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