Success Stories
ENT SimTech wins 2010 Venture London Business Competition
March 11, 2010
ENT Simulation Technologies Inc. (ENT SimTech), a Western spin-off company, won the 2010 Venture London Business Competition in the "Proposed Business Category". The company was founded by Prof. Hanif Ladak and Dr. Sumit Agrawal with support from the WORLDiscoveries team, especially Jaipreet Bindra, Business Development Manager, and Paul Paolatto, Director. ENT SimTech start-up funding was provided through the Western Innovation Fund, which is administered by WORLDiscoveries.
ENT SimTech develops simulators based on virtual-reality technologies that allow medical students and residents to practice diagnostic and surgical procedures specifically for the ear, nose and throat. The technology uses a virtual, 3-dimensional anatomical model with realistic graphics and touch feedback. Contact Jaipreet Bindra to learn more about sales and partnership opportunities.
The Venture London Business Competition fosters the entrepreneurial spirit in London. More information can be found at http://www.venturelondon.ca.
WORLDiscoveries Research Showcase stimulates partnerships, networking
February 5, 2010
Pictured left: Patrick Therrien, Business Development Manager for WORLDiscoveries, presents Jesse Zhu with a plaque representing his successful patent application at the WORLDiscoveries Research Showcase held February 5, 2010. More photos from the event are available on Flickr The Faculties of Engineering and Science and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario offered a unique opportunity for partnerships and networking between industry, community members and university researchers at the WORLDiscoveries Research Showcase Friday, February 5 at the London Convention Centre.
More than 100 displays showcasing innovative research in the areas of imaging, materials and biomaterials, software and telecommunications, and environment and energy provided a glimpse at some of the exciting research underway on campus. Top researchers and graduate students were on-hand to explain their projects.
Several leading Western researchers provided 15-minute Tech Talks outlining key areas of their research; the following sessions were recorded and are now available through YouTube:
- From Molecules to Materials: Improving Human Health by Dr. Elizabeth Gillies, Dept. of Chemistry
- Ultra-high Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging by Ravi S. Menon, Canada Research Chair in Functional and Molecular Imaging
- Brownfield Restoration: Addressing the Industrial Pollution of Urban Environments By Jason Gerhard, Canada Research Chair in Geoenvironmental Restoration Engineering. Dr. Gerhard's research was also featured in the London Free Press.
WORLDiscoveries secures $1M Agri-THERM sale
October 16, 2009
At the official opening of the Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), WORLDiscoveries Executive Director Paul Paolatto announced the sale of the first Agri-therm mobile pyrolysis unit to the government of Mexico, though the University of Vera Cruz, for $1 million.
Paolatto says more deals may be in the pipeline.
"We have more than 250 qualified leads around the world," says Paolatto, adding "there is nothing more important to the team at Agri-therm than to add a decal that says 'Made in London, ON.'"
The portable unit can be hauled from one farm field to the next to process waste such as corn husks into a solid bio-char and bio-oil. This material then becomes an eco-friendly ingredient in fertilizers, fuels and chemicals, including environmentally friendly insecticides and pesticides.
The patented, mobile pyrolysis unit has been undergoing testing and revisions for the past several years. Pyrolysis uses heat to break down complex chemical substances into simpler substances.
About Agri-THERM, Inc.
Agri-Therm Inc. is a new WORLDiscoveries spin-off company set to transform the agricultural industry with a mobile pyrolysis platform. The platform, which was developed under the leadership of Franco Berruti and Cedric Briens, converts low-value agricultural residue (e.g. corn stalks, trees, manure, etc.) into higher-value, bio-based oil for use as a food additive, fertilizer or fossil fuel substitute in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner.
Dr. Kang partners with Sumagen on HIV/AIDS vaccine development
The following is excerpted from the November 18, 2009 Alumni Western article "Inching closer to a cure for AIDS" by Paul Mayne
After more than 20 years of labouring on an HIV /AIDS vaccine, The University of Western Ontario’s Yong Kang continues to inch closer to what would be an historic moment for mankind – a vaccine to prevent the disease that has taken 25 million lives and sees another 35 million infected worldwide.
Developed by Kang and his team at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and licensed to Sumagen Canada Inc., the vaccine completed animal toxicology trials in April and following United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval (pending), will begin Phase 1 human trials for its SAV001 AIDS vaccine.
About Sumagen Canada Inc.
Sumagen Canada Inc. is a solely owned subsidiary of Curocom Korea. The company is fully funding Dr. Kang's continuing work on the HIV/AIDS vaccine development.
Dr. Jenkyns helps Canadian Olympic Curlers
Video from lfpress.com January 21, 2010
The following is excerpted from the January 21, 2010 Western News article "Secret curling broom research Olympics-bound" by Paul Mayne
'Sweeep!' This simple word echoes across curling rinks nation-wide.
And University of Western Ontario professor Tom Jenkyn has discovered there’s a lot more to the perfect sweep than anyone had imagined.
For the past two years, Jenkyn has played a part in the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Own The Podium Top Secret Fund - a five-year, $8-million sports arms race, so to speak, designed to provide Canadian athletes with an edge in equipment and technique in a variety of sports.
If the curling team makes the podium next month, his work will have played a part in that success...
This curling query also spawned a connected research project for Jenkyn, who recently received $18,640 from the Western Innovation Fund to examine a novel re-design of the curling broom to significantly improve effectiveness.
In collaboration with Mechanical and Materials Engineering professor Jeff Wood, they have optimized the new design for mass production and will bring this product to the Canadian marketplace for the next curling season.
"It’s the kind of broom for the Joe Schmoes in the recreation leagues to help improve their performance," he says.
