Sara Dagen – UF Innovate https://innovate.research.ufl.edu Building business on innovation Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:26:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/favicon-blue_1.png Sara Dagen – UF Innovate https://innovate.research.ufl.edu 32 32 American Association for the Advancement of Science Names 10 UF Faculty Fellows (UF News) https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/2025-aaas-fellows/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:11:40 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=21980 The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the Science family of journals, has named 10 University of Florida faculty members to its 2025 AAAS Fellows.

The lifetime honor is one of the most prestigious distinctions in science, recognizing individuals whose work has made a meaningful impact across fields, from research and teaching to technological innovation, leadership in academia, industry, and government, and excellence in communicating science to the public.

AAAS has recognized the following faculty from UF:

 

Read more about the researchers and their compelling research here: American Association for the Advancement of Science Names 10 UF Faculty Fellows.

]]> Myosin Therapeutics Awarded Florida Cancer Innovation Fund Grant to Support STAR-GBM Clinical Trial (Myosin News) https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/myosin-funding/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 17:48:55 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=21977 UF startup Myosin Therapeutics has been awarded $2 million in funding from the Florida Department of Health through the Casey DeSantis Florida Cancer Innovation Fund (FCIF) to support the company’s STAR-GBM Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating MT-125 in patients newly diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM).

FCIF is a statewide initiative designed to accelerate the development of innovative cancer therapies and strengthen Florida’s life sciences ecosystem by supporting promising research programs and emerging biotechnology companies. Myosin Therapeutics was selected for funding based on the scientific innovation and clinical potential of MT-125, the company’s lead oncology therapeutic candidate. The award will specifically support clinical trial activities being conducted at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, FL.

 

Read more about Myosin Therapeutics Awarded Florida Cancer Innovation Fund Grant to Support STAR-GBM Clinical Trial.

]]> INZECTO Awarded Pest Control Products Development Company of the Year 2026 (Environmental Business Review) https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/inzecto-pest-control-award/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:19:09 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=21973 UF startup INZECTO has been awarded the Pest Control Products Development Company of the Year 2026 by Environmental Business Review. INZECTO designs its pest control systems around the reality that insects are guided by scent trails, humidity, shelter, and breeding cues, which can be moving targets when climate change and urbanization are factored in. Add the need to protect people and the environment into the equation, and you land squarely in INZECTO’s domain — providing selective, biology-driven solutions that target only the intended pests while remaining safe for humans and the environment.

Within these parameters, INZECTO uses insect biology to control pests, replacing broad spraying with long-lasting, professional-grade solutions that are easy to deploy and cost-effective. The startup’s solutions began in Dr. Philip Koehler’s Entomology and Nematology Lab at the University of Florida.

Read more about Safe, Biology-Driven Pest Control for People and Planet.

]]> Tech Tuesday: University of Florida Lab Works to Improve Mobile System Securities (WCJB TV20) https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/tech-tuesday-university-of-florida-lab-works-to-improve-mobile-system-securities-wcjb-tv20/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 18:26:25 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=21967

Abigail Butka explains how hardware security research protects the systems we use each day.

In this week’s Tech Tuesday, our partners at UF Innovate and SCAD Media showcase how hardware security research at the University of Florida is helping protect the systems we rely on every day. Led by Dr. Christophe Bobda, the lab’s work is highlighted through insights from graduate student Abigail Butka, who explains how their research strengthens system security.

“Almost everyone has a smart device, but how do we make the systems within these devices more trustworthy? Abby, tell us a little bit more about who you are and what you do,” said Elora Duong, host of UF Innovate.

Read more about University of Florida Lab Works to Improve Mobile System Securities.

]]> Inside LPRC IMPACT 2026 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/lprc-impact-2026/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:44:12 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=21962 A cool opening-night reception at UF Innovate | The Hub and the LPRC INNOVATE labs marked the start of a learning-packed few days at the 2026 LPRC IMPACT Conference, March 17-19. Attendees mingled under the tent, then moved to the warmer confines of LPRC’s labs inside The Hub, where guests saw cutting-edge, loss-prevention technologies in a hands-on environment. Nowhere else can retailers see a multitude of solutions in use at a single location. From SOC setups to hardware to EAS and alarming innovations, solution providers made their wares available for review in the labs. It was not a typical opening reception.

The next day at the UF Reitz Union, the student center on the University of Florida campus, sessions took place in the grand ballroom, with breakout sessions in smaller rooms. Attendees could visit with solution-provider partners at the Solutions Center Experience. Later that evening, networking, playing bags, hanging out with UF cheerleaders and peers, and feasting on BBQ at the Champions Club was a treat for all the attendees.

Read more about Inside LPRC IMPACT 2026.

]]> Copyright Registration Toolkit https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/copyright-registration-toolkit/ Fri, 19 Sep 2025 20:21:34 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=20034 As part of the U.S. Copyright Office’s Copyright for All initiative, the office released its Copyright Registration Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help creators, small business owners, and advisors navigate the copyright system.

