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| INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH TECH CORRIDOR |
| Via Email |
January 2006
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UF Researchers Identify Reason for Rising Obesity Rates
University of Florida (UF) researchers have identified
that the reason for rising obesity rates may begin with fructose,
which is found in fruit, sugar, honey, other sweeteners and many processed
foods. In animal studies, the scientists found that fructose may trick
the brain into thinking the body is hungrier than it should be; therefore,
it is causing a biochemical chain reaction that triggers weight gain
and metabolic syndrome, which is linked to the development of type
2 diabetes and hypertension.
The findings were reported in the December issues of “Nature
Clinical Practice Nephrology” and the “American
Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology.” UF researchers
are now studying whether the same mechanism is involved in
humans.
For additional information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2005/12/06/fructose. |
USF Study Finds Older Americans
Healthier
A recent study done in part by the University of South
Florida (USF) School of Aging Studies, shows that older Americans
are improving their health in many ways – perhaps due to
new medications – but are not seeing improvement in other
areas.
The study, published in the “Journal of Gerontology:
Medical Sciences” conducted along with the University
of Southern California (USC) and the University of California
Los Angeles (UCLA), found that while people are living longer
lives, prevalence of certain diseases such as hypertension
are increasing, mainly due to a rise in obesity rates.
The study also found that some levels of high risk biological
markers decreased largely because of better diagnosis and treatment
of high cholesterol. However, researchers suspect that high-risk
levels would have risen without the increased use of medications.
For additional information visit: http://www.usfnews.usf.edu/page.cfm?link=article&aid=1129. |
UCF Molecular Biologist Creates Anthrax Vaccine
One of the top bioterrorism threats facing the United States
can now be treated effectively and safely by a revolutionary vaccine
thanks to research conducted by University of Central Florida (UCF)
professor Henry Daniell and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The study found that quantities of the anthrax vaccine large enough
to treat everyone in the United States could be grown inexpensively
and safely with only one acre of tobacco plants.
Daniell’s research resulted in a safer and more effective
alternative to the existing anthrax vaccine production method,
which caused harmful side effects including inflammation, flu-like
symptoms and rashes.
Grants from NIH and the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded
the study, whose findings could potentially lead to treatments
for other diseases including diabetes and hepatitis, and improving
vaccines for plague, cholera and other bioterrorism agents.
For additional information visit: http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?
page=article&id=0024004105c1b71a90107dcb09eb800751a &mode=news. |
Moffitt Center
CIO Named IT Leader of the Year
Edward Martinez, CIO of Tampa’s H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research
Institute, was named “IT Leader of the Year” during
ITFlorida’s annual Awards Gala/Tech Forum held in mid December.
Other Corridor winners included: ProV International, High
Growth Business of the Year; Persystent Technology Corp., Excellence
in IT Leadership for Central Florida; and, Hillsborough County
Information Technology Services, Government Tech Leadership-Public.
All organizations named above are based in Tampa.
The event featured keynote addresses from Florida Governor
Jeb Bush and Dominican Republic President Dr. Leonel Fernández
Reyna and was attended by more than 200 Florida IT professionals.
For additional information, visit http://www.itflorida.com/wb2/itfl/itfl_finalists. |
NASA Provides Project Grant for
Seven Florida Universities
NASA will provide a $7.4 million grant for seven Florida
universities to continue conducting a hydrogen research project
to develop ways to use the fuel source for future NASA missions
to space and to help achieve energy independence for the nation.
The University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Florida Solar
Energy Center and the University of Florida co-manage the program,
while other participating institutions are the University of
South Florida, Florida International University, Florida State
University, Florida A&M University and the University of
West Florida.
Researchers have conducted more than 70 research projects
on hydrogen production, safety, storage, cryogenics and fuel
cells. The total funding for this four-year project is more
than $30.3 million.
