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MIPS 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMOR ATIVE COLLECTION

MIPS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
CO M M E M O R AT I V E CO LLE C T I O N

C R E ATI N G PAR TN E R S I N I N N OVATI O N

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MIPS 30th Anniversary Commemorative Collection
Creating Partners in Innovation

Copyright 2017 Maryland Technology Enterprise Insitute (Mtech)

A. James Clark School of Engineering

University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
mtech.umd.edu

MIPS Disclaimer of Endorsement

Any mention of a specific product, process, or service in this book does not constitute
or imply an endorsement by MIPS, Mtech or the University of Maryland of the
product, process, or service, or its producer or provider. The views and opinions
expressed in the document do not necessarily state or reflect those of MIPS, Mtech
or the University of Maryland. The University of Maryland does not endorse or
recommend any commercial products, processes, or services.
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 Table of Contents

COMPANY PROFILE PAGE COMPANY PROFILE PAGE

Foreword, Chancellor Robert L. Caret 1 Firefox Pharmaceuticals, LLC 61
Message from the Director 3 Fleetpro, Inc. 63
20/20 GeneSystems 5 Fuzbien Technology Institute, Inc. 65
38 North, LLC 7 Fyodor BioTechnologies 67
3i Diagnostics, Inc. 9 gel-e, Inc. 69
A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc. 11 Genovation Cars 71
Abilis Life Sciences, Inc. 13 Gliknik, Inc. 73
AHPharma, Inc. 15 Global Resource Recyclers, Inc. 75
Airgility, Inc. 17 Green Eyes, LLC 77
AnthroTronix, Inc. 19 High Impact Environmental, Inc. 79
Artgen, Inc. 21 Hughes Network Systems 81
ATP-MD, LLC 23 HY-TEK Bio, LLC 83
Automated Precision, Inc. 25 iBiquity Digital Corporation 85
Bahari Energy, LLC 27 ICmed, LLC 87
Belloso Motor Company 29 InstantLabs Medical Diagnostics Corporation 89
Berkeley Springs Instruments, LLC 31 IT Curves 91
Black & Decker 33 Itutela, LLC 93
Blue Wave Semiconductors 35 Johnny Oysterseed, LLC 95
BondTrue, LLC 37 Juxtopia, Inc. 97
CARE-2, LLC 39 K&L Microwave 99
Cellex 41 Lockheed Martin 101
Cellphire 43 Mack Trucks 103
CoapTech, LLC 45 Manta Biofuel 105
CoolTech, LLC 47 Maritime Applied Physics Corporation 107
Crab Machinery, LLC 49 Martek Biosciences 109
DataStream Content Solutions 51 Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, Inc. 111
Diagnostic anSERS, Inc. 53 MastiX, LLC 113
Dipole Materials, Inc. 55 Matrics Technology Systems 115
dlhBowles 57 MedImmune 1 117
FiberCell Systems 59 MedImmune 2 119

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COMPANY PROFILE PAGE COMPANY PROFILE PAGE
MedImmune 3 121 Tarsier Optics, Inc. 183
MeTompkin Seafood, Inc. 123 The Low Impact Development Design Group, Inc. 185
Microsphere Material Solutions, LLC 125 TheraCord, LLC 187
Milestone Sports, Ltd. 127 TRX Systems 189
Millennium Engineering and Integration Company 129 Under Armour 191
Mimetas UA 131 Universal Security Instruments 193
N5 Sensors, Inc. 133 Vasoptic Medical, Inc. 195
Northrop Grumman Corporation 135 Vheda Health 197
Nutramax Laboratories 137 vCalc, LLC 199
OmniSpeech, LLC 139 VLP Therapeutics 201
Optimal Solutions Group, LLC 141 VoiceVibes, Inc. 203
Otomagnetics, LLC 143 WellDoc, Inc. 205
PaverGuide, Inc. 145 Werbie, LLC 207
PharmAthene 147 Whisker Labs 209
Pixelligent Technologies 149 XChanger Companies, Inc. 211
Plant Sensory Systems, LLC 151 Xcision Medical Systems, LLC 213
Potomac Photonics 153 xMD Diagnostics, LLC 215
Profectus BioSciences 155
Quantum Sail Design Group 157
RedShred, LLC 159
Resensys, LLC 161
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals 163
RioRey, Inc. 165
Shore Thing Shellfish, LLC 167
SilcsBio, LLC 169
Smart Slope, LLC 171
Solar Tech, Inc. 173
Sonavex, Inc. 175
Sterilex Corporation 177
Stress Indicators, Inc. 179
Syntonics, LLC 181

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 Foreword
Robert L. Caret, Chancellor, University System of Maryland

The Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) was launched in 1987 with a new
approach that would leverage the resources of Marylands public universities to
bolster the states economy by bringing faculty and students into collaboration with
Maryland companies to develop new products and processes. In the thirty years
since, the entire University System of Maryland (USM) and the state of Maryland have
benefitted tremendously from the impact of MIPS.
From the beginning, the mission of MIPS was both simple and powerful: To help
Maryland companies develop new and improved technology products through
the joint funding of selected projects conducted on USM campuses by USM faculty
and graduate students. In pursuing this mission, MIPS has had the dual effect of
both expanding the horizons of technology and growing Marylands economy by
generating new technology-based jobs.
Over the decades, MIPS has proven itself to be a rare example of a win-win-win
proposition. Marylands technology companies benefit from (relatively modest)
government financial support for commercially applicable research, access to world-
class faculty and student expertise, and access to university-based research facilities.
Faculty and students benefit from financial support for commercially applicable
research, the opportunity to solve real world-problems in an entrepreneurial
environment, and expanded relationships with technology companies with the
possibility of future sponsored research. The State benefits from increased economic
activity, enhanced innovation, and new jobs.
county tax revenues of $125 million. The bottom line is that the annual return to the
state on MIPSwith a total annual cost of about $2 millionis about 80 to 1. This is a
remarkable return on investment for the people of Maryland.
The impact of MIPSof collaborative academic-industrial partnershipsspeaks for
itself: over 570 Maryland companies have participated; 87 percent of MIPS-funded
startup companies are still in business 5 years later; and 63 percent of all startups
funded by MIPS since the inception of the program in 1987 are still in business today.
As Chancellor, I have placed a premium on expanding partnerships between and
among the USM and the business community. The payoff from MIPSwell-
paying jobs that support a high quality of life, stronger communities, and innovative
products that make our state healthier and more productive (as the pages of this
book demonstrate)underscore the tremendous potential that we can tap by
uniting the innovative spirit of Maryland companies with the expertise of the faculty,
students, and research capabilities of Marylands public universities.
I congratulate the MIPS team on your thirty years of success and I have no doubt
that the MIPS approach of innovating our way forward will see continued success in
the future, providing even more growth and prosperity for Maryland.

The MIPS program has a long and highly successful track record of creating jobs in
ROBERT L. CARET
Maryland through leveraging the resources of the USM to help Maryland companies
CHANCELLOR
innovate. More than 7,100 direct, current jobs in Maryland and a cumulative
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND
$34.9 billion in product sales are attributable to companies whose early product
development was supported by MIPS. When the job multiplier effects are taken
into account, total jobs created through MIPS exceed 22,000. The economic effects
of those jobs generate state tax revenues of an estimated $166 million per year and

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 Message from the Director
Joseph Naft, Director, Maryland Industrial Partnerships

November 7, 2017 successes highlighted in this book. As you read these stories, I hope youll be as excited as
we are about our bright and innovative future!
Today we celebrate the first 30 years of the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS)
program and its remarkable track record of success in building the Maryland economy. MIPS has many partners in its efforts. We thank our faculty, companies, and students. We
We look forward to continuing to support our states entrepreneurs in partnership with thank our proposal reviewers and board members, who so generously donate their time
Marylands public universities. and expertise. We thank Eric Schurr, along with Elena Sten and Jim Kopanko, for crafting
our communications and creating this magnificent book. We thank Shola Lawal, Roland
Market-driven technology innovation leads to new products and new jobs. Creating jobs deDios, and Joe Belew for the software and systems that make this all work. We thank our
in innovative Maryland companies is what MIPS has been doing for 30 years: bringing the partners at TEDCO: John Wasilisin, Neil Davis, and Dan Gincel. We thank our partner at
inventive minds and extensive laboratory resources of the University System of Maryland Maryland DNR: Sarah Lane. Last but not least, I especially thank our dedicated MIPS staff,
to bear on creating the new products that feed the growth of Maryland businesses. Ronnie Gist, Onur Unal, Ashley Chapman, and Jeanne Pekny, for making the program so
effective.
Also today, we are releasing an independent economic impact study by the Jacob France
Institute of the University of Baltimore showing the impact of MIPS on the Maryland And thank you for sharing our vision for a better Maryland and a better world!
economy. Perhaps the single most impressive fact is that MIPS-developed products
have generated $34.9 B in cumulative sales for participating Maryland companies over
the past 30 years. In addition, this year alone, the economic impact of MIPS will result
in an estimated $166 M in state tax revenues, nearly three times the lifetime cost of the
program. Further, 7,150 Maryland jobs that exist today in MIPS-partner companies can be
attributed to the MIPS program.
JOSEPH NAFT
Please enjoy reading this MIPS 30th Anniversary Commemorative Collection: DIRECTOR
MARYLAND INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIPS
Creating Partners in Innovation. In these pages, you will find a selection of the
800 projects that MIPS and our 600 participating companies have co-sponsored.
The wide breadth of products developed MIPS projects have enhanced our health,
communications, transportation, and environment. The geographic reach of MIPS
allows any company in our state to access the world-class faculty, students, and facilities
of Marylands public universities. We are very proud of those who contributed to the

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 20/20 GeneSystems
Powder Screening Test Kit for First Responders

Company Description Results

20/20 GeneSystems was founded to develop and promote an innovative proteomics BioCheck generates revenues of about $500,000 per year with gross profit margins
product line that provides drug companies, biodefense specialists and life scientists of about 80 percent. 20/20 has raised more than $15 million in total equity and grant
with new tools for protein analysis. The companys first product, and the focus of the funding and has launched two successful products, BioCheck and a blood test for
companys work through MIPS, called BioCheck, is the gold standard test for the the early detection of lung cancer.
screening of unknown suspicious powders by emergency personnel and first responders.
Since developing BioCheck, the company has expanded its scope to developing and
commercializing innovative, proprietary diagnostic tests that aid in the fight against
cancer. These tests generally fall into three categories: personalized medicine, early
detection of lung cancer, and biological detection.

MIPS Project Challenge

20/20 was developing its BioCheck Suspicious Powder Screening Kit, which provides
a cost-effective, reliable screening tool to quickly and easily determine whether a
powder contains biological material and rule out many of the substances that cause
powder incidents (e.g. talcum powder, dry wall dust, powdered sugar, etc.). The
company needed researchers to improve, optimize and test the effectiveness of the
product.

Project Scope
Hansen had a deep background in relevant biochemistry and had previously
invented chemical agents to kill anthrax spores, so he was familiar with
the environment where the test kits would be employed. He made specific
recommendations on improvements to (and the optimization of) BioCheck, and ran
many tests demonstrating its efficacy compared to generic protein tests.

Project Start Date: 2004 (four total MIPS projects); Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2000
Website: 2020gene.com; Project Manager: Liz Marcus, Director of Marketing and Product Commercialization
Principal Investigator: Norman Hansen, Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland

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Dr. Hansen and MIPS were essential to the
success of this product, which has become
an international gold standard for suspicious
powder screening. Over the past seven years,
thousands of government and commercial
places of business have been able to safely
and promptly resume operations following
suspicious powder incidents through the use
of this product by first responders. BioCheck
has likely saved hundreds of millions of
dollars in economic waste while creating
many new jobs in Maryland.
JONATHAN COHEN, PRESIDENT AND CEO, 20/20 BIORESPONSE

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 38 North, LLC Funded by:

Advancing Oyster Settlement for Aquaculture

Company Description
38 North LLC is a fully integrated oyster grow-out company, with activities spanning
nursery operations, grow-out, packaging, marketing and the shipping of oysters
throughout the United States. While modest in size, 38 North is currently one of the
largest producers of aquaculture oysters in Maryland.

Challenge MIPS helped my company

The goal of this MIPS project is to optimize techniques for setting larval oysters to
produce seed for oyster grow out. UMCES researchers are slated to quantify the
understand the factors involved
effects of water temperature, filtration, inducers, and the source/strain of the larvae in setting larvae so we have a
on setting efficiency.
more efficient and voluminous
Project Scope oyster seed production system,
Through this MIPS project, researchers plan to investigate the setting effectiveness of
larvae from up to six different commercial and research hatcheries: two in Maryland, which in turn will allow for more
two in Virginia, and one each in New Jersey and Maine. These hatcheries produce
larvae of different strains and different genotype numbers (i.e., ploidy). Researchers
market-sized oysters produced
will then set larvae under two alternative conditions (ambient temperature vs. at lower costs.
optimum constant temperature) in a laboratory setting using standard commercial
- JD BLACKWELL, CHIEF OYSTER OFFICER,
setting protocols. They will then follow the larvae that successfully transition to
juvenile seed oyster to monitor performance. Conducting these experiments in 38 NORTH
a research environment permits researchers to carefully quantify the number of
larvae introduced and the number of larvae that set. In addition, by following these
successful larvae through to the seed phase (1-2 mm shell length), researchers can
quantify size at age, early growth dynamics and numbers at age.

Results
This MIPS project is currently in progress.

Project Start Date: 2/1/17; Location: Scotland, St. Marys County; Founded: 2012
Website: 38northoysters.com; Project Manager: JD Blackwell, Chief Oyster Officer; Principal Investigator: Thomas Miller, Professor
and Director, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
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 3i Diagnostics, Inc.
Isolation of Intact Bacteria from Blood for an RDT

Company Description
3i Diagnostics provides technology that enables physicians to identify infectious Every hour, 50 people around the
microbes within an hour, while leaving them intact for further testing. Physicians can then world die of sepsis. This medical
prescribe the right life-saving medications quickly, which reduces the cost of care and emergency, driven by blood
prevents the overprescribing that hastens the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. infection, attacks 30 million people
each yearand can kill within 24
MIPS Project Challenge hours.
The goal of this MIPS project is to develop a device that would permit the near-real
time detection and identification of bacteria from a wide variety of sample matrices If physicians administer the right
(e.g., whole blood). targeted antimicrobial drug to the
patient within the first hour of sepsis
Physicians have told us that they are completely blind for at least 48 hours when onset, the survival rate is 80 percent.
trying to treat patients showing signs of an infection, said Jim Janicki, President After ten hours, the survival rate
& CEO of 3i Diagnostics. We realized that what we needed was an easy and plummets to about 30 percenteven
inexpensive test that reports the specifics of an infection in less than an hour from in advanced healthcare systems. The
the moment a sample is taken, so doctors can immediately prescribe the best proliferation of antimicrobial resistant
treatment and take measures to keep antibiotic resistant infections from spreading. strains is why the correct, targeted antimicrobial must be chosen from the start.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers seek to develop and optimize stage one of the
microfluidic chip used to identify bacteria. The ability to selectively lyse non-bacterial
cells has been demonstrated by researchers in the Maryland MEMS and Microfluidics
Laboratory (MML). MML researchers plan to advance the development of this stage
for commercialization by identifying the factors influencing selective lysis and
building an optimized prototype.
Results
This MIPS project is currently in progress.
3i Diagnostics ultimate goal is to provide physicians and clinical researchers with
detailed information on all strains of microbes found in human blood, sputum, and
other bodily fluids. Physicians can then rapidly prescribe the right medications.
Research conducted at the University of Maryland provided the means to fabricate
microfluidic elements that aid in isolating intact bacteria directly from blood.
This project advances the results from this study by optimizing the operating and
fabrication conditions of this component to aid in commercializing the diagnostic.

Project Start Date: 2/1/2017; Location: Germantown, Montgomery County; Founded: 2013; Website: www.3idx.com; Project Manager: Rajesh Krishnamurthy,
9 Chief Technology Officer; Principal Investigator: Don DeVoe, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland
Dr. DeVoe and MIPS are driving our technology to new levels by helping
to create a solution that is faster, more affordable and scalable.
JIM JANICKI, PRESIDENT & CEO OF 3i DIAGNOSTICS

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 A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Cancer Theranostic Biomarker

Company and Product Description
A&G is focused on the identification of biomarkers
involved in the development of cancer cells and using
such biomarkers as targets, developing theranostic
(diagnostic and therapeutic combination) products
useful in the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of
cancer. The company is comprised of two divisions,
an R&D division focused on theranostic products, and
the Precision Antibody division, recognized worldwide
as a provider of high-quality, customized antibodies
to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as
federal laboratories.
A&G has grown from an incubator company with four
employees to a 12,000 sq.-ft. facility with 30 employees,
of whom >50 percent are Maryland graduates. A&Gs
financing is a mix of equity funding and profits from
Precision Antibody. Non-dilutive funding has been
obtained from NIH and Avon Foundation grants. The
MIPS funding of studies at the University of Maryland
have been important in the companys goal of
developing diagnostic kits for its theranostic portfolio.
A&Gs lead products in development, based on a unique
biomarker called GP88 (progranulin), target both lung
and breast cancer, as well as several other cancers. GP88,
a glycoprotein, is produced and required by cancer
cells for growth, proliferation and survival. In clinical
studies, GP88 was detected in >80 percent of breast
cancer tumors. High levels of GP88 in such tumors are
statistically associated with a five-fold increase in the
risk of recurrence, compared with patients with low or
no GP88 detected in tumors. GP88 blood levels have
been shown to be statistically elevated in breast cancer
patients with progressive disease, compared with
healthy individuals. Concurrent with the development of
GP88 diagnostic kits for detecting GP88 in tumor tissue
and blood, A&G is pursuing the development of an
associated anti-GP88 monoclonal antibody therapeutic.
In pre-clinical xenograft models, the antibody was
demonstrated to inhibit tumor growth and promote
tumor regression. Toxicology and safety studies
demonstrated anti-GP88 is safe and showed no toxicities
in either acute or repeat dose studies. Thanks to an SBIR/
NCI grant ($2 million), this therapeutic will enter Phase 1
clinical trials in 2018. The two diagnostic products will be
used in this study to identify patients for treatment with
the anti-GP88 and subsequently for monitoring patients
during and post-treatment.
MIPS Project Challenge
Of ~210,000 U.S. patients annually diagnosed with breast
cancer, 80 percent are estrogen receptor positive (ER+)
and 25 percent Her-2 overexpressing with available
targeted therapies. Tamoxifen and Herceptin, two
successful therapies, block targets expressed by cancer
cells that can be measured by laboratory tests to
identify subsets of eligible patients. These drugs, with
companion diagnostic markers, have had a dramatic
impact on the survival of BC patients and heightened
demands for similar combinations. Not since these
two therapies were FDA-approved in 1977 and 1997,
respectively, has any other ground-breaking drug with
a companion diagnostic product been approved. In
spite of these successes, ~40,000 breast cancer patients
die annually, partly due to the fact that the cancer cells
become resistant to these therapies. A&Gs focus has
been on discovering and developing a theranostic target
that has both diagnostic and therapeutic applications
in drug-resistant breast cancer. Ginette Serrero, A&Gs
CEO, identified GP88 as being actively involved in
the development and proliferation of cancer and has
developed a product pipeline that will stratify, treat and
monitor patients with elevated GP88. The challenge is
to develop and implement a diagnostic and therapeutic
product combination that will identify, treat and monitor
such patients with the realistic goal of improving overall
survival.
Project Scope
With the collaboration of Tkaczuk, through the
University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart
Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC),
A&G performed a clinical study with newly diagnosed
breast cancer patients with all stages of the disease.
Objectives of the study were to determine if serum GP88
could be used to identify more aggressive subtypes

Project Start Date: 2010 (2 GP88-related MIPS projects); Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 2000; Websites: agpharma.com,
precisionantibody.com; Project Manager: Ginette Serrero, Co-Founder and CEO
11 Principal Investigator: Katherine Tkaczuk, Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
 A&G CEO Ginette Serrero is a former UMB
professor who left her academic position to
start A&G. Serrero remains actively involved
with UMB and is an adjunct professor at the
School of Pharmacy and a member of the
Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center.

of breast cancer by measuring GP88 serum and tissue
levels at the time of diagnosis, and ascertain whether
or not GP88 serum levels could be used to follow the
response to anticancer therapy and time to progression
of the disease for stage-4 patients undergoing standard
anticancer therapies. GP88 assays were conducted at
A&G using its proprietary test kits.
Results
Correlations of GP88 serum levels with clinical
parameters such as stage, therapy response and survival,
established the clinical utility of the GP88 tissue and
serum assay to identify more aggressive behavior of
disease in breast cancer patients. In A&Gs published
work, the company demonstrated that such patients
have elevated levels of GP88 when compared to healthy
individuals and breast cancer patients with disease that
was responding to therapy. Subsequently, A&G has
identified a GP88 level in blood that is able to stratify
patients on therapy that have improved prognosis over
those with a higher risk of a poor outcome. This initial
MIPS work is now being further evaluated as part of an
NCI/ SBIR grant.
In 2010, A&G received a $1.2 million Phase II Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from
the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the GP88
program. This work focused on the development of a
neutralizing therapeutic antibody against GP88. A&G
received two further grants. The first, in 2014, was for
$1.4 million to manufacture and study the safety of the
anti-GP88 in pre-clinical studies. Following the success
of this 2014 grant, A&G will receive a $2 million to move I can see the benefits
its therapeutic antibody into a first in human Phase I
clinical trial.
and the strengths
A&G has sought to license its technology outside
of having Maryland
of the field of cancer and in 2012, the Mayo Clinic companies working with
acquired a license to use reagents for the measurement
of progranulin in blood. This agreement enabled University of Maryland
the Mayo Clinic to develop a commercial blood test
to predict progranulin mutation status in patients faculty. The MIPS
program was very useful
suspected of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
MIPS Helped My Company
The MIPS mechanism has been invaluable to A&G in
and powerful in getting
that it assisted in the clinical development of the GP88
diagnostic products that will be part of the Phase I
GP88 to the next level.
Clinical Trial starting in 2018. The diagnostic tests make GINETTE SERRERO, CO-FOUNDER
the difference in meeting the FDAs desire for patient
AND CEO, A&G PHARMACEUTICAL
identification and monitoring for biomarker-related
drug development and approval.
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 Abilis Life Sciences, Inc.
Bladder Cancer Diagnostic Signature Validation

Company Description
Abilis LS is developing a non-invasive, accurate, sensitive and specific diagnostic
staging test for bladder cancer. The companys bladder cancer test has the potential
to be quickly incorporated into the routine urinalysis of all adult male and female
patients with hematuria, as well as for the surveillance of recurrence and progression
in patients with a history of non-muscle, invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

MIPS Project Challenge

The purpose of this MIPS project is to validate the Abilis bladder cancer test to
determine its predictive value for both the detection of bladder cancer and risk-
stratification of high versus low-grade disease.

Project Scope
This MIPS project involves a preclinical study in a validation cohort of 200 patients
with microscopic or gross hematuria. The validation cohort will be designed with a
1:1 ratio of bladder cancer patients and hematuria due to benign causes (infection,
nephrolithiasis, BPH, etc). Sensitivity and specificity outcomes will be generated, as
well as sub-analysis on the test to detect all urothelial carcinoma(UC), low-grade
UC, high-grade UC, and the ability of the test to differentiate
these diseases.

Project Start Date: 8/1/2017; Location: Potomac, Montgomery County; Founded: 2017; Project Manager: Nikola Kaludov, CSO
13 Principal Investigator: Mohummad Minhaj Siddiqui, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Urology, University of Maryland Medical Center
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the ninth most common in women.
Each year, more than one million people are found with symptoms associated with bladder cancer
and almost 80,000 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed. The cost associated with the
diagnosis and care of bladder cancer exceeds $5 billion per year in the United States. No single test
is currently recommended for accurately ruling in/ruling out bladder cancer. (Source: Abilis)

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 AHPharma, Inc. Funded by:

Solar LED Lighting Systems for Poultry Houses;

Radiant Floor Heat Technology in Poultry Houses
Company Description
The mission of AHPharma is to conduct private research for the agriculture industry and
reinvest in the core business of the design, development, and commercialization of new
technologies for improving animal agriculture production, nutrition, health, energy
savings and housing techniques.
AHPharmas radiant floors are designed to provide heat closer to bird activity via hot-
water piping. By only emitting heat where it is needed, growers can reduce propane
usage by up to 75 percent.
The companys LED lighting system for poultry houses, called AviLighting, reduces
energy cost for growers by up to 94 percent per year over incandescent bulbs.
bird performance (less stress, improved feed conversion, more rapid growth, etc.)
for birds grown under a combination of colored LEDs (cool white + blue) versus
incandescent or fluorescents under standard integrator production protocols;
improve energy savings with the solar-powered, DC low-voltage LED system versus
115 volt lighting systems; and conduct innovative cycling of colored light protocols
(white to blue) within the production cycle (and short 3-4 hour periods) to stimulate
meal feeding improvement.
For the radiant floor MIPS project, researchers were slated to: determine the
relationship of litter moisture and litter bacteria loads; improve the design of the
system; lower litter moisture during production; decrease the volume of litter
produced; and incorporate a geothermal system within the current system.

MIPS Project Challenge Results

AHPharma developed a low-voltage, bird-height, LED lighting system for saving
energy in poultry houses. For one of its MIPS projects, the company sought to work
with faculty to demonstrate the effectiveness of its lighting system for both energy
savings and improved bird performance.
AHPharma also created a radiant, hot-water flooring system that improves the
performance of birds, lowers emissions from the house, and minimizes the land
disposal of poultry litter by creating alternative uses of the created manure. For
another of the companys MIPS projects, it planned to demonstrate the effectiveness
of its radiant floor heating system in documented trials for improved bird
performance, energy savings, and creating litter with characteristics suitable for uses
(heating pellets, fuel, or feed supplements) that minimize land-use application.
Project Scope
For the solar-powered LED lighting system project, researchers planned to: improve
AHPharmas AviLighting LED lighting system has made an important entry into the
turkey-rearing industry. LED lights appear to save more than 75 percent over previously-
employed lighting technology, while providing a biological means of calming the
normally nervous breed of fowl, helping birds to conserve feed energy for growth
potential. This product line has resulted in over $2.5 million in sales for AHPharma.
The Radiant & Manure Burning Heat System, (funded by MIPS-DNR), provided an
efficiently engineered, cost-effective prototype that the poultry industry will be able
to employ within the normal grow-out system, without disruption to normal BMPs
(best management practices). The system is being reviewed by national environmental
agencies as a method of improving animal welfare, human-worker welfare and grower
profitability as well as reduce atmospheric ammonia releases from chicken-rearing
houses.

Project Start Date: 2008 and 2009 (two featured; four total MIPS projects and one Phase 2); Location: Hebron, Wicomico County
Founded: 2006; Website: www.ahpharma.com; Project Manager: James McNaughton, President and CEO
Principal Investigator: Jeannine Harter-Dennis, Professor, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
15
MIPS provides an avenue for the poultry industry to get on a path of
sustainable agriculture, produce energy savings that result in quick payback
and significant grower profits, provide technology needed to meet EPA
regulations to have a positive impact on Chesapeake Bay Restoration, and
provide a much-needed boost in the Maryland jobs market, not only in the
manufacturing of new technology systems, but in the marketing, installation,
and maintenance of these systems as well.

JAMES L. MCNAUGHTON, PRESIDENT AND CEO, AHPHARMA, INC.

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 Airgility, Inc.
HorseSHU Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial SystemFlight Control Development
Company Description
Airgility designs and manufactures unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
The companys mission is to develop and field the most versatile
vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms.
Airgilitys flagship product, the HorseSHU, is a breakthrough VTOL
aircraft leveraging a patent-pending lifting body with thrust
vectoring propulsion. This ground-up design, while optimizing for
conditions of vertical and forward flight regimes, offers the best
combination of payload weight, payload volume, flight endurance, speed and mission
flexibility.
MIPS Project Challenge
With the current MIPS award, researchers seek to develop a custom flight control
system for the HorseSHU UAS.
Project Scope
The objective of Phase 1 is to obtain high-quality data to characterize the
aerodynamics of the HorseSHU UAS over its wide range of configurations and
operating conditions. This aerodynamic research will be conducted in conjunction
with the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel. The data from Phase 1 will be used in Phase 2
to design and implement a custom flight controller for enhanced aerial operations via
autonomous flight.
Results
This project will start during fall 2017.
Additional Information
Airgility is a University of Maryland startup founded by Evandro Valente and Pramod
Raheja, both aerospace engineering alumni from the A. James Clark School of
Engineering. The technology innovation driving the intellectual property behind the
Project Start Date: 8/1/17; Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2017; Website: www.airgility.co
17 Project Manager: Evandro Valente, COO & Co-Founder; Principal Investigator: Jewel Barlow, Director, Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel
HorseSHU has been filed in a patent application through the UMD
Office of Technology Commercialization.
The HorseSHU program has previously been awarded funding
from TEDCO under the Maryland Innovation InitiativePhase I,
$100,000, and Phase II, $15,000, concurrently. The MII Program
supported the early stages of product development, prototype
fabrication, test and evaluation, and market development for the
HorseSHU UAS. The current MIPS project supports a higher fidelity
investigation into the aerodynamic advantages offered by this vehicle concept. Early
work behind the legacy vehicle stems from NASA Langleys V173, also known as the
Flying Pancake.
Since fixed-wing unmanned vehicles are sidelined by the FAA from airport (runway)
accessibility, VTOL concepts are often viewed as the main drivers of the UAS industry.
This results in a favorable market fit for systems able to offer the operational freedom
of vertical takeoff and landing; however, most VTOL platforms are inherently limited
by their original design premises. In the case of multi-rotor concepts, speed, flight
time, and payload volume/weight are limiting factors. Meanwhile, in the case of
helicopters, complexity, speed, and range are the primary limitations.
The HorseSHU is neither tilt-rotor nor tilt-wing; rather, it is referred to as tilt-nacelle,
which has both favorable and scalable aerodynamic and operational advantages.
Specifically, the HorseSHU elegantly blends the maneuverability, and simplicity of
the quad-copter with the vertical flight efficiency of the helicopter, and the speed,
payload capacity, and endurance of the fixed-wing aircraft into one platform.
These features enable UAS operators in the business of surveying and monitoring
agriculture, disaster areas, infrastructure (i.e. power lines, pipelines, cell towers)
to increase revenue by surveying 3-5 times the property per hour over traditional
platforms.
The MIPS grant is allowing us to work with the best aerospace engineers at the University of
Maryland and become leaders in the growing hybrid Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) segment
of unmanned aerial systems.
PRAMOD RAHEJA, CEO, AIRGILITY, INC.

