Researchers set to do teraflops over UT's most powerful supercomputer yet - Nanowerk News 28 Dec 2007
The Texas Advanced Computing Center's "Ranger" is ready to start shooting silver bullets.
The computing center, which runs the high-performance research computers at the University of Texas' J.J. Pickle Research Campus, this month started operating its latest supercomputer in "friendly mode," which limits access to the computing cluster to about 15 academic researchers
'Ranger,' a supercomputer that uses Sun Microsystems hardware and AMD quad-core chips, is set to go into full production at UT's J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin in January. See full article.
Program to use UT scanner to study troops' brain injuries
Department of Veterans Affairs' $4.2 million program to rely on cutting-edge technology.
Austin American Statesman 27 Dec 2007
The Department of Veterans Affairs is starting a multimillion dollar program at the University of Texas to study brain injuries among U.S. troops.
The program will use UT's new state-of-the-art brain scanner at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in North Austin. Initially, efforts will focus on the often invisible and debilitating brain injuries sustained by more than 20,000 troops, according to some estimates. See full article.
Study at University of Texas Finds that Next Pharmaceuticals Nexrutine Inhibits Prostate Cancer Cell Prolife
NPI center 23 Dec 2007
Next Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the results of a study funded by the National Institutes of Health on the potential benefits of Nexrutine (a proprietary extract from the bark of...See full article.
Researchers Solve First Structure of a Key to Intact DNA Inheritance
Pharma Live 22 Dec 2007 11:41
Bacteria, including S. Aureas, Use Mechanism to Spread Antibiotic Resistance HOUSTON, Dec. 21, 2007-Researchers have solved the structure of a DNA-protein complex that is crucial in the spread...See full article.
Genetic Link To Spina Bifida Discovered
Science Daily 21 Dec 2007 08:00
Genetic Link To Spina Bifida Discovered - Researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston have discovered an association between genes regulating glucose metabolism...See full article.
DNA-protein Complex Crucial To Spread Of Antibiotic Resistance Among Bacteria Solved
ScienceDaily - 21-Dec-2007
Researchers have solved the structure of a DNA-protein complex that is crucial in the spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria. Knowing this structure also provides fundamental insight into how cells successfully divide into two new cells with intact DNA
See full article.
State Announces 46 Percent Return on Investment from CardioSpectra
TETF Awardee Acquired for $25 Million - 20-Dec-2007
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today announced the State of Texas received a 46 percent return on its investment, with the potential to receive even more, when Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) awardee CardioSpectra was acquired by Volcano Corporation. The acquisition was finalized December 18. CardioSpectra is the first TETF awardee to provide a cash return on investment.
"Investing in these ground-breaking technologies is higher risk, but it is also higher reward. Today we are seeing the rewards of our investment with CardioSpectra and I believe this is the first of many." said Gov. Perry. "CardioSpectra’s success is proof that the Emerging Technology Fund is ushering potentially life-changing ideas from the university classroom into the marketplace where they can make a difference."
CardioSpectra was awarded $1.35 million from the TETF in May 2006. As a result of the acquisition the TETF received $1.9 million, netting $633,929 for an immediate total realized return of 46 percent.
The TETF stands to see an even greater return on investment if CardioSpectra meets a series of milestones set out in the acquisition agreement. "Combining the talent of Texas’ premier research institutions with the skilled and passionate entrepreneurial spirit of the CardioSpectra management team proved to be a winning combination for Texas," said Bill Morrow, TETF chairman. "The commercialization effort has yielded a nice monetary return with potential for more, jobs for Texas, and most importantly, a prime example of the TETF’s purpose, which will inspire other researchers and entrepreneurs to dream big dreams and repeat the cycle." See full press release.
Tiny work, big costs
Dallas Morning News - 20-Dec-2007
Neil Kane and his staff had figured out how to rearrange methane gas to create industrial diamond, but their company couldn't afford the highly specialized lab needed to develop such nanotechnology. So they rented lab time at Cornell University's Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility. Thirteen nano-level university laboratories across the country – including facilities at the University of Texas – are hiring themselves out to businesses eager to make their mark in the millennium of the minuscule. In 2007, the fees have ranged from a few hundred dollars to $100,000. In addition to UT and Cornell, participants are at Stanford, Pennsylvania State, Harvard, Howard and North Carolina State universities, at the Georgia Institute of Technology and at the universities of Michigan, Washington, California, Minnesota and New Mexico. See full article.
UT Southwestern wins $5M for lupus research
Dallas Business Journal - 19-Dec-2007
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas has won a five-year, $5 million grant to study lupus. The medical center's division of rheumatic diseases will lead work on the project. "There are a limited number of these centers around the country, so this is a major accomplishment for UT Southwestern," said Dr. David Karp, chief of rheumatic diseases, in a written statement. The research into systemic lupus erythematosus will be led by Drs. Chandra Mohan and Nancy Olsen. Researchers from the Baylor Institute of Immunological Research will also be involved in the effort. The grant is funded by the National Institutes of Health. See full article.
