A project to develop a universal flu vaccine that would protect users from all flu strains and another to create a secure abdomen feeding tube for hospital patients are two of the nine projects awarded 2016-17 Center for Advanced Technology (CAT) grants.

CAT operates under the umbrella of Cornell’s Institute of Biotechnology.

The one-year grants are given to Cornell faculty in the life sciences who are involved in collaborative research and development with a New York state industry partner on biotechnology that shows promise for the marketplace.

The 2016-17 grants, which started July 1, total $432,000 in direct funds, with an additional $538,000 in matching funds.

“This year’s CAT awards reflected a remarkably diverse range of innovative projects,” said Jocelyn Rose, director of the Institute of Biotechnology.

Projects granted awards:

• Research to develop bioreactors for the production of tissue-engineered meniscus that mimics native tissue; led by Larry Bonassar, professor of biomedical engineering, with GE Global Research;
• Technology for producing engineered monoclonal antibodies, for use in therapeutic applications; Matthew DeLisa, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, with GE Global Research and Glycobia, Inc.;
• A project that matches up to 20 student interns with small New York state high-tech and scientific companies; Debra Moesch, program manager and internship director at Entrepreneurship at Cornell;
• Treatment for fingernail fungus disease; Shari Lipner, assistant professor of dermatology  and assistant attending physician at Weill Cornell Medicine, with MOE Medical Devices;
• Developing an improved strategy for mastitis detection in dairy cows with cell count technology; Jessica McArt, assistant professor of ambulatory and production medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine, with Mastatix;
• Diagnostic tests for mastitis in dairy cows, enabling rapid and cost-effective pathogen detection for accurate management and avoiding unnecessary use of antibiotics; Daryl Nydam, associate professor, and Anja Sipka, research associate, both in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, with Acumen Detection;
• Universal flu vaccine that would protect users from all flu strains; David Putnam, associate professor of biomedical engineering and chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Gary Whitaker, professor of virology, with VesiVax and Genentech;
• Improved treatment of chronic, non-healing wounds under sterile conditions, for disinfection and healing; Jason Spector, associate professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, with Sterifre Medical; and
• A secure abdominal feeding tube for hospitalized patients; Rasa Zarneger, associate professor of surgery, Thomas Ciecierega, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Carl Crawford, assistant professor of medicine, all at Weill Cornell Medicine, with Parker Hannifin Corp.

The CAT program, which is supported by NYSTAR, has funded more than 1,000 projects over 30 years and has helped launch, on average, eight to 10 companies per year. Seed funding also has increased the number of viable companies that eventually qualify for the McGovern Family Center for Venture Development in the Life Sciences, Cornell’s on-campus business incubator, which opened in 2011.

“The transition of successful CAT awardees into the McGovern Center is evidence of the value of promoting early stage entrepreneurial activities across Cornell campuses,” Rose said.