18
 AnthroTronix, Inc.
Robot Toolkit for Rehabilitation

Company Description
AnthroTronix is a research and development (R&D) firm specializing in the development
of advanced interface technology,product development for wearable computing and
robotic control systems, and the design, development, and testing of simulation tools
for training applications. The company supplies its R&D services and advanced product
development to commercial and government customers. AnthroTronix was founded
by Corinna Lathan and Jack Maxwell Vice and distributes products emerging from the
companys R&D projects.
Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and U.S. Department of
Education.
CosmoBot was most recently redesigned in 2013 to include additional degrees of
motion in the arms and an improved control system. The CosmoBot character is
also part of Cosmos Learning Systems, an assistive technology product developed
by AnthroTronix, which includes the companys Mission Control input device and
accompanying educational software.

MIPS Project Challenge
AnthroTronix wanted to integrate its expertise in gestural interfaces, which the
company had been developing for video games, with the UMD Human Computer
Interaction Laboratorys storytelling robot, to create a new robot for pediatric
rehabilitation.
AnthroTronix employs 17 people and has generated over $24 million in revenues
through research awards and contracts, from funders such as Lockheed Martin, the
National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Department of Education,
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and NASA, among
others.

Project Scope
AnthroTronix and HCIL staff jointly developed JesterBot, a therapeutic tool for
children with speech, learning, or physical disabilities. The product worked by
placing wireless sensors on a childs body, after which JesterBot would mimic a childs
movements. The idea was to make physical therapy fun.
Results
The MIPS research resulted in a patent, which AnthroTronix licensed from the
University of Maryland. Subsequently, the next generation of JesterBot became
CosmoBot, a robot that interacts with children, both with and without disabilities, to
promote educational and therapeutic activities. The current version, CosmoBot V3,
was tested in a research study at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and was used
in physical therapy with children with disabilities through an NIH-funded project.
CosmoBot has been tested with children with a range of abilities, including autism
spectrum disorders, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental disorders,
and language developmental disorders. Funding sources have included the National
In 2014, the company received FDA clearance for its computerized, cognitive test
battery, known as DANA. Offered through a mobile medical application, DANA
provides clinicians with objective measurements of reaction time (speed and
accuracy) to aid in the assessment of an individuals medical or psychological state.
In 2015, AnthroTronix won an Edison Awards Gold Award in the Medical Testing &
Evaluation Category for DANA. AnthroTronix was awarded the Washington GovStar
Technology Trailblazer award in 2016.
The experience and expertise gained in the mHealth field while growing its business
and research capabilities in the MIPS program moved AnthroTronix into the digital
health field and set it on the path to create other innovative health technologies. One
such tool, DANA, is providing researchers, individuals, and health care providers
with a new, fast, and flexible way to track cognitive performance and help with the
screening for a variety of health issues. DANA is available on Android and iOS, has
been scientifically validated, and has been verified by test/retest capability.

Project Start Date: 2001; Location: Silver Spring, Montgomery County; Founded: 1999; Website: www.anthrotronix.com
Project Manager: Corinna Lathan, Co-Founder, CEO and Board Chair; Principal Investigators: Catherine Plaisant, Senior Research Scientist,
19 University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies; Allison Druin, Professor, College of Information Studies, University of Maryland
MIPS provided us with a great opportunity
to work with cutting-edge researchers and
was core to our ability to develop products
for kids with disabilities, as well as children
and adults in a variety of markets.
CORINNA LATHAN, BOARD CHAIR AND CEO,
ANTHROTRONIX
20
 Artgen Inc.
Novel, Targeted Imaging Applications for PAD

Company Description
Artgen Inc. develops novel, non-viral gene therapies for the treatment of vascular
diseases. The companys lead product candidate, ART-101, is a DNA plasmid designed
to be delivered directly to the site of injured tissue, with the first indication directed
for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Currently, there are no approved drugs for the
treatment of PAD, a disease that can ultimately lead to lower limb loss and functionality.
ART-101 expresses Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), one of the key regulators
of angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels). Artgens platform technology
could potentially treat additional vascular diseases.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project is to develop sensitive, quantitative and objective
clinical endpoints for the use of ART101 in clinical trials. The addition of such
objective clinical measurements, along with standard of care determinations, will
enable the company to design cost-effective and accelerated time points to measure
ART101s efficacy. Successful completion of this project will facilitate the companys
IND and subsequent regulatory approval pathway and timeline to commercialization.

Project Scope
Aim 1 of this MIPS project is to develop imaging methods to quantify perfusion and
arterial anatomy in target tissues impacted by PAD and to assess their relationship
with functional outcomes such as peak walking distance, claudication onset distance,
calf muscle strength per unit cross-sectional area, modified physical performance test
and six-minute walking distance. Aim 2 is to refine and standardize imaging measures
of arterial anatomy and perfusion to identify those most sensitive and specific to
diagnose the presence and severity of PAD.

Results
This project is currently in progress.

Project Start Date: 8/1/2017; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2015; Website: www.artgentx.com
21 Project Manager: Irena Tsyrlova, CMO; Principal Investigator: Brajesh Lal, Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects 12-15 million adults in the U.S.
Current treatments are ineffective in arresting the progression of disease,
which can ultimately lead to surgical intervention and loss of limbs.
Argens leading drug candidate holds potential for helping the body
develop new blood vessels. ART101 is a reformulated and improved
version of a drug class currently approved in Eastern Europe for the
treatment of PAD, marketed as Neovasculgen. Artgen has an exclusive
license to this compound. (Source: Artgen)
 ATP-MD, LLC
ATP-MDs CRBBP ProcessExtracting Excess Phosphorus from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Farm Soils,
While Making Bio-Products
Company Description
ATP-MD LLC is the Maryland operating affiliate of Agri-Tech Producers LLC (ATP), With the help of other UMD
a South Carolina-based, tech holding company. ATP has given ATP-MD exclusive
rights to use ATPs technologies in Maryland. ATP has a patent-pending Combined
researchers, we are now
Remediation Biomass and Bio-Product Production (CRBBP) Process, along with a planning on tweaking some
license to patented torrefaction technology developed by NC State University (NCSU).
of our bio-products, so they
ATPs CRBBP process multi-tasks bio-crops and their resulting biomass to remediate will be part of the circular
soils and waters and to then make environmentally beneficial bio-products. economy and never end up as
ATPs torrefaction process is a form of mild pyrolysis, which heats biomass (animal, waste.
plant and woody material), in the absence of oxygen, changing it into a carbon-rich,
JOSEPH JAMES, PRESIDENT, ATP-MD, LLC
energy-dense, dry and hydrophobic material that is easily ground into fine particles.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project is to determine the efficacy of ATP-MDs Combined
Remediation Biomass and Bio-Product Production (CRBBP) Process in removing
excess phosphorus from Chesapeake Bay watershed farm soils, looking especially
at planting techniques, pyrolysis processing techniques, product development and
improvements, logistics and preparations for commercial-scale operations.
ATP-MDs target markets include plastics, garden consumables, biochar, and bio-coal
(electricity). Potential customers include plastic product manufacturing companies,
who have demonstrated that ATP-MDs torrefied biomass can be used as a filler or
extender, instead of mineral powders, wood flour or corn starch, to make stronger,
lighter and water-resistant plastics.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers will plant biomass sorghum, a bio-crop, in
phosphorus-impacted farmland and test the land, both pre- and post-planting,
to determine the level of phosphorus removal. The bio-crops will be harvested,
shredded and processed to make: poultry house bedding and biochar; fillers,
from which enhanced plastics and composites are made;bio-coal, as a clean and
renewable coal alternative; and other viable bio-products.

Project Start Date: 2/1/2017; Location: Salisbury, Wicomico County; Founded: 2015; Project Manager: Joseph James, President
23 Principal Investigator: Arthur Allen, Professor, Department of Agriculture, Food & Resource Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES)
MIPS helped my company with critical R&D resources to help demonstrate
our process, as well as attract additional resources and customers.
JOSEPH JAMES, PRESIDENT, ATP-MD, LLC

24
 Automated Precision, Inc. (API)
Algorithms and Software for 3D Inspection System

Company Description
Automated Precision Inc. (API) is a world leader in coordinate measurement solutions.
Leading the metrology industry through innovation, API products are used by many of
the worlds top automotive, aerospace, machine tool, and CMM manufacturers.
APIs technology improves production processes, from design and innovation to
production, quality checks and inspections. The company offers dimensional inspection
and metrology services, including consulting, calibration, machine tool error mapping,
contract measurement,3D CAD modeling and reverse engineering to solve difficult
measurement problems.
Based upon initial technology development through MIPS, API has advanced the
Rapidscan technology to where it utilizes stereo imaging with patented techniques to
improve 3D edges under any lighting condition. Rapidscan projects infrared random
optical patterns while advanced dynamic range sensors capture 3D data under any
ambient lighting condition. APIs patented techniques allow for variable resolution
depending upon the requirements of the feature to be extracted.

MIPS Project Challenge

API sought to develop algorithms and software for 3D inspection using point cloud
data after being approached by an automobile manufacturer to solve a part-scanning
problem.
Project Scope
UMD researchers helped develop the core of APIs first-generation RapidScan
technology, which is a non-contact scanner taking dimensional and geometric 3D
scans of objects. The first generation of Rapidscan took images while specialized
light patterns were being projectedon the
object using a computerized projector.
These images and light patterns were
analyzed together through an algorithm
developed by Gupta and Tao Peng, a
former Ph.D. student in the department
of mechanical engineering. The 3D
modelswere created as point clouds
and were examined against the products
specifications.
Results
API has created over 25 new jobs in engineering R&D and manufacturing as a
result of MIPS. The development of Rapidscan and applications for automated
inspection utilizing advanced techniques and algorithms from the project show
promising market growth for the business. RapidScan is now planned to be in all API
demonstration centers throughout the world.
This project enabled API to further develop and expand the market for its family of
non-contact area scanners. API now utilizes Rapidscan mounted on industrial robots
to do the automated inspection of precision parts. This turnkey system is called the
Smart Factory Inspection System (SFIS). SFIS has been successfully introduced into
the automotive (precision sheet metal parts) and aerospace industries (airplane
door construction). Wind energy, mold and die Inspection, and automotive, in-line
inspection are applications API has targeted for the future.

Project Start Date: 2005; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 1987; Website: www.apisensor.com
Project Manager: Kam Lau, Founder; Principal Investigator: Satyandra Gupta, former Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
25 and Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland
The future of non-destructive
inspection lies in non-contact
scanning. MIPS provided API
with the ability to initially
develop and understand
suitable applied technology
and improve upon this
initial technology to where
API has the most advanced
non-contact scanners in the
market today.
KAM LAU, CEO,
AUTOMATED PRECISION, INC.

26
 Bahari Energy, LLC
Wind Tower Technology for Harnessing Wind Power

Company Description
Bahari Energy has developed the Bahari Energy Wind Tower Technology, which considers Bahari Energy was founded
integrated design, environmental conscientiousness, and patented technology to make
wind energy accessible, efficient, and cost-competitive in diverse settings. The wind-
solely by University of Maryland
catcher technology on the roof of the Wind Tower redirects wind to turbines from 360 alumnus Habib Bahari
degrees, taking advantage of wind turbulence. Nozzles accelerate the wind flow and
electricity is generated in wind speeds as low as one mile per hour. The Wind Tower is
(aerospace engineering).
self-contained, and can stand either alone or on top of/beside a structure, allowing for Alumnus Navid Goudarzi
the integration into architectural designs as an enclosed structure. Since the turbines (M.S. and Ph.D., mechanical
are enclosed within the Wind Tower, they pose no risk to birds and create no unpleasant
noise, vibration, or interference with radar and television transmissions. engineering) also joined the
company. Glenn L. Martin Wind
MIPS Project Challenge
The purpose of this MIPS project was to test the performance of the companys Wind
Tunnel Director Jewel Barlow is
Tower Technology. a technical advisor, while Tom
Project Scope
Goldstein is a business advisor.
Through this MIPS project, researchers planned to conduct wind assessment analysis
and meteorological studies to obtain a model for power and energy density, and
the most suitable location for installing the Wind Tower at a studied site. In addition,
researchers were slated to conduct the analytical and numerical investigation and
economic analysis of the Wind Tower, as well as the design and fabrication of a small-
scale prototype, including the creation of drawings and specifications, testing of the
prototype, and concept validation.

Project Start Date: 8/1/15; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2009; Website: www.baharienergy.com; Project Manager: Habib Bahari,
Founder & CEO; Principal Investigator: Weidong Zhu, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

27
28
 Belloso Motor Company
Novel Power Train for Improved Fuel Efficiency

Company Description Results

Belloso Motor Company has developed a Dual-Engine Technology System that This project currently is in progress. In early October, 2017, the functionality and
provides significantly improved fuel economy without sacrificing performance or validity of the gasoline measuring protocol was tested at Tawes Motors in Crisfield,
requiring expensive and complex hybrid technology. Maryland. This testing positively proved the system that will be used to measure
gasoline used by the vehicle during testing. Baseline testing of the test vehicle will
MIPS Project Challenge take place by November 20, 2017.
The goal of this MIPS project is to test and validate the effectiveness of Bellosos Dual-
Engine Technology System under several engine modification protocols.
Thanks to MIPS, Belloso Motors now has the
Project Scope
This MIPS project will focus on confirming prior testing results of Bellosos resources to carry out testing in the United
technology. MIPS funding will allow the company to perform testing under rigorous
U.S. EPA conditions and standards of accuracy. This will include performing baseline
States to validate the testing done in the
(non-modified) testing, modifying a vehicle with the Dual-Engine Technology, Philippines, which showed a 100 percent
and testing the modified vehicle for the final fuel efficiency and acceleration data.
Confirmation of the technologys effectiveness will provide the basis for additional increase in fuel efficiency (determined by
research and development required to commercialize the system.
miles per gallon achieved before and after
engine modification). We look forward to
commercializing this revolutionary technology
to bring jobs and economic development to
the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
GREGORIO M. BELLOSO, PRESIDENT AND CEO, BELLOSO MOTOR
COMPANY

Project Start Date: 8/1/16; Location: Salisbury, Wicomico County; Founded: 1997; Project Manager: Gregorio M. Belloso, President and CEO
Principal Investigator: Tim Topoleski, Professor and Department Chairman, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Principal Project Consultant to Belloso Motor Company: Muphen R. Whitney
29
 The Dual-Engine Vehicle System developed by Belloso Motor Company provides fuel efficiency that rivals
that of hybrid and electric cars. The Belloso method provides this efficiency without the cost and the
environmental and physical hazards posed by the batteries used in hybrids and electric cars. Testing in the
Philippines returned data showing the Dual-Engine Technology System operated at 61.22 miles per gallon
versus 30 miles per gallon for the baseline test, according to the company.

30
 Berkeley Springs Instruments, LLC
Smart Sensor User Interface/Security Optimization

Company Description
BSI designs, manufactures and installs industrial robotics, automation software, and smart
sensors for the nuclear, industrial, pharmaceutical, and petroleum markets. One of the
companys primary products is the Eagle Array, an online, automated system used for
monitoring corrosion/erosion on high-risk piping to help prevent pipeline failures. The
multiple-sensor array is non-intrusive, easily installed and networked to a single Eagle
Link gateway.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project was to create intuitive and clear user software interfaces
for the Eagle Array monitoring system.

Project Scope
This MIPS project challenged student researchers to produce an optimal interface for
the Eagle Array system, with attention to the visibility of the interface (system) status,
real-world interface match, control and freedom of the user, platform conventions,
flexibility and efficiency, aesthetics, effective error handling and error prevention.
Also slated for consideration and development was optimal security design, including
input validation, authentication, authorization, configuration management, securing The student team developed a network architecture
sensitive data, cryptography, intrusion detection, auditing and logging.
that provided BSI with an alternative approach to
Results scaling our sensor population while maintaining an
This MIPS project resulted in an alternative architecture that provides additional
administrative features to support the products scalability.
intuitive and efficient user interface. This work was
completed without compromising our current, strict
security constraints.
EUGENE SILVERMAN, PRESIDENT, BERKELEY SPRINGS INSTRUMENTS LLC

Project Start Date: 8/1/13; Location: Cumberland, Allegany County; Founded: 2007; Website: www.bsisentry.com; Project Manager: Eugene Silverman,
31 President; Principal Investigator: George Rinard, Professor, Department of Computer Science, Frostburg State University
32
 Black & Decker
Design Optimization of Percussion Drill Bits

Company Description
Black & Decker has been setting the standard for home improvement products since
1910. With roots in Baltimore, Maryland, the company evolved from a small machine
shop that invented the first portable electric drill to a global manufacturing and
marketing powerhouse. Black & Deckers product line now includes a broad variety of
products for both commercial and residential use.
from this product line were estimated to be several million dollars.
The Bullet bits offer customers faster drill speed when compared to other bits, and up
to six times more holes per battery charge when using a cordless drill. Patents for the
bits were issued to UMBC, and then licensed to Black & Decker.

MIPS Project Challenge

The company was looking to develop a line of masonry drill bits with improved
efficiency to conserve power in battery-powered drills while maintaining their
effectiveness.

Project Scope
Researchers at UMBC conducted a systematic, scientific study of the mechanics
behind concrete drilling. These results were then used to design a bit that
performed significantly better than previous iterations, allowing for improved
energy transmission, a better material egress mechanism and environmentally safe
operation.

During the project, researchers also developed an impact model based on 3D wave
propagation, an experimental facility to validate the egress model, a combined
egress and impact model, and optimal drill bit design. The project also included the
fabrication of a drill bit prototype.

Results
Following the successful completion of their project, Black & Decker debuted its new
line of Bullet Speed Tip Masonry Drill Bits, which included 29 bits. The annual sales

Project Start Date: 8/15/92; Location: Towson, Baltimore County; Founded: 1910; Website: www.blackanddecker.com
Project Manager: Russell Timmons, Engineering Manager; Principal Investigator: M. Appa Anjanappa, Professor, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

33
34
 Blue Wave Semiconductors
Semiconductor Heating Element Coatings; Low Cost UV & IR Detector Fabrication

Company Description
Blue Wave develops low-cost, reliable and customized thin film fabrication tools for the Results
R&D market, enabling researchers to make advances in nanotechnology and thin-film Blue Wave added 15 new jobs and over $2.5 million in revenue and grants as a direct
research. result of the MIPS project funding.

Blue Wave specializes in: manufacturing deposition systems and processing tools for Blue Wave Semiconductors completed five SBIR Phase I awards, three SBIR Phase II
semiconductor R&D; thin film coating and device fabrication; and providing quality thin awards, and a Maryland Proof of Concept award. The company is currently located in
film development services to clients such as the DoD and other large corporations. the UMBC Technology Center in Baltimore. Blue Wave Semiconductors was a finalist
for the Maryland Incubator Company of the Year in 2005.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project was to develop new thin-film and oxide coatings for Blue Waves products are sold to U.S. research institutions. The company is planning
Blue Waves line of semiconductors. commercialization and full-scale manufacturing for its products. Blue Wave has
developed its own technology and has several U.S. patents.
Project Scope
The university team developed highly sensitive UV detectors for chemical and
biological sensing, missile plume detection and monitoring radiation dose during
sunbathing. The team also developed high-temperature ceramic coatings to extend
the life of heaters used in semiconductor manufacturing processes.

Project Start Date: 1/2/01, 2/1/02; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2000; Website: www.bluewavesemi.com; Project Manager:
35 R.D. Vispute, CEO and CTO; Principal Investigator: Ichiro Takeuchi, Professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Maryland
MIPS support was the foundation for this company.
R.D. VISPUTE, CEO AND CTO, BLUE WAVE SEMICONDUCTOR

36
 BondTrue, LLC
BondTrue Prototype Design and Development

Company Description Collaborating with Hugh Bruck and his talented team
BondTrue has developed a patented medical device that automates the process of
surgical incisions and closures. The result is a fast, precise surgical wound that can be of researchers has been pivotal for BondTrues progress.
rapidly approximated and repaired. This significantly reduces surgical times and ensures Using cutting-edge technology, including the latest
excellent wound repair. Precise wound repair is associated with reduced scarring and
decreased wound complications, including surgical wound infections.
3-D printing technology in the mechanical engineering
laboratory of the University of Maryland, has greatly
MIPS Project Challenge advanced our prototype design, enabling us to accelerate
The goal of this MIPS project is the design and development of an improved
prototype, which will be used for multiple purposes, including animal trials. the commercialization process.
- DAVID ZACHARY MARTIN, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER,
Project Scope BONDTRUE, AND A LOCAL PLASTIC SURGEON
Working with Hugh Bruck and his team through this MIPS project, the prototype is
being refined by designing within the compliance needed for proper interaction
between the surgeon and patient. Designs are being precisely fabricated
using 3D-printing and laser-cutting to allow for rapid product realization and
characterization of performance. Cost analysis and re-design of the BondTrue
prototype for injection molding is also being pursued for commercialization of the
final product.

Results
BondTrue brings mechanical precision to a surgical process historically done by hand
with the naked eye. The MIPS program has enabled collaboration between surgeons
and engineers at the top of their fields, resulting in innovative breakthroughs. When
the project is completed, BondTrue will raise capital to bring the product to market.

BondTrue is named in honor of Zachs mother, Elinor Bond Martin, a retired

physician/surgeon living in Maryland, where he grew up.

Project Start Date: 2/1/17; Location: Towson, Baltimore County; Founded: 2016; Website: www.bondtrue.com
Project Manager: Aimee Martin, Co-Founder & CEO; Principal Investigator: Hugh Bruck, Professor, Director of Graduate Studies,
37 and Associate Chair for Academic Affairs, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland
We are very pleased with this award as it allows the continuation of important research
on the BondTrue medical device. This project will enable us to take the next step in
commercialization by utilizing cutting-edge technology at the University of Maryland. The
MIPS program provides a great opportunity to advance collaborative projects in Maryland.
- DAVID ZACHARY MARTIN, CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, BONDTRUE, AND A LOCAL PLASTIC SURGEON
38
 CARE-2, LLC
Establish Predictive Validity of CARE-2 Assessment

Company Description
CARE-2 has developed the CARE-2 Risk & Needs Assessment, a 57-item assessment
form that measures the risk factors associated with youth violence, as well as protective
factors. Areas covered include youth characteristics, peer relationships, school and
education issues, family dynamics and protective factors. Clinicians can complete the
assessment and score the form in 15-30 minutes. The scored assessment form is then
used to complete the Case Management Planning Form. This form helps clinicians gauge
the intensity of potential behavior problems and identify the appropriate level and types
of interventions needed. CARE-2 is the only risk assessment tool to provide this added
feature.
MIPS Project Challenge
The overall goals of this two-phase MIPS project are to test the predictive validity of
the CARE-2 Assessment and improve its efficacy.
Project Scope
During Phase I of this MIPS project, researchers planned to test the predictive
validity of the CARE-2 instrument. During Phase II, researchers were slated to carry
out additional analyses and re-test the instrument to make recommendations for
improving its overall predictive validity.
Results
The CARE-2, which was originally an assessment completed on paper only, can now
be administered online and via a mobile phone. There are two CARE-2 screeners
for adolescent males and females available for both Apple or Android phones. The
online version for teen females in the original CARE-2 has been updated to reflect
Tosseys research findings. A MIPS-funded plan for an email campaign was developed
and carried out, raising awareness of the CARE-2. Seifert has appeared on several
news outlets, online, on TV and radio explaining the importance of well-researched
risk assessments for the identification of risk for violence and the use of preventive
services. A trademark for CARE-2 has been applied for and is near approval.
Interesting Fact
There are now multiple versions of the CARE-2 assessment available in multiple
formats: paper, online, and via mobile phone. The email campaign increased the
awareness of professionals of the merits of the CARE-2.

Without the help of MIPS, research to increase validity of the

CARE-2 by the University would have been impossible.
MARY KATHRYN SEIFERT, CEO, CARE-2, LLC

Project Start Date: 8/1/13, 2/1/15 (two-phase project); Location: Salisbury, Wicomico County; Founded: 2009; Website: www.care2systems.com
Project Manager: Mary Kathryn Seifert, CEO; Principal Investigator: Marvin Tossey, Professor, Department of Social Work, Salisbury University

39
40
 Cellex
Rapid and Sensitive Flu Test

Company Description
Cellex is a medical device company dedicated to developing
innovative technologies that enable assays to be fast, accurate,
sensitive, easy-to-use and inexpensive. The companys
current focus includes a homogeneous biochemiluminescent
assay (HBA) technology, HBA-based assays and easy-to-use
instruments.
MIPS Project Challenge
Cellex sought a clinical study of the companys rapid, point-
of-care method for diagnosing influenza and flu virus drug
resistance.
The MIPS grants have
played an important role in
bringing the QFlu project
to a successful conclusion.
X. JAMES LI, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER,
CELLEX
approval for Cellexs first product, the QFlu Combo Test,
which can be used to simultaneously diagnose influenza
and detect resistance to Tamiflu. This is a first-of-its-kind
product that has commercial potential and public health
implications.
Other than the qFLU combo Test, the assay was also
configured into a diagnostic-use only test, the qFLU Dx
Test. The qFLU tests are the only tests that do not detect
viral proteins (antigens) or nucleic acids, and are less
susceptible to genetic changes of flu viruses. Both the qFLU
Combo Test and qFLU Dx Test have now been CE-marked.

Project Scope Additional Notes

A clinical study was conducted for Cellexs QFLU, a test designed to simultaneously Working with BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.),
diagnose influenza and detect flu virus drug resistance in point-of-care settings. The the qFLU Combo Test was awarded another
clinical study involved three clinics and enrolled several hundred voluntary patients. grant by the Biomedical Advanced Research
Two nasophyrangeal swabs were collected from each participant. One of the swabs and Development Authority (BARDA). The
was used for culture-based detection, while the other was used for QFLU test-based award supports the clinical evaluation of the
detection. The cell culture method is a gold standard for setting a cutoff value and for assay for its use in global influenza surveillance.
determining the preliminary sensitivity and specificity for the QFlu test. Mutations, as The regional rights of these qFLU assays were
identified by sequencing, were used as a gold standard for drug resistance. licensed to third parties in various regions. The
qFLU Dx Test is particularly suited for markets
Results with dense populations such as China, as
This MIPS project enabled Cellex to gather clinical data, which helped the company the assay is rapid, can be performed in large
get a $2 million NIH grant, which in turn permitted the company to perform a large batches, and uses simple instruments.
clinical study enrolling more than 500 patients. The data from the MIPS and NIH-
funded studies was submitted to the FDA in September, 2012, in an application for

Project Start Date: 8/1/10; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 1998; Website: http://cellex.us; Project Manager: X James Li, Founder and CEO
Principal Investigator: Richard Zhao, Professor, Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
41
42
 Cellphire
Loaded Platelets for the Treatment of Brain Trauma

Company Description Results

Cellphire Inc. develops stabilized platelets for advanced wound care, transfusion, and
reagent products for clinical and research diagnostics. The company has stabilized and
modified platelets into a hemostatic agent that can be stored well beyond the current
limit of five days. Platelets cannot be stockpiled and shortages occur because of this
extremely short shelf life. These shortages can interrupt the treatment of cancer patients
and actively bleeding surgical or trauma patients.
Overall, these mechanistic in vivo experiments investigated whether the systemic
(intravenous) administration of human platelets, or Thrombosomes, containing
miR-23a, may be able to transfer (following their recruitment and activation at the
injury site) the loaded miR as an active molecule into cortical neurons following
brain trauma, reducing the decline in miR-23a levels, inhibiting dependent cell death
pathways, and ultimately attenuating neurological deficits after TBI.

