LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS BOARD OF REGENTS SUPPORT FUND

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

REVIEW OF COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED FOR FUNDING CONSIDERATION IN THE

PROOF-OF-CONCEPT/PROTOTYPING INITIATIVE

FY 2016-17 COMPETITION

March 2017 

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LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS SUPPORT FUND

PROOF-OF-CONCEPT/PROTOTYPING (PoC/P) INITIATIVE

FINAL PANEL REPORT

FY 2016-17

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Twenty (20) research proposals requesting a total of $761,950 were submitted for funding consideration during fiscal year (FY) 2016-17 under the Proof-of-Concept/Prototyping (PoC/P) Initiative of the Board of Regents Support Fund (BoRSF). Of the twenty proposals submitted, five contained information of a confidential or proprietary nature. A two-phase evaluation process conducted exclusively by out-of-state experts was used to review these proposals.

REVIEW PROCESS Phase I: In-Depth Mail Review

The twenty proposals were reviewed for scientific and technical merit, commercialization opportunity, and potential for success by out-of-state experts. The experts included reviewers in each of the following four targeted industry sectors: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing; Life Sciences and Bioengineering; Digital Media and Enterprise Software; and Clean Technology and Energy. Each subject-area reviewer evaluated and prepared an in-depth evaluation form for each assigned proposal in the subject area. No proposals were submitted in the Coastal and Water Management industry sector. All evaluation forms from out-of-state experts who participated in Phase I of the review process were available for each member of the final panel, along with all proposals submitted. Each member of the final panel read and studied each proposal and each evaluation prior to the final panel’s meeting. Phase II: Final Panel Review

Three out-of-state experts participated in Phase II of the review process and served on the final panel. The panel convened on March 15, 2017, to discuss Phase I subject-area evaluations, prioritize proposals, and develop funding recommendations. The final panel considered each of the twenty proposals extensively and based its recommendations on the following criteria:

A. Scientific and technical merit; B. Commercial Opportunity; and C. Potential for Success.

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The panel was informed that a maximum of $315,000 would be available for new

PoC/P research projects,  though reductions were likely due to low revenues in the Support Fund. As a result of the final panel's deliberations, eight proposals were recommended for funding. These eight Priority One proposals are listed in Appendix A, immediately following the narrative section of this report. The final rankings and selections for awards were based upon individual ratings of the external reviewers (Phase I) and the final panel’s consensus evaluation (Phase II).

Five other highly meritorious proposals (Priority II) considered at the final panel meeting and recommended for funding only if additional monies become available are listed in Appendix B. Three additional proposals were considered meritorious by the subject-area reviewers and the final panel, but were insufficiently developed in one or more areas to be worthy of funding at this time (Priority III); these are listed in Appendix C.1. The final panel believes that these investigators should carefully review the panel’s comments and revise and resubmit their proposals in the future, with the prospect that improvements in proposal content could ultimately lead to an award.

The four remaining proposals, although meritorious in some respects (Priority III – Lower Priority), are listed in Appendix C.2. The panel recommends that the Board of Regents commit funding for each Priority One and Two proposal at the level requested for a period of one year. Summary statements have been provided in Appendix D applicable to the eight Priority One proposals listed in Appendix A and Appendix E for each of the five Priority Two proposals deemed meritorious and recommended for funding if more funds become available as listed in Appendix B. Summary statements for each of the three PoC/P proposals considered meritorious but insufficiently developed in one or more areas (Priority Three) have been provided in Appendix F.1. Summaries include the following information for each proposal: 1. Proposal number and title; 2. Strengths and weaknesses of the proposal; 3. Commercial Opportunity or Potential for Success; and 4. Recommended BoRSF Funding Level and Funding Stipulations, as Applicable.

(Note: This information is provided for the eight proposals recommended for funding (Appendix D) and the five proposals recommended for funding if additional funds become available (Appendix E).

General statements related to the four remaining meritorious proposals rated of lower priority by the final panel are included in Appendix F.2.

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General Comments for Funded Projects

No reduction in the scope of work plans of projects recommended for funding shall be allowed.

Cost sharing and matching commitments are binding. As a condition of funding, types and amount of institutional matching commitments as stated in the proposal shall be maintained in full.

The project activation date is June 1, 2017 and the termination date is no later than June 30, 2018. No-cost extensions may be requested but are generally discouraged considering the goals of the PoC/P initiative and should be limited to one (1) year.

