Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy Fellows
2010-2011
Minou Bina, Chemistry
Over ten years ago, Dr. Bina and a colleague developed an inexpensive,
miniaturized, rapid DNA sequencing system. She is interested in: (1) identifying
strategies to use a miniaturized DNA sequencing system to expand undergraduate
science education in the area of biotechnology; and (2) developing the system further
for commercialization.
Thomas H. Brush, Krannert School of Management
Interests for Project: I would like to know more about how established and startup CRO’s (Contract Research Organizations) develop over time as they improve
contracting with partners and intend to carry this learning to contracting with other
partners. I would like to interview managers in CRO firms involved in the Purdue
Research Park who interface with pharmaceutical firms to design contracts and
examine the record of past contracts at these firms to determine what they can do
differently to benefit from designing better contracts.
Barrett Caldwell, Industrial Engineering
Barrett is exploring how to improve the opportunities for engaging innovation
between companies with identified problems and undergraduates in non-research
contexts. Beyond undergraduate research project coordination with specific faculty
research grants, there are multiple opportunities for students to participate in emergent
real-world projects for class projects, extracurricular activities, and campus outreach.
These relationships represent distinct challenges for balancing university IP concerns,
the academic mission to educate students in cutting edge areas, and the engagement
mission to demonstrate involvement with the economic and social needs of the State.
The focus of this project is to create a supportive and dynamic partnership for student
"intrapreneurship," or providing innovative solutions to identified needs within existing
companies.
Daniel DeLaurentis, Aeronautics and Astronautics
System of systems can be considered both a way of thinking and a
computational modeling approach to answer questions that are asked at the top of the
pyramid of aggregation: How to solve a problem or meet a generational challenge that
requires many systems, some yet to be designed, and most under control of different
owners/operators. SoS is motivated by the recent leaps in the ability for information
exchange between systems in aerospace and defense, but also with implications in
healthcare, transportation, etc. Purdue researchers have completed considerable
research on systems-of-systems and the recently completed College of Engineering
Strategic Plan has called for the creation of a System-of-Systems Institute. Dr.
DeLaurentis would like to uncover the recent and not-so-recent history of large scale
systems research at Purdue and look outside campus to find models for best structure
and behavioral features for such an institute and strategies to actualize it.
Jennifer Dennis, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Agricultural Economics
Dr. Dennis would like to obtain the skills to lead a Specialty Crop project
center/interdisciplinary team and is also interested in the skills necessary for
administrative leadership positions.
Jessica Huber, Speech Hearing and Language Sciences
Dr. Huber has been developing a wearable device aimed at improving
communication in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. She would like assistance with
the commercialization of this technology. She is interested in developing more
technologies to behaviorally treat common PD related symptoms, in particular speech,
balance, and cognitive issues. She is also interested in how to develop and manage
large scale interdisciplinary studies.
Chang Kim, Comparative Pathobiology
Dr. Kim is interested in establishing a new superresolution-multiphoton imaging
facility to enhance the research environment at Purdue university. The activities involve
selection of a right instrument, preparation of the space, installation, management
planning, and advertisement. Dr. Kim is interested also in enhancing his capabilities to
lead interdisciplinary research programs and to increase technology commercialization
of products deriving in his lab.
Steven Landry, Industrial Engineering
Dr. Landry is interested in organizing a "Rapid Deployment Task Force" that
would focus on developing lab-to-field military applications based on the most up-todate technology and science within 6-18 months, and that would be tightly integrated
with the various branches of the military. For example, he has a concept for a 3D
controller that is flight-certifiable and could be used to control UAVs in the field by
dismounted soldiers. Such a device, with the proper support and interest, could be
fielded in a few months.
Sophie Lelièvre, Basic Medical Sciences
Dr. Lelièvre is interested in developing an international project on breast cancer
prevention research with a global effort to identify the link between diet, the epigenome
and breast cancer types and establish a research network across continents. The
project was initiated last year when Dr. Lelièvre was an ELA fellow with the task of
organizing a first international breast cancer prevention symposium. This symposium
took place at Purdue University in October 2011 and brought together potential scientist
and public health expert partners from different continents to discuss the organization of
the project. The project subsequently received funding from the Global Policy Research
Institute at Purdue to develop a framework based on cultural and public policy analyses
of countries from different regions of the world. As an ELA scholar, Dr Lelièvre’s goal is
to develop the infrastructure and funding plan for the project, possibly as a Center or a
part of a Center. Currently the project is under the Oncological Sciences, the Discovery
Park arm of the Purdue Center for Cancer Research
Omid Nohadani, Industrial Engineering
Dr. Nohadani is developing a multi-institutional research group to study cancer
radiation therapy at the systems level. Conventional therapy is divided into three
independent stages of imaging, planning, and delivery. Dr. Nohadani intends to
optimize this process as a whole by connects the stages directly with each other and
engineering an adaptive and individualized treatment flow that can benefit the patient
care. He is building a team of experts in all three areas.