Cellphires first platelet stabilization product is Thrombosome, an easily rehydrated
platelet product in Phase 1 clinical study for use as a potential agent in radiation
remediation. The NB work is being funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and
Development Authority, part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and
Response in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cellphire, through use of
its own funds and IP, is also developing other applications and has been intrigued by the
concept of utilizing stabilized platelets as drug delivery vehicles.
MIPS Project Challenge
The broad goal of this two-phase MIPS project was to investigate the efficacy of
Cellphires platelet technology for delivering therapeutics to the site of traumatic
brain injury (TBI).
Project Scope
Researchers engaged in this project planned to determine, in vivo, if platelets
loaded with preferred antiapoptotic miRNA constructs could travel to sites of brain
hemorrhage, release microparticles containing specific miRNAs, and reduce the cell
death associated with TBI, effectively serving as a drug delivery device for targeted
genomic therapy in patients with TBI. As proposed in this work, miRNA-loaded
platelets stabilized by freeze-drying would be a highly attractive for a drug delivery
method with great clinical utility.
Phase 1 defined conditions for platelet loading (miR-23a) and activation. It also
investigated whether preventing miR-23a declines using microvesicle-rich fraction
after platelet activation attenuates the activation of BH3-only proteins and decreases
neuronal cell death in vitro. Phase 2 investigated whether preventing miR-23a
declines with the intravenous administration of human platelets, or Thrombosomes
containing miR-23a, attenuates trauma-induced miR-23a downregulation, activation
of BH3- only proteins, and/or improves neurological outcomes after TBI in vivo.
Overall, the proposed studies have established the foundation for the future use of
company-generated Thrombosomes as carriers for molecular modulators in clinical
studies focusing on therapeutic applications in traumatic brain injury and beyond.
Additional Information
A microRNA (abbreviated miRNA) is a small, non-coding RNA molecule (containing
about 22 nucleotides) found in plants, animals and some viruses, that functions in
RNA-silencing and the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.
The human genome may encode more than 1,000 miRNAs, which may target a
majority of human cells. MiRNA therapy is promising in cancer research. MiRNAs
work by regulating genes. They could be crucial in causing a patients brain to
cease destructive processes (negative regulation) and potentially to heal (positive
regulation). (Sources: Wikipedia and Cellphire)

Project Start Date: 2/1/15, 2/1/16 (two-phase project); Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2006
Website: www.cellphire.com; Project Manager: Daniel Johnston, Director of Non-Clinical R&D
43 Principal Investigator: Bogdan Stoica, Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Public-private partnerships are the life blood of an emerging company. For Cellphire to partner with the
University of Maryland, we were given access to leaders in a field of application of our technology to pursue
applications that would have proved too costly for us to independently undertake. Moreover, we had the
benefit of insights from researchers with significantly more experience in the field of traumatic brain injury,
such that experimental design, as well as conduct of the work, were at the highest level.
NIGEL MCWILLIAM, VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, CELLPHIRE

44
 CoapTech, LLC
Evaluating a Novel Gastrostomy Procedural Method

Company Description Projects Scope

CoapTech seeks to bring a series of breakthrough medical devices to worldwide markets, The specific aims of the project are: 1.) write a clinical protocol for a first-in-humans
leveraging apatent-pending, disruptive technologycalled Coaptive Ultrasound. The pilot study at the University of Maryland Medical Center; 2.) achieve Institutional
companys CoapTech Carrier is a novelplatform technologycombining magnetic Review Board (IRB) approval for the clinical study; and 3.) train study clinicians in the
attraction for device placement guidance and low-cost, point-of-care ultrasound for novel procedural method.
visual feedback in diagnostic, interventional and therapeutic procedures.
Results
CoapTech is commercializing a kit that This MIPS project is currently in progress.
will enable clinicians to perform a novel
procedural method called Percutaneous
Ultrasound Gastrostomy (PUG) for the MIPS support enables us to bring excellent clinical
placement of semi-permanent feeding partners to the table to help plan, prepare, and
tubes in the stomach. PUG improves on
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
implement the first human study for our novel device.
(PEG), the current standard of care for Howard Carolan, Co-Founder and CEO, CoapTech, LLC
feeding tube placement. The company
believes that PUG is a safer, simpler,
and less expensive method for placing
feeding tubes.

MIPS Project Challenge

This MIPS research is designed
as a two-phase project aimed at
deploying a small clinical study
leading to FDA clearance of this
novel medical device. The first phase
of the MIPS project will focus on
study design and preparation. The
second phase will focus on study
implementation and evaluation.

Project Start Date: 2/1/2017; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2016; Website: www.coaptech.com
Project Manager: Howard Carolan, Co-Founder & CEO; Principal Investigator: Gentry Wilkerson,
45 Assistant Professor and Assistant Residency Program Director, University of Maryland Medical Center
46
 CoolTech, LLC
Therapeutic Cooling of Stroke Patients

Company Description New medical therapies need real human data in a real clinical
CoolTech develops and commercializes products utilizing an internal evaporative cooling
setting to prove safety and efficacy. The MIPS program gave us the
technology licensed from Johns Hopkins University. CoolTech has an exclusive, perpetual,
worldwide license for this technology, which was formally executed in April, 2012.
much needed funding support to move past preclinical testing and
use our device in stroke patients, on a neuro-critical care unit.
MIPS Project Challenge BRIAN LIPFORD, CEO, COOLTECH, LLC
The goal of this MIPS project is to conduct clinical testing of CoolTechs trans-nasal
body temperature cooling system, called the COOLSTAT Transnasal Thermal
Regulating Device, on stroke patients with fever.

Project Scope
This MIPS project involves a 30-patient study to demonstrate the safety and functional
ability of the COOLSTAT to effectively modulate patient temperature for up to 24 hours,
followed by an expanded study (Phase 2) that includes traumatic brain injury patients.
Both Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies will be performed at the University of Maryland
Medical Center (UMMC) in the Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU), and will exclusively enroll
stroke patients who remain febrile for >2 hours after the standard-of-care antipyretic
drug treatment. This study is essential for collecting the clinical data needed to file
an FDA 510(k) submission for clearance to market the COOLSTAT for therapeutic
temperature management.

Results
Early feasibility testing with a prototype of the CoolStat was recently completed at
Johns Hopkins University, showing safety and cooling efficacy. The MIPS-funded
study will allow the company to use the actual CoolStat in a pilot study at the
University of Maryland Medical Center, scheduled to start later this year.

The COOLSTAT device has already been developed into a clinically deployable device
and has demonstrated efficacy in both preclinical studies, as well as early human
feasibility studies. This development work has been funded through over $4.2 million
in NIH SBIR grants and over $2.1 million in Series A equity and debt financing.

Project Start Date: 8/1/17; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2011; Project Manager: Emma Bigelow, BP, Clinical Affairs
47 Principal Investigator: Neeraj Badjatia, Professor of Neurology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
48
 Crab Machinery, LLC
Crab Automation Machinery

Company Description
Crab Machinery is an engineering design, production and sales company dedicated to
developing crab meat processing machines for crab meat processors.

MIPS Project Challenge

The purpose of this MIPS project is to add modern machine intelligence, including
machine vision and electronic controls, to crabmeat processing. The primary goal is
to remove jumbo lump, the largest, most desirable and valuable part of the Maryland
blue crab. The second goal is to remove the remainder of the body meat in a quality
and yield that matches traditional hand picking.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers plan to develop the machine vision
intelligence to size, locate and measure each crab, as well as control placement and
cutting actuation. Expected Phase 2 work involves the development of additional
features, controls and capability to control other systems, including synchronized,
dynamic, on-line machine vision, the stainless-steel crab handling conveyor, and
30k PSI, high-pressure waterjet robotic systems. The research will also consider FDA
sanitation requirements for food-grade machines and related safety features, such as
E-stop and safety protections.

Results
This project is currently in progress.

Additional Information
No crab processing machinery has been able to pick jumbo lump to date.

Project Start Date: 2/1/15, 2/1/17 (two-phase project); Location: Cambridge, Dorchester County; Founded: 1987
49 Project Manager: Joseph Brooks, Owner; Principal Investigator: Yang Tao, Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering
50
 DataStream Content Solutions
Content Management User Interface and Software Engineering Best Practices

Company Description
DataStream Content Solutions provides advanced content management systems
to information businesses, publishers and governments to help them work at their
maximum efficiency. DataStream builds databases for data conversion, editorial
enhancements, XML mark-up, data storage, data revival, data delivery and complete
data management. DSCS is the home of the revolutionary Legislative Impact and
Regulatory Impact products and is a leader in the intelligent mark-up of data.

MIPS Project Challenge

DSCS was developing a suite of conversion tools designed for use by a person who
understands the content of the data without having the detailed knowledge of the
mark-up language or conversion software. The company needed help to implement
best practices in software development to acquire Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
level 3 certification to increase its customer base.

Project Scope
DataStream worked with researchers from UMD to implement a formalized software
We were a loose, unstructured startup. Through the
development process within the company, enabling them to develop software in a MIPS process we were able to mature to a very well-
more consistent and maintainable fashion.
organized and well-run, mid-sized company, were able
Results to secure large government contracts and contracts with
DataStream hired 16 additional employees, gained $2.5 million in revenue and major data publishers and aggregators, and position
attracted $2 million in grants thanks to the companys MIPS project. In November,
2010, DSCS was acquired by The Dolan Company (NYSE:DM). ourselves for a sale to a large media company.
MARK ANSTEY, FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
DSCS is a graduate of the Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incbuator and is
currently located in the Tech Ventures Building..

Project Start Date: 8/2/04; Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 1994; Website: www.dscs.com
51 Project Manager: Ed Schulke, Principal Information Engineer; Principal Investigator: Marvin Zelkowitz, Computer Science, University of Maryland
52
 Diagnostic anSERS, Inc.
P-SERS Sensors for Trace Chemical Detection

Company Description Project Scope

Diagnostic anSERS Inc. is dedicated to producing affordable, ink-jet-printed SERS
substrates, which served as sensors to measure trace amounts of chemicals, such as
pesticides or narcotics. However, the sheer cost of the non-reusable SERS sensors,
which are frequently manufactured in clean rooms, drastically limit their use. Through
a patented ink-jet printing process, Diagnostic anSERS P-SERS sensors are produced
at a fraction of the cost without sacrificing sensitivity. In addition to being used as a
traditional SERS substrate (pipetted on sample), the wicking and flexible nature of
P-SERSTM sensors enabled their use as swabs and or dipsticks, and when combined with
portable Raman spectrometers, can be performed out of a lab and in the field.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of the companys first MIPS project was to extend the shelf life of its product
and improve the devices detection limit and performance.
For the first MIPS project, researchers were slated to develop nanoparticle chemistries
that would lead to an extended substrate shelf life, including investigating gold
nanoparticles, silver/gold core/shell nanoparticles, and silver/silica core/shell
nanoparticles. They also planned to investigate nanoparticle formations that would
lead to increased plasmonic enhancement, including using advanced nanoparticle
geometries such as nanoflowers and nanostars.
For the second MIPS project, researchers planned to develop a field-optimized
methodology for THC detection utilizing THC-capturing membranes and lateral-
flow concentration, and quantify the performance improvement with this
methodology. They then sought to develop a chemically stable plasmonic ink based
on gold nanoparticles with a THC-capturing surface modification and quantify the
performance improvement for substrates fabricated with this ink.

The goal of Diagnostic anSERS second MIPS project was to improve the limit of
Results
detection for Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on P-SERS devices to identify impaired
For the first MIPS project, new knowledge was created in terms of generating unique
drivers.
nanostructures and extending the companys product shelf life through unique ink
formulations. This research was used to aid the initial P-SERS product line.

Additional Mtech/UMD programs utilized

University of Maryland $75K Business Plan Competition, Pitch Dingman, Cupids Cup,
Entrepreneur Office Hours

Additional grant funding came from TEDCO (TechStart &

MII) and an NSF SBIR Phase I.

Project Start Date: 2/1/13, 2/1/15 (two separate MIPS projects); Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2012
Website: www.diagnosticansers.com; Project Manager: Eric Hoppmann , Co-Founder; Principal Investigator: Ian White, Associate Professor,
53 Fischell Department of Bioengineering
Diagnostic anSERS obtained an exclusive license for its technology from
the Office of Technology Commercialization at the University of Maryland.
54
 Dipole Materials, Inc.
Biopapers for Tissue Engineering

Company Description
DiPole Materials is a manufacturer of specialty electrospun fibers. The companys
products address issues in a variety of fields, from powering sensors and devices
in the emerging smart garment industry to providing novel substrates for tissue
engineering.
For this project, Dipole Materials is developing thinner-than-hair fiber mats of
biological materials, or BioPapers, for drug design, tissue engineering, and 3D bio-
printing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goals of this MIPS project are to provide product feedback on BioPaper,
perform optimization studies for storage, design product user guides, and assess cell
performance.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers will perform product tests on the alpha
prototype of DiPoles BioPapers and will provide the companys first customer
feedback on ease-of-use in the lab environment. This testing will provide critical
feedback on the alpha prototype to inform beta prototype development, especially
in ease-of-use, as well as possible alternatives for storage. The PIs work will also
provide critical information necessary to distribute to customers, including BioPaper
storage, product shelf-life, and product compatibility, as well as use with specific cell
types in order to use BioPapers in tissue engineering.
MIPS helped us find experts in tissue engineering and
cell culturing that compliment our manufacturing
expertise. Together, this team will market BioPapers
that are easy to use and meet our customer
requirements.
KELLI BOOTH, DIPOLE MATERIALS, CFO
Synthetic, electrospun materials require the introduction of biologic material, similar
to DiPoles BioPapers, in order to promote cell attachment. Hydrogels lack control
of scaffold properties or architecture, which may be needed to promote specific cell
behavior. Tissue culture plastic does not support cell attachment for all adherent
cell types, and does not recapitulate proper cell-matrix interactions similar to what
is found in the body. BioPapers has distinct advantages, given its ability to support
cell attachment, control fiber size, porosity, and mechanical properties, and use
with many cell types. DiPole plans to be the first company providing BioPapers as
electrospun scaffolds composed of biologically-derived materials.

Results
This MIPS project is currently in progress.

Project Start Date: 8/1/17 (in progress); Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2014
Website: www.dipolematerials.com; Project Manager: Kathryn Drzewiecki, Director of Product Development
Principal Investigator: Gymama Slaughter, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
55
56
 dlhBowles
Fluidic Nozzle for Windshield Wipers Testing and Development

Company Description Mich. More recently, dlhBowles opened a 135,000 square-foot distribution plant in
dlhBowles is a company that combines engineering with best manufacturing practices McAllen, Texas.
to provide the worlds leading automakers with fluid management systems. Formerly
Bowles Fluidics Corporation, the company formally changed its name in 2016, when it Additional Mtech/UMD programs utilized:
was acquired by Morgenthaler Private Equity, and merged with DLH Industries. Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel, University of Maryland

MIPS Project Challenge Bowles Fluidics Corporation used the MIPS program to
Before being acquired by Morgenthaler Privet Equity, Bowles Fluidics partnered with
MIPS to improve the performance of the companys windshield washer nozzle at high verify performance improvements achieved using our
vehicle speeds. new Spray Lift nozzlesthis put BFC in a leadership
Projects Scope position as the expert on high-speed performance of
Through this MIPS project, Bowles Fluidics provided a front-end model of a full- automotive windshield washer sprays.
size car for researchers to use in the Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel. Researchers
ERNIE CHESTNUTIS, SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR, BOWLES FLUIDICS
placed the car model in the wind tunnel and simulated highway speeds to study
the flow parameters of Bowles current nozzle fixture. This data allowed them to
better understand the aerodynamic environment in which the nozzle needs to
operate, develop testing methods to evaluate washer nozzle spray performance at
high speeds, and, in turn, apply those methods to troubleshoot and improve the
companys engineering and placement of nozzles.

Results
The completed project resulted in significantly improved nozzles, enabling Bowles to
sell over one million nozzles per year, create 14 new jobs in Maryland and maintain its
position as a world leader in fluid management systems in automobiles.

After being acquired, Bowles Fluidics merged with DLH Industries to form dlhBowles.
Since the acquisition, the company has maintained a corporate office location in
Columbia, Md., and has additional office locations in Canton, Ohio and Southfield,

Project Start Date: 2/1/96; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 1961; Website: dlhbowles.com
57 Project Manager: Richard W. Hess; Principal Investigator: Jewel Barlow, Director, Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel, University of Maryland
The aerodynamic effects on performance of windshield washer systems
have helped up develop systems to meet our customer requirements.
CHI SRINATH, V.P. ADVANCED ENGINEERING, BOWLES FLUIDICS

58
 FiberCell Systems
Validation of a Large-Scale, Hollow Fiber Bioreactor

Company Description
FiberCell Systems offers hollow fiber bioreactor systems to academic and biotechnology
markets. The companys bioreactors utilize new, state-of-the-art filtration rates that offer
many advantages over conventional cell culture methods, and are used by NASA at the MIPS provided FiberCell with both the seed
International Space Station and endorsed by the European Medicines Agency.
money to test and evaluate a new type of
FiberCell developed and patented a novel method for generating gas delivery to hollow bioreactor and connections with Maryland
fiber cartridges. Instead of passively exchanging gas with a medium and flowing that resources to make the project a success.
medium through the cartridge, it delivers alternating amounts of medium and gas
JOHN CADWELL, PRESIDENT, FIBERCELL SYSTEMS
directly to the interior of the reactor. Rather than using pumps, gravity feed is utilized
to circulate the medium in both directions. A device using these technologies would be
an entirely new concept in bioreactor operating principles. This was the subject of the
companys MIPS project.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project was to construct a prototype of FiberCells large-scale,
hollow bioreactor system and conduct performance validation.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, a prototype was built and evaluated. FiberCell Systems
utilized Mtechs Biopharmaceutical Advancement Facility (BAF) for lab space,
equipment and expertise to make the project possible.

Results
Proof of principle for the basic function of the bioreactor operating principles was
established. Ongoing work continues on optimizing culture conditions and operating
parameters with an ultimate goal of establishing cGMP compliance.

Project Start Date: 2/1/11; Location: Frederick, Frederick County; Founded: 2000; Website: www.fibercellsystems.com
59 Project Manager: John Cadwell, President and CEO; Principal Investigator: Dean Mann, Professor, Clinical Pathology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
60
 Firefox Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Enhancers of Reverse Cholesterol Transport

Company Description anticipates that the laboratory will produce 60-100 new analogs within 12 months,
Firefox Pharmaceuticals is a start-up biotechnology company developing and with 1-3 drug candidate compounds being compared in pre-clinical studies in year
commercializing a novel class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, creating first-in-class two. Also in year two, researchers plan to scale up the synthesis of the selected 1-3
small molecules for reverse cholesterol transport enhancers (RCTE). After nine years candidate compounds (in grams) from Phase 1 of the project, producing sufficient
of uninterrupted academic research and pharmaceutical R&D, the company has quantifies for pre-clinical studies.
made discoveries in the direct reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) process. Firefoxs
strategy tackles all four RCT steps: 1.) increase nascent HDL availabilities; 2.) increase Results
macrophage cholesterol efflux; 3.) increase cholesterol esterification; and 4) increase This MIPS project is currently in progress.
liver uptake for fecal excretion. Others have focused on strategies to increase
HDL (and decrease LDL). Firefoxs quadruple-pronged plan of attack could reduce
There are three major mechanisms for lowering
cholesterol to unprecedented levels by enhancing RCT and eliminating cholesterol
already present. The companys lead compound has showed desired activities, both cholesterol; two of them have generated blockbuster
in vitro and in vivo, for enhanced RCT. A patent application was filed with USPTO on drugs: 1.) inhibit de novo cholesterol production
April 3, 2017.
(synthesis), Lipitor (statins); 2.) reduce dietary cholesterol
MIPS Project Challenge absorption, Zetia/Ezetimibe; and 3.) Reverse Cholesterol
The goal of this MIPS project is to design and synthesize a series of analogs for
Firefoxs lead compound, FFP-001, that could be drug candidates. The company will
Transport enhancers (RCTE), the Holy Grail in lowering
perform both in vitro and in vivo biological evaluations of these compounds, which cholesterol, for which no drugs have been developed, in
will lead to the selection of optimized candidate compounds.
this large, unmet market. (SOURCE: FIREFOX PHARMACEUTICALS)
Project Scope
Researchers in this MIPS project will design and synthesize a series of analogs to the
companys lead compound, FFP-001, which would improve FFP-001s in-
vitro and in-vivo activities for facilitating cholesterol efflux and reducing
cellular cholesterol mass, and directly enhancing RCT. The company will
then test these compounds using a number of in-vivo mice and rabbit
models. Data compiled from these studies will be used in an iterative
process to inform subsequent rounds of analog design and synthesis,
thereby improving the activities of subsequent analogs. The company

Project Start Date: 8/1/17; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2017; Project Manager: Jiming Zhou, President
61 Principal Investigator: Steven Fletcher, Assistant Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland Baltimore
 Approximately 73.5 million adults (31.7 percent) in the U.S. have high cholesterol,
which is one of the major causes of heart disease, the leading cause of death. Every
year, 610,000 American die from heart disease. The annual cholesterol-lowering
drug market is more than $20 billion. (Source: Firefox Pharmaceuticals)
62
 FleetPro, Inc
Training for Vehicle Inspection
Company Description
FleetPro is a vehicle maintenance company that services a wide range of fleet
vehicles in the Mid-Atlantic area. The company currently services approximately
14,000 vehicles and over 300 fleets.
Fleetpros current customers range from commercial/industrial fleets to municipal,
local, state and federal government vehicles. These customers maintain a variety
of equipment, including both on and off-road vehicles that run on everything from
traditional fuels to more eco-friendly sources.
Fleetpro offers a variety of vehicle services on-site and off-hours, including
Preventative Maintenance and Inspection (PMI), Full Maintenance and Fleet Audits.
The companys main goal is to provide customers with top-notch service and
information with as little interruption to the customers schedule as possible.
MIPS Project Challenge
In order to service the wide range of vehicles mechanics maintain, Fleetpros
management realized that they would need a training program to provide
reliable and efficient vehicle inspections that also complied with state and federal
regulations. Once the company began looking for the ideal training program, they
realized nothing commercially available fit their needs. To fix this problem, the
management team decided they would develop and implement a new, complete
set of regulatory, inspection-based training programs. After researching the
training program market, Fleetpro realized that the task was more complex than
initially thought, and sought help from outside professional educational program
developers.
Project Scope
FleetPros first MIPS project created a training program with the help of a Towson
University professor in the late 1980s that covered basic preventative maintenance
Project Start Date: 8/1/94; Location: Baltimore, Baltimore County; Founded: 1982; Website: www.fleetpro.com
63 Project Manager: Tom Farcosky, President; Principal Investigator: Gary W. Rosencrans, Towson University
and company policy and procedures.
The second MIPS project, in 1994, paired the company with multiple Instructional
System Design experts (ISD) from the University of Maryland University College
(UMUC) to create a more inclusive program. This multi-phase project lasted multiple
years and concluded with the successful creation of five, paper-based, self-guided
training programs and certification exams.
Results
Since completing the MIPS projects, FleetPro has increased its revenue by 900
percent, from around $1 million in revenue at the start of the project, to $9 million
today. To date, Fleetpro has successfully trained and certified over 400 people.
The five-part training series covers the following vehicle inspection related federal
and state regulations and standards:
Federal Highway Administrations (FHWA) Appendix G, Minimum Periodic Inspection
Standards,
State of Maryland, Code of Maryland Regulations COMAR 11.22, Preventative Maintenance
Program,
Federal Highway 393, Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation,
Federal Highway 396.17, Inspection Repair and Maintenance,
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and Out of Service Recommendation Criteria Part II.
The availability of these training programs has dramatically improved how fleet
owners maintain and inspect vehicles to ensure they are meeting all state and federal
regulations. The training series was updated by FleetPro between 2007-2010 to reflect
new industry and regulatory changes, and is still being used to train technicians
today.
Fleetpro has a very comprehensive regulatory and preventative maintenance
training program. After training, technicians are able to produce a much more
reliable and consistent, standards-based inspection than ever before. This results
in safer vehicles and lower costs for fleet operation and maintenance.
BILL NIELSON, FLEET MAINTENANCE MANAGER, FLEETPRO
64
 Fuzbien Technology Institute, Inc.
Clinical Study of Salivary Glycated Albumin

Company Description
FTI was established to develop a carbon-nano-tube (CNT) based platform technology
(CNT-p) for the detection of disease proteins, health markers, and environmental
molecules. This CNT-based platform may result in detection with high-sensitivity and very
low cost, making it affordable for the general public and thus could reform the preventive
medicinal system in the future. FTI will develop the modality of detection and diagnosis
for selective protein and molecular recognition of a target analyte in collaboration with
nearby university, government labs and other industries.
Project Scope
Fuzbien has successfully developed a unique, CNT-based, nano-platform technology
for the novel antigen detection of various biomarkers. The purpose of this research
is to utilize and test this ultrasensitive, nanotechnology-based antigen detection
system for detecting salivary-glycated albumin. The results of this research are
anticipated to be a method of accurately and inexpensively measuring glycated
albumin to provide a means of measuring blood glucose levels.

MIPS Project Challenge Results

There are 422 million individuals with diabetes worldwide. Diabetes affects many
organs and leads to microvascular increased risk of macrovascular complications
and premature death. Adequate glycemic control is the most critical part of
diabetes management. This is achieved by daily blood glucose measurements and
adjustments in type, number and dose of anti-diabetes medications, if needed.
Although the self-monitoring of blood glucose is important, the gold standard for
the assessment of long-term glycemic control is the blood test glycated hemoglobin
(HbA1c). The American Diabetes Association recommends the measurement of HbA1c
every 3-6 months. The disadvantages of this test include the lack of testing short-
term glycemic control, the requirement of blood draws, and HbA1c is inaccurate in
chronic renal disease and hemoglobimopathies. Measurement of glycated albumin
(GA) has been proposed as an alternative marker for glycemic control. Since the
turnover of albumin is only 2-3 weeks, GA could potentially provide a bimonthly
update on glycemic control. The Smart Albu is a portable hand-held device that non-
invasively detects the ratio of salivary GA over total albumin (HSA). This MIPS project
is focused on determining whether the Smart Albu represents a precise, non-invasive
clinical measurement of short-term glycemic control (2-3 weeks) by comparing the
ratio of GA and HSA in saliva with the same ratio in blood and HbA1c.
This MIPS project will enable Fuzbien to assess the commercial potential of its
technology to measure blood glucose levels on a frequent (twice monthly) basis.
Fuzbien believes that its technology will be most useful to the population in a
prediabetic condition (currently 100 million people in the U.S. alone), as a means of
delaying or even preventing the onset of diabetes. If the results of the project are
positive, Smart Albu could become a breakthrough technology in the management
of the prediabetic population and create many jobs and significant revenue for
Maryland.
Fuzbien was awarded $75,000 in TEDCO funding for its CNT sensor development in
2011. The sensitivity enhancement of CNT sensor has been achieved thanks to the
subsequent support by TEDCO.
Fuzbien has five employees.

Project Start Date: 8/1/17; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2007
Project Manager: Saeyoung Nate Ahn, CEO and Director of R&D
Principal Investigator: Stephen Davis, Theodore Woodward Professor of Medicine, Professor of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine

65
The process was developed
and used for the mouse
model study of breast
cancer at UMB by Dr. Jones
and Fuzbien Technology
Institute Inc., and led to a
convincing result of this
concept in detecting breast
cancer. A next-generation
device prototype for a
diabetes detector using
salivary glycated Albumin
resulted.
SAEYOUNG NATE AHN, CEO
AND DIRECTOR OF R&D, FUZBIEN
TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

66
 Fyodor BioTechnologies
Yeast-based Artemisinin (YAT) Production

Company Description Results

Fyodor Biotechnologies is a privately held, socially responsible company focused
on the research, development and manufacture of innovative diagnostic and
biopharmaceutical products, first targeted to large emerging economies in Africa,
Asia and South America. The companys flagship product, the Urine Malaria Test
(UMT), is the first and only non-blood test that tells if a fever is due to malaria, using
just a few drops of urine.
MIPS Project Challenge
Artemisinin (ART) is the most effective drug against malaria, which affects about
247 million people annually worldwide. Recently, additional uses were discovered,
including for the treatment of various types of cancers and hepatitis C, and as a broad
antiviral agent. Thus, an even greater demand for ART is envisaged in the near future.
Presently, the drug is extracted from plants, which have long growing seasons and
relatively low crop yields, often resulting in shortages. Fyodors recombinant yeast
can perform de novo synthesis of ART intermediatesdihydroartemisinic acid (DHA)
and artemisinic acid, through the co-expression of key pathway genes from three
episomal plasmids. Using these new methods assures a reliable source of ART.
The goal of the project was to optimize the metabolic engineering of the late
precursor of ARTDHA, which can be non-enzymatically converted to ART using
activated oxygen.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers planned to perform process optimization of
the yeast strain under controlled conditions, in order to determine the best titer of
DHA and set benchmarks for further improvements. They also planned to implement
metabolic engineering studies to further optimize DHA production
Fyodor reported five presentations or peer-reviewed journal publications resulting
from this MIPS project. Seven students were involved.
In June, 2011, Fyodor was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase
I grant for $150,000 to progress the development of its innovative Urine Malaria Test
(UMT) technology. In August, 2012, the company received another Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant for $150,000 to develop a novel recombinant
antibody to be used in a urine-based test for the point-of-need detection of
Leptospirosis.
In October, 2012, Fyodor was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Phase 2 grant for $476,000 to support the companys effort to develop and validate
a broad-based, non-invasive, single-step Urine Malaria Test (UMT Broad) for the
clinical diagnosis of both Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and P. vivax (Pv) malaria, which
together account for over 98% of all malaria cases worldwide.
In September, 2013, Fyodor received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Phase 2 grant for $729,000 funding to accelerate the companys effort to develop
and validate a non-invasive, multi-disease, urine-based diagnostic test for Acute
Febrile Illness (AFI), enabling the differential clinical diagnosis of leading global health
diseases like malaria, typhoid, dengue, and leptospirosis from a single urine specimen
in patients with fever.
The MIPS project has facilitated our
consolidation of projects and allowed for the
leveraging of additional funding.
EDDY AGBO, FYODOR CHAIRMAN AND CEO

Project Start Date: 8/1/09; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2008; Website: www.fyodorbio.com
Project Manager: Eddy Agbo, Chairman, CEO and Founder; Principal Investigator: Ganesh Sriram,
67 Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
68
 gel-e, Inc.
Hemogrip: Reversible Hemorrhage Control

Company Description via tissue adhesion studies and evaluated on

gel-e Inc., a privately held, clinical-stage medical severe arterial bleeds. gel-e was shown to
device company, develops a broad range of have significantly superior tissue adhesion
hemostatic and wound treatment products, relative to a range of key market competitor
including bandages for the treatment of products in the trauma and surgical spaces.
routine cuts and scrapes, foams and putties for gel-e also showed significant in vivo efficacy
traumatic and military injuries, and surgical gels relative to unmodified chitosan bandages,
and powders. which represent key competitors in the trauma
hemostat marketplace. Three invention
MIPS Project Challenge disclosures and two publications have been
gel-e is developing a technology platform created as a result of this continuing research.
that can rapidly staunch bleeding and act This helps to strengthen the companys
as a protective seal for wounded tissue. The competitive position in the marketplace
goal of this MIPS project was to obtain key and is providing interest from the medical
comparative in vitro and in vivo data against community (gel-es key customers) in both the
six key competing products. core technology and resulting commercial products. Last, but not least, the company
was able to collect much of the key data that has gone into the companys first FDA
Project Scope 510(k) submission.
UMD researchers conducted both in vitro and in vivo studies on the bandages,
comparing the gel-e technology with alternative products. In July, 2015, gel-e received FDA clearance for its technology, indicated for use as a
vascular closure device, where it rapidly controls bleeding that occurs when accessing
Results veins or arteries for various medical treatments and applications. In July, 2017, gel-e
As a result of this project, the company and researchers became comfortable with raised $3.1 million in a private financing, led by early-stage investment funds and life
synthesizing, scaling-up, purifying and characterizing a range of hydrophobically science investors.
modified (hm) chitosan bandages for use in the control of traumatic bleeding.
Multiple formulations of hm-chitosans were synthesized and optimized on the Additional Mtech/UMD Programs Utilized
benchtop (via rheology) to gel blood rapidly, and adhere to tissue strongly and University of Maryland $75K Business Plan Competition, VentureAccelerator,
reversibly. Bandages of hm-chitosan were manufactured; they were tested in vitro Technoloy Advancement Program (TAP) incubator

Project Start Date: 2/1/11 (four total MIPS projects); Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2007; Website: www.gel-e.co
Project Manager: Matthew Dowling, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer; Principal Investigator: Srinivasa Raghavan, Professor, Department of Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland

69
gel-e simply would not be alive and thriving without the support of MIPS. Our 2008 MIPS grant was the first
substantial research grant that we received, and that funding has created a platform for our company to
raise over $1.7 million in non-dilutive funding and reach a first regulatory milestone. gel-e hopes to continue
to serve as an example of a real-world manifestation of the vision for the MIPS program.
MATTHEW DOWLING, FOUNDER AND CSO, GEL-E
70
 Genovation Cars
Aerodynamic Modeling of a High-Efficiency High Performance Automobile

Company Description Genovation is currently in the testing and development phase for its GXE C7 and has
Genovations long-term goal is to be a premier provider of high-performance begun accepting preorders for 75 production vehicles.
sustainable automobiles. The company is committed to advancing the state of the art
in electrical vehicle (EV) technology with the knowledge that performance EVs will
accelerate the delivery of sustainable products for future generations. Genovations
The MIPS program will enable Genovation to achieve
GXE all-electric Corvette has broken several world records on multiple occasions.
Through the development of the Genovation GXE Corvette, the company is raising a critical success factor in the most cost-effective
the bar in energy storage, propulsion, composite and suspension technologies. means possible. One of the biggest aspects related
MIPS Project Challenge to automobile efficiency is air resistance. Typically,
The goal of this MIPS project is to augment and modify the Computational Fluid around 60 percent of the power required to cruise at
Dynamics (CFD) of Genovations GXE C7 corvette model with data collected from a
series of static wind tunnel tests of a scaled vehicle model.
highway speeds is used to overcome aerodynamic drag.
This percentage increases the faster you go, as drag
Project Scope squares with speed (doubling speed increases drag
For this MIPS project, a 3/8 scale model of the GXE C7 Corvette automobile will be
constructed, put through comprehensive wind tunnel testing at the Glenn L. Martin four-fold). Automotive aerodynamics is also critically
wind tunnel, and extensive data will be collected for analysis. important for safety reasons, most notably to increase
Results downforce. Great care is being taken to design the GXE
The GXE wind tunnel program is currently in progress. with a healthy amount of downforce and aerodynamic
In February, 2017, the Genovation GXE C6 supercar broke the world speed record for stability.
fastest street-legal electric super car (209 mph) for the third time in 12 months. The ANDREW SAUL, CEO, GENOVATION CARS
GXE includes a state-of-the-art battery management system, inverters, batteries and
electric motors that exceed 700-hp and 600 lb-ft of torque. Through improvements
in development, the range has been extended to 150 miles during normal driving
operation. The GXE supercar is designed for superior handling, with a near 50/50
weight distribution and optimized for a low center of gravity.