No FutureGen, but ...UTPB still working on energy projects
Midland Reporter-Telegram- 19-Dec-2007
Although the area lost its bid for FutureGen -- the next-generation, near-zero emissions coal-fired electric plant -- University of Texas of the Permian Basin has other energy fish to fry. It's still working on a high-temperature teaching and test reactor, geothermal energy and a study to determine where and how much is in residual oil zones. The $400 million HT3R project "still has legs," UTPB President David Watts said. "We just finished the complete preconceptual design," which included the technical, academic and business plan for the project, he said. "We're in the process of mailing those out to the donors," and others interested in the reactor project, Watts said. "It's a milestone we've been working on for some time." See full article.
Nano pioneer Ferrari test-launching multi-stage drug delivery system
WebWire 17 Dec 2007 20:16
Nanomedicine pioneer Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., and colleagues at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have developed a new way to get intravenous agents for cancer and other...See full article.
UT-Houston's Northrup and Colleagues
WebWire 17 Dec 2007
Researchers at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston have discovered an association between genes regulating glucose metabolism and spina bifida. The decade-long study looked at...See full article.
Region gets $130 million to help launch medical technology firms
Austin American-Statesman - 17-Dec-2007
Austin-based Santé Ventures is set to announce today that it has raised $130 million to invest in medical technology and health care services in Texas and the central United States. The new fund attracted money from large endowments and pension funds as well as Austin Ventures, which Santé spun out of last year. Santé wants to fill a void in medical-technology investing in the region, said Kevin Lalande, formerly a principal with Austin Ventures and now a managing director of Santé. "There is tremendous innovation going on here, but entrepreneurs have traditionally had to turn to the East or West Coast to look for funding," he said. "We see a lot of opportunity to put our money to work." Medical technology and health care services have attracted record venture capital nationwide over the past two years. But Austin, which has no medical school and only a small population of biotech companies, has mostly stayed on the sidelines. Texas as a whole has trailed far behind Silicon Valley and the Boston area in health sciences investments. See full article.
The Manufacturing Systems and Automation Lab at the University of Texas at San Antonio Leverages the Omnitrol
Calibre Macro World 16 Dec 2007
PM Omnitrol Networks announced that the Manufacturing Systems and Automation Laboratory of the University of Texas at San Antonio is developing a test-bed for automatic identification (Auto-ID)...See full article.
UT-Houston research center to unveil new facility
By Karla Barguiarena -KHOU Houston - 14-Dec-2007
It suffered years of setbacks, lost millions in medical equipment, including the loss of test animals. But now the University of Texas research facility is turning a new page by unveiling its new $80.5 million building expansion. The new research space will house prominent scientists studying infectious diseases and other areas of research. In 2001, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston became yet another victim of Tropical Storm Allison. The floodwaters invaded several of the schools lower levels and killed research animals. More than 10 million gallons of water rushed into the facility. On Friday, UT's final recovery phase is set to open and will feature state-of-the-art testing equipment. See full article.
Major hospital upgrades could top $900 million
By Don Finley San Antonio Express-News - 14-Dec-2007
The total cost of renovating the aging University Hospital and the former Brady/Green hospital downtown could exceed $900 million when later phases scheduled to begin in five years are added to it, University Health System board members were told Thursday. At a meeting last month, the board heard a staff proposal for the first phase of that renovation plan, which would include downtown improvements, a new trauma tower at University Hospital, a new utility plant and expanded parking, along with more than 200 additional hospital beds — a plan that could cost roughly $700 million. The new numbers, requested by the board, would be for renovations to the 1968 hospital tower and additional changes to the University Health Center Downtown, which would take place beginning in 2012 after completion of the first phase, and would add about $200 million to the total cost. See full article.
Report: Big-dose chemo is no help for breast cancer
By Todd Ackerman - Houston Chronicle- 14-Dec-2007
A grueling and controversial breast cancer treatment that was popular in the late 1980s and the 1990s does not extend the lives of patients in advanced stages of the disease, a group of Houston researchers reported Thursday. In releasing their report on a review of existing studies, the researchers said women who received high-dose chemotherapy, followed by transplants from their own bone marrow, fared no better than patients on other therapies. "This shows more is not necessarily better," said Donald Berry, head of quantitative studies at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the review's lead investigator. "We're still in the dark ages at recognizing who benefits from which treatment, but we've seemed to reach a plateau delivering chemotherapy." See full article.
