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| INSIDE FLORIDA'S HIGH TECH CORRIDOR |
| Via Email |
May 2006
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UCF Research Aims to Help Stroke Victims Avoid
Brain Injuries
YouMing Lu, a professor at the University of Central Florida’s Burnett
College of Biomedical Sciences, has discovered that altering a receptor that
mediates communication between nerve cells in the brain improves animals’ chances
of surviving strokes and allows them to remain healthier afterwards. He is
hopeful that changing the genetic blueprint of AMPA receptors will also help
block lethal flows of calcium into neurons of human stroke victims.
AMPA receptors are normally responsible for learning and memory formation.
However, during strokes, these receptors become toxic to nerve cells. If
counteractive therapies are administered within a few hours of cardiac arrest,
they could prevent brain damage.
This research has potential future applications for Alzheimer’s disease
and other neurological illnesses. Drug therapies for those diseases may also
improve learning and memory by inducing the regeneration of neurons.
For more information, visit
http://news.ucf.edu/UCFnews/index?page=article&id=
002400410774959e30109f4453599006fc4&mode=news. |
UF Discovers Method of
Drying Fruit that Prevents Browning
University of Florida food scientists have invented a method of steaming and
drying fruit that guarantees a better nutrient content, overall quality and
attractive color while using less energy than current drying systems.
This new technology increases fruit quality by ensuring colorful, more marketable,
nutrient-rich fruit without chemical additives or excessive heating. It completely
eliminates the need to expose fruit to potentially dangerous additives such
as sulfites and also requires less time to dry the fruit, thus reducing operating
expenses.
The university is currently seeking a licensing partner to commercialize
this revolutionary method of drying fruit.
For additional information, visit http://www.otl.ufl.edu. |
USF-LifeLink Agreement Provides New Home
for Tissue Transplantation
Research
The University of South Florida (USF) Research Park will become the new home
for the LifeLink Tissue Bank as a result of a major lease transaction. Construction
of the 105,000-square-foot tissue bank and research and development facility
is expected to be completed in 2007. The non-profit LifeLink Tissue Bank is
a division of the Tampa-based LifeLink Foundation.
The agreement represents something of a homecoming for three of LifeLink
Foundation’s principals. The founders, Dr. Dana L. Shires, CEO, and
William M. LeFor, Ph.D., were both formerly on the faculty at USF College
of Medicine and LifeLink Foundation President Dennis F. Heinrichs earned
his MBA at USF. In addition, the LifeLink HealthCare Institute, another LifeLink
division, works with the USF College of Medicine, and Tampa General Hospital
in the provision of medical and surgical care for patients suffering from
end-stage organ failure.
LifeLink Foundation is a Tampa-based, nonprofit community service organization
dedicated to the recovery and transplantation of organs and tissue. Its tissue
bank is the largest not-for-profit tissue bank in the Southeast and one of
the largest in the United States.
For more information about the USF Research Park, visit http://isis.fastmail.usf.edu/researchpark. |
U.S. Air Force Awards $32 Million to Lockheed
Martin
Lockheed Martin has acquired millions of dollars from the U.S. Air Force injected
into the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile operation (JASSM), the world’s
first stealthy conventional cruise missile. Most recently, the company received
a task order totaling more than $32 million to create advanced missile-guidance
communications technology for the project.
This communications link will provide the war fighter with an increased
capability to engage relocatable and time-critical targets. For example,
if a moving target changes direction during the JASSM’s flight, the
military can change its course by remote control and redirect it to maximize
the potential hit. Therefore, this data link allows for a great deal of flexibility
after the missile is launched.
For additional information, visit
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/wms/findPage.do?dsp=
fec&ci=17559&rsbci=0&fti=111&ti=0&sc=400. |
Florida Institute of Technology Receives Program Funding
The Link Foundation of Binghampton, N.Y., has awarded $75,000 for three Ocean
Engineering (OE) and instrumentation fellowships and $12,000 for fellowship
administration to Florida Tech’s Department of Marine and Environmental
Systems.
Since the foundation began funding the program eight years ago, 14 fellowships
have been awarded to the university to support OE program fellows. This program
is designed to support graduate education in doctoral-granting universities
in the United States and Canada.
For additional information, visit http://www.fit.edu/AcadRes/dmes/link. |
Raydon Corporation Donates Driving Simulator
to UCF
Raydon Corporation has provided one of their advanced driving simulators to
the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Institute for Simulation & Training
at no cost. For the next two years, UCF will use the simulator for various
transportation and simulation-based training research projects.
The institute’s immediate plan is to use the simulator to help test
its commercial driver license evaluation system, which trains, tests, licenses
and re-certifies commercial truck drivers. However, the no-cost lease also
provides a tool to UCF to continue research into how to enhance safety for
all highway users.
For additional information, visit http://www.ist.ucf.edu/nlarchive/spring06/spring06.htm. |
Accolades
Dr. José Zayas-Castro
University of South Florida Department of Industrial and Management Systems
Engineering Chair Dr. José Zayas-Castro, along with four other professors,
received the 2006 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for creating The Learning Factory,
an undergraduate program designed to provide real-world training to multi-disciplinary
engineering students.
Dr. Mubarak Shah
Congratulations Dr. Mubarak Shah, Agere chair professor and director of the
Computer Vision Lab at the University of Central Florida, for receiving
the 2006 Pegasus Professor Award. Dr. Shah is this first professor in the
College of Engineering and Computer Science to receive this prestigious
award.
The Pegasus Professor Award recognizes a faculty member who has made a significant
impact on the university, has made an extraordinary contribution to the university
community, and has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research and service.