The toolkit offers a clear, visual guide to copyright basics, what can be protected with copyright, how to prepare for registration, the registration process, and post-registration considerations. Explore the toolkit here.

]]> Introducing the NSF’s New Translation to Practice (TTP) Program https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/introducing-the-nsfs-new-translation-to-practice-ttp-program/ Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:17:08 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=20032 The National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched a new initiative to accelerate the translation of research into real-world applications. The Translation to Practice (TTP) program supports use-inspired research across all STEM fields, with a focus on turning NSF-funded technologies into practical solutions. This program builds on the success of NSF I-Corps training, which has proven effective in bridging the gap between laboratory discoveries and commercialization.

To learn more about the TTP program, including eligibility and application details, please review the NSF’s program solicitation. If you have questions or would like to explore how this program can support your research, you can also contact the NSF directly at translation@nsf.gov.

 

]]> UF-Bred MicroPure Genomics Awarded Competitive NSF Grant https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/uf-bred-micropure-genomics-awarded-competitive-nsf-grant/ Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://scaddev1.com/uf-bred-micropure-genomics-awarded-competitive-nsf-grant/ Funding to advance breakthrough science in genomic sample preparation technology

MicroPure Genomics Inc., a revolutionary sample prep technology company with deep University of Florida roots, has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for nearly $1.3 million to conduct research and development on redefining front-end sample preparation for genomic analysis in research and healthcare.

“This NSF SBIR phase II award is a testament to the groundbreaking work our team is doing to redefine genomic sample preparation,” said Ryan Montes, CEO of MicroPure Genomics and a UF Chemical Engineering Ph.D. graduate. “We are on a mission to break down the barriers to genomic analysis, to enable genetic testing everywhere, for any purpose, and by anyone.”

With this NSF funding, MicroPure – co-founded by UF Chemical Engineering Professor Jason Butler, Ph.D. – will accelerate product engineering and validation, preparing MicroPure’s first system, the µPrep, for pilot deployment with key opinion leaders and leading genomic research organizations.

Read more about UF-Bred MicroPure Genomics Awarded Competitive NSF Grant. ]]> SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Training https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/sbir-sttr-grant-writing-training/ Thu, 19 Jun 2025 20:13:18 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=20030 For innovators interested in transferring technology through a small business and applying for SBIR/STTR funding, summer is a great time to get started! The Florida High Tech Corridor hosted a range of info sessions and recorded webinars covering key topics like developing a competitive SBIR/STTR proposal, preparing your budget, and crafting a strong commercialization plan. If you’re interested in a specific agency, such as the NIH, NSF or DoD, look for these and other webinars in the playlist below and reach out to Ask UF Innovate for further guidance. Watch Here.

  • Essentials of Commercialization: BBCetc Seminar 01/2024
  • Resources for Medical Product Development and Commercialization 02/2024
  • Working with Venture Capitalists on Life Sciences Company Formation 03/2024
  • USPTO Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions: Key Takeaways 04/2024
  • OUP: Startup Financing Trends for 2024 05/2024
  • Are You Curious About a Career in Technology Transfer? 06/2024
  • Understanding the Bayh-Dole Act, March-in-Rights and Academic Innovation 09/2024
  • Navigating the IP Landscape: Implications and Considerations for Start-Up Success 10/2024
  • Insights & Innovation with Entrepreneur-Investor David S. Rose 11/2024
  • Navigating Software & Emerging Tech Patents 12/2024
  • The Art of Talking to Stakeholders: Taking the First Step Towards Commercialization 01/2025
  • The State of Cell and Gene Therapy 02/2025
  • USPTO Startup Certification Training Course 03/2025
  • Strategic Playbook for Entrepreneurs: 4 Paths to Success 04/2025
  • Launching and Growing a Biotech Startup 05/2025
  • SBIR/STTR Grant Writing Training 06/2025
]]> Launching and Growing a Biotech Startup https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/launching-and-growing-a-biotech-startup/ Mon, 19 May 2025 19:25:48 +0000 https://innovate.research.ufl.edu/?p=20028 The NCI SBIR Innovation Lab Podcast Episode 26 – Launching and Growing a Biotech Startup – Part 2, dives into the journey of an SBIR-funded Immunotherapy startup. The discussion highlights lessons learned on securing investments, developing a fundraising strategy, and utilizing the power of networking to maximize chance encounters with investors. Topics covered will include:

How to build networks and maintain strong connections in the biotech industry

Advice on leveraging peer-review comments when presenting to investors, state programs, and incubators

Considerations for a clear development plan, including a fundraising strategy centered on bolstering your company’s presentation and credibility to investors Also view Episode 25, part 1 of this 2-part series on Launching and Growing a Biotech Startup.

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