Project Start Date: 8/29/17; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2011; Website: genovationcars.com; Project Manager:
71 Steven Rogers, Co-Founder, President and CTO; Principal Investigator: Jewel Barlow, Director, Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel, University of Maryland
72
 Gliknik Inc.
Recombinant IgG Fc for treatment of Autoimmunity
Company Description
Gliknik is a privately held biopharmaceutical company
working to ease human suffering by creating new
therapies for people living with cancer and immune
disorders. Stradomers are the companys first core
innovative discovery; this technology was advanced
under the MIPS project.
MIPS Project Challenge
Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is used
therapeutically in dozens of autoimmune diseases
and is in chronic short supply. This project was
designed to identify and advance a recombinant
human protein that is one of the most active
fractions of IVIG, a blood product that was already
known to be safe and effective but which currently comes from the pooled blood
of tens of thousands of people. The most active component of this product, the
Fc portion of aggregates, had been identified in publications. Gliknik invented the
concept of treating autoimmune diseases with recombinant products containing
multiple Fc, and selected GL-2045 as its first internally generated drug candidate,
which it provided to Stromes lab for in vitro function testing and confirmation of
binding affinity to its cognate receptors. The product was later tested by Gliknik for in
vivo activity in mouse models of autoimmunity. The result would be the defining of a
lead pre-clinical compound to address autoimmune diseases.
Project Scope
The goal of these projects was to build adequate proof-of-concept data around the
lead product for moving the drug through clinical pharmacokinetics into pivotal
clinical trials. Phase 2 addressed the final preparatory work to advance the drug into
Project Start Date: 8/1/07; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2007; Website: www.gliknik.com; Project Manager: David Block, President
Principal Investigator: Scott Strome, Professor and Chair, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore
73
patients. The research resulted in a potential drug candidate.
Results
The MIPS project enabled initial proof of concept for the underlying technology. As a
result of the project, GL-2045 advanced in preclinical development. The product to be
commercialized, GL-2045, is a recombinant IgG1 Fc fusion protein that multimerizes
yet retains full Fc functionality, presenting polyvalent Fc to more than one Fc receptor
simultaneously. IVIG is indicated for numerous autoimmune diseases, including
chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, a peripheral nerve disease,
and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, a bleeding disorder in which the immune
system destroys platelets. GL-2045 is anticipated to be developed in these types
of autoimmune diseases. Because IVIG has been used for decades, its efficacy and
safety are well established, decreasing the riskiness of GL-2045 compared to a novel
recombinant drug candidate that does not have a predecessor blood product.
In October, 2011, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded the company a Small
Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract for up to $1.5 million. With the
funding, Gliknik advanced its lead compounds from its first-in-class Stradobody
platform towards the clinic. In October, 2012, the company raised $4.9 million in
Series B Financing, supported by Baxter Ventures, LifeTech Development Partners,
Brace Pharma, and the Maryland Health Care Product Development Corporation.
In September, 2013, Gliknik announced a significant license of GL-2045 to Pfizer Inc.
Pfizer has received orphan drug status from the FDA for the development of the
product. Gliknik received an upfront payment of $25 million and is eligible to receive
development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments.
Gliknik also has a peptide cancer drug, GL-0817, currently enrolling a Phase IIb clinical
study in seven countries for oral cavity cancer. Gliknik is conducting research on
numerous drug candidates from its Stradomer technology platform.
Scott Strome, UMB faculty
inventor, is the founding
scientist of Gliknik.
UMB and Gliknik jointly
discovered the Stradomer
technology platform.

74
 Global Resource Recyclers, Inc.
Carbon Emission Reductions from FSB

Company Description construction. The results from

Global Resource Recyclers is a pavement contractor committed to manufacturing a this project helped in acquiring
paving product that is both environmentally friendly and economically efficient. The more than $230,000 in funding for
product is a Foam-Stabilized Base (FSB) commercially known as green mix foamed the research, including $140,000
asphalt. The product is made through a carbon-neutral cold mix process and is from the U.S. Department
manufactured using one-hundred-percent recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), with small of Transportation National
amounts of hot bitumen, portland cement and water. When blended together, the Transportation Center and $90,000
materials produce an ambient temperature road base material. FSB, unlike conventional in continued support from GRR to
hot mix asphalt (HMA), does not require virgin aggregate or large quantities of natural UMD faculty. This project, as well
gas and electricity. Besides the environmental benefits over traditional HMA, the product as all follow-on studies, produced
significantly reduces cost, is easy to install, and has similar structural features and benefits. a methodology for FSB emission
credit, a mobile app for green
MIPS Project Challenge pavement design, and a provisional patent. Since 2006, approximately 900 jobs
The goal of this MIPS project was to quantify the environmental and cost savings of across MD/DC/VA have been completed on commercial parking lots and roadways
the Foam-Stabilized Base product versus conventional paving products. using over 85,000 tons of Green Mix foamed asphalt.

Project Scope
Researchers were slated to calculate emissions for energy consumption during the
material extraction, transportation and manufacture of HMA. This was to be executed
by a bottom-up analysis to identify baseline emissions for HMA. They then tracked
the carbon emission reductions from the use of FSB in pavement construction. Using
data on the observed reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from using the
FSB, they then developed a new environmental assessment protocol through the
Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) to register carbon credits, identify potential trading
schemes, and generate new business revenue from carbon reduction.
Results
This project quantified the emission reduction from the use of FSB in pavement
Since the completion of the MIPS project, the team has been in collaboration with the
transportation center at UMD and developed a mobile app, called PaveNext, which
can automatically optimize pavement design for cost efficiency and environmental
benefits.
Additional Information
The project won the National Recognition Award in the 2015 American Council of
Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards competition and
the Outstanding Project Award in the 2015 ACEC Maryland Engineering Excellence
competition.

Project Start Date: 8/1/12; Location: Forestville, Prince Georges County; Founded: 1992
Website: grr.engineering; Project Manager: Chandra Akisetty, P.E.
Principal Investigator: Qingbin Cui, Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland

75

This MIPS project strengthened our
competitiveness and creates a new
business model for revenue generation.
The project has already made positive
business operation and led to a long-
term collaboration between GRR and the
University.
HAROLD GREEN, CEO, GLOBAL RESOURCE RECYCLERS
The process was developed
and used for the mouse
model study of breast
cancer at UMB by Dr. Jones
and Fuzbien Technology
Institute Inc. and led to a
convincing result of this
concept in detecting breast
cancer. A next-generation
device prototype for a
Diabetes Detector using
salivary glycated Albumin
resulted.
SAEYOUNG NATE AHN, CEO
AND DIRECTOR OF R&D, FUZBIEN
TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE

76
 Green Eyes, LLC
Development of ProbeGuard Anti-Biofouling Device

Company Description
Green Eyes develops aquatic monitoring instruments and systems for academic, Green Eyes has created two jobs in Maryland are a result of its MIPS project..
environmental consulting, and federal, state, and local government water monitoring
agencies. Green Eyes also has business in China, Japan, India and Europe.

MIPS Project Challenge

Green Eyes sought to address a longstanding biofouling problem for aquatic
instrumentation with the development and commercialization of ProbeGuard, a
product that controls biofouling on various moored aquatic instruments by enclosing
sensors in a chamber that is periodically treated with a biocide after data is collected.
The chamber is opened and flushed with ambient water before sampling to insure
data integrity.

Project Scope
Biofouling was identified by the Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT) as a key
problem for observing systems that was yet to be solved. Through MIPS, Green Eyes
refined ProbeGuard, which addresses this problem by using two concentric cups
that form a protective sensor garage. Both the outer (static) and inner (rotating)
cups have windows that align to allow free communication with the ambient water
in sampling mode, and are staggered in protected mode to block the sensors from
the ambient water. Upon closing the windows, a biocide is delivered by one to
four compact, highly efficient proprietary pumps. All activities of ProbeGuard are
microprocessor-controlled, and the time of all actions logged on non-volatile, on-
board memory.

Results
This MIPS project enabled Green Eyes to commercialize ProbeGuard, which reduces
servicing costs by 50-75 percent while improving data quality. The system also allows
real-time access to data.

Project Start Date: 8/1/06, 8/2/07 (two-phase project); Location: Easton, Talbot County; Founded: 2006; Website: gescience.com
Project Manager: Vincent Kelly, Director; Principal Investigator: Louis Codispoti, Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for
Environmental Science
77
The MIPS project was critical to getting Green
Eyes off the ground. With the ProbeGuard
project, Green Eyes secured more funding from
private businesses and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Early next year, Green
Eyes will sell 15 units to reduce monitoring costs for
the U.S. Great Lakes.
VINCENT KELLY, DIRECTOR, GREEN EYES

Green Eyes ProbeGuard keeps instruments that

monitor various aspects of water quality clear of
biofouling, as shown above.

78
 High Impact Environmental, Inc. Funded by:

Agricultural Storm Water Cascading System

Company Description
High Impact Environmental Inc. (HIE) is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, whose
mission is to develop programs that implement, promote and educate the public about
cost-feasible storm water conservation and management practices in Queen Annes and
surrounding counties
MIPS Project Challenge
The overall goal of these research projects was to quantify the amount of sediment,
nitrogen, phosphorous, and other pollutants that enter and depart HIEs pilot
Agricultural Storm Water Cascading System.
Project Scope
Researchers engaged in these projects were slated to evaluate the water quality
improvement of HIEs ASCS. The field site was fully instrumented to monitor
rainfall and runoff flows into and out of the treatment for one year. Water quality
samples were taken back to the environmental engineering laboratory at UMD
for determination of pH, TSS (sediment), TP (total phosphorus), DP (dissolved
phosphorus), SRP (soluble reactive phosphorus), TN (total nitrogen), Nitrate, and
possibly others. Performance efficiency for the ASCS was evaluated based on percent
pollutant mass removal efficiency, effluent pollutant concentrations, and probability
distributions with appropriate water quality targets.
suspended sediments, phosphorus, and nitrogen appeared to be the main treatment
mechanisms.
Additional Notes
The Chesapeake Bay watershed area consists of 8.5 million acres (25 percent of
its total land area) under cultivation, of which 30 percent, or 2.5 million acres, is
feasible for the HIE Cascading System of Water Cells. Currently, pollution control on
agricultural land consists of planting cover crops and constructing filter strips within
150 feet of a stream or body of tidal water. Neither strategy is effective for storm
water flowing from higher elevations or from areas as far as a half-mile to a mile from
streams or body of tidal water. Cover crops take-up existing nitrogen nutrients in the
soil, but the benefits may not be realized for 20-30 years because ground water flows
so slowly into Bay waters. Filter strips utilize agricultural land. Additional tools, such
as HIEs system, are needed to address the agricultural runoff challenge. (Source: High
Impact Environmental, Inc.)
Funding for this project was provided by the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources (DNR).

Results
Over the duration of the second study, 27 storm events were successfully sampled
and tested. During this time, the basin system provided statistically significant
reductions of sediments, total phosphorus and total nitrogen masses. The total runoff
volume reduction exhibited by the system was 56 percent, which was significant
(according to the company), given that the basin system was undersized compared to
what would be recommended for the drainage area it served. Overall, runoff volume
storage and reduction (infiltration and evapotranspiration) and concurrent removal of

Project Start Date: 2/1/13, 2/1/14 (two projects); Location: Chestertown, Queen Annes County; Founded: 2009
Website: www.highimpactenvironmental.org; Project Manager: Samuel Owings, President
79 Principal Investigator: Allen Davis, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland
MIPS is an excellent program; the
Cascading System would not have
the credibility it has today without
their help.
SAMUEL OWINGS, PRESIDENT, HIGH IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL

80
 Hughes Network Systems
Broadcast Internet Access

Company Description long latency would make this impossible.

Hughes Network Systems LLC (HUGHES) is a global leader in broadband satellite
technology and services for home and office. Its flagship high-speed satellite Internet Results
service is HughesNet, the worlds largest satellite network, with over 1 million residential The protocols developed by Baras and Hughes are now called TIA-1008, a standard
and business customers across North America and Brazil. adopted intact by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

For large enterprises and governments, the companys HughesON managed network services
provide complete connectivity solutions, employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial
technologies. The companys JUPITER System is the worlds most widely deployed High-
Throughput Satellite (HTS) platform, operating on more than 20 satellites by leading service
providers, delivering a wide range of broadband enterprise, mobility and cellular backhaul
applications.
To date, Hughes has shipped more than 5.5 million terminals to customers in over 100
countries, representing an approximately 50 percent market share, and its technology is
powering broadband services to aircraft around the world.
With annual revenues of over $1 billion, Hughes headquarters are in Germantown, Md.,
although the company has offices in 11 countries and customers in over 100 countries.
MIPS Project Challenge
Hughes was developing a service to provide Internet to consumers and businesses
via satellite but needed to develop a communications protocol for delivering data via
satellite.
Project Scope
Former electrical engineering graduate student Aaron Falk worked with Baras
and Hughes Doug Dillion to turn conventional wisdom on its head and develop
asymmetric Internet protocols, sending data to the satellite at one speed, and down
to a modem at another, for use over satellite. Prevailing theory at the time held that
More than 30 papers were published as a result of the MIPS work with Hughes,
according to Baras. Hughes has conducted seven MIPS projects with the university.
Falk went on to chair the Internet Research Task Force, which promotes research
of importance to the evolution of the future Internet. He has chaired the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF)s working groups on TCP over Satellite, Performance
Implications of Link Characteristics, and Datagram Congestion Control Protocol..
The Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) annual report
on consumer broadband services has ranked HughesNet
satellite Internet service first among all major Internet service
providers (ISPs) for delivering on advertised performance
promises for two consecutive years (2015-2016).
HughesNet was originally launched in 1997 as DirecPC. At the time, it was the first
consumer product/service to offer Internet access via satellite. The protocol used for
this service (and HughestNet today) was developed through the companys MIPS
projects with the University of Maryland.
Hughes was acquired by EchoStar for $2 billion in 2011.

Project Start Date: 3/1/94; Location: Germantown, Montgomery County; Founded: 1971; Website: www.hughes.com
Project Manager: Douglas Dillon, Advisory Engineer, VSAT Software; Principal Investigator: John Baras, Professor and Lockheed Martin Chair in Systems
81 Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Systems Research
Over time, weve probably
generated within the state of
Maryland, a large share of our
revenue$1.5 billion a year, with a
total of close to $15 billion. About $5 billion
of that can be directly credited to the work
done through MIPS. We employ 1,500 people here in
the state. Most of them are working on businesses related to
this technology. MIPS helped develop not just a new product, but a new industry.
John Kenyon, Senior Vice President for Engineering, Hughes 82
 HY-TEK Bio, LLC
Increase Methane in Chicken Manure Digesters
Company Description
HY-TEK Bio is an early stage company developing a patent-pending system to remove
carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases from smoke stack flue gas using
a unique strain of algae while producing valuable byproducts from the algae. The
companys system mitigates greenhouse gas from flue gases by injecting the flue gas
into a tank full of a unique strain of algae. The tank is a patent-pending, closed bioreactor
produced in-house from a lamination of Mylar and Kevlar. This patent-pending construct
allows the bioreactors to be produced inexpensively while being extremely light weight.
In addition, patent-pending LED Grow Lights are used along with a nutrient developed
in-house, made from fresh chicken manure and a blend of other proprietary components.
The algae feeds on the CO2 and NOx in the flue gas, as well as on the nutrient. CO2
consumption is enhanced through the use of proprietary LED Grow Light technology,
yielding minimal greenhouse gas emissions and high yields of high-value algal biomass.
The process produces little to no CO2 or NOx emissions, while enhancing the lipid-oil
production in the algae as well as a by-product of Lutein-Zeaxanthin, an ultra-antioxidant
that is in high demand in the market place. The algal biomass can be sold to brokers,
who place the biomass into markets that produce Lutein-Zeaxanthin-based products,
bio-plastics, skin care products, cosmetic and paint thickeners, additives for human and
animal food products, and biofuel.
MIPS Project Challenge
During one MIPS project, HY-TEK Bio produced a clear, odorless nutrient stock from
chicken manure using the companys auto-flow extraction system. However, there
was a significant loss of inorganic nutrients (ammonium and phosphate), suggesting
that the last step of nutrient purification with activated carbon may remove a large
portion of nutrient. UMCES researchers performed laboratory tests to find out the
best way to treat manure nutrient with activated carbon. By following a published
method, the company can now achieve a clear, odorless nutrient stock from chicken
manure without a significant loss of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus. Researchers
will work closely with HY-TEK Bio to implement this treatment method into the final
purification step of the nutrient extraction process.
Project Start Date: 2/1/12 (six total MIPS projects); Location: Dayton, Howard County; Founded: 2009; Website: www.hytekbio.com
83 Project Manager: Robert M. Mroz, Founder and CEO; PI: Feng Chen, Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Funded by:
Researchers also discovered that simply adding HTB1 algal biomass into anaerobic
digesters did not increase the biogas yield. It appears that the live cells of HTB1
cannot be easily digested by microorganisms, likely due to HTB1s thick cell wall.
However, researchers discovered that the addition of a waste product from the
production of sugar increased the production of biogas dramatically. The optimal
ratio of this sugar waste vs. chicken manure for the maximum production of biogas in
digesters is not known. In Phase 2, HY-TEK Bio plans to maximize biogas production
by testing ratios of sugar waste vs. chicken manure.
Project Scope
In previous MIPS projects, Chens laboratory at UMCES isolated a new strain of algae
from the Chesapeake Bays Back River tributary that grows fast, contains a 35-45
percent lipid content and survives in environments with as much as 80 percent CO2.
The newly isolated strain was named HTB-1 for HY-TEK Bio Strain No. 1. Researchers
worked with HY-TEK Bio to develop a method that can extract inorganic nutrient from
fresh chicken manure. This process extracts the inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus
from the chicken manure, which can be used to support the fast growth of the
HTB1 algal strain. This enhanced growth increases the potential for the HTB1 algae
to consume more CO2 and NOx per liter of culture in less time. Remaining chicken
manure solid waste can be used to produce biogas via anaerobic digestion.
Researchers will continue to work with HY-TEK Bio to optimize the protocol to remove
the tannic color associated in chicken manure nutrient. This last stage of process
should yield chicken manure nutrient stocks that are clear, odorless, and contain
high nutrient concentrations. UMCES researchers will also try to increase the yield of
biogas by co-digesting chicken manure residue and other organic wastes (i.e., wastes
from sugar production). The goal is to fully recycle chicken manure waste to reduce
the risk of nutrient pollution resulting from chicken manure use and disposal. We
hope to deliver an innovative nutrient extraction system that can produce a clear,
odorless liquid nutrient from chicken manure. The chicken manure-based nutrient or
fertilizer produced in our system will be commercially inexpensive and can be used
to grow algae and other plants.
We are moving to an entirely new concept in closed bioreactor design using our patent-
pending Mylar/Kevlar tank structure, our unique modulated LED Grow Light technology,
our patent-pending air injection system and our special, high-value chicken manure-
based nutrient. These concepts will revolutionize closed bioreactors and the way the world
mitigates greenhouse gas emissions.

HY-TEK Bio is a classic example of the Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program making
a difference in helping a small company bring big ideas to market.
BOB MROZ, FOUNDER AND CEO, HY-TEK BIO

84
 iBiquity Digital Corporation
HD Radio system testing at increased power levels

Company Description
iBiquity Digital is the developer and licenser of HD Radio Technology, which is
transforming AM and FM broadcasting with a vastly increased number of channels,
dramatically improved sound quality, and an array of new data services. iBiquity is
actively engaged with broadcasters, receiver, component and broadcast equipment
manufacturers, automotive manufacturers and retailers in the United States
and around the world to ensure the swift and successful adoption of HD Radio
Technology.
MIPS Project Challenge
iBiquity sought to obtain FCC clearance for the use of higher broadcast power levels
for the digital carriers in the FM HD Radio system.
digital power levels for the HD Radio system and allowed the industry to seek FCC
authorization for an overall increase in digital power levels. Various broadcasters
supported iBiquitys request to allow broadcasters to increase the power level
of their digital radio broadcasts. On January 29, 2010, the FCC issued an order
authorizing FM radio stations to increase their digital power levels based on the test
results conducted pursuant to the MIPS grant. iBiquity also distributed results to
regulators in other countries considering HD Radio adoption and to the International
Telecommunication Union. The information about high-power FM broadcasts helped
to encourage the Mexican government to adopt HD Radio technology as the digital
radio standard in Mexico. The FCC authorization of increased power resulted in
several dozen stations around the country increasing the power levels of their digital
broadcasts and improving the quality of their digital signals.

Project Scope This project has helped to strengthen the value of

Salisbury researchers examined higher power levels for the digital carriers in the
FM HD Radio system. The MIPS project focused on the feasibility of increasing our digital radio product, which in turn supports the
power levels and the potential impact of that increase on adjacent analog channels. continued employment of 43 people in our Columbia,
Increased digital power levels allow broadcasters to increase the coverage of their
digital signals and to enhance the signal penetration of buildings. The project also
Maryland office.
ALBERT SHULDINER, SENIOR VP & GENERAL COUNSEL,
involved the collection of audio samples of analog radio programming from several IBIQUITY DIGITAL CORPORATION
existing radio stations. Analog broadcasts were examined with the digital power of
adjacent channel stations set to existing authorized levels and proposed higher
levels. A subjective evaluation of the audio samples was conducted using
listeners to determine if they perceive a diminution in audio quality.

Results
There was no appreciable decrease in audio quality from the
increase in digital power levels. This finding allowed the broadcast
industry to become comfortable with the benefits of increasing

Project Start Date: 2/1/07; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Project Manager: Albert Shuldiner
85 Principal Investigator: Ellyn Sheffield, Research Professor, Department of Psychology, Salisbury University
86
 ICmed, LLC
MIPS Project Title: Older Adult/Caregiver Mobile Support Solution

Company Description
ICmed empowers users to own, share and learn from their health information on a mobile
and web-based social network of families and caregivers. Through a proprietary decision
engine, ICmed translates static family medical history, current health risk information
and individual health tracking information into a dynamic, personalized health guide.
Unique family sharing elements enable caregivers to selectively collaborate on the health
of loved ones, thus heightening family and patient engagement, improving medical
outcomes and lowering health costs.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project is to conduct a feasibility study of the companys ICmed
platform for Patient-Family Engaged Care (PFEC) intervention with older, adult
patients.

Project Scope
Through the MIPS project, researchers will follow community-dwelling, independent
living older adults and their caregivers and providers use of PFEC over a one-month
treatment period. Researchers will determine: 1.) the feasibility of implementing the
PFEC intervention within a primary care practice; 2.) the challenges of implementing
the interventions at the patient, clinician, practice staff, and practice level; 3).
the uptake and confidence among primary care practices to improve patient
engagement, reliability and medication adherence (safety) through patient and
family engagement; 4.) how the implementation of PFEC intervention changes the
perception of patient safety among patients, their family caregiver, clinicians, and
practice staff; 5.) whether the primary care practice would like to continue to use
PFEC (or its interventions) beyond the period of field testing and evaluation; and
6.) what changes patients, family caregivers, clinicians, and practice staff would
recommend to the PFEC intervention to improve the system.
One in seven persons in the U.S. are older and live in community settings, with
one-third living alone. The majority of support for older adults is provided by 17.7
million informal (unpaid) family members. As people live longer with diabetes, heart
disease, cancer, memory impairment and Alzheimers, informal family caregivers
effort and time demand is increasing, from tasks like transportation and shopping
to care needs, making medical appointments, speaking to a doctor, and ordering or
keeping track of medicine. This increase in adult family member time and emotional
demand is both stressful and overwhelming, especially in light of data identifying
even basic needs not being met or poor medication adherence leading to adverse
consequences, such as falls, hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
ICmeds platform helps by giving family members a private, secure place where they
can share and manage health information. (Source: ICmed)

Results
This project is currently in progress.

Project Start Date: 8/1/17; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2014; Website: icmedonline.com; Project Manager: Gregory Pelton, Chief Medical Officer
87 Principal Investigator: Charlene Quinn, Associate Professor, Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Dr. Quinn and her team have been stellar
partners from the application stage. While
we are still early in the MIPS program,
we already see signs that the investment
of time and effort will be well worth it.
Receptivity among hospital, health plan
and employer markets has been boosted
by the fact that we can say we are working
with MIPS and the University of Maryland,
that we have an experienced PI in the field,
and that we are driving validation from a
trusted third party.

88
 InstantLabs Medical Diagnostics Corporation
Development of PCR assay for the detection of MRSA

Company Description Project Scope

InstantLabs is a molecular diagnostic device company and the developer of portable, During Phase 1 of this MIPS project, researchers developed a novel molecular test
quantitative, real-time PCR (qPCR) systems. The company is focused on medical for detecting all known clinically important MRSA strains. In Phase 2, researchers
diagnostic and food safety applications for its proprietary technologies. InstantLabs transferred the assay to the Hunter platform and validated it against a panel of
currently markets its Hunter Accelerated-PCR platform with disposable Multiple clinical patient samples, a key step towards bringing the test to market.
Assay Cartridges (MACs), bringing simplicity and power to complex diagnostic
testing without dependency on central laboratories or acute-care facilities for sample
analysis. The compact, affordable and fully-integrated Hunter system is especially
suited for use at points-of-care and points-of-need to detect and analyze a wide
The quality of the researchers and the support from
variety of common and problematic pathogens. InstantLabs is positioned to broaden MIPS will allow us to enter the market sooner.
the addressable market for RT-PCR in areas where gold-standard accuracy, combined STEVEN GUTERMAN, BOARD MEMBER, INSTANTLABS
with ease-of-use and rapid time to results, can make a consequential improvement in
operational efficiency, as well as health outcomes.
InstantLabs instrument, the Hunter, is not confined to human diagnostics. It is also
MIPS Project Challenge used in food safety, food fraud, and industrial corrosion applications.
Decision-making for patients with a Staph infection used to be easy. Simple,
inexpensive antibiotics cured all but the worst cases. However, in the early 1960s, a
new, rare pathogen appeared, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). It
now represents more than 35 percent of hospital Staph isolates. MRSA is resistant to
common antibiotics, and often results in serious illness and even death. It is an ever-
increasing cause of community and hospital-acquired infections worldwide.

The rapid diagnosis of MRSA is critical to both patient treatment and efficient hospital
operations.

InstantLabs is seeking to develop a rapid method to detect Methicillin-Resistant

Staph Aureus (MRSA) on the Hunter Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
platform. This will allow accurate and quick diagnosis of an increasingly important
multi-drug resistant pathogen.

