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| INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH
TECH CORRIDOR |
| Via
Email |
August 2006
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UCF Professor Discovers Non-Invasive
Glucose Sensor
Professor Florencio E. Hernandez, Assistant
Professor of Optics and Chemistry at the University of Central
Florida, has developed a non-invasive glucose sensor that can detect
glucose levels in the blood by monitoring its concentration in tears
using gold nanoparticles.
Diabetes, a condition caused when the body is unable to use
insulin to process the glucose in the blood, represents the
sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. At an early stage,
prevention of diabetes-related complications can be accomplished
through a tight control of glucose levels in the blood. Patients
currently monitor their glucose concentration by blood sampling –
typically by finger pricking with a lancet or needle. This painful
process can potentially be eliminated by this new, simple and
inexpensive optical method that is sensitive enough to detect low
glucose concentration in healthy patients.
Hernandez plans to conduct experiments with rats and humans as
his research continues.
For more information, visit
http://www.creol.ucf.edu/TheCollege/Highlights/July2006.pdf. |
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UF Scientists Reverse Muscle Contractions
in Mouse Model of Muscular Dystrophy
Researchers at the
University of Florida (UF) have used gene therapy to eliminate
disabling muscle tightening in a mouse model of the most common form
of adult-onset muscular dystrophy.
One in every 8,000 people inherits this disorder, known as
myotonic dystrophy, which causes skeletal muscles to lose the
ability to relax once they contract. The muscles progressively
deteriorate and eventually waste away completely.
In the current study, UF scientists found that they were able to
correct the mytonia as early as four weeks when they injected the
adeno-associated virus (AAV) – a widely used vector in gene therapy
– into the shin of mice that carry the mutated genes. At 23 weeks,
mytonia was completely eliminated in the muscle that was injected
with AAV carrying a muscleblind protein.
For more information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2006/07/17/myotonia. |
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USF Students Design Intelligent
Scarecrow
Four University of South Florida (USF) students
designed an “intelligent scarecrow” for Microsoft’s Third Annual
Windows Embedded Student Challenge (WESC). The scarecrow is intended
to protect both the investment of the aqua-farmers, as well as the
lives of birds that may prey upon their fish.
This international competition challenged students to create
Windows CE-based embedded devices that addressed real-world issues.
The USF team placed second out of 376 teams from 17 countries.
Students Francisco Blanquicet, Albert Ng, Jimal Ramsamooj and
Scott Werner, along with team faculty member Ken Christensen, were
the creators of this intelligent machine.
For more information, visit
http://usfnews.usf.edu/printerview.cfm?link=article&aid=1354. |
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eWeek: Orlando the Next Silicon
Valley?
Due to the high cost of living and commuting,
Silicon Valley is becoming less appealing for high tech workers.
According to a June 15 eWeek magazine report, based on news reports,
job reports and technology forecasts, Orlando could be the next high
tech hub.
As evidence of Orlando’s growing economy, eWeek cited an
indeed.com study that ranked Orlando No. 9 in the number of jobs per
capita, with 10 technology jobs per 1,000 people. There are
approximately 65,000 technology jobs in the four-county region of
Orange, Lake, Seminole and Osceola counties, and perhaps as many as
85,000.
For more information, visit
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1977761,00.asp. |
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Space Florida Launches Mission for Space
Business
The first meeting of the board of Space Florida
marked a new strategy for Florida’s efforts to attract and retain
the space and aeronautics industry.
Hoping to secure the 30,000 high-paying jobs at risk across
Florida, this initiative has been created to improve the efficiency
of the state. Space Florida is a unified effort under the umbrella
of Enterprise Florida that replaces the state’s three-agency effort.
By September, Florida Space Authority, Florida Space Research
Institute and Florida Aerospace Finance Corp. will evolve into Space
Florida.
For more information, contact Paul Flemming at pflemming@nettally.com. |
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Modus Operandi Awarded Two Air Force
Contracts
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has
awarded Modus Operandi two Phase I Small Business Innovation
Research contracts valued at $100,000 each.
The contracts will be performed in support of the U.S. Air
Force’s (USAF) 45th Space Wing and will further extend Modus
Operandi’s current Wave® architecture for semantic data
integration.
For more information, visit
http://www.modusoperandi.com/pressReleases/
htmlFiles/PR_DEEP_CORAL_Contracts.html. |
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Florida Tech Researcher Obtains Grant for
Data Thinning
Florida Tech Assistant Professor of Marine
and Environmental Systems Dr. Steven Lazarus has acquired a $108,431
grant for a collaborative project in the area of data thinning.
Lazarus is participating in the project with the University of
Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Information Technology and Systems
Research Laboratories, and NASA personnel.
In order to transform vast quantities of data into products that
can benefit users, Florida Tech and UAH are refining, testing and
customizing an existing automated intelligent data thinning
algorithm, which was developed by UAH.
Their goal is to create a data-reduction tool useful for
real-time applications in NASA data streams.
For more information, visit
http://www.fit.edu/newsroom/news/July2006.html#datathinning. |
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The Power of Angel Investing: Starting an
Angel Organization
The University of Central Florida
Venture Lab is hosting a seminar that will provide a comprehensive
overview of steps in creating the right angel organization.
The seminar will provide expert perspectives, small group case
studies and group participation, along with valuable networking
opportunities throughout the day. Business and community leaders are
encouraged to attend this one day event.
