and causes molecules to separate.

This technology sets new standards for speed, sensitivity, reliability, and ease of use. It is a breakthrough platform technology that, when further developed, is likely to replace current tools such as mass spectrometers and fluorescence-based detectors that require extensive, expensive, slow and bulky sample preparation. This new technology has high throughput, and sample preparation is easy. Both characteristics are needed for timely medical diagnosis, faster drug development, and for homeland security and military uses. The Photo-Molecular CombTM can be applied anywhere that separation of biomolecules is needed. It is expected to have a broad impact in the US alone, where the market for separation-based biomedical diagnostics is well over $500 million annually.

A unique aspect of the development of the technology was that a license was negotiated at a very early stage. Indeed, licensing the technology was a challenge, because the technology was mostly theoretical when the negotiations began. As negotiations continued, patent applications were filed, and as part of the ultimate licensing agreement, Protein Discovery Inc., of Knoxville, TN, agreed to participate in a funds-in CRADA whereby all of the initial development work was conducted by Protein Discovery staff stationed at ORNL and who worked side-by-side with the ORNL team.

The ORNL team members include Dr. Thomas Thundat, PI, Dr. Gilbert M. Brown, Dr. Thomas Ferrell, Dr. Robert (Bruce) J. Warmack, and Mr. Russ Miller. Protein Discovery, Inc. team members include Mr. Charles Witkowski, Mr. Jay Harkins, Dr. Dean Hafeman, and Dr. Kilin Dill.

More information:
Photo-Molecular Comb technology may be used to develop drugs that combat disease more effectively.
Protein Discovery, Inc.
Team UT-Battelle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Mid-South Area
Southern Regional Research Center
Formosan Subterranean Termite Research Unit

The Federal Laboratory Consortium's Southeast Region presents the 2004 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award to the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mid-South Area's Southern Regional Research Center for development of a new bait matrix formula based on nutritional studies of the Formosan Subterranean Termite. The matrix provides the pest with essential nutrients and feeding stimulants, but also contains either slow-acting toxins or insect growth regulators.

Invasive pests are damaging and difficult to control because they have left their natural enemies (predators, parasites, and pathogens) behind. The Formosan subterranean termite (FST) arrived in the US from the South Pacific over 50 years ago. Now established in 11 states, it costs an estimated $1 billion annually in property damage, repairs and control. Other invasive species are the red imported fire ant and the Argentine ant. Fire ants annually cause millions of dollars in damage in the US and are now found in 17 states, Puerto Rico and northern Mexico. Argentine ants cause significant structural damage in California and also causes damage to citrus trees by protecting other pests from their natural enemies.

The new bait matrix formula requires up to 90 percent less active material than existing commercial termite bait products. Additionally, the developers found that low concentrations of naphthalenic compounds, similar to substances found in mothballs, were a safe and effective feeding stimulant and synergistic toxicant. The new product helps to control both native termites and fire ants, is environmentally friendly, is effective in very low concentrations and contains no heavy metals. It is also cheap, costing only $1 per gram, compared to $50 per gram for products currently on the market.

The initial fire ant bait matrix was developed in cooperation with Ensystex, Inc., under a CRADA. The ARS developers also cooperated with Waterbury Companies, Inc., under a Specific cooperative Agreement, to develop a gel presentation based on the original ant bait matrix formulation. The fire ant bait matrix has been patented, licensed and a commercial product (Labyrinth) was introduced outside the US in 2002. A patent for the naphthalinic compounds has issued, and an exclusive license is currently under negotiation. A patent application, which has been licensed, has been filed for the ant bait matrix, and a new bait gel, "Drax NutraBait," was introduced in 2004. A granular version of Drax NutraBait will be marketed as soon as EPA issues registration.

The new bait matrices were developed by Dr. Maria Guadalupe Rojas and Dr. Juan A. Morales-Ramos, both research entomologists, at the Formosan Subterranean Termite Research Unit in New Orleans, LA.