Debriefing

Reviewer evaluations for each PoC/P proposal will be available to the applicant in July 2017.

The individuals who participated in Phases I and II of the review process are listed in Appendix G.

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APPENDIX A PoC/P PROPOSALS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING

(PRIORITY ONE) (8)

Rank

Proposal

No.

Institution

Requested

BoRSF Funds

Recommended BoRSF Funds

1 2 3 4 *5

6 7 8 TOTAL

014D 012D 001D 002D 006D

008D 003D 010D

LA-TECH LSUHSC-NO LSU - AG LSU - AG LSU A&M LSU A&M LSU A&M LSUHSC-NO

$ 39,974 40,000 38,853 35,500 38,550 40,000 40,000 39,166 $ 312,043

$ 39,974 40,000 38,853 35,500 38,550 40,000 40,000 39,166 $ 312,043

Availability of funds for those proposals below the * is uncertain at this time. At a minimum, any remaining BoRSF first-year monies should provide partial funding for the next rank order proposal pending acceptance by the institution and Board approval. Note: The panel’s comments on these proposals are provided in Appendix D. The subject-area review for each proposal will be provided to the applicant in July 2017. APPENDIX B PoC/P PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING

IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE (PRIORITY TWO) (5)

Rank

Proposal

No.

Institution

Requested

BoRSF Funds

Recommended BoRSF Funds

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10 11 12 13 TOTAL

013D 015D 009D 019D 005D

LSUHSC-NO LA-TECH LSU A&M ULL LSU A&M

$ 36,627 39,998 39,725 39,988 38,550 $ 194,888

$ 36,627 39,998 39,725 39,988 38,550 $ 194,888

Note: The panel’s comments on these proposals are provided in Appendix E. The subject-area review for each proposal will be provided to the applicant in July 2017.

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APPENDIX C

PRIORITY THREE (3)

1. MERITORIOUS PoC/P PROPOSALS

004D 011D 016D

Note: These proposals are not listed in rank order of merit and are not recommended

for funding as currently submitted. The panel’s comments on these proposals are provided in Appendix F.1. The subject-area review for each proposal will be provided to the applicant in July 2017.

2. PoC/P PROPOSALS OF LOWER PRIORITY (4)

007D 018D 017D 020D Note: These proposals are not listed in rank order of merit and are not recommended

for funding as currently submitted. The panel’s general statements on these proposals are provided in Appendix F.2. The subject-area review for each proposal will be provided to the applicant in July 2017.

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APPENDIX D

PROPOSALS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING (PRIORITY ONE)

Proposal No. 014D Rank: 1 Principal Investigator: Hamzeh Bardaweel, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana Tech University Title: Regenerative Hybrid Hydraulic - Electromagnetic Shock-Absorber Comment: The main goal of this project is to perform proof-of-concept experiments leading to the development of an efficient new technology that harvests vibrational energy available within vehicle suspension systems due to irregularities on road surfaces. This is a very good proposal detailing a novel approach for producing electrical power from the electromagnetic damping of suspension systems. Electromagnetic regenerative shock absorbers have been explored by others but have not been adopted because of the complexity and associated economics. The principal investigator clearly describes the key problems associated with the technology and provides a good explanation of the advantages of the proposed H-Shock system. The work plan is reasonable with the necessary facilities available. The proposed budget appears appropriate with most of the requested support for a graduate student and research supplies. The principal investigator is well qualified to carry out the proposed work. The proposal seems appropriate for proof- of-concept research and a device patent filing. The commercial and economic prospects could be significant. This is a strong proposal highly recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 39,974 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 39,974

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 012D Rank: 2 Principal Investigator: Sunyoung Kim, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Title: Biomarker for Gastrointestinal Disease in Preterm Infants Comment: The proposed research focuses on a new in vitro diagnostic test that the PI developed for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). NEC is the most common and devastating intestinal disorder in preterm infants, affecting more than 5000 preterm infants in the US annually. The primary goal of the proposal is to conduct a longitudinal pilot study of a novel biomarker panel for NEC on 40 infants. The long-term goal is to develop a non-invasive diagnostic and potentially prognostic test (Neonatal DDx) for NEC. The basic approach itself is not innovative, but the element of novelty relates to providing an alternative fast, cheap and non-invasive diagnostic test that detects early stages of the disease compared to existing X-ray and CT imaging that detects the disease in its advanced stages. It is supported by the encouraging results obtained by the PI on a pilot clinical trial on 49 infants. The research is a key step in winning FDA approval and commercialization as a medical device assembled by a spin-off. It appears that each of the researchers has the credentials to carry out the respective components of the research project. The budget is primarily composed of partial salary support for a post doc and supplies. The budget is reasonable and justified for the scope of work contemplated. This is a strong proposal highly recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 40,000 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 40,000