For more information, contact Kirstie Chadwick at kchadwick@bus.ucf.edu or
(407) 823-1442. |
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Accolades
Dr. Jeffrey Hillman
Dr. Jeffrey
Hillman of the University of Florida has discovered a painless
alternative treatment to prevent cavities. This innovation in
dental-hygiene technology has the potential to address the needs of
numerous developing countries, as well as improve dental health
worldwide.
Dr. E. Ann McGee
Congratulations
to Seminole Community College President Dr. E. Ann McGee for
receiving the 2006 Southern Region CEO Award from the Association of
Community College Trustees.
Heather Kenyon
Congratulations to
Heather Kenyon, Director of Development for the Tampa Bay Technology
Forum, who was recognized by the Gulf Coast Business Review as one
of West Central Florida’s most talented achievers under 40 years of
age.
Uri Minkoff
Uri Minkoff, Tampa
Bay Technology Board Member and CEO of Fortis Software, was also
selected as one of West Central Florida’s most talented achievers
under 40 years of age by the Gulf Coast Business Review.
Acuity Solutions
Tampa-based
security and IT services company Acuity Solutions was awarded the
Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance Emerging Business Award at the
inaugural Business Excellence Awards.
Florida Tech Students
Florida
Tech’s 2006 Co-op/Intern Student Employee of the Year is Jenna
Landis who received the Four-Year College Experiential Student of
the Year award for the state of Florida at the Florida Career
Professionals Association (FCPA) annual meeting. Florida Tech
Student Kara Schmitt received the Co-op Student of the Year
award. |
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Did You Know?
NASA is building a
new technology and commerce park, which will be named Exploration
Park. The new park will be designed to promote the development and
use of new technologies that contribute to space exploration and
preservation of the environment, while enabling and growing private
sector participation.
NASA is currently looking for partners to help develop
Exploration Park.
For more information, visit
http://www-ss.ksc.nasa.gov/exploration%20park/default.html. |
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Calendar of Events
The following
events are taking place across the Corridor’s 23-county region or in
the surrounding area:
Executive Women’s
Network
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology
Forum
Wednesday, August 9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Mise En Place,
442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
For event information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/
i.aspx?4W,M3,bddb8342-a370-4271-93b3-7b2b7c242dd9.
CEO to CEO Breakfast
Forum
Wednesday, August 16, 7:30 a.m.
Citrus Club,
Orlando
For event information, call (407) 843-1080.
5th Annual Summer Tech
Jam
Presented by: Tampa Bay Technology
Forum
Thursday, August 17, 6 – 10 p.m.
Splitsville, 615
Channelside Dr. #120, Tampa
For event information, visit http://www.tbtf.org.
Tampa Bay Technology Forum
Engineering
Network Meeting
Presented by: University of South
Florida and
Florida High Tech Corridor Council
Thursday,
August 24, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
USF, CUTR 102, 4202 East Fowler
Ave., Tampa
For event information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/
Summary.aspx?e=cbc08cb8-1baf-4fb7-bfc9-09bf0cea2c64.
The Power of Angel Investing:
Starting an Angel Organization
Presented by:
University of Central Florida Venture Lab
A Program of: Ewing
Marion Kauffman Foundation
Monday, August 28, 7:30 a.m. – 6
p.m.
UCF Research Park, Partnership II Building, Room 208,
Orlando
For event information, contact Kirstie Chadwick at kchadwick@bus.ucf.edu.
Sarasota/Manatee Technology Conference:
Integration at the Crossroads
Presented by: The
Young Technology Alliance
Thursday, August 31, 8 a.m. – 4:30
p.m.
Hyatt Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts,
Sarasota
For event information, visit http://www.sarasotatechconference.com.
20 Years, One
Mission
Moffitt Cancer Center marks 20 years
of
service and discovery
Presented by: Enterprise
Florida, Greater Tampa
Chamber of Commerce, Pinellas County
Economic Development, Tampa Bay Partnership, University
of
South Florida Research Foundation
Thursday, September 7, 8 a.m.
– noon
Vincent A. Stabile Research Building, H. Lee Moffitt
Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive,
Tampa
Reservations are required.
For event information, call
(813) 745-1346.
William C. Schwartz Industry Innovation
Awards
Presented by: The Metro Orlando Economic
Development Commission
Thursday, September 14, 11 a.m. –
2:30 p.m.
Wyndham Orlando Resort – Palms Ballroom, 8001
International Drive, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.orlandoedc.com/Events/calendar.shtml?
portalProcess_1=showEvent&user_assignment_id=9559.
Sarasota International Design
Summit
Presented by: Fast Company
magazine
Monday, October 9 – Wednesday, October 11
The
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota
For
event information, visit http://www.sarasotadesignsummit.com. |
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Inside Florida’s High Tech Corridor
is published by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, Inc. (FHTCC)
and its economic development partners. The FHTCC is an initiative of
the University of Central Florida (http://www.ucf.edu), the University of
South Florida (http://www.usf.edu)
and the University of Florida (http://www.ufl.edu). For more
information visit our Web site at (http://www.floridahightech.com),
or contact one of the region’s economic development partners listed
at http://www.floridahightech.com/linkslibrary/economic_dev_org.htm. |
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Florida High Tech Corridor Link
Library
For a comprehensive list of FHTCC University
Partners; Community Colleges; Economic Development Organizations;
Technology Groups & Programs; Workforce Boards &
Organizations; Technology Incubators & Venture Capital
Organizations; and, Industry Organizations visit the Florida High
Tech Corridor link library at http://www.floridahightech.com/linkslibrary. | |