For additional information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?
page=article &id=0024004105c1b71a90107dcb09eb80075ef&mode=news. |
Corridor People
in the News
Dr. Hamid Rassoul
Florida Tech Space Physicist and Professor of Physics and
Space Sciences, Dr. Hamid Rassoul, has been appointed
associate dean of the College of Science for 2006. |
Accolades
Kanika Dailey
Congratulations to Kanika Dailey, a math and science
teacher at Ridge Community High School who will attend the inaugural
myregion.org Regional Leadership Academy via a scholarship from the
Florida High Tech Corridor Council. Dailey was referred by Tom Patton,
director of the Central Florida Economic Development Council.
Sally Graziano
Orlando Science Center electron microscope specialist
Sally Graziano played a key role in a local group recently
receiving the prestigious U.S. Daily Point of Light
Award from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington.
As part of Regal Swan, an organization of swan enthusiasts
in Orlando and Lakeland, Graziano identified a deep
red bacteria that was making area swans ill. Her findings
will now be used to develop a vaccine. Compliments
to Jeff Bindell and Vicki Morelli of the Florida High
Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) Core Team for assisting
in the establishment of the FHTCC-sponsored scanning
electron microscope at the Orlando Science Center.
Aravinda Kar
Aravinda Kar, associate professor of optics, MMAE,
ECE and physics at the University of Central Florida College of Optics & Photonics,
has been elected to the board of directors of the Laser Institute of
America for 2006.
Rubén A. Quintero
Rubén A. Quintero, M.D. has joined USF Health (University of South
Florida) as professor and director of maternal-fetal medicine in the
department of obstetrics and gynecology. Quintero pioneered a novel laser
surgery technique to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS),
a condition that results from the unbalanced flow of blood between two
fetuses sharing a common placenta. |
Did You Know?
Did you know that the three Florida High Tech Corridor
Council university partners – the University of Central
Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of
Florida – have a total enrollment of more than 137,000 students?
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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:
International Strategy Planning
Presented by: Small Business Development Center at UCF
and Orange County Government
Mondays, January 9 – February 20
For event information or to register, visit http://www.advisoryboardcouncil.org/International2005.pdf or
e-mail sbdc@bus.ucf.edu.
JUST ONE THING: Unlocking the Key to Great Leadership
Presented by: UCF ORBIT
Tuesday, January 10
Location: Multiple sites
For event information or to register, visit http://www.orbit.ucf.edu.
Flagler Small Business Assistance Fair
Presented by: The Small Business Administration
and the
city of Palm Coast
Wednesday, January 11
Palm Coast Community Center
For event information, visit http://www.enterpriseflagler.org/Small_Biz.pdf.
Regional Leadership Academy
Presented by: myregion.org
Friday, January 20 – Saturday, January 21
Disney Boardwalk Resort
For event information, visit http://www.myregion.org/get_involved.asp or call Shelley Lauten at (407) 835-2444.
Power Networking Reception
Presented by: Advisory Board Council
Tuesday, January 24
Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center
For event information or to RSVP, contact Carrie Duvall
at carrie.duvall@bus.ucf.edu or (407) 420-4850.
Excellence in Entrepreneurship Certificate Course
Presented by: UCF Technology Incubator
Tuesdays and Thursdays, February 21 – March 16
Disney SBA National Entrepreneur Center
For event information or to register, visit http://www.incubator.ucf.edu/events/2005Events/EIE_Feb06.html.
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Events
Outside the Corridor
Port Security: Threats, Opportunities & Solutions
Presented by: AeA Florida
Friday, January 13
Florida Atlantic University, Dania Beach
For event information, contact Jennifer Gabriel at (407)
882-2447.
Photonics West
Presented by: The International Society for Optical Engineering
(SPIE)
Saturday, January 21 – Thursday, January 26
San Jose Convention Center, San Jose, California
For event information, visit http://spie.org/conferences/programs/06/pw.
Florida Venture Capital Conference
Presented by: Florida Venture Forum
Monday, January 30 – Wednesday, February 1
Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedro Beach
For event information, visit http://www.floridaventureforum.com/subpage.asp?navid=0&id=2.
BioFlorida’s 8th Annual Conference,
Building the Vision:
From Cornerstone to Capstone
Presented by: BioFlorida
Tuesday, February 21 – Wednesday, February 22
West Palm Beach Marriott
For event information or to register, visit http://bioflorida.com/Annual_Conference.
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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. |
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/. |
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