UAB Announces Recipients of 2024 Blazer Bridge Fund for Innovative Projects

UAB Awards Innovative Projects with Blazer Bridge Fund

Birmingham—In a move to bolster innovation and technology development, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has announced the recipients of its 2024 Blazer Bridge Fund. This initiative, launched in spring 2023 by the Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, aims to provide financial support for innovative projects emerging from UAB’s talented faculty and staff.

Funding and Purpose

The Blazer Bridge Fund offers selected applicants up to $50,000 to help them advance their inventive ideas and technology toward commercialization. This year, the fund received a significant response, with 27 applications from 62 inventors spanning across 26 departments and divisions in six schools at UAB. After a thorough review, six standout projects were selected for funding.

This Year’s Winning Innovations

Among the projects chosen for the 2024 funding are:

• Flexi-coat: A novel solution for biomedical device coating, developed by Jesse Jones from the Department of Neurosurgery and Vinoy Thomas from the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering.
• Neonatal Apnea Prediction and Prevention: An application created by Colm Travers and Namasivayam Ambalavanan of the Department of Pediatrics, alongside Arie Nakhmani from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• UAB126 Drug Candidate: This project characterizes UAB126 as a potential treatment for diabetic retinopathy, led by Jeonga Kim (Endocrinology), Venkatram Atigadda (Dermatology), Maria Grant (Ophthalmology), and Marina Gorbatyuk (Optometry).
• Plasma-Catalytic Membrane Reactor: A portable and scalable multifunctional reactor created by Andrei Stanishevsky, Riley Yager, and John Conaway from the Department of Physics.
• Fluid Aviator: Smart tool assisting in balancing hydration levels for critically ill ICU patients, designed by David Askenazi, Nancy Tofil, and James Odum from Pediatrics, as well as Andres Morales, Samuel Misko, and Michael Brascome from the School of Engineering.
• Tau-SH3 Inhibitors Biomarkers: Developed by Erik Roberson of the Department of Neurology, this project focuses on creating target engagement biomarkers.

Encouraging Innovation at UAB

These six projects reflect the diverse research capabilities and expertise found within UAB. Each project not only addresses unique challenges within the medical and engineering fields but also embodies a commitment to improving patient care and innovative technology solutions.

Dr. [Name], a spokesperson for UAB, noted that “the Blazer Bridge Fund aims to bridge the gap between research and marketable products. We are excited to support these key projects that show great promise and potential for real-world impact.”

Looking Ahead

The recipients of this funding will now get to work on refining their concepts, perfecting prototypes, and developing go-to-market strategies in anticipation of bringing their innovations to the public. By supporting these inventive projects, UAB reaffirms its position as a leader in fostering innovation within the community.

As these projects progress, they will not only provide advancements in technology and healthcare but also create opportunities for collaboration, education, and growth within the Birmingham area. The community can look forward to seeing these initiatives unfold in the coming months.