Michael S. Nolan, Aviation Technology
Interests for Project: The Aviation Technology department has completed the
process of an aircraft fleet replacement program. As part of this project, the department
will operate these aircraft using economic models and operations similar to those used
by the airlines. Prof. Nolan plans to use this new equipment and direction in a way that
encourages and develops entrepreneurial activity in the students enrolled in the
undergraduate degree within the department. Prof. Nolan will develop a corporate
structure within the department that will enable students to develop their organizational,
management and entrepreneurial talents through the operation of a student/faculty
operated, corporately structured entity. This entity will focus directly on products and IP
that can be used by the industry to enhance both efficiency and safety in the aviation
industry while also providing a learning environment for the students enrolled in the
program.
Suranjan Panigrahi, Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
Dr. Panigrahi’s project is entitled “Linking Invention to Innovation through
Entrepreneurship: A Strategic Model for Enhancing Economical Impact of a Research
University”. This study will adopt a system-based strategic approach to analyze the
current practices among different selected research universities with respect to
innovation and commercialization. This study postulates that invention and innovation
are different and can be linked via entrepreneurship. Based on literature search and
interview of different stakeholders, analysis will be conducted on how to incorporate
innovation-based approaches for solving societal problems in a University setting.
Focus will be provided on how to train undergraduate and graduate students to be
engaged in innovative framework of thinking. A new web-based interactive platform
“PIL: Purdue Innovation Link” will be created as one of the platforms for enhancing
innovation among students and faculty. This study will help us know more about
methods and process of incorporating innovation and creativity in a University setting.
PREPP Fellows
Hamsa Jaganathan
Goal of project: The goal of the PREPP project is to license out the DNA-templated
nanoparticle chain technology to interested MRI agent companies. DNA-templated
nanoparticle chains serve as an agent to aid in visualizing clearer MRI images. The
linear arrangement of magnetic and gold nanoparticles on DNA has exhibited enhanced
magnetic relaxation properties that would potentially improve magnetic resonance
imaging, and thereby, improve in disease detection.
Current focus of work: My current focus of work is to examine the utility of the DNAtemplated nanoparticle chains under tissue environments in MRI. In addition, we are
focusing on planning out in vivo experiments in collaboration with IUPUI.
Jianming Li:
Project description: My work focuses on the development of novel treatments for acute
and chronic wounds. Our platform technology uses a patent- pending mechanism for
killing bacteria. My goal is to test in vitro properties as well as profile the safety and
efficacy of these wound dressings in live animals. Ultimately, my mission is to
incorporate this technology into products that are applicable to the clinic. We have
formed a startup company and are negotiating with Purdue for a potential licensing
agreement.
Current focus: Basic research regarding the bactericidal activity and in vivo work with
animal models. I’m also performing market research, applying for continued funding and
compiling a business plan. Our team (another Ph.D and MBA
student) recently competed in the Idea to Product Global competition and received 3rd
place. We will be entering in other business plan competitions in the near future.
Shaili Sharma:
Goal of project: The goal of the research project is to develop a unique fabrication
technology that has the ability to align collagen fibers in specific directions. The
technology utilizes magnetic fields to engineer scaffolds that can be used for
regeneration of tissues that have very precise architecture and spatial arrangements. As
a PREPP project the technology is directed to reengineer the stratified architecture seen
in articular cartilage in an effort to treat tissue damage seen during osteoarthritis.
Current focus of work: In vitro mechanical testing of the three dimensional scaffold to
determine mechanical capabilities and compare with scaffolds prepared without aligned
collagen fibers. On successful completion of these tests, the scaffold will be used in a
pilot animal study. Also, involved in writing a business plan for the Burton Morgan
Competition, spelling out the commercialization opportunities for this technology.