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 001D Rank: 3 Principal Investigator: Chandra Theegala, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University – Agricultural Center Title: Meeting and Exceeding Department of Energy’s Microalgal Yield Targets by Optimizing Light Utilization and Cell Circulation Comment: The value of producing fuels from algae is well documented in previous studies and is a major topic for DoE research. The current need is to bring yields up to DoE benchmarks; this study has the potential to accomplish that goal. This is a well-conceived proposal with an excellent chance of success. Significant background work has been done at the laboratory scale and the field test that is proposed in the study is the next logical step towards commercialization. The principal investigator is well qualified to carry out the proposed work. The budget includes one month of salary support for the PI and support for three undergraduate assistants. A clearer statement of interest from potential industrial partners would have strengthened the proposal. Nevertheless, it is a meritorious proposal and recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 38,853 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 38,853

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 002D Rank: 4 Principal Investigator: Jim Wang, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University – Agricultural Center Title: Development of a Low-Cost and Highly Efficient Bio-Based Si Fertilizer Comment: Silicon has recently been officially recognized as a plant-beneficial substance for healthy growth of crops. Although soil silicon is abundant, it is not bioavailable. This is a very good proposal in an important area. The PI proposes a method of producing a silicon soluble fertilizer using biomass wastes from rice and sugar cane. Preliminary results of the developed silicon fertilizer product showed a significant increase in plant-available silicon, 6-30 times over the direct recycling of plant residue in soil depending on the feedstock use. However, the availability of plant silicon and the method of assessment of the biomass feedstock require further discussion. The proposed work plan is well described and the timeline of research activities is reasonable. The PI has been working actively in this and related areas and is well qualified to carry out the proposed work plan. The budget is reasonable with a major portion of the support for graduate student training. The proposal showed evidence of industrial interest and has significant economic potential. It is highly deserving and recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 35,500 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 35,500

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 006D Rank: 5 Principal Investigator: Thunshun Liao, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University and A&M College Title: Friction Stir Welding of Aluminum Alloy, Pipe Welding and High Temperature Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing Comment: Ultrasonic testing (UT) is one of the most commonly used nondestructive testing methods to evaluate the integrity of friction stirred or fusion welds. Phase array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) is the most advanced version of UT in use today. The proposed research is to develop an improved sensor system for the friction stir welding of aluminum by first improving an existing prototype sensor and then transferring the results to pipe welding. The project has had NASA support, and the investigator proposes adaptation to broader usage and welding needs in terrestrial applications in the energy sector. Industrial partner STUPP Corporation is a major steel pipe fabricator, although the system as described is for non-ferrous welding. Some disparity is noted here. The development is very specific to an aluminum process and a particular machine (I-Stir). The timeline is short for the proposed activities since the behavior of the existing prototype is not yet understood. However, this is a very promising area with significant commercialization prospects, and the proposal is recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 38,550 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 38,550

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 008D Rank: 6 Principal Investigator: Lu Peng, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University and A&M College Title: Test Chip Manufacturing of Memory Bandwidth Broaden Switches Comment: High performance computers are the foundation for High Performance Computing (HPC) and Cloud computing. The goal of the proposed research is to fabricate a prototype test chip to demonstrate a software concept that has been developed in which switchable pins are utilized to significantly increase the bandwidth of computer workstations and servers, desktop PCs, and mobile tablets. This could result in a significant performance enhancement. The market potential of the proposed device is very high. The principal investigator is very well qualified. The research plan is appropriate and the preliminary results are encouraging. The device and the idea have great economic potential. The budget is appropriate. This is an excellent proposal and recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 40,000 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 40,000