More information:
Photo-Molecular Comb technology may be used to develop drugs that combat disease more effectively.
Protein Discovery, Inc.
Team UT-Battelle at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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US Army Engineer R&/D Center
Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory

The Federal Laboratory Consortium' s Southeast Region presents the 2004 Excellence in Technology Transfer Award to the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory of the US Army Engineer R&D Center in Vicksburg, MS, for development of a foamed fiber-reinforced concrete that can be cast in blocks and panels and that will capture impacting bullets without producing dangerous ricochets. This specialty concrete, known by the trademark of SACONTM, is used in military firing ranges and grenade practice facilities. SACON absorbs an incoming bullet or grenade fragment without producing ricochets , and includes a component that assures the containment of toxic metals if the bullets corrode. The estimated savings to the Army are $180 million per year. The concrete is manufactured without using any coarse rock and an aqueous-based foam is added to the mixture so that its density on hardening is only about one-half that of conventional concrete. Nylon or propylene fiber is introduced to the concrete during mixing so that, even when fractured, it is held together by fine fibers. The cellular structure and the fiber give SCON a wood-lick character, however, SACON will not burn, rot or support insects. It is the only building material that can be used as a bullet-trapping medium with all Army small arms ammunition, even tracers.

SACON is now available for use in live fire training facilities for state and local law enforcement officers as well as in recreational and sport firing ranges. It is appropriate for use in backstops, targets and in mazes or buildings where life-fire training is performed. In addition to being fireproof, SACON has the added advantage of not leaching heavy metals (copper and lead), thereby eliminating the high disposal costs associated with hazardous materials. It will consistently qualify as a non-hazardous waste after removal from the firing range, greatly reducing the maintenance costs for training ranges.

The ERDC used combinations of CRADAs, trademarks and CRADA/licensing agreements to transfer the technology. Specific efforts were made to encourage not-for-profit industries to take on new federal technology and create meaningful employment for prisoners and handicapped persons.

Dr. Charles A. Weiss, Jr., research geologist at the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory led the development team of Mr. Joe G. Tom and Dr Philip G. Malone.

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Developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Dr. William B. Whitten, Co-developer, Dr. Peter T. A. Reilly, Co-developer, Dr. J. Michael Ramsey Co-developer, and Dr. Ashok Choudhury in partnership with Protasis Corporation team member Mr. David Strand.

This technology is a highly miniaturized ion-trap mass spectrometer that can be embedded into such things as hand held, portable chemical detection devices used to detect explosives and other hazardous materials at checkpoints, in airports, and in screening municipal water supplies. It won an R&D 100 Award in 2003.

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Developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Dr. Roger Martin, Ian Gross, Larry Pierce, Russ Miller and Dr. Mark Reeves in partnership with Dr. Manfred Sandler of Isotron, Inc. of Norcross, GA.

This technology was developed under a funds-in CRADA funded entirely by Isotron. It's extremely small size enables physicians to insert it through a catheter to deliver high-dose neutron irradiation directly to a tumor site. This now makes it possible to reach and treat tumors that previously could only be treated with conventional photon and gamma therapy or with external beam treatments. In addition to providing treatment at the tumor site, the technology has proved effective in treating cancers that are resistent to gamma and photon treatments. [ menu ]  [ Success Stories ] 

Developed by Dr. Eugene L. Torrans of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mid-South Area, Catfish Genetics Research Unit.

This technology delivers life-saving amounts of oxygen to catfish during commercial farm harvesting operations, virtually eliminating harvest losses that have been estimated at more than 12,000,000 pounds annually. The exceedingly low cost of this technology makes it ideal for adoption by commercial fish farmers.[ menu ]  [ Success Stories ] 

Developed by W. Stanley Anthony of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Mid-South Area, Cotton Ginning Research Unit.

The technology provides control and moderation of the number of cleaning bars used in the lint cleaning process, decreases fiber loss by as much as 80 percent in some bales, and reduces fiber damage. As a result, the cotton is more valuable to the farmer and to the textile mill that converts the raw cotton into yarn and ultimately in to products such as clothing. The patent was licensed to Continental Eagle Gin Company in 2000, and the resulting commercial product is used in the US and internationally to process approximately 1.2 million bales of cotton annually. [ menu ]  [ Success Stories ]