Project Start Date: 8/1/12; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2008; Website: instantlabs.com
Project Manager: Neil Sharma , President
89 Principal Investigator: Jennifer Kristie Johnson, Professor, Pathology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
90
 IT Curves
Next-Gen Algorithms for Ridesharing Services

Company Description
Information Technologies Curves, or IT Curves, develops state-of-the-art
transportation and logistics management software serving enterprises in over 30
cities in the U.S. IT Curves software allows enterprises to monitor and manage mobile
resources (which operate outside of the office) with the same level of accuracy as in-
office staff and resources. IT Curves system allows enterprises such as taxi, limousine,
shuttle, campus bus systems, trucking, and other logistics management enterprises
to accurately monitor, assign tasks, verify completion of the task, and process
payments for these resources while on the road. IT Curves uses standard, off-the-shelf
cellular phones and tablets, wireless data communication, accurate GPS positioning,
and built-in navigation to enable mobile resources to be managed as an integral part
of the company at all times.
MIPS Project Challenge
One of the most complex problems in managing transportation and logistics is
Efficient Ride-Sharing, which applies both to transporting people as well as packages.
It involves combining multiple pickup and drop-off locations and time-windows
requirements. It is a mathematical optimization problem, which exponentially grows
when it involves several hundreds or thousands of pickups or drop offs, far exceeding
the computing capability of manual routing, and even using computers may take
hours of computing. This MIPS project was slated to produce a computer program
and practical mathematical algorithm that is now offered as a part of IT Curves suite
of solutions as the Efficient Ride Sharing Algorithm (ERSA). This solution is offered to
shuttle and paratransit service providers in a number of markets within the U.S.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, University of Maryland researchers and IT Curves design
and development engineers worked together to: study relevant academic literature;
devise an innovative mathematical algorithm and to ensure the practicality with
simulations using actual field-data from IT Curves transportation customers; combine
the results with the Google Maps API to further improve the accuracy by including
predicted and real-time traffic data; dynamically compute efficient ride-share in real-
time; save businesses capital and operating resources by increasing the efficiency
of operation while improving the services with improved time management; and
develop a solution that led to the publication of a number of academic papers in
various journals and presentation at the Transpiration Research Board (TRB).
Results
These new algorithms have been embedded into IT Curves software suite, which
is being utilized by a number of transportation service providers nationwide. Based
on these on-going service contracts with operators, the company has been able to
retain a workforce of eight full-time employees.
In 2012, the Telecom Council of Silicon Valley selected IT Curves as one of the most
innovative young companies in the Machineto-Machine (M2M) space. The company
won contracts to modify its system to accommodate ride-sharing operations for a
shuttle operation at Dulles and Reagan Airports.
Results from this joint effort enabled IT Curves to expand its services to meet the
needs of paratransit and non-emergency Medicaid transportation, shuttle transit,
and other demand-responsive transportation providers. IT Curves has been awarded
a number government requests for proposals (RFPs) due to the collaborative work on
the ride-sharing algorithm and continues to participate in a variety of RFPs. One of
the most recent awards was with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in
September, 2017, to service the Abilities-Ride program.

Project Start Date: 8/1/12, 8/1/13 (two-phase project; the company had one prior MIPS project); Location: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County
Founded: 2008; Website: www.itcurves.net; Project Manager: Matthew Mohebbi, CEO
Principal Investigator: Elise Miller-Hooks, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland
91
The MIPS program is a very effective program to encourage the integration of the academic research and resources
with local companies to ignite growth in various industries. We were pleased to see the universitys desire for fresh
problems to solve as our industry is seeking to move into the future of increased efficiency. MIPS is a very well-managed
and excellent program. Our relationship with our principal investigator was excellent and we found the research team
extremely interested in the industrial use of their academic experience and very much capable of understanding the
commercial problem we described. Our company has converted the results of our joint work to into tangible business
success.

MATTHEW MOHEBBI, CEO, IT CURVES

92
 itutela, LLC
Patient-Identification and Security Verification: ICU Communication Platform

Company Description product for commercialization.

Itutela develops a digital messaging
platform that connects clinicians, Results
families and community resources to To date, 13 hospitals use itutelas platform.
improve access and reduce preventable The company is generating revenue, raised a
readmissions. Hospital-based clinicians use seed round and has added two new positions
the app on any device and are matched (jobs).
through a proprietary algorithm to the
patients care team, whether inside Additional Information
or outside of their network. After two Itutelas goal is to simplify the hospital decision-making process by eliminating costly
successful clinical intensive care pilots, a installation, seat licenses and expensive hardware, yet create a secure, collaborative,
$13,000 savings per patient, 27 percent medicine-based environment to make more informed care plans and decisions. During
reduction in readmissions and improved the MIPS project, the team pivoted from NICU to include adult ICU, ACOs and PCPs.
access for rural patients was proven. The company provides the secure, HIPAA-compliant
platform at no charge to value-based organizations with a patient-centric focus.

MIPS Project Challenge MIPS helped my company further develop

The goal of this MIPS project was to validate the security of TutelaConnect and
ready the product for full distribution. The projects goals included identifying and the platform, improve the user interface and
assessing security gaps and vulnerabilities of the NICULink system, re-engineering
ready the product for commercialization. The
the MVP to a fully functional platform, and the development of patient and clinician
mobile apps. Frostburg team has been a pleasure to work
Project Scope
with.
Through this project, MIPS researchers planned to develop a set of cyber security
KAREN ALDER, CEO AND CO-FOUNDER, ITUTELA
controls for TutelaConnect, to ensure security and maintain medical device
functionality and safety, test and validate existing functionality, deploy feedback
from pilots and develop a mobile application. The end goal was to prepare the

Project Start Date: 8/1/15; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2014; Website: www.itutela.com; Project Manager: Karen Alder, CEO and Co-Founder
Principal Investigator: George Rinard, Professor, Department of Computer Science and IT, Frostburg State University

93
Over 55 million babies
worldwide have now
had infant formula
that included Marteks
nutritional ingredients.
Over 99 percent of the
infant formula in the
Unites States has it,
as well as products in
more than 75 countries
around the world.
Almost every U.S. child
under the age of six has
had this Martek DHA in
their brain. It all started
here. It all came from
this facility [through
MIPS].

HENRY PETE LINSERT,

FORMER CHAIRMAN
AND CEO, MARTEK

94
 Johnny Oysterseed, LLC Funded by:

Developing an Improved System for Farming Oysters

Company Description MIPS Project Challenge

Johnny Oysterseed LLC is a venture founded around the farming of the Eastern
Oyster (C. virginica). To date, the company has produced/planted approximately
20 million seed oysters in support of commercial food production and ecosystem
restoration. Johnny Oysterseed also produces and sells food oysters under its Calvert
Crest and Steamboat Landing labels. Ten years of working closely with oysters,
government regulations, markets, and industry has given the company deep insight
into the challenges currently confronting oyster farmers. This experience, together
with engineering expertise, has led Johnny Oysterseed to invent several technical
solutions for oyster farming. These solutions have greatly improved the companys
production while reducing labor costs. After realizing these increased efficiencies,
Johnny Oysterseed is focusing on manufacturing and marketing its unique technical
solutions to the aquaculture industry, with an initial emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay
region and the U.S. eastern seaboard.
The goal of this MIPS project is to develop an improved, containerized system
for oyster culture that makes it easier to maintain, deploy/retrieve, transport and
store cages, as well as expedite specific tasks required for maintaining the oysters
themselves.
Project Scope
Researchers in this MIPS project are engaged in further engineering of the Johnny
Oysterseed oyster farming system, including the CAD of subsystems, kinematics of
physical interfaces between subsystems, strength of materials, injection-molding of
plastics, mechanical torque and power calculations.
Results
This project is currently in progress.

As compared to the conventional Virginia-style system of cage culture,

the proposed MIPS-style system achieves tremendous savings in
maintenancea reduction of some 86 percent, amounting to roughly
$18,000 savings per year for a small farm operation (240,000 oysters/year
annually), according to the company. The workload required to operate
the proposed system is minimal enough that it permits a small farmer to
pursue the operation as a side business. For an example small farmer, an
investment of $82,000 in MIPS-style equipment can conservatively produce
$72,000/year in receipts while costing only $34,000/year to operate, leaving
the farmer a profit of $38,000 per year. (Source: Johnny Oysterseed)

Project Start Date: 8/1/15, 8/1/17 (two separate projects); Location: Saint Leonard, Calvert County
Founded: 2011; Project Manager: Jon Farrington, Owner; Principal Investigator: Chandrasekhar Thamire,
95 Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland
96
 Juxtopia, Inc.
An Auditorily Based Speech Enhancement Scheme

Company Description
The Juxtopia Group Inc. is a 501c(3) not-for-profit organization established in 2000
and founded by Jayfus Tucker Doswell. Juxtopias core business is developing human
performance products, with a focus on augmented reality headsets and software services
where speech is the primary human computer interface.

MIPS Project Challenge

Juxtopia sought to fine-tune a single-channel speech enhancement algorithm
to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of speech signals recorded in noisy
environments. This algorithm would enhance the performance of Juxtopias Context-
Aware Augmented Reality System (CAARS) platform, a speech-controlled, wearable
augmented reality headset that needs to perform well in every-day situations.

Project Scope
In the MIPS study, Carol Espy-Wilson developed a speech enhancement algorithm to
eliminate noise (echo and background noise) from speech signals.

Results
Juxtopia developed a speech enhancement product based on this algorithm,
which eliminated noise from speech signals. Juxtopia planned to integrate the
noise-reduction software product into its headset and license it to other headset
manufacturers and speech service vendors. The company also attracted several SBIR/
STTR grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of
Health (NIH), as well as NASA and the Department of Defense (DOD), to advance its
Juxtopia wearable augmented reality for improving human performance.
Jayfus T. Doswell, Founder, President and CEO,
Juxtopia

Project Start Date: 1/28/09; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2000; Project Manager: Jayfus Doswell, President and CEO Juxtopia, LLC;
Principal Investigator: Carol Espy-Wilson, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland

97
With MIPS funding, Juxtopia was able to collaborate with UMDs department of electrical engineering to advance
its wearable augmented (AR) reality products and get a head start in the market years before Google, Microsoft, and
Epson. Securing MIPS funding was not easy by any means and took years. However, the experience helped exercise
Juxtopias spirit of perseverance and concentrated focus to achieve a tangible result at the end of the MIPS funding.

JAYFUS T. DOSWELL, FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, JUXTOPIA

98
 K&L Microwave
Cross-Coupled Filter Synthesis

Company Description Results

K&L Microwave is a subsidiary of Dover Corporation, a $7.5 billion Fortune 400 This project enabled K&L to grow its business by seven percent. The several projects
company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, recognized by top-tier defense that K&L did with MIPS support led to the addition of 91 jobs and $3 million in
contractors and wireless infrastructure providers as a world leader in the design and annual revenues. K&L credits the project in its move to broaden from defense into
manufacture of RF and microwave filters, duplexers and integrated assemblies. K&L commercial markets.
is AS9100 and ISO 14001 certified and offers customers the most extensive range of
filter-based products in the industry, spanning from 0.3MHz to 94GHz.
The project resulted in two published papers and two
K&L began operations over 40 years ago in a 1,400 square foot facility manufacturing
custom filters primarily for the military sector. Today, with manufacturing facilities doctoral theses.
in the United States and the Dominican Republic and a global sales presence, K&L is
the industrys premier filter supplier for both military and commercial markets. Over
410 employees represent the engineering, sales and marketing, manufacturing and [Mtech] is invaluable to companies like ours in that it
support personnel that enable K&L to support such a broad product and customer
base. allows us to leverage our own resources with those of
the university and the national laboratories to maximize
MIPS Project Challenge
K&L sought to increase the efficiency of its existing technology for cross-coupling
the output of our research and development efforts. I
filters. feel that the activities to-date, along with those to follow
through this program, in the future, will be instrumental
Project Scope
The goal of the project was to develop models and programs for determining the in permitting K&L Microwave to maintain its position as
physical dimensions of the coupled filter structures. Using a full-wave approach, the the market leader in microwave filters and to continue to
team combined contour mode matching and orthogonal expansion to obtain the
generalized scattering matrix of a cylindrical metal post in a rectangular waveguide. be an aggressive growth company.
A cascading procedure using an S-matrix was employed with proper terminating CHARLES J. SCHAUB, PRESIDENT, K&L MICROWAVE
conditions to compute natural resonant frequencies of the coupled resonators. The
resulting program obtained excellent filter responses.

Project Start Date: 8/1/95; Location: Salisbury, Wicomico County; Founded: 1970; Website: www.klmicrowave.com
99 Project Manager: Rafi Hershtig; Principal Investigator: Kawthar Zaki, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland
 Dr. Zakis software is in use today in an expanded
product line and a new filter design, based on the use of
high-temperature superconducting materials.
CHARLES J. SCHAUB, PRESIDENT, K&L MICROWAVE

100
 Lockheed Martin
Stable Photochromic Compounds, Shape Memory Alloys, and Coupled Cavity Lasers

Company Description
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged
in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of
advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporations net sales for 2016
were $47.2 billion.
MIPS Project Challenge
Lockheed sought help from MIPS-supported researchers to increase the stability of
photochromic compounds, improve the quality assessment of shape memory alloys,
and to gain a better understanding of the operation of coupled cavity lasers.
Project Scope
For the photochromic compound project, university researchers fabricated samples
of the materials and performed chemical characterization of them. This research was
published in a major scientific journal. For the shape memory alloy project, university
researchers developed a prototype smart tool post for machine tools that can self-
tune to compensate for vibration during the cutting process, resulting in a much
smoother cut. In the laser project, the university team designed and developed a
coupled cavity diode laser, which led to an improved understanding of this type of
laser.

Project Start Date: 2/1/90; Location: Baltimore, Baltimore County; Website: www.lockheedmartin.com
101 Project Manager: various; Principal Investigator: R. S. Hosmane, J. Baras, Y. J. Chen, University of Maryland Baltimore County, University of Maryland
Lockheed and MIPS have collaborated on a total of eleven projects.
Lockheed and Martin Marietta merged in 1995.

102
 Mack Trucks
Improved reliability in truck powertrains

Company Description
Mack engines are designed and manufactured at the companys 1.5 million-square-foot
facility in Hagerstown, Md. The TC15 transfer case, rear engine power take-off and Mack
Maxitorque ES T300 series transmissions are also produced there.

MIPS Project Challenge

Mack Trucks sought to improve the reliability of valve lifters used in the companys
engines.

Project Scope
The project team tested two types of valve lifters: brazed lifters in current use
and a newly designed HIP-bonded lifter (a hot-isostatic pressed design). Through
engineering analysis and testing, UMD researchers determined that the HIP-bonded
lifter would provide a 5x improvement in durability over the older-style brazed
lifter. UMD researchers also discovered that the as-built HIP-bonded lifters had an We believe that this has already started to contribute to
unacceptably thin carbide layer. Finally, the team devised an ultrasonic inspection
method for the new lifters. our recent increase in market share, and expect it to be
an important factor in further increases.
Results BRAD TOOLE, ENGINEERING, MACK TRUCKS
As a result of this project, Mack switched entirely from brazed to HIP-bonded lifters.
The company also instituted manufacturing controls to ensure proper thickness of
the carbide layer on the HIP-bonded lifters. This dramatically improved powertrains
reliability, which led to savings in warranty costs, an improved market share and the
creation of new jobs in Hagerstown.

Mack Trucks in Hagerstown is now Volvo Powertrain North America, a division of

Volvo.

Project Start Date: 8/1/92; Location: Hagerstown, Washington County; Founded: 1900; Website: www.macktrucks.com
103 Project Manager: Brad P. Toole; Principal Investigator: Robert J. Sanford, University of Maryland
104
 Manta Biofuel Funded by:

Harvest of Algal Blooms for Crude Oil Production;

Treating Algae to Reduce NOx Emissions in Biocrude
Company Description
Manta Biofuel is a producer of renewable algal crude oil that is cost-competitive with
traditional crude oil. The company employs technological advantages in a three-step
process to produce crude oil from algae. The first is growing algae. Manta can convert
algae from any source, leaving options open from farming to collecting natural blooms.
For the second step, harvesting the algae, Manta uses a proprietary magnetic harvester
that efficiently collects and concentrates algae. The company then converts the algae to
crude oil through hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).
MIPS Project Challenge
For Mantas first MIPS project (two-phases), the goal was to determine the quality
of oil produced from algae blooms with different species compositions. The goal of
the companys second MIPS project (in progress) is to reduce the nitrogen content of
Manta Biofuels algal biocrude oil.
Project Scope
For the first MIPS project, researchers harvested 1 kg of algal biomass from 4-6
blooms, characterized the algae present in the blooms by molecular methods, and
converted the algae to crude oil to be sent for contract oil analysis. During Phase 2,
researchers initiated blooms in open-pond systems under different conditions and
followed the blooms over the course of a growth season. For Mantas second MIPS
project, researchers are studying reduction in nitrogen content by pretreating the
algae. The treatment utilizes the algaes own biochemistry to strip nitrogen from the
cells and expel it into the water. This reduces the amount of nitrogen in the algae
before it is converted to oil. The expelled nitrogen (in the form of ammonia) will be
retained by Manta and used to grow more algae.
Results
For the first MIPS project, Manta reported obtaining detailed insights into the
bacterial and microalga communities present in the companys ponds. The
composition of oil obtained from
hydrothermal liquefaction of algal
biomass was determined. The second
MIPS project is still in progress.
In 2014, Manta was awarded a $40,000
Phase I grant through the TEDCO
Technology Validation Program
(and a subsequent Phase II award
in 2015). In 2015, the company received a $150,000 SBIR Phase I award through the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Also in 2015, Manta was selected for a $150,000
investment from the Mtech-managed Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund, which
is supported by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In 2016, the
company was awarded $100,000 through the TEDCO Technology Commercialization
Fund. Also in 2016, Manta acquired a $1 million SBIR Phase II award through the DOE.
Manta currently has five full-time employees and two part-time employees.
Additional Information
Powell invented the algae-harvesting technology employed by Manta while earning
his Ph.D. at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, in the University of
Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). Manta licensed the technology
from UMCES.
Mantas end product is crude oil (petroleum), largely equivalent to the product that is
retrieved through underground drilling and later processed at refineries to produce
materials such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene (related jet fuels), lubricating oils and tar.
Currently, almost all crude oil consumed originates from non-renewable fossil fuels.
Mantas novel harvesting technology has the potential to drive down the cost of
producing renewable crude oil to the point that it is competitive with or cheaper than
fossil fuel-based crude oil, while at the same time being carbon-neutral.

Project Start Date: 2/1/15, 2/1/16 (two-phase project); 2/1/17; Location: Owings Mills, Baltimore County; Founded: 2014; Website: www.mantabiofuel.com
Project Manager: Ryan Powell, Co-Founder; Principal Investigator: Russell Hill, Professor and Director, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology,
105 University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
MIPS helped my company perform research that
would otherwise be impossible for our small startup
to accomplish. The partnership with University
of Maryland provided access to highly trained
personnel and well-equipped laboratories.
RYAN POWELL, CO-FOUNDER, MANTA BIOFUEL

106
 Maritime Applied Physics Corp.
High-Performance, Low Fuel-Use Hydrofoil Ferries

Company Description
Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (MAPC) has a 30-year history of designing
and building advanced technology systems for both commercial and government
sponsors. What began as an engineering services company in the 1980s has evolved
into a research, engineering, and manufacturing company that conceives and builds
technology-rich systems. MAPC has a combination of engineering and heavy fabrication
capabilities that enable the company to design, prototype and produce innovative
systems.
new water taxis for Baltimore. In August, 2016, Kevin Planks Sagamore Ventures
contracted with MAPC to both design and build ten new water taxis for Baltimores
harbor. The 55-foot, ADA-compliant, bike-friendly vessel is modeled on the classic
Chesapeake Bay deadrise work boat that has been built for crabbers and oystermen
for the last 200 years. The entire new fleet features WiFi, onboard media, and GPS
tracking.

MAPC has specific experience with the design of electronic systems for advanced
vehicles, including ground robots, hydrofoils, passenger vessel motion reduction systems,
rudder and autopilot systems, watercraft launch and recovery systems, shipboard
machinery systems, and unmanned aircraft launch and recovery systems. The company
has an excellent capability to perform the dynamic simulations of control problems and
design and implement digital controls for these systems. MAPC has built and supplied
inertial navigation systems and robotic control systems on land, air and sea vehicles. The
company has built electric vehicles for a major car company.

MIPS Project Challenge

MAPCs MIPS project was to design an aerodynamic hydrofoil hull in conjunction with
Jewel Barlow, Director of UMDs Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel.

Project Scope
Wind Tunnel researchers worked with MAPC to test and improve the design of the
companys ferry hull.

Results
The MIPS project in 2005 has spurred three additional projects: a blown-wing
seaplane for DARPA, a Seaplane-Wing, In-Ground Effect vehicle, and a family of

Project Start Date: 2/1/05; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 1986; Website: www.mapcorp.com
Project Manager: Mark Rice, President and Founder; Principal Investigator: Jewel Barlow, Director, Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel, University of Maryland
107
 The MIPS project was critical to getting Green
Eyes off the ground. With the ProbeGuard
project, Green Eyes secured more funding from
private businesses and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Early next year, Green
Eyes will sell 15 units to reduce monitoring costs for
the U.S. Great Lakes.
VINCENT KELLY, DIRECTOR, GREEN EYES

The MIPS work at the University of Maryland allows MAPC to offer

passenger hydrofoils that have a 15 percent lower fuel consumption than
those of our competitors. Since fuel costs are the highest cost element in
fast ferry operations, this is a very important benefit. The MIPS process
gave our company access to Wind Tunnel facilities and aerodynamic
expertise that we couldGreen Eyes ProbeGuard
not otherwise afford. keeps instruments that
monitor various aspects of water quality clear of
biofouling,
MARK RICE, PRESIDENT, MARITIME as shown
APPLIED above.
PHYSICS CORP.

108
 Martek Biosciences
Microbial Production of DHA

Company Description
Martek (now part of Royal DSM) was a leader in the innovation, development, production Additional Mtech/UMD Programs Utilized
and sale of high-value products from microbial sources that promote health and Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incubator
wellness through nutrition. Marteks technology platform consised of its core expertise,
broad experience and proprietary technology in areas such as microbial biology, algal
genomics, fermentation and downstream processing. This technology platform resulted
in Marteks development of a number of products, including the companys flagship
We werent into fermentation
product, lifesDHA, a sustainable and vegetarian source of algal DHA (docosahexaenoic at all. We were working with
acid) important for brain, heart and eye health throughout lifefor use in infant formula, algae that grows by light. We
pregnancy and nursing products, foods and beverages, dietary supplements and animal had bioreactors and things
feeds. Martek also produced lifesARA (arachidonic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid, for use
like that. The algae that we
in infant formula and follow-on formulas.
needed to use for DHA was
MIPS Project Challenge fermentable, meaning it grows
Martek sought to scale up its microbial processes so the company could produce in the dark and you have to
large commercial quantities of DHA. Martek did not have the equipment to scale- feed it nutrients. Fermentation
up its manufacturing, nor did the company have expertise in growing the specific
is totally different than growing
microalgae that produce DHA.
things with light. We had no
Project Scope equipment and no expertise. To
Working with the staff of Mtechs Bioprocessing Scale-Up Facility (BSF), Calabrese start out with no knowledge and no equipment, thats where the
defined and transferred the manufacturing process to produce the DHA from the BSF [through MIPS funding] came in. It was exactly what it was
microalgae. It is this process that Martek still uses today to produce DHA.
developed for.
Results
Martek became the largest producer of nutritional supplements from microalgae. HENRY PETE LINSERT, FORMER CHAIRMAN AND CEO,
With about 200 people working in Columbia, Md., the company was acquired by MARTEK
Royal DSM in 2010 for $1.1 billion. Royal DSM N.V. is a global life sciences and materials
sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands.

Project Start Date: 2/1/90; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 1985; Website: www.lifesdha.com; Project Manager: David Kyle, Director of Biochemistry
Principal Investigator: Richard Calabrese, Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
109
Over 55 million babies
worldwide have now
had infant formula
that included Marteks
nutritional ingredients.
Over 99 percent of the
infant formula in the
Unites States has it,
as well as products in
more than 75 countries
around the world.
Almost every U.S. child
under the age of six has
had this Martek DHA in
their brain. It all started
here. It all came from
this facility [through
MIPS].

HENRY PETE LINSERT,

FORMER CHAIRMAN
AND CEO, MARTEK

110
 Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, Inc.
Stormwater Nutrient Management Using Floating Rafts

Company Description
Maryland Aquatic Nurseries grows aquatic plants and manufactures pond products.
Since its inception in 1986, Maryland Aquatic Nurseries (MAN) has become a leader in the
aquatics marketplace. In addition to being a plant nursery, MAN is an innovative designer
Maryland Aquatic Nurseries is
and manufacturer of fine water garden products. The company, which employs 14
people, also holds a U.S. Patent on Floating Island Planters and Floating Wetlands.
one of the largest suppliers of
MIPS Project Challenge
aquatic plants on the East Coast.
MAN sought to determine the top nutrient-absorbing aquatic plants and the nutrient
uptake potential of planted floating rafts compared to the traditional methods of
planted shorelines for nutrient management in ponds. The company planned to
recommend plant-stocking densities to treat storm water ponds.

Project Scope
Andrew Lazur determined the nitrogen and phosphorus uptake potential of six
freshwater aquatic plants within a floating raft system and compared these to
traditional, soil-based planting. Lazur determined differences in nutrient uptake
potential and the other plant production advantages of rafts, including growth rate.
Water samples were analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus levels using analytical
services at Horn Point Laboratory. The three plant species with the greatest nutrient
uptake were raised in floating raft and soil-based pots, and water nitrogen and
phosphorus analysis of the three replicates was conducted and compared to the
other treatments (floating raft and soil-based pots).

Results
The company was able to expand its product offerings to include environmental
products and native aquatic plants for earthen and storm water ponds.

Project Start Date: 8/2/04; Location: Jarrettsville, Harford County; Founded: 1986; Website: www.marylandaquatic.com
Project Manager: Richard Schuck, Owner; Principal Investigator: Andrew Lazur, Director, Maryland Sea Grant College

111
MIPS helped me prove the efficacy of using planted floating
rafts as a means of reducing nutrient pollution in storm water
ponds. It has since been proven in subsequent studies conducted
by UMD that planted rafts also support denitrification in
the root zone beneath the raft, further increasing nutrient
reduction. The use of floating wetlands in storm water ponds is
now a BMP in the five states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
RICHARD SCHUCK, OWNER, MARYLAND AQUATIC NURSERIES

112
 MastiX LLC
Treating Gingivitis with a Functional Chewing Gum

Company Description
Mastix LLC develops and manufactures niche healthcare products such as tableted This study could provide the data for the FDA to evaluate the regulatory path for
chewing gum, chewable tablets and lozenges. Mastix is one of only a few companies in BEC Gum to make an application as a medical device, which would make it the first
the world (and the only one in the U.S.) that has the ability to make tableted chewing gum of its kind, and provide a strong label for better commercialization. Gingivitis and
products at room temperature versus the traditional high-heat process, which degrades periodontal disease affects about 50 percent of adults over the age of 30, according
active ingredients and reduces their efficacy. Mastix can also create custom formulations. to the 20092010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. (Source: MastiX
LLC)
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project is to determine whether the use of a Blackberry
Extract and Chitosan Chewing Gum (BEC Gum) will aid in the reduction of gingival
inflammation and dental plaque.

Project Scope
For this MIPS project, researchers planned a prospective, randomized, three-month,
double-blinded, single-center study, through which patients with mild to moderate
gingivitis will be identified and enrolled in the investigation. All enrolled subjects
will receive baseline oral hygiene brushing instructions and a baseline clinical
examination of the gingiva. The test group will utilize BEC Gum three times a day for a
minimum of 20-30 minutes duration of the study, while the control group will receive
a placebo gum and use it in a similar manner.

Results
This MIPS project is currently in progress.

MIPS helped my company fund a clinical study for a first-

of-its-kind product that will provide relief to millions of
consumers seeking a convenient and easy-to-use solution to
the common and wide-spread dental problem of gingivitis.
- ROBERT ESTEY, CEO, MASTIX LLC

Project Start Date: 2/1/17; Location: Hunt Valley, Baltimore County; Founded: 2016; Website: mastixmedica.com; Project Manager: Robert Estey, CEO
113 Principal Investigator: Harlan Shiau, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Periodontology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
114
 Matrics Technology Systems
Advanced RFID Antenna Designs

Company Description Project Scope

Matrics Technology Systems, now part of Motorola, was a Columbia, Md.-based
company providing EPC-compliant RFID systems for retail, defense, transportation
and other vertical markets. The Matrics product portfolio featured RFID systems.
including: multi-protocol, EPC-compliant fixed readers; readers designed for
embedded applications, such as RFID printers and handhelds; high-performance
antennas for RFID tag reading; and EPC labels that can be attached to items such as
containers, pallets, cartons and more. The companys RFID tag family included both
read-only and read/write functionality that addressed a wide range of asset visibility
applications.
Matrics RFID readers and tags were used by customers to help track inventory across
the supply chain, ensure compliance in regulated industries, track the location of
baggage throughout airports for security purposes, and facilitate a more effective
logistics process within the defense sector.
UMD researchers provided Matrics with specific antenna designs that enhanced
performance and increased read range, along with simulation results of the various
designs and lab tests of different antennae and related circuits fabricated by a Matrics
contractor.
Results
The project proved successful, allowing Matrics to create 60 jobs as a result.
In 2004, Matrics was acquired by Symbol Technologies Inc. for $230M. Symbol is now
a subsidiary of Motorola, a company whose RFID business, which started with Matrics,
continues to be based in Maryland.

