UF Startup TearClear Appoints Robert J. Dempsey as CEO

UF startup TearClear, a global Ophthalmic Pharmaceutical Company, announced the appointment of Robert J. Dempsey as Chief Executive Officer. TearClear, a resident client at UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech, is the only pharmaceutical company to administer preservative-free eye drops to the ocular surface, that are preserved safely prior to dosing. Dempsey, who has more […]

Oragenics, Inc. Announces Early Top-Line Results of Phase 2 Clinical Trial of AG013 for Oral Mucositis in Chemoradiation Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

UF startup and UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech graduate company Oragenics, Inc., a leader in the development of new antibiotics against infectious diseases and effective treatments for oral mucositis, announced that early top-line results of the company’s Phase 2 clinical trial of AG013 in oral mucositis in chemoradiation in head and neck cancer patients […]

Sinclair, Altavian Partner to Use 3-D Technology to Print Masks

UF startup Altavian, a drone maker that supplies the US military, and Sinclair College, a Dayton, Ohio-based community college, have partnered to rapidly produce and freely distribute N95 equivalent masks to front-line medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sinclair and Altavian will work collaboratively to make sure masks are available to local providers and in […]

UF Professor Receives 2020 American Academy of Sleep Medicine Award

Several leaders in the field of sleep medicine and two members of Congress are recipients of the 2020 American Academy of Sleep Medicine awards. Dr. Richard B. Berry, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Florida, medical director of the UF Health Sleep Center, and director of the UF Sleep Medicine Fellowship is one […]

An Interest in Bat Viruses Led to UF Health Virologist’s Development of Coronavirus Test

The UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ department of environmental and global health and the UF Emerging Pathogens Institute, are leading a joint, around-the-clock effort to better understand and track the coronavirus in health care and community settings. The effort involves numerous scientists, laboratory technicians and support staff working tirelessly behind the scenes […]

‘More Hopeful Outcomes’ on the Horizon for Prader-Willi Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in about 1 in 15,000 births, is the most common genetic cause of life-threatening childhood obesity, which is just one of its complex symptoms. Still, it has proved extremely difficult to treat. Fortunately for the Prader-Willi syndrome community, researchers continue to test potential therapies to find a comprehensive […]

Transition in Leadership — UF Department of Neuroscience

Jennifer Bizon, Ph.D., has accepted the position of interim chair of the department of neuroscience at the University of Florida. Bizon currently is a professor and associate chair in the department of neuroscience and co-director of UF’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory. In addition, she serves on the College of Medicine’s promotion and tenure […]

Assistant Professor Develops a Rapid Point-of-Care Detection Technology for SARS-Cov-2

Piyush Jain, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and a member of UF Health Cancer Center, and his Ph.D. student Long Nguyen have developed a CRISPR-based, paper-based, rapid detection technology that can detect SARS-CoV-2 cDNA in as little as 5-10 minutes or SARS-CoV-2 RNA in as low as 30-60 minutes without the need of expensive […]

COVID-19 and Food Safety: Fact and Fiction for Food Production

Consumers are being bombarded with tips for what to do with their groceries during the coronavirus crisis. Leave them in the garage for three days? Wash the produce with soapy water? Wipe all packaging down with disinfectant wipes?  Listen to the science, say University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Food Science and Human […]

DiaCarta Gets FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Coronavirus PCR Test

UF Innovate | Sid Martin Biotech alum DiaCarta, a molecular diagnostic firm, has obtained the Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for its QuantiVirus PCR diagnostic (Dx) test for the novel coronavirus. The test detects the N, Orf1ab, and E genes of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in nasopharyngeal swabs, oropharyngeal swabs, and […]