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 003D Rank: 7 Principal Investigator: Leslie Butler, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University and A&M College Title: High Energy X-ray Optics for Clinical Imaging Comment: Medical CT scanners are widely used, but expose the patient to too much X-ray radiation—NIH predicts thousands of new cancer patients per year. Grating-based X-ray interferometry is under intense study as the new method for low-dose clinical imaging. This is an excellent proposal that focuses on the use of micro-fabricated X-ray grating optics that has the potential to revolutionize clinical X-ray imaging by providing images with better contrast and reducing the X-ray dose to the patient. The value proposition as a cost reduction through manufacturing process improvement is, however, unclear. The proposal is well written technically and academically rigorous. The overall work plan is good. The contributions of the visiting scientist in the area of combining gold with graphite fabrication appear to be key to the success of the project. He has support from Microworks, a German company, which appears to result from an existing relationship. The small proposed project budget shows no real industrial support. The proposal would have benefitted greatly by demonstrating some in-kind support from NIST or Argonne Labs. The use of the micro-fabrication laboratory is somewhat questionable. There appears to be no plan in place to fund the work at other outsource locations, i.e., NIST, ORNL, or ALS. There is a high level of risk associated with completion of this project based on the intended time schedule. However, the records of the visiting scientist and the principal investigator indicate that significant success could be achieved. The proposal is recommended for funding.

FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 40,000 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 40,000

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Appendix D (continued) Proposal No. 010D Rank: 8 Principal Investigator: Marsha Bennett, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Title: Cultural Competency During the Disaster Cycle Comment: The Cultural Competency during the Disaster Cycle Program is accredited for Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) nationwide, with over 1,800 nurses completing the program. Funding is requested to support the software development and marketing of the program to other medical professionals, particularly with regard to the treatment of disaster victims. The current training module has been used by a large number of health personnel. The PIs have received previous funding for the initial development of the system and for subsequent improvements in the quality of the system. The next goal is to expand the market potential by developing mobile platforms. It appears that the scope of work, budget and timeline are adequate to complete the work as proposed. If successful, the resulting application could potentially gain further interest of healthcare professionals. The size of the potential market is large, but it is not clear if health professionals are required to receive professional training in the disaster context. The PIs should have provided some background on the training and continuing education requirements of this market and how this program would fit within these needs. Overall, this is a very good proposal in an important area, and is recommended for funding. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 39,166 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 39,166

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APPENDIX E

PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING IF ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE

(PRIORITY TWO) Proposal No. 013D Rank: 9 Principal Investigator: David Welsh, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Title: Pneumocystis Pneumonia Vaccine Development Comment: The aim of this proposal is to test the protective effect of a surface peptidase (SPD1)-based vaccine for Pneumocystis pneumonia in humanized mice infected with HIV. This is a follow-up to the encouraging results obtained with protective immunity induced by the SPD1-based vaccine to experimental Pneumocystis infection in mice depleted of CD4+ T-cells, a state analogous to HIV-mediated immunosuppression in humans. The long-term goal is to develop a human vaccine against Pneumocystis pneumonia. The PI has assembled a strong team whose members are aligned with various components of the research. However, this is a labor-intensive project within a limited period and it is unclear who will perform all the planned bench work in addition to vaccination protocols. The objectives are clear, as are the methodologies to achieve these objectives. Funding is requested for reagents, supplies, animals, and experimental procedures. Overall the budget is aligned with the goals and tasks of the proposed research plan. Based on the preliminary data, it is reasonable to assume some progress will be made towards resolving the problem. As such, while no near-term impact on Louisiana’s economy is obvious, this is a strong proposal that is recommended for support if additional resources become available. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 36,627 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 36,627

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Appendix E (continued) Proposal No. 015D Rank: 10 Principal Investigator: Shengnian Wang, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana Tech University Title: Production of Novel Mesoporous Zeolites for Lignin Depolymerization Comment: The proposal contains good preliminary data on the formation of 20-30 nm diameter zeolite nanocrystals with promising data on benzyl alcohol conversion to phenols and lignin ethanolysis product distribution. The focus of the proposal is the preparation of mesoporous zeolites with a larger pore size distribution. Private partner Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, appears acceptable; however, the proposal should have provided more detail relative to the nature of the proposed collaboration. The Panel questioned why, if the micromeritics porosimetry analyzer is available, it was not used to characterize the zeolites already produced. Overall, the proposal presents a solid research plan with good preliminary data. The principal investigator is very well qualified to carry out the proposed work and the budget appears appropriate. The proposal would have had an improved ranking if more details were provided relative to reaction conditions, zeolite properties and synthesis, pore size distribution of the nanocrystals, and industrial interest/participation. However, the commercial potential is such that the proposal should be funded if additional funds become available. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 39,998 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 39,998