MIPS Project Challenge

Matrics sought to develop advanced antenna designs and related circuitry to
dramatically increase the read distance of its Matrics Radio Frequency Identification
The acquisition of Matrics is a significant step in executing
(RFID) tags. To fully utilize the large number of tags that can be read by the Matrics
technology, it was essential to increase the read distance to more than three meters. our plan to be a leader in RFID, and expands our offerings in
Achieving this required pushing the envelope of advanced antenna designs. the advanced data capture industry.
- WILLIAM NUTI, SYMBOL PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

Project Start Date: 2/1/01; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 1999 Project Manager: William R. Bandy
115 Principal Investigator: Kawthar A Zaki, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland
116
 MedImmune, LLC
Characterization of SYNAGIS

Company Description
MedImmune is the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, a
global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery,
development and commercialization of small molecule and biologic prescription
medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and exploring novel pathways
across Oncology, Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Infection and
Vaccines. MedImmune is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZenecas three
global R&D centers, with additional sites in Cambridge, UK and Mountain View, Calif.
used x-ray diffraction analysis to determine the three-dimensional structure of the
antibody/antigen complex. Finally, Braden studied the thermodynamics of the
antibody/antigen association using micro-calorimetric techniques.
Results
Bradens work contributed to the structural characterization of SYNAGIS. Braden
continued to work with MedImmune on a contractual basis for 15 years. Together,
their work resulted in two patents and two published papers.

MedImmunes SYNAGIS therapeutic is an FDA-approved prescription injection of Patents:

antibodies that is given monthly to help protect high-risk infants from severe respiratory U.S. Patent# 7,229,618: Crystals and structure of Synagis Fab
syncytial virus, or RSV. U.S. Patent# 6,955,717: Crystals and structure of Synagis Fab

RSV is a common virus that, like the flu, is seasonal and easily spread. Most children will
get RSV by the age of two. RSV begins with cold-like symptoms but can spread to the
lungs. For babies with certain health conditions, RSV can be very serious.
SYNAGIS is the first monoclonal antibody approved for the prevention of an infectious
disease, as well as the first such drug to be safely used in children.
MIPS Project Challenge
MedImmune sought to characterize the humanized antibody SYNAGIS to identify
potential changes in structure that occurred at the antigen binding site. This could
possibly lead to a new antibody with improved, viral-neutralizing characteristics.
Project Scope
Braden crystallized the antigen-binding fragment of the SYNAGIS antibody and
selected variants, complexed with the protein antigen of the RSV virus. He also
Papers
Soft nanomaterials characterization using low voltage-high contrast electron
microscopy and advanced image reconstruction techniques, SPIE Photonics
West - BIOS: Biomedical Optics Volume 8954, January 31-February 7, 2014,
Ral E. Cachau, Bradford C. Braden, Jack R. Collins, Igor A. Topol1 and Jose R.
Casas-Finet
Nanoparticles characterization using HDR-NTA image analysis, SPIE
Photonics West - BIOS: Biomedical Optics Volume 8954, January 31-February
7, 2014, Ral E. Cachau, Bradford C. Braden, Jack R. Collins1 and Jose R. Casas-
Finet
Additional Information
MIPS has jointly funded six different research projects with MedImmune, including
three directly related to SYNAGIS, since 1996.

Project Start Date: 2/1/00; Location: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County; Founded: 1988; Website: www.medimmune.com
Project Manager: John Hope, Scientist, AS/QC; Principal Investigator: Bradford Braden, Professor, Center for Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Nursing,
Bowie State University

117
There were some concrete achievements [resulting from the MIPS project], including two patents on SYNAGIS.
One was for the fab fragment domain of the antibody that recognizes the isotope of the virus and prevents
infection. The second was for the tail of the antibody that models its complement immune function. Once the
antibody binds to the virus, it helps with the recognition binding site for them. Those structures were the subject of
U.S., European and world patent applications and issued patents.
JOSE CASAS-FINET, FORMER SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR, MEDIMMUNE

118
 MedImmune, LLC
Quality Control of Biopharmaceuticals

Company Description
MedImmune is the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, a
global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery,
development and commercialization of small molecule and biologic prescription
medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and exploring novel pathways
across Oncology, Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Infection and
Vaccines. MedImmune is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZenecas three
global R&D centers, with additional sites in Cambridge, UK and Mountain View, Calif.
MedImmunes SYNAGIS therapeutic is an FDA-approved prescription injection of
antibodies that is given monthly to help protect high-risk infants from severe respiratory
syncytial virus, or RSV.
RSV is a common virus that, like the flu, is seasonal and easily spread. Most children will
get RSV by the age of two. RSV begins with cold-like symptoms but can spread to the
lungs. For babies with certain health conditions, RSV can be very serious.
SYNAGIS is the first monoclonal antibody approved for the prevention of an infectious
disease, as well as the first such drug to be safely used in children.
MIPS Project Challenge
The overall purpose of this project was to develop novel analytical procedures for
the characterization of glycoproteins, especially with respect to their carbohydrate
content. Initial studies were focused on the carbohydrate structural characterization
of MEDI-493 (SYNAGIS) and MEDI-500.
oligosaccharides moieties. Advanced methods of analysis included High Performance
Anion-Exchange Chromatography, followed by Pulsed Electrochemical Detection
and Pulsed Voltammetric Detection, which was unique to LaCourses research group.
It was anticipated that a successful project could result in a methodology for the
quality control of biopharmaceuticals, which would facilitate licensing and approval
by the FDA. The procedures would be generally applicable to glycoprotein-based
biopharmaceuticals and bio-compounds throughout the biotechnology sector.
Results
The data acquired by LaCourse helped with the FDA approval of SYNAGIS.
Additional Information
We helped with the development of analytical methods to characterize
glycoproteins. This potentially helped MedImmune with the quality control of their
products, including SYNAGIS, and drug discovery in general. To acquire FDA approval
for a drug, you have to characterize everything and do it well to make sure you are
making the same product over and over. Using a more advanced technique gives
more confidence to the FDA that you know what you are doing. William LaCourse,
Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland,
Baltimore County
LaCourse says that perhaps his greatest contribution to the project was then-
graduate student Christine Zook (now Christine Holland), who went on to work for
MedImmune. LaCourse cites that she was one of the best [graduate students] I ever
had.

Project Scope MIPS has jointly funded six different research projects with MedImmune, including
LaCourses research was slated to progress from total carbohydrate composition three directly related to SYNAGIS since 1996.
and site of glycosylation to the determination of heterogeneity aspects of the

Project Start Date: 2/1/97; Location: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County; Founded: 1988; Website: www.medimmune.com
Project Manager: John Hope, Scientist, AS/QC; Principal Investigator: William LaCourse, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
119
The project went very
well. Bill LaCourse is a
world-class leader in the
pulsed amperometric
detection of carbohydrate
proteins.
MARK SCHENERMAN, FORMER
VP, ANALYTICAL BIOCHEMISTRY,
MEDIMMUNE

120
 MedImmune, LLC
Bioprocess Production Training for Medimmunes SYNAGIS Production Team

Company Description
MedImmune is the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca, a
global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery,
development and commercialization of small molecule and biologic prescription
medicines. MedImmune is pioneering innovative research and exploring novel pathways
across Oncology, Respiratory, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases, and Infection and
Vaccines. MedImmune is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZenecas three
global R&D centers, with additional sites in Cambridge, UK and Mountain View, Calif.
MedImmunes SYNAGIS therapeutic is an FDA-approved prescription injection of
antibodies that is given monthly to help protect high-risk infants from severe respiratory
syncytial virus, or RSV.
Project Scope
UMD researchers used the experience gained from delivering a series of workshops
to Medlmmune production technicians to design and test the first enhanced training
module. This module provided basic bio production training suitable for Medlmmune
personnel. Modules provided approximately 18 hours of training support material in
multi-media format.
Results
The training module developed under MIPS has been used to train MedImmune
workers who manufacture Synagis.

RSV is a common virus that, like the flu, is seasonal and easily spread. Most children will
get RSV by the age of two. RSV begins with cold-like symptoms but can spread to the
lungs. For babies with certain health conditions, RSV can be very serious.
With the MIPS funding and MedImmune support that we
SYNAGIS is the first monoclonal antibody approved for the prevention of an infectious received, we developed an interactive, on-line and self-
disease, as well as the first such drug to be safely used in children. paced training program that addressed each element of
vaccine manufacturing, as conducted at MedImmune. The
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this project was to develop and evaluate enhanced training materials project was a great experience, and fostered a continuing
for Medlmmunes SYNAGIS production technicians. Three, stand-alone modules relationship with MedImmune.
explained the key elements of producing biological products and provided in-depth
training as to how and why complex production steps are carried out. The training
ED SYBERT, FORMER DIRECTOR, BIOPROCESS SCALE-UP FACILITY,
modules would assist Medlmmune in developing and maintaining a well-informed UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
production workforce. The face-to-face training and on-demand multimedia
refresher segments would help employees understand the science and engineering
fundamentals that underlie the actions they take in operating the production
equipment.

Project Start Date: 8/1/03; Location: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County; Founded: 1988; Website: www.medimmune.com
Project Manager: Daniel Pappas, Director of Cell Culture Operations; Principal Investigator: Ed Sybert, Director, Bioprocess Scale-Up Facility, University of Maryland

121
122
 MeTompkin Seafood, Inc. Funded by:

Automated Spat-on-Shell Oyster Production System

Company Description
MeTompkin Seafood is a seafood processing company specializing in soft shell crabs,
crab meat and oysters. The company is led by the Todd family, which has been working at
catching and selling seafood from the Chesapeake Bay for eight generations.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project was to develop a high-volume, spat-on-shell oyster
production system based on remote setting technology.

Project Scope
Researchers participating in this MIPS project planned to design, deliver, install,
and test a system to handle large quantities (>10,000 bushels) of shell annually to
be moved efficiently in and out of four setting tanks to the ground management
vessel. This involved storing, washing, grading and containerizing shell, as well as
moving shells into setting systems and subsequently to a planting vessel for final
deployment.

Results
The MIPS project allowed MeTompkin to expand over a two-year period with a fully
automated production line to efficiently handle spat-on-shell, whereas it would have
taken the company ten years without the expertise and input from University of
Maryland partners to achieve the same level.

Aquaculture will allow the year-round production of oysters and expansion of

In August, 2017, MeTompkin commenced a new MIPS
project with Meritt to use and evaluate a combination
of new and traditional techniques for oyster bottom
rehabilitation.
both shellstock and shucked product markets. MeTompkins success could lead to
the development of other processing operations. Lack of bivalve shellfish is one
component of the overall nutrient input problem affecting coastal bays. Significant
production of shellfish will benefit water quality.

Project Start Date: 2/1/14, 2/1/15 (phase 1 and phase 2); 8/1/2017 (new project); Location: Crisfield, Somerset County; Founded: 1948
Website: www.metompkinseafood.com; Project Manager: Joshua Todd, Owner/Manager; Principal Investigator: Donald Meritt, Principal Agent,
123 Horn Point Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
124
 Microsphere Material Solutions, LLC
Maturation of Amorphous Glass Foams Manufacturing

Company Description
Microsphere Material Solutions LLC is a producer of ultra-high-strength, low-weight Glass syntactic foam is a commonly used material for
materials that provide game-changing capabilities for many applications. Microsphere
Material Solutions engages in both the small batch production and research and
submersible vehicle buoyancy applications and is one
development of amorphous glass foams for cutting-edge applications. The extraordinary of the limiting factors in creating smaller vehicles due to
compressive strength-to-weight ratio of amorphous glass foam materials allows for the
exploration of new form factors and enhanced capabilities in a wide variety of markets.
its lower strength at any given density (syntactic foam
consists of glass microspheres bonded with a polymer
MIPS Project Challenge such as epoxy). MMSs amorphous glass foam is less
The goal of this MIPS project was to improve the process of producing the companys
foam product, as well as enhance its material configurability in terms of production dense and stronger at any given depth and enables
size, shape and material characteristics, such as density and strength-to-weight ratio. smaller vehicles to achieve the same depth as larger
Project Scope vehicles. MMSs foam is composed of only the glass
Through this MIPS project, researchers were slated to: model the thermodynamic microspheres, with no additional material or additives.
process during the production of the foam material, and refine and mature the
production process for various sizes and configurations of the foam material; develop
methods of producing larger sizes and shapes of the foam material; and perform
mechanical testing and structural characterization of the produced foam material
to assess the material characteristics in order to refine and tune the manufacturing
process.

Results
Prior to working with Prof. Wereley through MIPS, the companys product was lab-
scale. The MIPS research enabled Microsphere Material Solutions to make significant
progress toward a sellable product by honing the product recipe to the specifications
required by submersible and armoring manufacturers. To date, the company has
already produced samples with the necessary dimensions for a potential partner in
the submersible segment.

Project Start Date: 10/1/16; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2016; Website: www.microspherematerialsolutions.com
Project Manager: John Howard, Co-founder; Principal Investigator: Norman Wereley, Minta Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering,
125 Department of Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland
Through the research conducted under MIPS, we validated our formulation and radically
increased our manufacturing capability. MIPS has provided our company with the catalyst
for developing a commercial product derived from lab-scale technology.
MATTHEW DEMAY, CO-FOUNDER, MICROSPHERE MATERIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC

126
 Milestone Sports, Ltd.
Sports Performance Improvement & Injury Avoidance

Company Description The MIPS program helped bring the MilestonePod and Milestone
Milestone Sports Ltd. is focused on connecting retailers and brands to consumers Sports closer to closing the loop between wearables and
through its Wearable Marketing Platform (WMP). The platform collects
actionables. Currently wearables only report data. With more
comprehensive data from a low-cost foot pod that syncs to a mobile device. This
rich, real-life data results in meaningful, personal, and valuable direct marketing: the
researchers, clinicians and coaches adopting the MilestonePod and
future of retailer and brand loyalty. its data, the entire running community is learning from the habits
of those who incur injury and those who perform better. This
MIPS Project Challenge collecting and refining of the data creates actionable change in
The overall goals of this MIPS project were to evaluate and refine the current training programs to lead to healthier, higher performing runners.
capabilities of the MilestonePod, Milestone Sports shoe-based activity monitor, as
STEVE SUYDAM, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, MILESTONE SPORTS, LTD.
a fitness-tracker for distance running, and to extend these capabilities to sports and
athletic motions other than running.
The MilestonePod is a simple, shoe-
worn device that gives runners
Project Scope
and walkers a smart odometer that
Through this MIPS project, researchers planned to test the hypothesis that the
provides gait and performance
MilestonePod can accurately measure and report biometrics for human running,
metrics not available from other
compared to gold standard measurements derived from instrumented motion
devices. The pod works everywhere,
analysis, in the University of Maryland Neuromechanics Lab. Researchers also
even indoors, and is powered by a
planned to measure the kinetics and kinematics of athletic motions common in
standard watch battery that lasts
sports such as soccer, basketball, and volleyball: sprinting, jumping, landing, cutting,
4-6 months. The pod synchronizes
and pivoting.
to a mobile app over Bluetooth and
offers insights into cadence, stride length, ground contact, leg swing, foot strike,
Results
distance, pace, duration, steps, calories and more. (Source: Milestone Sports)
The results of the MIPS project and support along with the collaboration with the
University of Maryland validated the MilestonePod against a motion capture gait
mechanics lab. This has promoted multiple conversations and sales to clinicians,
researchers and coaches. We are now working with eight research groups. We hope
to increase that number even more as research starts being published.

Project Start Date: 3/1/16; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 2013
Website: www.milestonepod.com; Project Manager: Steve Suydam, Director of Research
127 Principal Investigator: Ross Miller, Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland
The data collected through this MIPS project could be used by Milestone Sports to develop
algorithms for objectively identifying when and how athletes are performing certain motions,
extending the utility of the MilestonePod beyond running to sports where these motions play
important roles in performance and injury risk.

128
 Millennium Engineering and Integration Company
UAV Airborne Intelligent Flight Management System

Company Description planned mission; and selecting

Millennium Engineering and Integration Company is an employee-owned small business a single safe response to each
with systems engineering and integration capability in the space, defense, cyber, identified anomaly/fault.
intelligence, aviation and healthcare markets. The company provides solutions to both
the U.S. Government and commercial sectors, solving engineering challenges in satellites, Results
missiles, aircraft, cyber, space resiliency and beyond. The MIPS project research
and testing visibility has
MIPS Project Challenge enabled Millennium to grow
The goal of this MIPS project was to develop an Autonomous Intelligent Flight its footprint into the Maryland
Management System (AIFMS) that incorporates onboard navigation and knowledge corridor, particularly leveraging
of geographic positions, awareness of hazards posed to humans and property by engineering and software
identified flight anomalies, selection of minimum-hazard responses to anomalous expertise to apply to new
situations, automatic recovery from disturbances, and collision prediction and drone and aerospace systems
avoidance. and customers.

Project Scope Additional Information

Through this MIPS project, researchers were slated to design and develop software In 2015, Millennium partnered
for the companys Autonomous Intelligent Flight Management System with Xu to develop an initial
(AIFMS), with the capability to interoperate with a commercial, off-the-shelf autopilot set of algorithms and software-
UAV. The flight system was anticipated to be capable of: performing accurate based simulation of UAV
onboard navigation with knowledge of UAV geographic position and velocity, collision avoidance rules and
airspeed, and altitude; providing accurate onboard knowledge of geographic scenarios. Millennium also
positions and lateral extents of high-population/high-value surface objects; invested in maritime and in-tunnel UAV surveillance system development.
performing guidance and control for the automated minimization of hazards and
recovery from disturbances; predicting collision with other aircraft and planning Millennium has an internal initiative under way to develop UAS/UAV products that
and executing collision avoidance maneuvers; identifying the occurrence of (and enable their safe operation in the NAS. This work has enabled Millennium to provide
estimate the root causes of) UAV anomalous behavior and faults that compromise a enhanced flight safety work to NASA, Dryden, and Edwards AFB customers.

Project Start Date: 10/1/16; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 1995; Website: www.meicompany.com
Project Manager: Michael Briggs, Vice President, Engineering; Principal Investigator: Huan Xu, Assistant Professor, Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland

129
This MIPS project is providing Millennium access to an emerging market for means to assure the safety of UAV/UAS
operating in the National Air Space (NAS). This new market augments our already strong position in the Space Launch
Vehicle, Return-From-Orbit and NASA UAV flight test safety assurance marketplaces.
M. MICHAEL BRIGGS, VICE PRESIDENT, ENGINEERING, MILLENNIUM ENGINEERING AND INTEGRATION COMPANY

130
 Mimetas UA
HepaPlate Liver-on-a-Chip for Drug Hepatotoxicity

Company Description
MIMETAS US develops and markets OrganonaChip solutions for the
pharmaceutical industry. These products serve as an early stage screening
model to predict toxic side effects and drug efficacy. MIMETAS US core product
is OrganoPlate, a microfluidicsbased culture plate that enables the culturing
and screening of a range of organ and tissue models that have a better toxic and
efficacy predictive value than currently available approaches. OrganoPlates will be
developed for liver, heart, kidney, cancer, and lung models. They are compatible with
standard robot and readout equipment, making the technology amenable to high
throughput automation. OrganoPlates are based on a proprietary microfluidic liquid
handling technique called Phaseguides.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project was to develop the HepaPlateTM, a high-throughput
hepatotoxicity screening platform that mimics human liver sinusoid, its
microenvironment and response to toxins. The current drug development process is hindered by the poor predictive
value and high costs of in vitro and animalmodel assessments of drug
Project Scope
hepatotoxicity. Hepatic injury accounts for two-thirds of drug development
Through this MIPS project, researchers sought to help bring the HepaPlateTM from
the conceptual design phase to a fully functional alpha prototype for validation failures. Costeffective and accurate prediction of hepatotoxicity will amplify
tests against a known hepatotoxin library. Slated research included: determining the pharmaceutical industrys capacity to screen drug candidates and
culture conditions required for human primary hepatocytes to form 3D organoids derivatives and select those therapeutics that are least likely to cause drug
in OrganoPlates; determining conditions for the formation of liver sinusoid induced liver injury (DILI) during clinical trials and postmarket approval.
endothelial cell (LSEC) tubular blood vessel mimics; coculturing primary LSECs with (Source: Mimetas)
3D hepatocyte organoids and testing the resulting coculture model for 2week
lifespan; and preliminary validation
of the companys 3D hepatotoxicity
assay with model drugs known to
induce hepatotoxic effects.

Project Start Date: 9/1/16; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2013; Website: mimetas.com
Project Manager: Anthony Saleh, Director, Product R&D; Principal Investigator: Hongbing Wang, Professor and Program Chair,
131 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore
132
 N5 Sensors, Inc.
Chip-Scale Chemical Sensors for Smart Phones

Company Description passive sensor for calibration.

N5 Sensors, a University of Maryland spin-off founded by UMD Research Scientist Researchers designed a library
Abhishek Motayed, is commercializing a new generation of chip-scale chemical sensors of metal oxide/metal for the
that can detect harmful chemicals mixed in air, such as industrial chemicals, automobile said gases and developed a
exhausts, cigarette smoke, and pollutants released from paints, cleaners, pesticides and standard deposition method
other products. These new sensors, built using the same fabrication processes that are to functionalize those sensors.
commonly used for silicon computer chips, are small and accurate, with the capability to Lastly, researchers developed
detect multiple gases at the same time. N5 is working to develop arrays of multi-analyte an automated measurement
sensors on a single chip, which can be integrated with smart phones, allowing industrial system to determine the
workers, first-responders, and soldiers to assess the dangers of their surroundings rapidly sensitivity of the sensors in a
and accurately in real-time using their smart phones. faster way.

MIPS Project Challenge
The goals of this two-phase project, broadly, were to establish manufacturing
guidelines for the N5 chip and develop a multi-sensor detector module.
Project Scope
For this two-phase MIPS project, researchers were slated to establish the
manufacturability of the N5 chip process, robustness of the sensors, and a clear
pathway for further research and development of the product. During Phase 2,
researchers planned to productize a compact, low-power, four-gas detector module
capable of detecting and discriminating four target gases (CO, NH3, H2S and CH4) in
real-time.
Results
During Phase 1, researchers demonstrated the feasibility of a disruptive chip-scale
gas sensor technology using conventional large-scale microfabrication processes.
During Phase 2, they fabricated eight microsensors on a single chip, including a
Four papers were submitted for publication as a result of this project.
In February, 2017, N5 received an NIST Science and Technology Entrepreneurship
Program (N-STEP) award to further develop its Chip-scale Hybrid Gas Sensors for
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) monitoring. In 2014, N5 received both a TEDCO MII award and
a U.S. Environmental Agencys Phase I SBIR award related to sensor R&D.
In October, 2017, N5 was added to the Commercial Pilot Readiness Program (CRPP)
by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which allows N5 to advance the
development and manufacturing of the technology developed under the DHS
contract award number HSHQDC-15-C-00075, H-SB014.2-006, Field Detection and
Analysis or Fire Gases and Particulates. The CRPP allows agencies to make one
additional SBIR Phase II follow-on award to small businesses for the technology
development, testing, evaluation and commercialization assistance for SBIR Phase II
technologies.

Project Start Date: 8/1/14, 8/1/15 (two-phase project); Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2012
Website: n5sensors.com; Project Manager: Ratan Debnath, Director of Research
Principal Investigator: Thomas Murphy, Professor and Director, Institute for Research in Electronics & Applied Physics (IREAP), University of Maryland

133
 MIPS helped my company advance our
R&D, providing significant value to both
our product and our company.
ABHISHEK MOTAYED, PRESIDENT, N5 SENSORS

MIPS was instrumental in enabling Sterilex to bring this technology to the dental
market and is the only product to date [at that time, and to the current date] granted
claims by the EPA to include the prevention, penetration, and removal of biofilm from
dental unit waterlines, including the killing of biofilm bacteria. MIPS support was
extremely valuable to the company.

SHIRA KRAMER, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, STERILEX 134

 Northrop Grumman Corporation
Weight Measuring Subsystem for a New, Automated Mail and Document Processing System

Company Description
Northrop Grumman Corporation offers an extraordinary
portfolio of capabilities and technologies that enable
the company to deliver innovative systems and
solutions for applications that range from undersea to
outer space and into cyberspace.

The companys core competencies address emerging

global security challenges in key areas, such as
unmanned systems, cybersecurity, C4ISR, and logistics
that are critical to the defense of the nation and its allies.

MIPS Project Challenge

Northrop Grumman sought to develop a weight
measuring subsystem for the companys new
automated mail and document processing system.
Northrop Grumman
Project Scope Corporation acquired
The company was developing a new mail sorting system that sorts incoming, Westinghouse
internal and outgoing mixed mail. The purpose of the project was to develop a Electronic Systems
working prototype of an on-line weighing module. High-speed weighing was not Group in 1996.
commercially available at the time. The project studied dynamic effects introduced
into the measured signal and the effects of lift forces in measuring light weight pieces
such as post cards. The transport and control systems were designed and evaluated.

Results
Northrop Grumman obtained related contracts worth $100 million.

Project Start Date: 8/1/92; Location: Linthicum, Anne Arundel County; Founded: 1994
Website: www.northropgrumman.com; Project Managers: J.R. Seewagen, Robert Hosier
Principal Investigator: Uri Tasch, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

135
136
 Nutramax Laboratories
Evaluation of Cosequin; Pharmacokinetics of Cosequin and Cosamine

Company Description
Nutramax Laboratories researches, develops, and markets high-quality products to
support the active lifestyles of people and animals. The companys flagship products
include the Cosamin and Cosequin joint health supplements. Nutramax Laboratories
products are sold in food and drug stores, mass retailers, warehouse club stores,
veterinarians, pet specialty retailers and online.

MIPS Project Challenge

Nutramax sought to determine bioavailability/bioequivalence and pharmacokinetic
studies needed for Cosamin and Cosequin to gain FDA approval.

Project Scope
Natalie Eddington worked to develop the chewable tablet formulation of Cosequin
for dogs and bioequivalency study needed to support a new animal drug application
for Cosqeuin. She generated pharmacokinetic data to support the NDA for
Cosamin.

Results
Cosamin has been shown effective in peer-reviewed, controlled, published U.S.
studies, and consistently shown to meet label claim. Cosamin DS is available at
leading pharmacies nationwide.

Project Start Date: 2/1/95; Location: Edgewood, Harford County; Founded: 1988; Website: www.nutramaxlabs.com
137 Project Manager: Peter Patras; Principal Investigator: Natalie Eddington, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Cosamin was developed by a
pharmacist and in 1992 was the
First Glucosamine/Chondroitin
Sulfate Brand on the market.
Cosamin is a premium joint
health supplement that has
been available for over 15 years.
Cosamin DS is the #1 brand
recommended by orthopedic
specialists.

138
 OmniSpeech, LLC
Voice Activity Detection for Speech Extraction Technology

Company Description
OmniSpeech LLC develops speech extraction technology for cellular and similar
communications. The company has developed a method for extracting speech
from noise, making communications such as cell phone conversations clear, even in
environments such as high wind or large crowds. The technology can be applied to a
wide range of audio and voice-oriented commercial devices, including hearing aids.

MIPS Project Challenge

OmniSpeech sought to improve the performance of the companys speech
segregation algorithm that pulls speech out of background noise.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers investigated whether or not acoustically
derived articulatory parameters, as well as other acoustic measures, can be used
to determine all of the spectro-temporal regions of a corrupted speech signal that
contains speech. By the end of the MIPS project, they planned to modify the speech
extraction algorithm with a more accurate voice activity detector.

Results Additional Information

In 2012, OmniSpeech raised investment of up to $2 million from private investors. The
company also won a $495,000 Phase 2 SBIR from the National Science Foundation.
In September, 2017, the company announced that its OmniClearTM technology was
included in the latest Alcatel MOVE TIME smart watch.
Additional Mtech/UMD Programs Utilized
University of Maryland $75K Business Plan Competition, VentureAccelerator,
Technology Advancement Program (TAP) incubator
OmniSpeech won the high technology category and $25,000, as well as a $15,000
Warren Citrin Social Impact Award in the 2010 University of Maryland $75K Business
Plan Competition. The company also won the grand prize in the Rockville Economic
Development Inc. (REDI) StartRight! Womens Business Plan Competition, receiving
$10,000 from EagleBank, a $10,000 advertising package from Comcast Spotlight, one
year of virtual incubator membership from the Montgomery County Department of
Economic Development, and nine months of a customized virtual office solution from
Intelligent Office. OmniSpeech also won the 2010 $50,000 SAIC-VentureAccelerator
Competition.

Project Start Date: 2/1/11; Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2009
Website: www.omni-speech.com; Project Manager: Carol Espy-Wilson, Founder and CEO
Principal Investigator: Shihab Shamma, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Systems Research (ISR)

139
MIPS is a wonderful
MIPS helped my company advance our
program, especially for
R&D, providing significant value to both
early stage companies. Our
our product and our company.
MIPS project has enabled
us toABHISHEK
address MOTAYED,
an issue that
PRESIDENT, N5 SENSORS
is really important for our
technology.
CAROL ESPY-WILSON, FOUNDER
AND CEO, OMNISPEECH

140
 Optimal Solutions Group, LLC
Using Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Monitoring and Knowledge Diffusion Costs for
Medicare Advantage Plans: a Feasibility Study
Company Description
Optimal Solutions Group, LLC (Optimal) is a small, innovative economic and
policy analysis research and software development firm located at the University
of Marylands Discovery District. Optimal has conducted over 200 evaluations,
nationally and in 28+ countries incorporating research rigor and innovative
technology tools, such as business intelligence software, integrated data
repositories, and machine-learning algorithms.

MIPS Project Challenge

Optimal sought to develop a collaborative learning cycle using artificial
intelligence and machine-learning to increase the speed of diffusion of
reliable and valid innovations in quality improvement for Medicare providers.

Project Scope
Optimal is a data-driven analytics-oriented public policy research and
software development firm and is committed to providing rigorous,
nonpartisan, evidence-based research. The development of this project
allowed Optimal to augment and invest in its ReveloTM commercial-off-the-
shelf (COTS) intelligent integrated data repository. This tool is focused on
research evaluation, program performance monitoring and stakeholder
reporting. ReveloTM is NIST FISMA compliant and includes modules for secure The goal was to standardize clinical quality assessments and reduce the number of
data collection, rigorous analysis, customized reporting and visualization. ReveloTM clinical staff needed to conduct administrative tasks.
can be purchased through server-based licensing and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Results
The project is being considered as a healthcare clinical decision tool for facilitating
the rapid assessment and diffusion of continuous quality improvement initiatives.

