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2014 Innovation Celebration

The fourth annual MSU Innovation Celebration was Wednesday, April 16, 2014, 4-6 p.m. in the Huntington Club on the 4th floor of Spartan Stadium.

This networking reception showcases innovative technologies developed in campus labs and beyond. We honor MSU researchers who reported an invention, licensed a technology or were awarded patents during the academic year, and recognize the winners of awards for innovation and achievement in technology transfer.

The award for Innovation of the Year went to Dr. Robert Abramovitch, Associate Professor, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, for his development of Tuberculosis Anti-Virulence Chemical Compounds. Tuberculosis (TB) represents one of the single most lethal infectious agents worldwide, second only in lethality to HIV/AIDS according to the World Health Organization. This technology is a pair of biosensors that enable the identification of compounds that inhibit M. tuberculosis virulence adaptation physiologies required for chronic infections. One reason that TB has proven difficult to eradicate, particularly in poorer countries, is that current therapies require a six month long course of drugs to cure the disease. This has resulted in continued spread of the disease and the emergence of multidrug resistant TB. The compounds may work to cut TB treatment time considerably from the current average of 6 months.

The 2014 Innovator of the Year is Dr. Anil Jain, Professor, Department of Computer Science & Engineering for his work in Biometrics. Biometrics, the science of identifying individuals based on physical traits, represents a world market of over $10B. Once limited to fingerprints and composite sketches, the field is now on the cutting edge of digital technology. Jain’s research advances rapid facial and fingerprint recognition, to foil ever-advancing attempts to avoid detection. Results address challenges in terrorism, crime, and securing sensitive digital records. Dr. Jain’s work not only represents continued advancement in the realm of biometrics, but also serves as a critical rebuttal to the methods employed by criminals to thwart established biometric identification practices.

The 2014 MSU Technology Transfer Achievement Award is awarded to Dr. James Hancock, Professor, Agriculture and Natural Resources for hiswork in Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars. Blueberries are highly praised for their antioxidant properties and micronutrient profile. Prof. Hancock has released four new Northern Highbush blueberry varieties: Draper, Liberty, Aurora and Huron. All have excellent fruit quality, are highly productive, produce robust and exposed berries that can be machine harvested, and have a long shelf life. Dr. Hancock’s innovations regarding these new varieties of Northern highbush blueberries represent highly productive means of generating flavorful and long-lasting blueberries. Draper, Liberty, Aurora and Huron are planted worldwide in areas suitable for Northern Highbush varieties. Approximately twenty million plants of these four varieties have been sold. They represent approximately 10% of worldwide Northern Highbush blueberry acreage, making them among the most widely planted of all Northern Highbush varieties.

Showcases:

2014 MSU Technology Transfer Achievement Award

Work in Northern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Dr. James Hancock Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources Blueberries are highly praised for their antioxidant properties and micronutrient profile. Prof. Hancock has released four new Northern Highbush blueberry varieties: Draper, Liberty, Aurora and Huron. All have excellent fruit quality, are highly productive, produce robust and exposed berries...

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2014 Innovator of the Year

Work in Biometrics Dr. Anil Jain Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering Biometrics, the science of identifying individuals based on physical traits, represents a world market of over $10B. Once limited to fingerprints and composite sketches, the field is now on the cutting edge of digital technology. Jain’s research advances rapid...

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2014 Innovation of the Year

Tuberculosis Anti-Virulence Chemical Compounds Dr. Robert Abramovitch Associate Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Tuberculosis (TB) represents one of the single most lethal infectious agents worldwide, second only in lethality to HIV/AIDS according to the World Health Organization. This technology is a pair of biosensors that enable the identification of compounds that inhibit M....

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