Seven projects linked to startups founded by UW-Madison researchers have been chosen for $500,000 in funding from the State Economic Engagement and Development program, supporting further research and technology advancement.
The university’s Discovery to Product program, which coordinates the SEED program, yesterday announced recipients for funding in fiscal year 2025. The $500,000 total includes a matching grant of $250,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Funding varies by recipient, up to a maximum of $100,000, according to a D2P spokesperson.
D2P Interim Director Abram Becker says the grants will offer “crucial support to these outstanding early-stage companies” as they develop their technologies for market readiness.
“This initiative is not only about technological development but also about fostering the growth of these companies within Wisconsin,” Becker said in a statement.
Recipient projects were selected based on technical innovation, relevance to a broad economic sector and potential for contributing to the state’s industrial and economic development in the near future, the release shows.
One awardee, radiology Prof. Scott Reeder, is getting funding to improve cardiac MRI imaging through a project with Calimetrix, a biotechnology company based in Madison. The effort aims to boost early detection and treatment monitoring for cardiovascular disease, with a goal of “ensuring consistent and accurate” quantitative cardiac imaging, the release shows.
Reeder says he’s grateful for the funding support, noting the project’s goals aim to help this imaging approach “realize its potential” in diagnosing and monitoring cardiovascular disease.
“It is crucial to have advanced tools … to ensure quality assurance and facilitate comparison of imaging results across various MRI systems, sites, and vendors,” Reeder said in a statement on the funding.
Meanwhile, Profs. Nick Von Bergen and Vikas Singh will be working with Madison-based Atrility Medical on its AtriAmp device, with a goal of addressing “inadequacies” in current cardiac monitoring techniques for pediatric patients and others. The release notes current monitors could miss up to half of postoperative arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeat patterns.
AJ Boydston, a professor of chemistry, will work with a company called Si3H to advance a 3D printing technology that’s been licensed with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The invention can be used to print FDA-approved silicon structures for prosthetic products and orthotic braces.
Recipients and Profs. Walter Block, Andrew ALexander and Azam Ahmed will be testing the safety and function of the Saf-T-Drape product, a disposable liner for MRI and CT scanners. The product is meant to prevent hospital-acquired infections while holding up to patient movement with “minimal” procedure interference.
In another awarded project, Profs. Luke Mawst and Dan Botez will work with Intraband, LLC on devices for “fast, powerful and secure” wireless data transmission for both defense and commercial applications, the release shows.
Assistant Prof. Eric Schmuck, director of research for the Center for Biomedical Swine Research and Innovation, will work with Madison’s Cellular Logistics to test a biomaterial for its ability to reduce damage following heart attacks and restore cardiac function. The announcement notes the resulting data will be “crucial” as the company submits filings to the FDA for an initial human trial.
Finally, assistant Prof. Bu Wang and Prof. Robert Anex are getting funding for their startup called Alithic Carbon Solutions, formerly known as Earth Repair. The business is commercializing an “ultra-efficient” technology for carbon removal and repurposing, and is currently working to develop a new feedstock for their materials pipeline.
See the release.
