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| INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH
TECH CORRIDOR |
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January 2008
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UF Researcher Develops Tiny Implanted Circuit
for Recharging Medical Devices
Engineering professor at the University of Florida, Rizwan Bashirullah, has created a miniature circuit board capable of recharging implanted devices. No larger than a penny, this electronic chip receives signals from a wireless charger to give power to implanted devices equipped with a shorter life battery.
The National Institutes of Health funded the project with a $1.6 million grant awarded to the department of electrical and computer engineering. The research conducted for the circuit is among a growing trend in developing devices such as artificial retinas, neuromuscular simulators and other medical implants.
For more information, visit
http://news.ufl.edu/2007/12/18/miniature-medical. |
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UCF Brings World Health Experts Together
for Second Annual Brain Conference
The University of Central Florida's (UCF) Rosen College of Hospitality Management will host the second annual Brain Conference from January 25th to the 27th. Organized by UCF's School of Biomedical Sciences professor Kiminobu Sugaya, the conference is a partnership among Orlando Regional Healthcare, Florida Hospital, the Alzheimer's Association and the Alzheimer Resource Center that will feature the world's leading experts on brain disease.
The conference is designed for doctors, clinicians and scientists to share the latest advances in research with the public and the medical community. Many topics including pediatrics, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease and brain tumors will be presented throughout the three-day event.
For more information, visit http://www.brainconference.org. |
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USF Study Could Contribute
to Next Generation of Prosthetic Limbs
Researchers at the University of South Florida's (USF) School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitative Sciences are coming close to perfecting the processes of their prosthetic leg, The Power Knee. Supported by a $1 million grant from the Department of Education, the project tests how well it helps the user stand up, sit down or walk stairs.
Unlike other prosthetic knees, The Power Knee incorporates pressure sensors around the sound leg that send messages to the prosthetic leg telling it when to move. Helmed by M. Jason Highsmith, a visiting assistant professor at USF, the study will publish results early this year.
For more information, visit
http://hscweb3.hsc.usf.edu/health/now/?p=309. |
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Corridor Companies Register
for the Hiring Opportunity of the Year: FHTCC's Career Expo '08
With nearly 100 university representatives scheduled to attend, business leaders from across the 23-county Corridor are signing up for Career Expo '08, an initiative of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) and its economic development, workforce board and governmental partners. Taking place February 27, 28, and 29 at the Tampa Convention Center, FHTCC's Career Expo '08 is designed to introduce college career center directors (CCDs) from many of the nation's top universities to the diverse and rewarding high tech job opportunities offered by Florida High Tech Corridor companies.
At FHTCC's Career Expo '08, one investment will give recruiting companies 100 times the exposure from universities across the country such as MIT, Cornell, Georgia Tech, Purdue, Arizona State, Notre Dame, Carnegie Mellon and Johns Hopkins. Participating companies will have the opportunity to meet with attending CCDs face-to-face in both formal and informal settings as well as having their company name and contact information included in the Career Expo '08 directory.
Companies interested in sponsoring Career Expo '08 are encouraged to contact Owen Wentworth (owentworth@cfl.rr.com or 407.399.7286) or Jan Baskin (jkbaskin@verizon.net or 813.908.1370).
For more information, visit http://www.FloridaHighTech.com/CareerExpo. |
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IST Unveils Latest Life-Saving Technology
Introduced at November's Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference held in Orlando, technology developed from the University of Central Florida's Institute for Simulation and Training (IST) is designed to better prepare military medics on the battlefield.
Partnered with the U.S. Army's Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) and Chi Systems of Orlando, IST researchers developed a life-sized arm to train medics in treating blood loss. IST researchers also demonstrated a driving simulator that enables ambulance drivers to practice steering around hazardous obstacles and through extreme conditions.
For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=
article&id=00240041045494c8d01161d3164c100728d&mode=news. |
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UF Study Reveals Effectiveness of MRI to Detect Breast Cancer
Doctors in the University of Florida's (UF) College of Medicine have announced that using MRI technology can find additional cancerous areas that mammograms and ultrasound may miss. While doctors in UF's department of surgery would not normally administer MRI routinely to patients, this technology can be crucial in determining whether cancerous tumors would require a total mastectomy or partial lumpectomy.
Because of the cost of an MRI scan, doctors have only supported its use for patients with previously detected cancer or those with a high lifetime risk of breast cancer because of family history or their genetic makeup. However the cost of the MRI could be offset by its ability to detect all of the cancerous cells the first time, eliminating the need for repeat surgeries.
For more information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2007/12/05/breast-mri. |
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Corridor Companies First in Line
at 2008 Venture Capital Conference
Businesses from the Florida High Tech Corridor make up 18 of the 21 companies invited to present at the 2008 Venture Capital Conference January 29 & 30, 2008 in St. Petersburg. Spanning the life sciences, biomedical, IT and microelectronics industries, each company has the opportunity to present to an audience of more than 200 venture capitalists, investment bankers, financial intermediaries and entrepreneurs.
Florida's oldest, largest and most prestigious statewide support group for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, Florida Venture Forum has hosted the annual conference for the past 16 years, bringing in over $1.5 billion of venture capital to Florida companies.