Project Start Date: 8/1/11; Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2000
Website: optimalsolutionsgroup.com; Project Manager: Mark Turner, Founder and CEO
Principal Investigator: Lise Getoor, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland

141
This MIPS project strengthened our
competitiveness and creates a new
MIPS was instrumental in the evolution of
business model for revenue generation.
Revelo in augmenting
madeclinician
positive decision-
TM
The project has already
making. The total timetoand costs to conduct
business operation and led a long-
health reviewsbetween
was reduced by atthe
least 50%
term collaboration GRR and
and the quality of the reporting improved.
University.
MARK TURNER, CEO
HAROLD GREEN, CEO, GLOBAL RESOURCE RECYCLERS

142
 Otomagnetics, LLC
Magnetic Therapy Injection to Treat Hearing Loss

Company Description MIPS Project Challenge

Otomagnetics, a University of Maryland College Park spin-out, is developing a non-
invasive method to effectively deliver drugs and other therapeutic payloads to inner and
middle ear compartments, to the eye, and into the skin.
The inner ear is behind the blood-labyrinth barrier. Vessels that supply blood to the inner
ear have walls that are impermeable to most drug molecules, and thus it is a challenge to
deliver therapy to treat inner ear diseases. In animal models, Otomagnetics proprietary
magnetic injection system has demonstrated drug delivery to the inner ear. It has also
shown improved dosing and therapeutic effect in preclinical models of tinnitus and
noise-induced hearing loss, and prevented hearing loss due to chemotherapy regimens.
In animal models, Otomagnetics technology has further shown drug delivery to the
middle ear, without the need to puncture the ear drum. Magnetic delivery to the middle
ear is being considered as a potential non-invasive treatment option for otitis media
(middle ear infections). Magnetic forces have also delivered therapy into the eye, without
needles. Otomagnetics products are experimental, and not approved by the FDA for
human use.
The broad goal of this two-phase MIPS project was to further develop Otomagnetics
technology to move it towards regulatory approval.
Project Scope
During Phase 1 of this MIPS project, researchers generated preclinical data showing
the efficacy of Otomagnetics technology in an established animal model. During
Phase 2 of the project, researchers further increased the efficiency of drug delivery
into the inner and middle ear and quantified the delivered drug versus drug/particle
clearance over time in animal experiments.
Results
Otomagnetics has received grants from TEDCO (Maryland Innovation Initiative),
BioMaryland, the Action on Hearing Loss, Childrens National Medical Center (through
a National Consortium supported by the FDA), the National Institutes of Health, and
a physician-backed investment group. The company also took first place in a national
medical device competition sponsored by AdvaMed. Otomagnetics has exclusive
rights to multiple patents licensed from the University of Maryland. Over $9 million
has been raised to date to support development of the technology (approximately $5
million through non-dilutive and dilutive investments, and $4 million through grants
at the University of Maryland).

Additional Mtech/UMD programs utilized:

TEDCO, BioMaryland, and University of Maryland seed awards

Project Start Date: 8/1/12, 8/1/13 (two-phase project); Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2012
Website: www.otomagnetics.com; Project Manager: David Beylin, Business Advisor and Co-Founder
143 Principal Investigator: Benjamin Shapiro, Professor, Fischell Department of Bioengineering
MIPS was one of the first to invest in our technology, and enabled us to generate
the scientific data that led to substantial subsequent funding, and associated
new hires in the State of Maryland.
BENJAMIN SHAPIRO, PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER
 PaverGuide, Inc. Funded by:

Enhancing Phosphorous Removal in Permeable Paving

Company Description base in PaverGuide permeable pavement applications. Field testing of the material is
PaverGuide has developed a product called PaverGuide, an injection-molded, recycled in-progress.
plastic, modular system designed to replace stone as a road base and reservoir below
A joint provisional patent application was submitted related to the technology
permeable paving. The reservoir allows for infiltration, or beneficial harvesting of storm
developed through this MIPS project.
water.
In June, 2017, PaverGuide received $150,000 in investment from the Chesapeake Bay
PaverGuide is a structural base for paving systems and exceeds H-20 loading.
Seed Capital Fund.
PaverGuide is installed faster and cheaper than the stone it replaces, and at 90 percent
void, it provides a large rainwater reservoir and expansive infiltration surface. The company was also selected as a cohort for the Climate Ventures 2.0 Accelerator,
through which PaverGuide will receive $25,000 in funding from the sponsor of the
MIPS Project Challenge
Accelerator, the William Penn Foundation.
The goal of this MIPS project was to investigate sub-base materials to be used with
the PaverGuide product that could provide long-term phosphorus (and possibly PaverGuide has been admitted to the Water Environment and Reuse Foundations
other pollutant) removal from storm water and still allow the PaverGuide to function Leaders Innovation Forum for Technology program, through which the organization
as intended, with superior permeable pavement runoff storage. is currently soliciting municipal WE&RF subscribers to sign on for a PaverGuide pilot
project. WE&RF would provide up to $200,000 for the project and make research
Project Scope
results available to its subscribers.
Through this MIPS project researchers were slated to: 1.) identify candidate materials
with demonstrated potential for phosphorus removal based on a review of past Additional Mtech/UMD programs utilized
research; 2.) assess nutrient removal (phosphorous and nitrogen) effectiveness Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund
through laboratory-scale testing, including batch equilibrium studies and
continuously loaded columns; 3.) verify that the material meets structural strength
requirements for a permeable pavement sub-base through geotechnical testing
including direct shear, California Bearing Ratio (CBR), and hydraulic conductivity
tests; and 4.) recommend a material or material mixture for use as a PaverGuide sub-
base, provide guidance on the preparation and use of the material, and indicate its
expected performance.

Results
The novel media mixture developed and tested in this research has been shown to
effectively remove phosphorus from urban runoff under representative laboratory
simulations and to possess structural characteristics required for application as a sub-

Project Start Date: 8/1/2015 (two total MIPS projects, including one two-phase project currently in progress); Location: Worton, Kent County
Founded: 2015; Website: www.paverguide.com; Project Manager: Charles Richard White, Founder & CEO
145 Principal Investigator: Allen P. Davis, Professor and Charles A. Irish Chair, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
PaverGuides MIPS projects were supported by funding
from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
146
 PharmAthene
Anthrax Therapeutic

Company Description
PharmAthene is a biodefense company developing and commercializing medical
products to counter biological and chemical threats.

MIPS Project Challenge

PharmAthene sought to evaluate the mechanism of action of Valortim, a human
monoclonal antibody directed against anthrax Protective Antigen (PA) toxin.

Project Scope
In the aftermath of the bioterrorist event with anthrax in 2001, the need for more
effective therapeutic agents for treating individuals exposed to anthrax became
apparent. PharmAthene, in collaboration with Medarex (now BMS), developed a
human monoclonal antibody, Valortim, designed to target the Bacillus anthracis
(BA) protective antigen (PA) that has demonstrated efficacy in the prevention of
anthrax lethality in rabbits and non-human primates. Since a mechanism of action
for Valortim appears to be unique compared to other anthrax antibodies, this MIPS
project focused on evaluating the mechanisms that may result in the protection of
human cells from the anthrax toxin. The university team evaluated the mechanism
by which Valortim enhances the ability of human dendritic cells (hDCs) to kill
BA spores, as well as assessed its ability to inhibit anthrax toxins and to alter the
intracellular localization of BA spores in hDCs. Human T cell responses in the presence
and absence of Valortim were also evaluated. Together, these studies have been
significant in defining how Valortim may provide protection in humans, an important
progression in the Valortim research program.

Results
The MIPS project helped Valortim progress to a Phase I clinical trial. PharmAthene
received over $27 million in government funding for the advanced development of
Valortim.

Project Start Date: 8/2/04; Location: Annapolis, Anne Arundel County

147 Project Manager: John Troyer; Principal Investigator: Alan Cross, Subhendu Basu, University of Maryland, Baltimore
148
 Pixelligent Technologies, LLC
Nanocrystal Additives for Increased Resolution in Photolithography

Company Description Results

Pixelligent is an advanced materials company that delivers next-generation optical In 2011, Pixelligent moved to its new
materials for demanding applications in solid-state lighting, flat panel displays, and 13,000 square-foot, state-of-the-
optical components. art pilot manufacturing facility in
Baltimore, Maryland. The company
Pixelligent leverages its proprietary nanocrystal dispersion and manufacturing has increased its workforce by
technology to create innovative materials that significantly improve existing products. nearly 150 percent. This growth is
The companys Zirconia nanocrystals are used to improve the optical, electronic, thermal, attributed to the increased demand
and mechanical properties of numerous commonly used polymers including acrylics, for its proprietary Zirconia and
silicones, siloxanes and epoxies. Hafnia nanocrystal additives and
the progress Pixelligent has made in
In LED and OLED lighting applications, Pixelligents materials significantly increase light scaling-up its manufacturing capacity.
output by increasing the refractive index of materials in the device. In display and optical The company is now producing and
components applications, the companys products can increase transparency, decrease shipping its nanocrystal additives to
haze, and increase scratch resistance. customers around the world.

MIPS Project Challenge In June, 2017, Pixelligent Technologies

The goal of this MIPS project was to increase the resolution in Pixelligents
photolithography, the way computer chips are made. The challenge was to write
more circuit features on a chip of the same size. The limitation was based on the
wavelength of light used to make the chips. UMD researchers worked with Pixelligent
to develop a new material, a reversible contrast enhancement layer (R-CEL), where a
chemical layer is used to focus the light and improve the resolution.
Project Scope
UMD researchers started out working with organic dyes for the chemical layer,
then switched to nanoparticles. UMD support helped Pixelligent as it transitioned
this technology to other applications in semiconductor manufacturing and the
electronics industry.
was named 2017 Manufacturer of
the Year by Frost & Sullivan. Over the past five years, Pixelligent has invested over
$20 million in designing and building its advanced product development and
manufacturing platform, the PixClearProcess. This proprietary platform has enabled
Pixelligent to scale from a manufacturing capacity of grams-per-year, to one of the
most sophisticated and highly capital efficient manufacturing lines in the world,
capable of mass production volumes in the tons.
To date, Pixelligent has raised over $26 million in equity funding and has been
awarded more than $12 million in U.S. government grants.

Project Start Date: 8/1/05; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2000; Website: pixelligent.com; Project Manager: Gregory Cooper, Founder and Chief Technology
Officer; Principal Investigator: Daniel Falvey, Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland

149
Pixelligent is poised to take a leading role in this
next phase of the nanotech revolution as we
continue to scale-up our manufacturing capacity
to meet the increased demand for our high-quality
nanocrystal additives.
CRAIG BANDES, PRESIDENT & CEO, PIXELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES
150
 Plant Sensory Systems, LLC
Production of Nematode-Resistant Soybeans (4704); Plant-Based Aquafeed with Low-Leaching Taurine (5504)

Company Description
Plant Sensory Systems LLC is a privately held agricultural biotechnology company
that develops proprietary plant technologies for sustainable food, feed, fiber, biofuel
and bio-based products. PSS has expertise in modifying plant metabolic pathways
and selects those pathways with real commercial value to develop into high-value
products. The company is located at bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park.
MIPS Project Challenge
For the first MIPS project, researchers planned to develop a soybean that is resistant
to nematode damage. PSSs technology is a genetic modification of plants that
increases the level of a molecule that in elevated concentrations detrimentally
affects nematode mobility and egg production. Results would likely be applicable
to all plant-parasitic nematodes and would be a value-added trait for all crops. The
second MIPS project focused on feed for aquaculture, a fast-growing food sector.
Producers traditionally use wild-caught forage fish to meet the protein demand for
aquaculture, but this practice is not sustainable. Many aquafeed producers are using
soymeal to partially replace fishmeal. Soy-based protein is cheaper than fishmeal, but
it is deficient in methionine and lacks taurine, a nutrient critical for most high-value
fish. Plant Sensory Systems developed a biotechnology method to allow plants to
produce taurine. The resulting product can be used as an effective aquaculture feed.
The expected product is a plant seed that can be used to produce a plant-based feed
with low-leaching and high bioavailability taurine. PSS needed validation and proof
that its approach could yield an effective feed for aquaculture.
Project Scope
For the first MIPS project, Towson University researchers worked with scientists at
Plant Sensory Systems and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Benjamin Matthews)
to make a genetic modification to soybean roots by introducing a new gene, called
a transgene, and to determine if the genetic changes increased the plants tolerance
to nematode infection. University researchers developed and tested methods to
measure the accumulation of a chemical compound that was produced by the
transgene product. Researchers also tested a genetic switch, called a promoter,
to make sure that the promoter would activate the transgene in the tissues where
the nematodes feed. For the second MIPS project, soybean seeds were generated
to make taurine-containing soymeal that can be sold to aquafeed producers as a
fishmeal substitute. The leaching rate and bioavailability of taurine was measured in
feeding studies and compared across aquafeed made from different types of seed
lots to verify this new approach. This MIPS project provided data on the effectiveness
of the inclusion of the companys technology in terms of reducing taurine leaching
from feed and improving taurine bioavailability for fish. Successful completion of
the MIPS project validated taurine biosynthesis and accumulation in soybean seeds
and demonstrated its effectiveness as dietary taurine for aquafeed. The information
provided credibility to the aquaculture industry and expedited the products path to
market.
Results
PSS is in discussion with several large seed companies regarding licensing
opportunities and has received angel investments.
In December, 2012, PSS was awarded a $2.2 million grant for biofuel research from the
U.S. Department of Energys Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
In January, 2012, PSS was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,106,261, which relates to the
production of GABA in cells. Additional IP coverage for the technology was obtained
in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,581,040 and 8,581,041, which were awarded in November, 2013,
and U.S. Patent No. 9,487,792, which was awarded in November, 2016.
In June, 2014, the company was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,742,204, which relates
to the binding of metabolites in cells. In March, 2016, the company was awarded
U.S. Patent No. 9,267,148, which relates to the production of taurine in cells with a
biosynthetic pathway that, when moved into plants, can deliver taurine in its seeds.
In April, 2017, the company was awarded a $750,000 NSF SBIR grant as a direct result
of MIPS to use PSS biotechnology approach to increase the essential nutrients in
soybean seeds for use in aquafeed.
As of August, 2017, PSS had six employees.

Project Start Date: 2/1/11, 2/1/15 (two separate projects); Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2007; Website: www.plantsensorysystems.com; Project Manager:
Frank Turano, Founder and CRO; Principal Investigators: James Saunders, former Professor, Biological Sciences and Professor of Chemistry, Towson University, and Nadim
Alkharouf, Associate Professor, Computer Sciences, Towson University; Allen Place, Professor, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for
Environmental Science
MIPS funding was the impetus in bringing together a team of talented plant scientists
from the university, federal government and small business sectors to work together
on a project that addresses a critical agronomic need. The positive results of the project
substantially broaden the commercial potential of the tested PSS technology.
FRANK TURANO, FOUNDER AND CRO, PLANT SENSORY SYSTEMS

152
 Potomac Photonics
Enhancing Capacity to Hot Emboss Microchannels

Company Description
Potomac Photonics, a leader in microfabrication, has an extensive history of helping
its clients develop miniature products and bring them to market quickly and cost-
effectively. Utilizing a broad range of technologies, Potomac can micromachine
materials such as polymers, metals, ceramics, and glass with feature sizes that cannot
be achieved using conventional processes.
developed on their computers, submit them via the internet, and fabricate in popular
polymer materials. The user experience is intended to be similar to purchasing
items from a virtual vending machine that delivers customized products. Like any
vending machine, this virtual one wont be a replacement for full-service interactions
with an appropriate group of humans. Potomac also continues to offer full-service
microfabrication services.

MIPS Project Challenge Additional Notes

The goal of this MIPS project was to help Potomac Photonics develop an This MIPS project involved the scale-up of manufacturing technologies used for
increased capacity to meet the unexpectedly strong demand for high-quality hot fabricating microfluidic devices with miniature, sub-millimeter fluid flow channels.
embossing, small hole drilling, and external contour cutting at production scales for These devices are used in biomedical research, clinical diagnostics, drug delivery, and
thermoplastic microfluidics. biochemical manufacturing and are experiencing rapid market growth. Microfluidic
substrates can be made from plastic, glass or silicon. Plastic is usually preferred for
Project Scope mid- and high-volume production for cost reasons.
For this MIPS project, researchers planned to speed up Potomac Photonics ability
to rapidly prototype complex microfluidic devices. They were also slated to increase
the companys annual capacity for microfluidics hot embossing and laser hole
drilling and contour cutting from <20k units in small lots to >2M units of mixed-
volume production; decrease unit cost from >$20 per part to <$2 per part; and help
the company achieve the consistent, finely detailed patterns characteristic of hot
embossed prototypes even at much higher production volumes. One particular focus
was better design and fabrication of durable metal molds by laser or micro-CNC vs.
epoxy dies.

Results
Potomac Photonics is now able to provide designers with a fast, low-cost approach,
from prototyping to the mid-volume production of microfluidic flow structures. This
provides an attractive alternative to do-it-yourself fabrication of devices in PDMS,
or patching together a maze of less-than-optimum subcomponents. Designers are
now able to quickly explore new concepts by digitally fabricating custom designs

Project Start Date: 8/1/14; Location: Catonsville, Baltimore County; Founded: 1982; Website: www.potomac-laser.com
153 Project Manager: Michael Adelstein, President and CEO; Principal Investigator: Tony Farquhar, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
154
 Profectus BioSciences
Cholera Toxin A1 Subunit as an HIV DNA Vaccine

Company Description
Profectus is a clinical-stage vaccine development company pioneering evolutionary steps
in the design and development of preventive and therapeutic vaccines for infectious
diseases, allergy and autoimmunity, and oncolytic vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.
MIPS Project Challenge
Profectus sought to test the effectiveness of the Cholera Toxin A1 Subunit as an
adjuvant in HIV DNA vaccines.
Project Scope
Vaccination using plasmid DNA has the potential to provide enhanced safety and
efficacy over conventional vaccines, with increased stability and accelerated product
development. Unfortunately, successful vaccination of primates with DNA requires
multiple inoculations using large doses of plasmid. Adjuvants, genetically encoded
into the DNA vaccines, have significantly enhanced the resulting immune responses
to encoded vaccine antigens. Profectus found the A1 domain of cholera toxin (CTA1)
to be a potent genetic adjuvant that may provide the required dose sparing effect
necessary for DNA vaccines to achieve widespread human use. Cholera toxin is a
potent adjuvant that works by inducing dendritic cell maturation. A CTA1 fragment
enhances the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines in mice. Through MIPS, researchers
tested whether CTA1 provides a similar effect in Cynomolgus macaques using a
SIVmac239-gag DNA vaccine. If successful, Profectus BioSciences planned to use CTA1
in adjuvant HIV DNA vaccines intended for clinical development.
Results
The project results supported the original hypothesis that CTA1 DNA immunization
can be used in rhesus macaques and supported its further development as a means
by which immune responses to DNA vaccines could be augmented. The project
enabled Profectus to receive a $6.25 million grant from the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The company has raised $10.29 million in venture funding over two rounds, as well as
total of $34.19 million in total funding, including grants, according to Crunchbase.
Profectus vaccines are based on the companys proprietary VesiculoVax and
DNA vaccine delivery platforms. The DNA vaccine platform is being harnessed
for therapeutic vaccines for immune-mediated disorders, including food allergies
and autoimmune disorders. These DNA vaccines rely on the actions of proprietary
tolerogenic adjuvants. Used alone, the first-in-class VesiculoVax-vectored vaccines
lead to rapid expansion of B cells to provide protection against emerging infectious
diseases of public health and biodefense importance, such as Ebola, Marburg,
Chikungunya, Zika, the equine encephalitis viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus.
When used as a boost after priming the immune system with best-in-class DNA
vaccines, VesiculoVax-vectored vaccines lead to the expansion of primed T cells into
effector cells that are uniquely suited to attacking virally infected cells and cancers.
Current programs using this Prime/Boost System of Vaccines (PBS Vax) strategy
include hepatitis B virus (HBV), human papilloma virus (HPV), herpes simplex virus
type 2 (HSV-2), universal Influenza and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The prime/boost vaccines also incorporate established and novel, proprietary
adjuvants, including IL-12, CTA1 and RALDH2, which is the only known adjuvant
that can elicit robust mucosal immunity from systemic immunizations. Partners and
collaborators include the Galveston National Laboratory at UTMB, Yale University,
the Institute of Human Virology, the Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology,
the National Cancer Institute, the NIH Division of AIDS, the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, the HIV Vaccines Trials Network,
and the AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Profectus has been funded by Cross Atlantic
Capital Partners (XACP) of Radnor, 3/3 Pennsylvania. XACPs primary investor is the
Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS).

Project Start Date: 2/1/07; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2002; Website: www.profectusbiosciences.com
Project Manager: Kenneth Bagley, Staff Scientist; Principal Investigator: George Lewis,
155 Robert C. Gallo, MD Endowed Professor in Translational Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
The data generated from the DNA vaccine study funded by the MIPS grant allowed us
to continue testing our HIV/SIV vaccines with follow-on support from NIH SBIR grants.
Thanks to these grants, our HIV vaccine (delivered as plasmid DNA) is scheduled to begin
phase I human trials with support from NIH. Without the initial support of MIPS, we may
not have been able to advance this vaccine concept.
KENNETH BAGLEY, STAFF SCIENTIST
156
 Quantum Sail Design Group
Americas Cup Sail Testing/ Tight Reaching Offwind Sails

Company Description Project Scope

Quantum Sail Design group was formed in 1996 by a group of independent,
experienced sailmakers. The company uses its proprietary iQ Technology to design,
engineer and manufacture sails with superior performance, durability and shape-
holding. The company began in Annapolis, Maryland, and has since grown to include
over 60 sales and services outlets all over the world.
Quantum Sail Design Group worked with researchers at the University of Marylands
Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel to test its running and tight-reaching offwind
sail shapes. Working with a test rig, researchers were able to set up various sail
configurations to test the responses of the varying sail shapes to different wind
angles.

Quantum manufactures sails for everyone, from the recreational mariner to elite Results
competitive sailors and everyone in between. Their offices and manufacturing plants The data gained through Quantums MIPS project allowed the company to figure out
are located strategically throughout the world to be easily accessible for all sailors, which sail shapes performed the best in a variety of wind circumstances. Using that
and are known for having high-quality products. information, they were able to improve their offwind sails for future customers.

MIPS Project Challenge Quantium Sail Design Group continued to use the technology developed through
Quantaum wanted to test its high-performance racing and offwind sails to see how their MIPS project to design in their sails. The company attributed $1.3 million of its
they could improve offerings for current and future customers. revenue to the research performed at the Wind Tunnel.

Project Start Date: 2/1/99; Location: Annapolis, Anne Arundel County; Founded: 1996; Website: www.quantumsails.com;
157 Project Manager: Per Anderson, V.P. of Sail Development, Larry Leonard, President; Principal Investigator: Jewel Barlow, Director, Glenn L. Martin Wind Tunnel
158
 RedShred, LLC
AUtomatically Generated SemanTic Annotations: AUGuSTA
Company Description
RedShred builds software that can take complex business documents, like grants
and RFPs, quickly extract the information that is most important to you, and give you
an efficient way to review opportunities without all the manual intervention. Using a
combination of natural language processing, machine learning, and industry-specific
knowledge, RedShred can match a customer with the opportunities that best fit their
profile and then give them the tools to analyze and respond to that opportunity quickly,
giving them a competitive advantage. RedShreds software is delivered on a SaaS/cloud
platform.
MIPS Project Challenge
For the first MIPS project, researchers planned to develop
a method to read and extract critical facts from Requests
for Proposals, regardless of industry origin. For the second
MIPS project, researchers were slated to create a method to
automatically discover concepts and attributes from RFPs.
Project Scope
For the first MIPS project, researchers planned to: build an
RFP corpus, train lexical models and a semantic similarity
service; develop an ontology and KB schema; annotate
select RFPs, implement the structure organizer; engage the
entity and extraction system; and evaluate results.
For the second MIPS project, researchers were slated to: develop the RFP corpus;
create a new Wiktology version; create a New Semantic Similarity Model from RFPs;
implement the concept extraction module; implement the slot discovery module;
and evaluate results.
Project Start Date: 8/1/14, 8/1/15 (two MIPS projects); Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2014; Website: www.redshred.com; Project Manager: Jim Kukla, Chief
Technology Officer; Principal Investigator: Tim Finin, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
159
Results
RedShred now offers its product online. The product offers automated RFP discovery,
analysis and pre-qualification, with capabilities to optimize the RFP bidding process,
rank opportunities to capability profiles, and extract RFP requirements automatically.
These MIPS projects resulted in one academic paper: Zareen Syed, Lushan Han,
Muhammad Rahman, Tim Finin, James Kukla and Jeehye Yun, Querying Large Linked
Data Resources, 14th Int. Semantic Web Conference, Oct. 2015.
RedShred received a $100,000 Technology
Commercialization Fund grant in 2014. In March, 2015, the
company was awarded a $150,000 loan through the Anne
Arundel County Volt Fund. In May, 2015, RedShred received
a $100,000 small business loan from the Baltimore County
Boost Fund. In January, 2016, RedShred received a National
Science Foundation Phase I and Phase IB STTR.
Additional Mtech/UMD Programs Utilized
DC I-Corps
Additional Information
RedShred was formed from lessons learned at SSG, a
commercial and government IT contractor owned by Jeehye Yun. Having experienced
the pain of RFP matching and shredding during her time running SSG, Jeehye teamed
up with Jim Kukla, an experienced software engineer and former computer science
researcher, to build RedShred. During the fall, 2013 DC I-Corps workshop, the founding
team validated the value proposition with the market.
MIPS helped our company
develop the first components
of our underlying offering.
JEEHYE YUN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER, REDSHRED

160
 Resensys, LLC
Hybrid Power Cells for Bridge Health Monitoring

Company Description energy harvesting, RF-harvesting and DC/DC conversion.

Founded in 2008, the mission of Resensys is to protect infrastructure systems against
aging, structural malfunction, and collapse. Resensys offers a cost-effective and scalable
solution for the real-time monitoring of important structural state quantities such as
stress, strain, fatigue cracks, vibration, etc. Resensys solution is based on its patented
SenSpot technology, which incorporates novel sensing, energy harvesting and wireless
communication technologies into a small, multi-sensor device with more than one
decade of battery life.
MIPS Project Challenge
Resensys has developed advanced, low-power, wireless sensors to detect problems
in bridges, tunnels, buildings, airframes, pipelines and other structures. The company
was investigating potential power sources and energy harvesting technologies for its
sensors.
Results
Resensys now has more than 100 major customers and has acquired more than $5.1
million in combined grant money and sales. The company employs four full-time
and five part-time employees. Resensys is seeking approval from state and federal
authorities for its sensor technologies.
Resensys SenSpot sensors are currently installed on
hundreds of major bridges in the U.S. and around the
World. In Maryland, more than 20 fracture-critical
bridges have been monitored since 2012.

Project Scope Kalantari is a serial entrepreneur. He also founded the technology behind (and the
The goal of Resensys MIPS project was to adapt a thin-film battery to work with the company) Macrophage, which later became RioRey. He won funding in the University
companys sensors. Through the project, Resensys discovered optimal methods for of Maryland $75K Business Plan Competition for both companies.

Project Start Date: 2/2/09; Location: College Park, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2008; Website: www.resensys.com
Project Manager: Mehdi Kalantari, President and CTO; Principal Investigator: Martin Peckerar, Professor,
161 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland
MIPS is a great vehicle to leverage research and expertise for small companies like us in Maryland.
MEHDI KALANTARI, PRESIDENT & FOUNDER, RESENSYS

162
 Rexahn Pharmaceuticals
Polymer Drug Conjugates for Cancer Therapy

Company Description
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a publicly traded clinical stage pharmaceutical We are honored to have received [this] grant from MIPS
company dedicated to commercializing first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutics
for cancer and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Rexahn currently has three
for our continued cancer therapy research. Rexahn has
drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials, Archexin, Serdaxin, and Zoraxelall the opportunity to potentially revolutionize the market
potential best-in-class therapeutics. Rexahn also operates key R&D programs of
nanomedicines, 3D-GOLD and TIMES drug discovery platforms.
for anti-cancer treatment. The grant from MIPS gave
us the resources we needed to take our work with the
MIPS Project Challenge talented research team at UMB, to the next level.
A major problem with many cancer drugs is their lack of tumor specificity and dose-
limiting toxicity. The ultimate purpose of Rexahns MIPS project was to reduce toxicity CHANG AHN, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
for patients and increase the efficacy of cancer chemotherapeutics by selectively REXAHN PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
targeting them to tumor cells.

Project Scope
Rexahn worked with Anjan Nan, from UMBs Center for Nanomedicine & Cellular
Delivery (CNCD), on the development of polymer-drug conjugates for the targeted
delivery of cancer drugs. The researchers attached anticancer drugs to a nontoxic,
water-soluble polymeric carrier so they could be localized in the tumor area by a
process known as enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). Once the drug
attached to the polymer localized around tumors, the cells engulfed the polymer-
drug conjugate, cleaved the bond between the drug and the polymer and released
the drug inside the tumor cells to kill cancer cells.

Results
The project has shown that the polymer-drug conjugate inhibited tumor growth
significantly in tumor-bearing animal models. Rexahn is conducting further
preclinical development to move this project toward the human trials.

Project Start Date: 2/1/08; Location: Rockville, Montgomery County; Founded: 2001; Website: rexahn.com
Project Manager: Deog J. Kim, Senior Director/Research Management; Principal Investigator: Anjan Nan, Research Assistant Professor,
163 Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery, University of Maryland, Baltimore
164
 RioRey, Inc.
A Comprehensive DDoS Defense System

Company Description Project Scope

RioRey Inc. is an innovative technology company that specializes in the design and
manufacture of dedicated security solutions to protect networks against Distributed
Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The companys key focus is keeping defense platforms
comprehensive (protecting against all known types of DDoS attacks) while ensuring that
detection and mitigation is automatic.
MIPS Project Challenge
RioRey sought to expand the capabilities of its security solution to optimize it to
handle a greater traffic speed, address emerging attacks, and deal with spoofing and
the variation of IP sources.
UMD researchers improved the processing speed and expanded the algorithms
of the system to handle emerging attacks. They also studied the distribution of IP
addresses within an attack.
Results
RioRey received $5 million in venture funding in 2006 and is a leading provider of
protection against distributed denial of service attacks.