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Appendix E (continued) Proposal No. 009D Rank: 11 Principal Investigator: Andrew Wojtanowicz, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University and A & M College Title: A Low-Cost Rig-Less Method for Plugging and Abandonment (P&A) of Idling Wells in Louisiana Comment: The proposed research will investigate the use of a class of polymer for closing off abandoned oil and gas wells. The polymer can be placed without a work-over operation. The economic potential is significant, as the technology would allow for a less expensive alternative to the existing cement plugging technology. Since plugging of wells is a State-mandated requirement, it would also be necessary to gain State approval of this technology before commercialization. The first step is, however, verification of the technology. The work is well defined and much of the preliminary work has already been completed. However, questions still remain regarding the durability of the treatment, which may be difficult to answer in a short timeframe. Some industrial interest was expressed from polymer manufacturers. Interest from a producer or well service provider would have been useful. The PI is an eminent scholar in the field and has significant research experience. The institution has the requisite equipment in place. There is a high probability of success for the project. The proposal is recommended for funding if additional funds become available. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 39,725 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 39,725

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Appendix E (continued) Proposal No. 019D Rank: 12 Principal Investigator: Mohammad Khattak, Ph.D. Institution: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Title: Self-Sensing High Performance Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Composites Comment: The demand for smart, high-performance, resilient and sustainable structural systems has increased. The objective of the proposed research is to develop self-sensing fiber reinforced geo-polymer composites for structural monitoring where damage assessment claims are not articulated. Monitoring resistivity changes is geometrically unique, making characterization generalizations impractical. Questions still remain, e.g., (1) how do the carbon nano-fibers (CNF) induce the piezo-resistive effect; and (2) CNF’s are expensive—how will this lower costs? The proposal is very diffuse—seeking to add CNF to the composite for various reasons that are never clearly justified. The proposal provided no economic justification. The proposed tasks are detailed in the narrative, with graphs illustrating what has been accomplished. The optimization strategy appears to be simple regression, not organized in the form of a design for experiments. While this is a good proposal in an important area, it should only be supported if additional funds become available. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 39,988 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 39,988

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Appendix E (continued) Proposal 005D Rank: 13 Principal Investigator: Arash Dahi Taleghani Institution: Louisiana State University and A & M College Title: Developing of Temperature-Triggered Polymers to Seal Cement Voids and Fractures in Oil and Gas Wells Comment: One of the serious challenges encountered in cementing oil and gas wells is the failure of the cement sheaths and debonding from casing or formation rock. This is an interesting proposal that addresses a very real problem in cement bonding and sealing in oil and gas wells. The proposal suggests that existing additives for this purpose are expensive and weaken cement. Some comparative data on costs of existing treatments along with approximated production costs of the new product would have been useful in evaluating the need for this technology. Questions also exist relative to the durability of the new material within the cement matrix. However, it appears that this may be a good idea and a good product that could potentially cut costs and perhaps improve performance. The PI is well qualified to conduct the proposed research and appears to have the necessary equipment available to make this project likely to succeed in terms of validating whether the product would work. However, the question of cost still remains. The proposal would be strengthened by an industrial collaborator or support. This proposal is recommended for funding only if additional funds become available. FUNDS REQUESTED: $ 38,550 FUNDS RECOMMENDED: $ 38,550

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APPENDIX F.1

MERITORIOUS PROPOSALS (PRIORITY THREE)

Proposal No. 004D Principal Investigator: Jin-Woo Choi, Ph.D Institution: Louisiana State University and A & M College Title: A Robust and Flexible Sensor for Healthcare Comment: The main objective of the proposed research is to develop a highly flexible and robust large area force sensor platform having electronic accessories for data acquisition and wireless data transmission. The PI proposes to design a highly flexible nanocomposite pressure sensing material that can monitor pressure distribution. One of the main target applications is its use as a footwear-type pressure-mapping sensor for prevention and treatment of plantar ulcers in patients with diabetes. These sensors can guide the user via a smart-app on the pace of physical activity and inform the clinician on the disease state. The studies themselves are not innovative but a successful outcome could bring a potential improvement in the management of diabetic foot ulcers. The novelty is brought by the nature of materials used: highly flexible elastomers containing flexible carbon nanotube sensors. It is hard to estimate the commercialization potential at this early stage when compared to the theoretical physical advantages of the proposed material over existing commercial foot pressure sensors such as the one made by Tekscan, Inc. The PI briefly mentions technology transfer in the proposal but no concrete discussion of what this entails was provided. Therefore, how this work will economically benefit Louisiana is not clearly understood. With the above modifications this could be a very competitive proposal.

