MIPS Jointly Awards $7.3 Million for 17 Research Projects to Develop Commercial Products in Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Maryland's Maryland Industrial Partnerships program (http://www.mips.umd.edu/) today announces it is jointly awarding $7.3 million in funding for 17 research projects teaming Maryland companies with university faculty to develop commercial products.

Participating companies, and a brief description of their product, includes:

    * 20/20 Gene Systems, Inc. -- first-responder, powder-screening test kit
      for anthrax; will be enhanced to include screening for ricin and
      botulinum toxins
    * Batching Systems, Inc. -- improved optical pill/part counting scanner
      for the pharmaceutical and toy manufacturing industries
    * Chesapeake Fields Farmers, LLC -- new line of locally grown, low-
      calorie, low carbohydrate, and high protein bread products
    * DataStream Conversion Services, Inc. -- implementing the Software
      Engineering Institute's Level 3 Capability Maturity Model (CMM Level
      3) in the company's development environment
    * GenVec, Inc. -- gene-delivery-based treatment for hearing loss and
      balance disorder that regenerates hair cells in the inner ear
    * InTANK, Inc. -- robotic, ultrasonic inspection system to test the
      integrity of above-ground storage tanks for petroleum and
      petrochemicals
    * Kirkegaard and Perry Labs, Inc. -- series of products to help
      researchers deliver intact, functional proteins to living cells
    * Little Optics, Inc. -- advanced optical switch for power monitoring in
      communications networks
    * Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, Inc. -- specialized floating plant raft
      systems to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous runoff into the Chesapeake
      Bay
    * Maryland Semiconductor, Inc. -- high-speed, wireless universal serial
      bus (USB) hardware and software to interconnect office devices
    * Maxion Technologies, Inc. -- semiconductor laser technology for
      chemical sensors
    * Orthotic Mobility Systems, Inc. -- mobility system to help children
      with neurological disorders
    * PharmAthene, Inc. -- protein-based, anti-toxin treatment/vaccine for
      anthrax
    * Sigma Tau Research, Inc. -- drug that can potentially prevent brain
      damage in cardiac arrest patients
    * Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. -- laser-based monitoring system
      that detects metallic species in aircraft engine exhaust emissions
    * TATE, Inc. -- prototypes for new reactor-based and in-line water
      purification products
    * Techno-Sciences, Inc. -- flight controls for military and
      commercial helicopters that reduce noise and vibrations, enhance
      flight performance, reduce maintenance, and increase safety

  About MIPS

MIPS provides funding -- matched by participating companies -- for university-based research projects that help companies develop new products. For more information, see: http://www.mips.umd.edu/

Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute

CONTACT: Eric Schurr of the Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute,+1-301-405-3889, or schurr@umd.edu