Initiative awarded 26 startup companies a total of $1,300,000 for development of technology innovations addressing the medical needs of the U.S. Army
COLUMBIA, Md. (Feb. 7, 2011) – The Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), in collaboration with the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED), announced today the successful completion of the Ft. Detrick Technology Transfer Initiative (FDTTI) and three final grant awardees. Through the FDTTI program, 26 startup companies received a total of $1,300,000 for the development of technology solutions used to address medical needs of the U.S. Army. The final companies to receive funding are Oculearn, LLC, Fyodor Biotechnologies, Inc., and Foxspire, LLC. Each research team received $50,000.
“This program is about jobs and innovation,” U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski said. “It connects the cutting-edge research at Ft. Detrick with our Maryland businesses to foster the development of new technologies that saves lives and help protect our national security. I’m proud to see such a great example of Marylanders working together to win in this innovation economy.”
The FDTTI program announced by Senator Barbara Mikulski in March 2005, allowed TEDCO to work with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) to maintain awareness of new and developing technologies and to develop effective strategies for the transition of successful projects to follow-on funding. The initial phase of the program provided funding for 11 companies, while the second phase of the program awarded funding to 15 different companies through an extension made possible by Senator Mikulski and Congressman Roscoe G. Bartlett. TEDCO, the USAMRMC, and Frederick County OED worked to efficiently manage proposal funding, reporting and transition phases of FDTTI projects and coordinated with the Ft. Detrick Business Development Office to increase procurement opportunities for small businesses. The last three recipients mark the completion of the program.
“Ft. Detrick and its renowned research facilities create unique opportunities for Maryland businesses,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “TEDCO helps connect local businesses with those opportunities, ultimately spurring economic development and helping to secure our state’s reputation as a national leader in technology commercialization. I congratulate TEDCO and Ft. Detrick on the successful completion of the program.”
“The Ft. Detrick Technology Transfer Initiative demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal entities and private industry come together,” said Rob Rosenbaum, president and executive director of TEDCO. “The program encouraged the development of valuable, life-saving technologies that may not have otherwise made it to the attention of the U.S. Army. TEDCO is dedicated to making sure technologies such as these receive the funding necessary to grow and eventually contribute to the betterment of society. We look forward to working with Ft. Detrick in the future.”
Names and project descriptions of final FDTTI awardees:
- Oculearn, LLC – Located in Mount Airy, Md., has designed technology to assist victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) who have had services for their injuries discontinued due to limitation of benefits or due to the lack of improvement achieved during rehabilitation. Oculearn developed VisiScreen™. The client-server and web-based technology is an interactive computerized program used to screen for and improve visuocognitive performance for any given level of an individual’s development. Several pilot VisiScreen ™ products are being used in doctors’ offices, allowing doctors and therapists to monitor patient actions from a distance.
- Fyodor Biotechnologies, Inc. – Baltimore-based Fyodor Biotechnologies, Inc. collaborated with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) to test, further develop and commercialize its single and recombinant antibody-based urine test for rapid diagnosis of clinical malaria. The grant from the FDTTI program was used to conduct a field test in Kenya.
- Foxspire, LLC – Located in Frederick, Md., Foxspire, LCC is working with USAMRMC to design and develop a system that tracks stock of infectious agents. The system was exclusively built for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Ft. Detrick and is in need of an upgrade for mainstream commercialization. The database enables a user to remain compliant with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Select Agent Regulation.
“Ft. Detrick is extremely pleased with accomplishments of the FDTTI program,” said Paul Mele, director of the Office of Research and Technology Applications at the USAMRMC. “We are thankful to TEDCO for overseeing the program and for connecting us to 26 companies which are creating and further developing medical technologies that contribute to the health and well being of the modern war fighter