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Appendix F.1 (continued) Proposal No. 011D Principal Investigator: Ed Grabczyk, Ph.D. Institution: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Title: A Treatment to Stop the Expansion of Repetitive DNA that Causes Diseases Such as Huntington's Disease and Friedreich ataxia Comment: The aim of this proposal is to test the ability of splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSO) to stop expansion of DNA repeats specific to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) via MLH3 exon skipping. The long-range goal is to develop SSO-based therapeutic agents to slow the progression of a series of neurodegenerative DNA repeat expansion diseases including Friedreich ataxia, ALS, Huntington’s Disease, etc. The strategy for commercialization of this potential therapeutic approach is to license it as an orphan drug to a startup or existing pharmaceutical company. Whereas the proposed research is innovative in scope, the problem to be solved is difficult and the therapeutic use of this approach is distant. There are no preliminary results to indicate the therapeutic effect of SSO in animal models thus far. The PI has a grant that extended through 2016 to study the effect of SSO in a mouse model of Friedreich ataxia, but at the time of submission the only information emerging from this study related to MLH3 exon skipping pattern at 48h post SSO injection and no data about the therapeutic outcome was provided. The enthusiasm for this approach is essentially limited to in vitro studies on Friedreich ataxia model cell lines. Effect in Huntington’s Disease, another potential therapeutic target, is the topic of an ongoing study with no preliminary data provided. Proposal No. 016D Principal Investigator: Tiffany Stewart, Ph.D. Institution: Pennington Biomedical Research Center Title: Comprehensive Assessment of Body Image [CBI]: Development & Feasibility Testing Comment: The proposed work aims to bring body image measurement technology developed at Pennington Biomedical from bench to bedside. The primary objective of the project is to complete the development of the comprehensive assessment of body image as an online/smartphone-based tool. The proposal as outlined has a fairly detailed schedule of milestones, tasks and timelines that are very ambitious. The proposed budget requested $29,500 for “other expenses”: information technology support from a firm called JPL Technical Solutions for consulting/development. The most serious shortcoming of this proposal is that it did not address a path to commercialization. While obesity is a very serious problem, the proposal did not chart a course to successful commercialization. Historically, the use of copyright or trademarks has not provided sufficient revenue to allow successful marketing of such technology. In its present form the proposal does not appear to be a good fit with the goals of the PoC/P initiative.

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APPENDIX F.2

MERITORIOUS PROPOSALS OF LOWER PRIORITY PRIORITY THREE

 

Individual commentaries on proposals listed in Appendix C.2 (Priority Three) by the final panel are not included in this report. Proposals so ranked were not recommended for funding for at least two of the following reasons (not listed in order of importance):

The proposal did not have clear objectives and/or research plans

The proposal showed little or no commercialization potential, or economic justification

Weak interest was shown from potential end users/commercial partners

Budgets were excessive, inadequately justified, or inconsistent with

provided budget justifications

Equipment requests were excessive and/or inappropriate for the research proposed

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APPENDIX G

LIST OF SUBJECT-AREA AND FINAL PANEL REVIEWERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE REVIEW PROCESS

LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOENGINEERING Dr. Dick Auld Professor Plant and Soil Science Texas Tech University Dr. Radu Marches Associate Research Scientist The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Farmington, CT CLEAN TECHNOLOGY AND ENERGY Dr. Russell D. Ostermann Associate Chair Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering University of Kansas Dr. Roger A. Korus Professor Department of Chemical Engineering University of Idaho DIGITAL MEDIA AND ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE Dr. John M. Usher Professor and Head Department of Industrial Engineering Mississippi State University ADVANCED MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING Dr. James A. Rice Associate Professor Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Marquette University

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Appendix G (continued)