University of Florida College of Medicine
STOP! Children’s Cancer Inc., an organization founded in Gainesville
in 1981, recently announced at its 25th anniversary gala a donation of $1
million to the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. The funds
will be used to establish The STOP! Children’s Cancer/Bonnie R. Freeman
Professorship for Pediatric Oncology Research.
H. Lee Moffitt
Florida High Tech Corridor Council member H. Lee Moffitt has been recognized
by the National Association of Community Cancer Centers with its Annual
Achievement Award for his dedication and commitment to providing patients
with high-quality cancer care through the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
and Research Institute.
Professor Amar Mulkherjee
University of Central Florida Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
professor Amar Mulkherjee was presented with IEEE Computer Society’s
Technical Achievement Award. Professor Mulkherjee received this award for
his outstanding and innovative work in the fields of computer and information
science and engineering over the past 15 years.
USF Research
University of South Florida research in micro-electric-mechanical systems
(MEMS) has several patents pending and is available for licensing. MEMS
is an enabling technology that allows the development of smart products,
adding the computational ability of microelectronics with the perception
and control capabilities of micro sensors and micro actuators and expanding
the space of possible designs and applications. The end results could potentially
revolutionize nearly every product category by making complete systems-on-a-chip
a possibility.
Dr. Mansooreh Mollaghasemi
Congratulations to Dr. Mansooreh Mollaghasemi who has been named one of the
top five business owners in Central Florida by the Orlando Business Journal.
Dr. Mollaghasemi, chairman of the board and CEO of Productivity Apex, also
serves as an Industrial Engineering professor at the University of Central
Florida.
Dr. Jamie B. Conti
University of Florida College of Medicine Associate Professor Dr. Jamie B.
Conti has been elected to the Association of University Cardiologists,
an organization of 125 of the nation’s top cardiologists.
Fortress Technologies Selected to Secure CNE’s
Wireless Network
Tampa-based Fortress Technologies, a leader in wireless network securities,
has been selected to secure the wireless network of Cherokee Nation Enterprises
(CNE), one of the world’s largest gaming and hospitality companies.
Fortress’ solutions will secure CNE’s entire wireless network,
which includes a corporate campus, five casinos, two golf courses, retail
operations and a hotel.
Big Sur Technologies
Tampa-based Big Sur Technologies received three awards at Novell’s
Brainshare Developer Conference – Novell’s Southeast Partner
of the Year, the Service Excellence Award and the Certified Novell Engineer
of the Year Award, won by Big Sur’s Charles Love.
TechSherpas Recognized Among Top 100 of Diversity Businesses
Ybor City-based TechSherpas, a professional services and technical education
company, has been recognized by DiversityBusiness.com as one of the top
100 diversity-owned businesses in the United States. |
Did You Know?
Did you know that the University of Florida serves as the home of the world's
largest citrus research center?
For additional information, visit http://www.ufl.edu/facts. |
Calendar of Events
The following events are taking place across the Corridor’s 23-county
region or in the surrounding area:
UCF Executive Briefing: “The Future of IT – Delivering Business
Value in a Global & Virtual Environment – The Strategic Impact
to Florida”
Presented by: UCF
Note: FHTCC Member Joe Cleveland will be among the
featured speakers
Friday, May 5, 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Westin Grand Bohemian, Orlando, Fla.
For event information, visit
https://www.ce.ucf.edu/wconnect/wc.dll?acecode%7
ECourseStatus%7E06SORB0400.
TechFest 2006 – It’s Your High-Tech
Community, Get Into IT
Presented by: Crooms Academy of Information Technology
Friday, May 5, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
2200 W. 13th Street, Sanford, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.cait.scps.k12.fl.us/techfest.
Titans of Technology Event: The Vision for Space Exploration
Presented by: Oracle, TECO Energy and ACS Connect
Friday, May 5, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Marriott Waterside Hotel, Tampa, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.tbtf.org/page.cfm?link=event&eid=3EA1FA96-FBDD-9D96-EC9885ED903D7413.
Florida Small Business Innovation Research Conference
Presented by: Small Business Development Center at the University of Central
Florida
Monday, May 8, and Tuesday, May 9
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5555 Hazeltine Drive, Orlando, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.floridasbdc.com/SpecialPrograms/Technology/2006
FL SBIR Conference Tampa/FLSBIRTampa.asp.
Tampa Bay Technology Forum:
New and Current Member Orientation
Presented by: Robert Half Management Resources
Thursday, May 11, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Centre Club, Tampa, Fla.
For event information, visit http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?i=6447c817-129a-4cda-8653-aad36d7853f0.
Microsoft Security Briefing
Presented by: Microsoft
Monday, May 15, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 1700 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, Fla.
For event registration, e-mail gsaevent@microsoft.com.
*Limit of 30 seats available.
Tampa Bay Partnership Regional Leadership Conference
Presented by: Tampa Bay Partnership
Wednesday, May 17, and Thursday, May 18
Don Cesar Resort Hotel, St. Petersburg Beach, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.tampabay.org/subpage.asp?navid=7&id=116.
Florida Tech Transfer Conference
Presented by: The Tampa Bay Technology Forum and the Florida Research Consortium
Monday, May 22 through Tuesday, May 23
Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, Fla.
For event information or to register, visit http://www.flatechtransfer.org.
PHARLEX® Pharma License Exchange
Presented by: Pharlex®
Wednesday, May 24 through Thursday, May 25
Ritz Carlton, Sarasota, Fla.
For event information, visit http://www.pharlex.com/current/current.htm.
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Events Outside the Corridor
EDC Bioscience Conference
Presented by: The Enterprise Development Corporation
Wednesday, May 17
Nova Southeastern University
For event information, visit
http://edc-tech.org/news/newsreader.asp?id=62.
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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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