The Manufacturing Systems and Automation Lab at the University of Texas at San Antonio Selects the Omnitrol WI
Calibre Macro World 13 Dec 2007
AMMOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, December 13 / MARKET WIRE/ -- Omnitrol Networks announced today that the Manufacturing Systems and Automation Laboratory of the University of Texas at San Antonio is developing...See full article.
Scientists lead major geological investigation in Papua New Guinea
Asia Pulse Data Source 13 Dec 2007
The National Science Foundations Continental Dynamics Programme has awarded a five-year, US$3.595 million grant to Syracuse University (SU), Columbia University, the University of California-Santa...See full article.
Adapting To Pregnancy Played Key Role In Human Evolution, Study ShowsScience Daily 14 Dec 2007
ScienceDaily (Dec. 13, 2007) When a pregnant woman leans back, and shifts her weight to stand more comfortably, she is performing a motion that for millions of years has helped to compensate...See full article
Amazing GRACE Team Receives Prestigious Award
Nasa Press Release - 11-Dec-07
A mission that has changed the way we study Earth's gravitational forces has been recognized by a prestigious award for helping scientists better understand our home planet. NASA and the U.S. Department of the Interior presented the coveted William T. Pecora Award to the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment mission team and Stanley A. Morain of the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
The two agencies present individual and group Pecora Awards annually to honor outstanding contributions in the field of remote sensing and its application to understanding Earth. The award was established in 1974 to honor the memory of William T. Pecora, former director of the U.S. Geological Survey and under secretary of the Department of the Interior.
The mission, known as GRACE, uses twin satellites to make precise gravity-field measurements to study changes on Earth. Signal achievements include the first uniform measurement of Greenland and Antarctic ice mass changes and monthly estimates of water accumulation in the world's river basins. See full press release.
Volcano Announces Agreement to Acquire CardioSpectra
CNN Money - 10-Dec-07
Volcano Corporation , a provider of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and functional measurement (FM) products designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and structural heart disease, said today that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire CardioSpectra, Inc., a privately-held company developing innovative Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) technology. CardioSpectra's unique OCT imaging system is expected to complement Volcano's existing product offerings and will further enhance Volcano's position as an imaging technology leader in the field of interventional medicine.
Under terms of the agreement, Volcano will pay $25 million in cash at closing, which is expected to occur by the end of the year. In addition, Volcano may make additional payments based on the achievement of certain product development, regulatory and revenue milestones. Any future payments may be made in cash or stock or a combination of both at Volcano's discretion. See full article.
Aerosol Launches Immune Response In Lungs To Wipe Out Lethal Infections
Science Daily 10 Dec 2007 06:24
ScienceDaily (Dec. 10, 2007) A purified extract prepared from a common microbe and delivered to the lungs of laboratory mice in a spray set off a healthy immune response and provided powerful...See full article.
UT Systems starts commercialization fund
Austin Business Journal - 7 Dec 2007
The University of Texas System Board of Regents established a $2 million fund dedicated to the commercialization of products created at UT System institutions. The fund, called the Texas Ignition Program, is designed to accelerate the commercialization of products developed at UT System's 15 institutions. "Global competitiveness is rapidly changing the role of higher education institutions in the economic development arena and this requires a proactive approach to the protection and translation of intellectual property from discovery to commercialization," says Mark G. Yudof, UT System chancellor. "We believe this program will foster the formation of startup companies and other related activities and eventually contribute greatly to the economic vitality of the state," Yudof adds
See full article.
Cancer center now part of UT System
San Antonio Express-News 7-Dec-07
The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday gave its approval for the Cancer Therapy and Research Center to become part of the UT Health Science Center. A letter of agreement between the facilities was signed Nov. 14, subject to approval of the regents. The UT system will pay roughly $14 million for the research center's land, buildings and equipment, allowing the center to pay off the debt on those assets. In return, the CTRC Foundation, which manages the center's $74 million endowment, will pay the health science center $10 million at completion of the deal, $8 million after one year and $6 million after two, followed by annual payments of about $2 million. Leaders hope the move will help attract top scientists to the city as Proposition 15, approved by voters Nov. 6, is to pump $3 billion into Texas cancer research centers over the next 10 years. See full article.
$1 million gift funds new UTHSC chair
San Antonio Express-News 7-Dec-07
A $1 million donation to the University of Texas Health Science Center from a San Antonio family has created a faculty chair in burn and trauma surgery, officials said Thursday. The gift created the Betty and Bob Kelso Distinguished Chair in Burn and Trauma Surgery. It was created in May but announced Thursday. Dr. Steven Wolf, director of the burn center at Brooke Army Medical Center and the pediatric burn program at University Hospital and a professor of surgery at the health science center, was appointed to the chair. Wolf is the first civilian head of the Army burn center, which is part of the Army Institute of Surgical Research. "Betty and Bob mean so much to our health science center family and to this community," said Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, president of the center. "Their generosity makes a difference in people's lives every day." See full article.
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