Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

Discussion TopicsDiscussion Topics What is it ?What is it ? Who pays, who does it ?Who pays, who does it ? Why do it ?Why do it ? How to do it ?How to do it ?

Case StudyCase Study Start up company based on university Start up company based on university

research ( Technology transfer)research ( Technology transfer)

NASA NASA Technology Technology Readiness Readiness

Levels Levels

Percentage of Budget by Percentage of Budget by AgencyAgency

Source: AAASSource: AAAS

GovernmentGovernment

AgencyAgency

Percent Percent

DODDOD 55.555.5

HHS (NIH)HHS (NIH) 21.121.1

NASANASA 8.28.2

DOEDOE 6.36.3

NSFNSF 3.03.0

DHSDHS 0.70.7

DOTDOT 0.60.6

Why Do It?Why Do It?

Innovation drives new technologies Innovation drives new technologies /products/products

Technology Push vs. Product NeedTechnology Push vs. Product Need Better mouse trap?Better mouse trap?

Answer may depend on TRLAnswer may depend on TRL Basic vs. applied researchBasic vs. applied research

How To Do It ?How To Do It ?

Specific technical answer depends on field.Specific technical answer depends on field. Good reference for new methods and tools:Good reference for new methods and tools:

R & D magazine (R & D magazine (www.rdmag.comwww.rdmag.com))

IP/Patent Search as important as literature IP/Patent Search as important as literature reviewreview See See www.scientific.thomson.comwww.scientific.thomson.com for patent for patent

managementmanagement

Case Study: Startup Company fromCase Study: Startup Company from UB Research UB Research

Buffalo BioBlower Technologies startup based on Buffalo BioBlower Technologies startup based on research project in MAE Dept.research project in MAE Dept.

Research on compressive heating of gases led to Air Research on compressive heating of gases led to Air Purification device.Purification device.

Application to destruction of airborne biological hazards Application to destruction of airborne biological hazards demonstrated.demonstrated.

Funding obtained from DOD for Collective Protection Funding obtained from DOD for Collective Protection system development.system development.

NYSTAR funding obtain to study transition to healthcareNYSTAR funding obtain to study transition to healthcare

Steps in Buffalo BioBlower Steps in Buffalo BioBlower (B3) Startup(B3) Startup

Seed money from UB for POC experimentsSeed money from UB for POC experiments Brief DOD and Congressional StaffersBrief DOD and Congressional Staffers DOD COLPRO funds further experimentsDOD COLPRO funds further experiments Receive WNY BDF investment fundsReceive WNY BDF investment funds Participate in COLPRO Technology Readiness Participate in COLPRO Technology Readiness

EvaluationEvaluation Congressional appropriation received in 2006 Congressional appropriation received in 2006

DOD budget for further developmentDOD budget for further development

Compressive heating of an airstream with a rotary mechanical

pump can be used to destroy ANY & ALL

airborne biotoxins

adapting conventional Roots Blower technology

BioBlower concept-uniform, instantaneous volumetric heating (25oC 300oC)

-one-step mechanism, same pump moves the airstream & kills the pathogens

History of History of MMultiultiRRecompressive ecompressive HHeatingeating

Extended Operation of Roots Blower

Te

mp

era

ture

ra

tio (

ab

s)

Pressure ratio

’67-69: MRH concept developed forCalspan Hypersonic Test Facility

’76-’81: LLNL Project

’94: Calspan IR&D on Applications

’96-’02: CUBRC funded studies

’02-present: BioBlower

MRH based on compressive heating of gases using Roots-type mechanism

University Experimental Protocol

injection of constant flow of test spores, Bacillus globigii,

aerosol by nebulizationinto the Bio-Blower

sampling of .35% of total air flow

out of Bio-Blower

impinger traps spores in growth media

for culture analysis

computer interface controls process parameters

9 x 108 CFU/mL

Initial Initial Proof of ConceptProof of Concept Testing, ‘04Testing, ‘04

heat treated Bacillus globigii (Bg) spores are continuously injected upstream of blower, then sampled downstream

SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) ofbiomaterial which passed

through the BioBlowerat room temperature, 20oC

at >200oC temperature 3-4 orders log kill, 99.9% dead

in a single pass through BioBlower

- experiments performed @ - biotesting supported by

How it works ! (we think…)How it works ! (we think…)

pressure oscillations + temperature kill pathogens-pathogens are in device on ms time scale-achieve kills at much lower temperatures-SEM’s show little or no debris, spores exploded

5 ms

DOD interest in BioBlowerDOD interest in BioBlowerexisting systems use passive filtration for biological agent protection, existing systems use passive filtration for biological agent protection,

a logistic nightmarea logistic nightmare!!

Over 400 suppliers of HEPA filter systems to the military

BioBlower does NOT use : filters/UV lights/toxic chemicals

BioBlower offers improvements in effectiveness, logistics, operations and power consumption. Kill pathogens on site! No replaceables needed

S&T Funded BioBlower Testing, ‘05S&T Funded BioBlower Testing, ‘05

ObjectivesObjectives Develop Collection System to Obtain More Develop Collection System to Obtain More

Quantitative Measure of Kill EffectivenessQuantitative Measure of Kill Effectiveness Obtain data at 240Obtain data at 240oo, 270, 270oo and 300 and 300ooCC Assess effects of organic bioload and dry Assess effects of organic bioload and dry

sporesspores Further objectiveFurther objective

Demonstrate blower operation at 300Demonstrate blower operation at 300ooC and C and 50 CFM50 CFM

Observe 6.5 log kill, in a single Observe 6.5 log kill, in a single passpass

Filter Collection System Developed to Significantly Increase Spore Filter Collection System Developed to Significantly Increase Spore CountCount

Glass fiber filters difficult to use in flow environmentGlass fiber filters difficult to use in flow environment Experiments run at 240Experiments run at 240oo, 270, 270oo and 300 and 300oo C C Successful data collection at 240Successful data collection at 240oo C C

glass fiber filter housing

Bst spores

25oC , 1,000,000 spores collected

240oC , 1 spore collected

99.9999% killed in single pass

Current Status of CompanyCurrent Status of Company

University files patent application based on POC resultsUniversity files patent application based on POC results B3 formed and obtained exclusive IP rights from B3 formed and obtained exclusive IP rights from

universityuniversity First generation prototype tested in TRE, device First generation prototype tested in TRE, device

performed wellperformed well DOD 2006 funding being used to build and test next DOD 2006 funding being used to build and test next

generation prototypegeneration prototype Advanced development/ technology demonstration Advanced development/ technology demonstration

funding being sought for 2008funding being sought for 2008

Key Steps in Start-Up ProcessKey Steps in Start-Up Process

Proof of ConceptProof of Concept IP ProtectionIP Protection

Patent applicationPatent application Licensing agreementLicensing agreement

Securing InvestmentSecuring Investment BDF investment ($200K for 20% share)BDF investment ($200K for 20% share) DOD S&T funding ($200K + $50K UB match)DOD S&T funding ($200K + $50K UB match) Congressional DOD appropriation ($1.5M)Congressional DOD appropriation ($1.5M)