PoC/P FINAL PANEL

Dr. Richard C. Seagrave (Chair) Emeritus Distinguished Professor Chemical and Biological Engineering Iowa State University Dr. Jay P. Gore Professor School of Mechanical Engineering Purdue University Dr. Howard Reisner Professor School of Medicine Department of Pathology University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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APPENDIX H

SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS SUBMITTED PROOF-OF-CONCEPT/PROTOTYPING (PoC/P) INITIATIVE

FY 2016-17

Proposals Submitted to the Research and Development Program ‐ PoC/Pfor the FY 2016‐17 Review Cycle

001D-17 Dr. Chandra Theegala Clean Technology and Energy Louisiana State University Agricultural CenterMeeting and Exceeding Department of Energy’s Microalgal Yield Targets by Optimizing Light Utilization and Cell Circulation $38,853.00

002D-17 Prof. Jim Wang Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Development of a low-cost and highly efficient bio-based Si fertilizer $35,500.00

003D-17 Prof. Leslie Butler Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Louisiana State University and A & M College High Energy X-ray Optics for Clinical Imaging $40,000.00

004D-17 Prof. Jin-Woo Choi Life Sciences and Bioengineering Louisiana State University and A & M College A Robust and Flexible Sensor for Healthcare $40,000.00

005D-17 Dr. Arash Dahi Taleghani Clean Technology and Energy Louisiana State University and A & M CollegeDeveloping of Temperature-Triggered Polymers to Seal Cement Voids and Fractures in Oil and Gas Wells $38,550.00

006D-17 Prof. Thunshun Liao Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Louisiana State University and A & M CollegeFriction stir welding of aluminum alloy, pipe welding and high temperature phased array ultrasonic testing $38,550.00

007D-17 Prof. Kidong Park Life Sciences and Bioengineering Louisiana State University and A & M College Hollow microcarrier for large-scale expansion of adherent cells $39,570.00

008D-17 Prof. Lu Peng Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Louisiana State University and A & M College Test Chip Manufacturing of Memory Bandwidth Broaden Switches $40,000.00

009D-17 Prof. Andrew Wojtanowicz Clean Technology and Energy Louisiana State University and A & M CollegeA Low-cost Rig-less Method for Plugging and Abandonment (P&A) of Idling Wells in Louisiana $39,725.00

010D-17 Dr. Marsha Bennett Digital Media and Enterprise SoftwareLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Cutural Competency during the Disaster Cycle $39,166.00

011D-17 Prof. Ed Grabczyk Life Sciences and BioengineeringLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans

A treatment to stop the expansion of repetitive DNA that causes diseases such as Huntington's disease and Friedreich ataxia $35,000.00

012D-17 Prof. Sunyoung Kim Life Sciences and BioengineeringLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Biomarker for gastrointestinal disease in preterm infants $40,000.00

013D-17 Dr. David Welsh Life Sciences and BioengineeringLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Pneumocystis Pneumonia Vaccine Development $36,627.00

014D-17 Dr. Hamzeh Bardaweel Clean Technology and Energy Louisiana Tech University Regenerative Hybrid Hydraulic- Electromagnetic Shock-Absorber $39,974.00

015D-17 Prof. Shengnian Wang Clean Technology and Energy Louisiana Tech University Production of novel mesoporous zeolites for lignin depolymerization $39,998.00

016D-17 Dr. Tiffany Stewart Life Sciences and Bioengineering Pennington Biomedical Research Center Comprehensive Assessment of Body Image [CBI]: Development & Feasibility Testing $40,000.00

017D-17 Prof. Damir Khismatullin Life Sciences and Bioengineering Tulane University Noncontact real-time assessment of blood coagulation via acoustic tweezing $39,994.00

018D-17 Dr. David Bellar Life Sciences and Bioengineering University of Louisiana at LafayetteEfficacy of Alpha Glycerylphosphorylcholine for Enhancing Dopamine, Metabolism, Memory and Personality $23,300.00

019D-17 Dr. Mohammad Khattak Advanced Materials and Manufacturing University of Louisiana at Lafayette Self-sensing High Performance Fiber Reinforced Geopolymer Composites $39,988.00

020D-17 Dr. Abdennour Seibi Other - Thermofluids University of Louisiana at Lafayette Low Dimensional Modeling of Transient Two Phase Flow in Pipelines $37,155.00

20$761,950.00

Total Number of Proposals submittedTotal Funds Requested

Proposal # PI Name Category Institution Project Title Amount Requested