For more information, visit http://www.floridaventureforum.org. |
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UCF Demonstrates Capabilities of New Stormwater Lab
Commemorating the fifth anniversary of the University of Central Florida's Stormwater Management Academy, the recent open house of the new Stormwater Lab featured a one-of-a-kind rainfall simulator. Measuring 8 feet wide by 30 feet long and connected to a 1,500-gallon water tank, the simulator is able to release the equivalent of up to 20 inches an hour of rain onto different pervious materials for testing.
The lab also has 16 chambers filled with different plants and materials that can be used as green roofs to measure stormwater runoff and energy costs. Supported by the state's Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection, the Stormwater Management Academy provides educational materials and research to advance an understanding and practice of stormwater management and to influence policy and procedures.
For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?
page=article&id=00240041045494c8d01161d3164c1006d13&mode=news. |
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UF Scientists Test Drug for Vision Loss
Targeting a specific type of macular degeneration, researchers at the University of Florida's (UF) department of ophthalmology are studying a drug that could have the potential to stop central vision loss. By injecting an anti-inflammatory compound directly into the patient's eye, scientists hope to stem the abnormal growth of blood vessels that occurs in the wet version of macular degeneration.
While only 15 percent of patients with macular degeneration have the wet version, doctors at UF have made excellent strides into discovering the actual cause of the disease to develop treatments for both types.
For more information, visit http://news.ufl.edu/2008/01/03/complement.
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Accolades
Jan Baskin Joins FHTCC Core Team
Jan Baskin brings her experience in and knowledge of strategic marketing, public relations and Human Relations to her role on the Florida High Tech Corridor Council's Core Team for workforce development projects. Jan previously served as vice president of public relations for AT&T Canada and earned her BA from The Ohio State University.
World Energy Solutions Retains UCF Professor
for Hydrogen-Oxygen Energy Project
Dr. Robert Hoekstra, Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems at the University of Central Florida has signed on to continue research at the World Energy Solutions Research and Development Labs in St. Petersburg. Hoekstra will lead the team in the development of a compact and highly efficient prototype engine utilizing Hydrogen-Oxygen energy technology.
UF Technology Showcased at Orlando's Capital One Bowl
University of Florida fans had the opportunity to explore Gator-made innovation from a mobile tradeshow outside the Capital One Bowl this New Year's Day. Researchers were on-hand to display Temperature Management System (TMS) shoulder pads, the self-driving vehicle, "NaviGator," and a model of the world's largest telescope, representing a unique partnership of UF's department of astronomy with Spain and Mexico.
Top Neonatal Specialist Joins USF Health
The University of South Florida (USF) has recruited Dr. Lewis Rubin, Neonatologist and a Co-Director for the Cleveland Clinic's Fetal Care Center, to fill the Pamela S. and Leslie M. Muma Endowed Chair in Neonatology. Rubin and his team from Cleveland will operate out of USF/All Children's Hospital Children's Research Institute in St. Petersburg.
UCF Partners with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando
Upon completion in 2009, the new Burnett Biomedical Sciences Building at the University of Central Florida's (UCF) Health Sciences campus will house the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando's Cancer Research Institute (CRI). Paying $2.5 million to occupy the fifth floor for up to five years, the CRI will meanwhile design and build its own facility to be located on the UCF campus.
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Did You Know?
This past year marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite launched into orbit by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. The Sputnik crisis prompted the U.S. government to create a new federal agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), along with the John F. Kennedy Space Center to serve as NASA's space vehicle launch facility in Florida. |
Calendar of Events
The following events are taking place across the Corridor's 23-county region or in the surrounding area:
Knowledge Building Seminar:
Emerging Medical Technology Industry
Presented by: Insight Marketing Group
Wednesday, January 9, 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
UCF Downtown Center
36 West Pine Street, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.insightbusinessupdate.com/
general-business/2007/12/5/seminars-draw-top-
speakers.html.
The World Wide Web Business Explosion
Presented by: Florida District Export Council
Friday, January 25 to Sunday, January 27
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
9907 Universal Blvd., Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.brainconference.org.
2008 Florida Venture Capital Conference
Presented by: Florida Venture Forum
Tuesday, January 29 and Wednesday, January 30
Renaissance Vinoy
501 5th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg
For event information, visit http://www.flvencap.org.
Fiber Optics Training Certification Course
Presented by: University of Central Florida, Continuing Education
Monday, February 4 to Wednesday, February 6
UCF Main Campus
4000 Central Florida Blvd., Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.ce.ucf.edu/
professional/FiberOpticsFlyer_07.pdf.
Second Annual Citrus County Tech Expo
Presented by: Citrus IT Alliance
Friday, February 22, 1 to 7 p.m.
Crystal River National Guard Armory
8551 W. Venable Street, Crystal River
For event information, visit http://www.citrusitalliance.net/
ExpoEvent/tabid/71/Default.aspx.
Florida Innovation Showcase 2008
Presented by: The Florida Research Consortium
Wednesday March 19 and Thursday March 20
Orlando World Center Marriott Resort
8701 World Center Drive, Orlando
For event information, visit http://www.FLinnovation.org.
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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/resources/economicDevOrgs.html. |
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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. | |