Project Start Date: 8/1/07; Location: Bethesda, Montgomery County; Founded: 2006; Website: www.riorey.com
Project Manager: Nitin Mehrotra, Co-Founder, CTO and SVP of Engineering; Principal Investigator: Mehdi Kalantari,
165 Assistant Research Scientist, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
 RioRey was a UMD spinoff founded by then-electrical and computer engineering
doctoral student Mehdi Kalantari. The company, then called Macrophage, won first
place and $15,000 in the 2004 University of Maryland $50K Business Plan Competition.

166
 Shore Thing Shellfish Funded by:

In-Situ Oyster Setting Method

Company Description Results

Shore Thing Shellfish is a small, member-owned and operated oyster farm in St. Marys
County dedicated to producing quality shellfish and providing oyster-based services.
Oyster larvae are free-swimming for most of their lives; however, once they reach maturity
they strike onto hard substrates like hard oyster shells. Farmers growing oysters in the
form of spat (baby oysters) on shell typically bag up oyster shells, load the shell bags into
a setting tank, and once the larvae strike, unload the shell bags and transport them to the
area where the oysters will grow to maturity. Not only is this remote setting method labor
and time-intensive, but it also causes spat mortality due to transport.
Researchers found that the in-situ method was at least as good in setting spat
on shell as the traditional method, and was done with much less labor than the
traditional method.
This research resulted in one academic paper:
Paul, R.W., K. M. Boyle, M. Burch, B.T. Russell, and S. Russell. Bar Tending--A New
Approach to Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Spat Setting was presented at the 16th
International Shellfish Restoration Conference, Dec. 10-14, 2014, in Charleston, SC.

Shore Thing Shellfish plans to commercialize an oyster in-situ setting process, as

opposed to traditional land-based remote setting. This method will provide an on-site,
cost effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to remote setting methods for
holders of lease bottoms.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of these MIPS projects was to test an alternate method of setting oysters
using the companys in-situ enclosure rather than land-based tanks.

Project Scope
Through these MIPS projects, Shore Thing Shellfish and researchers built and placed
a temporary enclosure directly into the water, where free-swimming oyster larvae
were given time to strike onto shells. The enclosure was then removed, alleviating
the need for shell bags, loading and unloading tanks, and transporting fragile young
oysters before their shells are fully developed.

Project Start Date: 11/1/12, 2/1/14 (two separate, related MIPS projects); Location: Tall Timbers, St. Marys County
Founded: 2011; Website: www.shorethingshellfish.com; Project Manager: Mandy Burch, Member
167 Principal Investigator: Robert Paul, Professor of Biology, St. Marys College of Maryland
Oysters are a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay because they filter water and create three-dimensional oyster reefs. An adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day. Oysters
eat a variety of algal types by filtering them out of the water column. Nutrients enter Bay waters through land run-off and combine with sunlight to grow algae. Excess nutrients often
cause algal blooms, making the water appear cloudy and of poor quality. Historically, oysters were able to keep the water filtered; however, with excessive nutrient run-off and less
than one percent of the oyster population still in existence, the Bay is suffering from extremely poor water quality/clarity conditions in many regions. Furthermore, with fewer oysters
repopulating, oyster reefs are nearly non-existent. Those oyster reefs create incredible habitat for hundreds, if not thousands, of aquatic species and improve other bay fisheries, such
as crabs and rockfish. (Source: Shore Thing Shellfish)

168
 SilcsBio, LLC
Validation of SILCS Molecular Modeling Software

Company Description
SilcsBio started operations in April, 2013, based on licensed intellectual property
developed by Alexander MacKerell. SilcsBio is commercializing analysis tools with novel
software capabilities for drug design, which could lead to the discovery of new molecules
with decreased development costs. SilcsBios first products are designed to improve the
modeling of drug candidate-protein interactions.
MIPS Project Challenge
The broad goal of this MIPS project was to validate SilcsBios molecular modeling
software.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers planned to validate the companys
methodology in the context of in silico database screening (a.k.a.docking), to
identify novel inhibitors of therapeutically relevant proteins. They next planned
to validate the SilcsBio methodology in the context of optimizing known drug
candidates.
Results
The research conducted through this MIPS project contributed to three publications,
including one in November, 2016, in the Journal of Computational Chemistry, that
explained how SilcsBios product, single-step free energy perturbation (SSFEP),
demonstrated equal or more accurate results than standard free energy perturbation
(FEP), but a thousand times faster.
In July, 2016, the company was awarded an NIH Phase II SBIR grant for $1.3 million to
develop new computer-aided drug design (CADD) software.
SilcsBio now has six employees.
The company has completed direct sales to pharmaceutical customers worldwide.
SilcsBio continues to sponsor research at UMB.
SilcsBio competes in the rapidly growing $6 billion/year
bioinformatics industry. Bioinformatics can be seen as a
series of individual tools (known as services) that assist
at each stage of drug discovery and development. These
services are generally packaged together using a Service-
Oriented Architecture. The SOA enables the inputs and
outputs of each service to communicate. Because it is of
little value to use one service without a few or many of
the others, the companies that control the SOAs have a
dominant control on the market channels. At the heart
of the problem with the services involved in drug lead
discovery is their inaccurate representation of lead-protein
interactions. SilcsBios first product directly addresses
the failures of other algorithms to properly model drug
candidate-protein interactions. Thus, the companys entry-
level market opportunity is to displace the service that
currently maps protein surfaces with SilcsBios technology.
(Source: SilcsBio)

Project Start Date: 8/1/13; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2012; Website: www.silcsbio.com; Project Manager: Kenneth Malone, Chief Executive Officer
Principal Investigator: Alexander MacKerell, Jr., Grollman-Glick Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Director, Computer-Aided Drug Design Center,
169 University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
The results of the MIPS research have been fully
integrated into our software and sold to our
customers around the world.
KEN MALONE, CEO, SLICSBIO, LLC

170
 Smart Slope, LLC Funded by:

Alternative Substrate Blends for Greenroof Media

Company Description novel base-component was utilized based on this research and a novel green roof
Smart Slope LLC develops locally produced, low-carbon-footprint, geographically design was developed because of it.
scalable vegetated retaining walls and growth media to support plant growth in
living roofs and living walls. The company produces the Smart Slope retaining wall Smart Slope has generated $2 million in sales and $600,000 in total support from the
system, which provides similar benefits on steep slopes to that of living roofs. Part of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The company has created two new
the Smart Slope offering is engineered growth media to maximize structural volume jobs and retained ten.
over time, with optimal retention and drainage during storm events. While the media
in walls does not share the light-weight requirement of roof applications, all other This MIPS project was supported through funding from DNR. Smart Slope received
desired characteristics are the same. $80,000 in funding from the Mtech-managed Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund,
also supported by DNR.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project was to investigate
media components for green roofs that do
not require energy intensive manufacturing
processes.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers planned
to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative
substrates for green roofs, including crushed
brick from local demolitions, scoria (which does
not require kiln firing), crumb rubber and other
components that can be acquired with minimal
embodied energy. Researchers were slated to
test these materials in various combinations
to determine their effectiveness in supporting plant growth, water retention/
transmissivity, long-term structural integrity, and carbon footprint.

Results
While most substrate mixes tested in this project were not used, reclaimed brick from
local building demolition was proven feasible and is now in use. Additionally, one

Project Start Date: 8/1/12; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2009; Website: furbishco.com
171 Project Manager: Michael Furbish, President and Founder; Principal Investigator: Andrew Ristvey, Extension Specialist, University of Maryland
The MIPS research helped us launch our alternative green roof system. Although
relatively small economic impact to date, the product acceptance has been significant
in the MD/DC marketplace. Reliable data on market size is not readily available, but
industry estimates suggest the metro D.C. marketplace for green roofs between $2
million to $3 million annually. Thus, the new product green roof system resulting from
this MIPS research has gained 5% to 10% market share in its first year. We view that as
hugely successful.
- MICHAEL FURBISH, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, SMART SLOPES

172
 Solar Tech, Inc.
Optimizing Printable Solar Cell Technology

Company Description optimization based on characterization with UV/Vis,

Solar Tech Inc. is selling SolarTechPrints solar panels to
roofers and related solar energy contractors to install on
their clients homes and businesses
SolarTechPrints (STPs) are lightweight, flexible solar panels
that can be rolled for shipping purposes and can be easily
applied by contractors and customers alike. There are
seven layers required for STPs to work: a base paper/foil
layer, a layer of zinc oxide nanocrystals, a layer of silver
nanopowder, a layer of nickel oxide nanocrystals, a layer
of tin perovskites, a layer of silver nanowires, and a final
protective layer of a clear UV-resistant lacquer. From the
manufacturers standpoint, this product is easily produced
through the use of a specialized printer. Its inorganic
compounds are also beneficial in that they will heighten
the products lasting power.
STPs are based on a prototype with a licensed patent of a
solar spray produced by Townsend.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project is to develop a proof-of-
concept process for printing efficient and stable solar modules using a materials
printer.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers plan to: print each individual layer with
FTIR spectroscopy (in house) and SEM microscopy
(collaborators); print complete devices in a sequential
layer-by-layer process, optimizing heat treatments and
testing devices under simulated AM 1.5 sunlight; and
perform final optimizations and testing environmental
stability under controlled temperatures, pressures,
humidity, icing conditions and extended light exposure.
Results
This MIPS project is currently in progress.
Additional Information
With an estimated cost of $4,500 for a standard five-
kilowatt system, SolarTechPrints (STPs) could sufficiently
power an average American home. Since this product
is nontoxic, lightweight, easily installed, and flexible, it
is desirable by the standards of manufacturers as well
as customers, and can easily be shipped nationwide.
Common and troublesome inconveniences and
complexities in time and labor have been minimized with
STPs. (Source: Solar Tech, Inc.)
Professor Townsend was selected to present at TEDxLeornardtown, a local TED talk series,
based on progress made on this MIPS project. The popularity of this platform served to
increase Solar Tech Inc.s visibility in the market place. This talk reached members of the
community and will reach a wide audience as a feature on the TED website.

Project Start Date: 8/1/16; Location: Hollywood, St. Marys County; Founded: 2005
Website: solartechinc.net; Project Manager: Jeffrey Edward Croisetiere, Project Manager
Principal Investigator: Troy Townsend, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry, St. Marys College of Maryland

173
174
 Sonavex, Inc.
EchoMark Pivotal Safety & Efficacy Porcine Study

Company Description Partners, was expanded by another $1.3 million following increased demand from
Sonavex Inc. is a medical device company spun out of Johns Hopkins. The company investors. Other participating investors included CRCM Venture Capital, TEDCO,
is dedicated to providing novel ultrasound solutions to visualize and quantify critical the Abell Foundation, medical device executives, surgeons and successful business
data for improved outcomes and reduce costs in new surgical applications. Sonavex executives.
developed EchoSure to detect blood clots after surgery to prevent catastrophic surgical
failures. The company has also secured grants from
TEDCO, NIH SBIR, NSF SBIR (Phase I, Phase IB,
MIPS Project Challenge Phase II), and several competition awards.
The purpose of this MIPS project was to conduct
a pivotal animal study that would show not only Sonavex was named a Maryland 2016 Incubator
the EchoSure device performance, but also prove Company of the Year.
that the device is safe for in vivo use. The results
of the study would enable Sonavex to submit a Additional Information
data package to the FDA for 510(k) clearance of the More than 550,000 procedures each year in
device and approval for sale. reconstructive, transplant, and vascular surgery
involve a connection of blood vessels that is
Project Scope necessary to provide blood flow to downstream
For this MIPS project, researchers were slated to tissue. Invariably, there is a risk of clot formation.
conduct a twelve-month, in vivo survival study Detecting clot formation in a timely manner
where the EchoMark is implanted. A control allows intervention to remove the clot before
arm with sham surgery will also be conducted. it permanently blocks the vessels and is key to
Ultrasound evaluations will evaluate the echogenicity of the marker. At the study end, preventing catastrophic and expensive surgical failures.
histology will be performed to show that the marker has not induced any adverse
changes in the animal, either locally or systemically. Due to limitations of current modalities, routine monitoring occurs only in the plastic
surgery (reconstruction) market, where up to 15 percent of cases will require emergency
Results salvage for clot formation. Delays associated with current monitoring techniques result
In April, 2017, Sonavex announced that it received $3 million in financing, including in a ~50 percent failure rate for salvage attempts. The non-reimbursed financial loss for a
the $2.2 million first close of its Series A round. The offering, led by Grey Sky Venture hospital ranges between $57,000 and $577,000 per instance, depending on the surgery.
(Source: Sonavex)

Project Start Date: 8/1/16; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2014; Website: www.sonavex.com; Project Manager: David Narrow, CEO
Principal Investigator: Louis DeTolla; Director, Comparative Medicine Program Pathology/Comparative Medicine Program, University of Maryland, Baltimore

175
176
 Sterilex Corporation
Optimize Disinfectant and Sterilizer

Company Description
Sterilex is a recognized industry leader for developing innovative, award-winning
solutions for microbial control. The company markets a line of proprietary, award-winning
biofilm-control biocides, broad spectrum disinfectants and rapid biofilm diagnostic tools
that can be used for a variety of applications, including food and beverage protection,
animal health, and water treatment applications.
that include the prevention, penetration, and removal of biofilm from dental unit
waterlines, including the killing of biofilm bacteria. Five additional jobs were created
and over $5 million in revenue for the company was generated. Sterilex was awarded
the Technology Council of Maryland Bio Product of the Year Award in 2004 for its
Sterilex Ultra for Dental Unit Waterlines, in recognition of the companys public health
impact in dental healthcare.

MIPS Project Challenge

Sterilex originally developed a proprietary technology to remove biofilm and kill
resistant biofilm microorganisms on devices, equipment and hard surfaces. The
company wanted to develop protocols and efficacy data for an application of
this technology to remove biofilms and kill biofilm microorganisms in dental unit
waterlines, enabling dentists to provide safe water during dental procedures. Data
was also needed to obtain regulatory approvals for biofilm claims, and for use of the
products in dental equipment.

Project Scope
MIPS funding enabled a research professor at the University of Maryland Dental
School in Baltimore to work with the company to optimize the anti-biofilm
disinfectant and to develop protocols for its use in dental offices. Sterilexs patented
anti-biofilm disinfectants have been customized to address sanitation challenges,
solving quality control problems for which routine disinfectants and sanitizers are
ineffective. Sterilexs disinfectants are broad spectrum, effective against a variety of
microorganisms and because they act through multiple physical and chemical (non-
receptor-based) modes of action, they do not induce antimicrobial resistance.

Results
Sterilex is the first and only-company to be granted product claims by the EPA

Project Start Date: 8/1/96; Location: Hunt Valley, Baltimore County; Founded: 1994; Website: www.sterilex.com
Project Manager: Shira Kramer, President; Principal Investigator: Timothy Meiller, Professor, University of Maryland School of Dentistry

177
MIPS was instrumental in enabling Sterilex to bring this technology to the dental
market and is the only product to date [at that time, and to the current date] granted
claims by the EPA to include the prevention, penetration, and removal of biofilm from
dental unit waterlines, including the killing of biofilm bacteria. MIPS support was
extremely valuable to the company.

SHIRA KRAMER, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, STERILEX 178

 Stress Indicators, Inc.
HR SmartBolts Production Automation

Company Description systems design. Sub-systems were

Stress Indicators was established with the prototyped, built, tested and improved
goal of innovating and developing visual until performance goals were met. All
indication systems to meet the needs sub-systems were then integrated into a
of commercial and industrial users. The fully functional production system.
companys proprietary Visual Indication
technology can be implemented into a wide Results
variety of applications and products. UMD researchers provided the company
with a working model of an automated
Stress Indicators SmartBolts product HR SmartBolts assembly system and a
enables users to visually check that critical bolts are properly tightened. The technology complete set of drawings for a full-scale machine. Stress Indicators evaluated the
accurately displays bolt tension by measuring the elongation of a bolt and converting it performance of the model to determine how to set up production of SmartBolts and
into a visual indication. create a new production process.

MIPS Project Challenge When Stress Indicators began its MIPS project, the company was introduced to a
In 2011, Stress Indicators was pursuing a new, high-resolution model of its indicating student that went on to become the companys first employee in June, 2010.
bolt product, called the HR SmartBolt. While Stress Indicators could manufacture
individual HR SmartBolt units successfully, the process had difficulties. HR SmartBolts
must be assembled while the bolt is under a controlled tensile load. The components
must be installed while under a load and must cure before the load is released. The
process was slow, requiring hand work and craft, plus yield rate
was poor and product performance was not consistent. This
MIPS project funded the study of the steps of the process
and development of improved methods and systems to
resolve these manufacturing challenges.

Project Scope
Researchers analyzed all aspects of the HR SmartBolt
components, materials and assembly, and then tackled

Project Start Date: 8/1/11; Location: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County; Founded: 1992; Website: www.smartbolts.com; Project Manager: Chris Bunai, Chief Engineer
Principal Investigator: Chandrasekhar Thamire, Senior Keystone Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland

179
The UMD students who worked
on this project for us, particularly
Babak Eslami and Karim Najjar, have
become experts on our HR SmartBolts
product. They have significantly
advanced our understanding of its
components, materials and processes.
Their dedication, enthusiasm and
determination over a two-year period
has been of enormous benefit and will
greatly help our company growth by
enabling us to offer this new, advanced
tension-indicating bolt product.

CHARLES POPENOE III, CEO, STRESS

INDICATORS

180
 Syntonics, LLC
MEMS Components for PARCA Software-Defined Antenna

Company Description Results

Syntonics innovates and manufactures A new type of out-of-plane electrostatic
specialty RF communications equipment microactuator delivering exceptionally
and accessories, especially RF-over-fiber high vertical displacements was
products and innovative antennas, for developed. The performance of various
military, civil and industrial markets. actuator designs was characterized
and shown to be in good agreement
The companys PARCA (Pixel-Addressable with analytical predictions. Fabricated
Reconfigurable Conformal Antenna) is a microstage actuators achieving deflections
phased array technology that operates up to 60 percent of their in-plane
under software control to be pointing-agile, dimensions were realized, and reliable
frequency-agile, polarization-agile, low- actuation over nearly 10 million cycles was
profile, and affordable. The PARCA concept demonstrated.
uses a dense array of conductive pixels that can be turned on or off to rapidly (one
millisecond) reconfigure a patch arrays beam pointing direction, operating frequency, At the same time, a microfabrication process was developed for manufacturing
aperture gain, and beam polarization. low-mass antenna pixels comprising two conductive layers on either side of a
thick polymer matrix. Individual pixels were successfully fabricated, and a process
MIPS Project Challenge supporting integration of the pixels with zipper microactuators was conceived.
The goal of this MIPS project was to develop a microfabrication process capable of
manufacturing an array of PARCA pixels and microactuators. The following paper was submitted for publication as a result of this MIPS project:
J. Felder, E. Lee, D.L. DeVoe, Extreme vertical displacement electrostatic zipper
Project Scope microstage actuators, submitted to J. MEMS, 2013.
Through this MIPS project, researchers were slated to develop a novel, silicon MEMS
manufacturing process capable of achieving the monolithic fabrication of integrated
PARCA pixel arrays and low-power microactuators using techniques that are scalable
to low-cost and high-volume mass production.

Project Start Date: 8/1/12; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 1999; Website: syntonicscorp.com; Project Manager: Steven Gemeny, Sr., Principal Engineer
Principal Investigator: Don DeVoe, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland

181
182
 Tarsier Optics, Inc.
Quantum Noise Spectrum Filter for Quantum Camera
Company Description
Tarsier Optics is developing a novel camera system that provides panoramic
photographs that can resolve micron-level structures at distances of ten miles,
independent of the optics. Ultimately, cell phone-like lenses can be used, creating high-
value products in the defense and commercial remote sensing markets, as well as high-
end consumer segments. Tarsiers prototype uses photon counting and coincidence
counting measurement devices to capture the data.
MIPS Project Challenge
One of the crucial parts of this camera system is a spectrum filter, which restricts the
measured noise to a necessary narrow bandwidth. The goal of this MIPS project was
to design an innovative quantum noise spectrum filter that will improve the signal-
to-noise ratio by orders of magnitude.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers: 1.) designed and built an analog/digital
quantum spectrum filter; 2.) developed the necessary hardware and software for
interfacing the quantum noise spectrum filter with the other parts of the PNFC circuit;
3.) interfaced the quantum noise spectrum filter with the prototype Tarsier camera;
and 4.) tested the Tarsier prototype, turbulence-free CCD camera with the innovated
quantum noise spectrum filter.
Results
In October, 2016, Tarsier received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business
Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $225,000 to develop a turbulence-free imaging
system. In July, 2016, Tarsier received a Maryland Innovation Initiative award.
Tarsier has two full-time employees.
Project Start Date: 8/1/16; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2015; Website: www.tarsieroptics.com
Project Manager: Ian Tolfree, CEO; Principal Investigator: Yanhua Shih, Professor of Physics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
183
Additional Information
Tarsier Optics has obtained an exclusive
license from UMBC for the patent portfolio
covering its camera technology. The
inventor was Yanhua Shih.
Competing technologies either use the
zoom lenses or try to sharpen images by
averaging over frames. The limitation of
taking a photograph with a zoom lens is
that air turbulence negatively impacts resolution, not the size of the lens. Tarsier
will provide a higher-resolution image than a zoom lens, while at the same time not
limiting the width of the image to the narrow cone provided by a zoom lens. Using
the averaging frames technology is effective at overcoming camera noise and other
consistent signal disruptions, but does not overcome chaotic turbulence.
Tarsiers camera finds signal in what is typically perceived to be noise, thus producing
high resolution images with the same amount of information currently available
to a CCD. Tarsiers camera creates a single image out of two CCDs; the novelty lies
in how the images are combined. Operationally, the same image, with the same
optics, needs to be measured by two CCDs with a large, angular light source, such
as the sun. One CCD captures the image in the same way as a typical camera. The
second CCD measures a Fourier transform of the same field of view. Post-processing
combines these two data sets or images to output a processed image with a far
higher resolution than the optics could have achieved alone.
Because of the MIPS work, we
have a fully functional camera that
demonstrates all the capabilities we
had hoped for. This has enabled us to
provide a meaningful value proposition
to our customers.
KEN MALONE, BOARD CHAIRMAN, TARSIER
OPTICS

184
 The Low Impact Development Design Group, Inc.
LIDMIX Stormwater Treatment System
Company Description
The Low Impact Development Design Group, or LIDDG, manufactures and distributes
two storm water best management practice (BMP) product lines.
LIDMIX is a media that is designed to treat the heavy metals zinc (Zn), copper (Cu),
and lead (Pb), as well as other metals and non-point source runoff stormwater
pollutants. The media can be used in existing media-based stormwater treatment
devices, such as cartridges and filters, to enhance their performance.
The other product is LIDMAT, for which LIDMIX media is inserted into a geotextile
mat that is formed into modules that can be attached to each other to treat sheet
flow or attached to a storm drain structure. A biodegradable version of the LIDMAT
is also available. It can be planted with hyper accumulators, which will enhance the
capture of pollutants.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project was to develop commercially viable configurations
of LIDMAT and to determine the most effective ways to manufacture LIDMAT and
LIDMIX. The project team planned to use the data to gain acceptance as an approved
BMP practice for industrial and non-point source stormwater treatment from state
regulatory agencies.
MIPS Role
Researchers set up mesocosms to test the effectiveness of the companys media. By
using synthetic stormwater runoff and various flowrates, they were able to monitor
the amount of metals and other pollutants removed by LIDMIX under a variety of
stormwater conditions, and determine the tolerance of the product for commercial
use. These results were then used to ensure that the company met regulatory
requirements for testing and thresholds for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) permitsa requirement for businesses that produce runoff that
leads to U.S. waters.
Project Start Date: 2/1/16; Location: Silver Spring, Montgomery County; Founded: 2003; Project Manager: Neil Alan Weinstein, President
185 Principal Investigator: Allen P. Davis, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland
Researchers also determined resources required to manufacture LIDDG products on a
large scale.
Results
Researchers completed the controlled evaluation of the LIDMIX and LIDMAT products
to address regulatory requirements for testing and thresholds for NPDES permits.
Heavy metals are second only to pathogens as the most problematic pollutant in
the 303(d) list of impaired and threatened waters in the United States, according to
the U.S. EPA. Among all metals causing the impairment of natural waters, lead (Pb),
copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) are each among the top six. In the United States, Pb alone
was found to be the main cause of impairment in 851 natural water bodies, with Cu
and Zn causing 764 and 388 impairments, respectively.
The estimated market for non-point source and industrial BMPs in the State of
Maryland alone is estimated to be over $3 billion. There are more than 300 industrial
permitted facilities in the state that are over five acres that must treat 20 percent
of their stormwater flows for phosphorus and total suspended solids. In addition,
there are an estimated 400 to 500 industrial facilities (steel and scrap yards, container
storage, marinas, power lines, and utility yards) that must report and eventually treat
their heavy metal discharges. These industrial facilities typically contain dozens of
inlets and discharge points where LIDDGs products can be installed.
LIDDG licensed its base technology from the Office of Technology Commercialization
at the University of Maryland. A patent is pending for the LIDMIX and LIDMAT
products, based on prototype mix and configuration. The products are currently
being marketed and sold by ACF Environmental, which has a major distribution
center in Maryland. (Source: LIDDG)
Funded by:
LIDDG was happy with the MIPS process and project results, which have been particularly
useful for marketing and promotion of our products. The data collected through our MIPS
project gives users confidence in our offerings.
- NEIL ALAN WEINSTEIN, PRESIDENT, LIDDG

186
 TheraCord, LLC
TheraCord Cord Blood Collection Device

Company Description Results

TheraCord is developing a novel cord blood collection device, the CBx system. The Leveraging data and developments from MIPS, TheraCord was able to secure $500K
device utilizes placental perfusion to increase collection yields by an anticipated 50 in follow-up funding to tackle the next stage of development. TheraCord was able to
percent, increasing the utility of cord blood in under-supplied markets by five-fold employ two graduates on-site and continue the collaboration with Kingsburys lab
and reducing costs by up to 65 percent. through sponsored research.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project was to optimize TheraCords CBx perfusion process, de-
There are over 670 ongoing clinical trials examining
risk key regulatory concerns, and propel its technology towards becoming the new cord bloods potential use in treating diseases, such
gold standard for cord blood collection. as type 1 diabetes, cerebral palsy, and stroke.
Project Scope
For this MIPS project, researchers planned to develop a CBx System protocol for the
maximum leukocyte, CD34+ cell and CFC yield. In addition, researchers were slated
to test the ability of TheraCords placenta massaging prototype to improve cell yield.
Work on this project was expected to yield an optimized protocol for perfusion
using the CBx System, and the data needed for rational instrument design freeze for
commercialization.

Despite its potential therapeutic advantages, cord blood Currently, cord blood is banked privately, as a fee-for-
transplants constitute a minor fraction of hematopoietic service, and publicly, similar to blood donations.
stem cell transplants, and over 95 percent of cord blood
in the U.S. remains uncollected.

Project Start Date: 2/1/15; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2011; Project Manager: Christopher Chiang, CEO
187 Principal Investigator: Tami Kingsbury, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore
 Umbilical cord blood is a readily available source of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells
unhindered by ethical issues or complex surgical extraction. Cord blood (CB) is collected from the
umbilical cord and placenta after birth. Cord blood transplants are used in the established treatments
of over 80 diseases, similar to bone marrow transplant, but with the advantage of having increased
flexibility in immunological (HLA) matching, lower incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and
immediate availability for transplant from storage.

MIPS connected TheraCord with the UM Center for

Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine, a key match
that has truly accelerated our development.
- CHRISTOPHER CHIANG, CEO, THERACORD

188
 TRX Systems
Product Life Cycle Assessment of TRX Tracking Accessory

Company Description Results

TRX Systems delivers GPS-denied location software and solutions. TRX is the first
company to use sensor fusion and the dynamic mapping of structural, magnetic, and
RF features to pinpoint location indoors, underground, and in dense urban areas.
The companys NEON location solutions use low-cost MEMS sensors, combined
with higher level mapping algorithms, to deliver accurate 3D location, including the
elevation of personnel within buildings.
MIPS Project Challenge
In Phase 1 of this MIPS project, TRX Systems sought to ruggedize its indoor location
system to withstand the harsh environments that first responders, industrial users
and defense personnel operate within. During Phase 2, the reliability and durability
of the ruggedized packaging was assessed and tested.
The two-phase project resulted in a design for TRXs tracking accessory enclosure.
While the packaging has evolved, the basic design and materials were developed
during the project.
TRX has received $2.9 million in funding through three investment rounds from four
investors, including New Dominion Angels, the Maryland Department of Business
and Economic Development, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital, and several other
strategic and private investors.
The company has released three products, all of which use the NEON location
solutions ability to locate and map where GPS is unavailable or unreliable, such as
indoors and underground:

Project Scope
During Phase 1, the company developed a high-reliability, high-temperature package
and the MEMS sensors were characterized to ensure the accurate communication of
location information of public safety personnel under extreme conditions. In Phase
2, researchers developed and conducted a series of analyses and accelerated tests
on the product to identify, assess, and mitigate the dominant failure mechanisms to
which the product is susceptible in harsh environments.
Personnel Tracker, a comprehensive indoor location solution delivering team
situational awareness and tracking for security, public safety, and enterprise users.
Signal Mapper, which offers automated geo-referencing and 3D visualization for
test and measurement applications, including Land Mobile Radio (LMR), cellular
(LTE), WiFi, BLE, radiation, and other sensor mapping.
Squad Tracker, which provides a resilient indoor and outdoor GPS-denied location
and navigation solution for the dismounted soldier.

MIPS helped my company deliver a product with
the robustness required by our public safety, defense,
and industrial customers, who operate in the most
challenging environmental conditions.
- CAROLE TEOLIS, TRX COFOUNDER AND CTO
In February, 2017, Houston police used the TRX NEON Personnel Tracker Solution to
help ensure public safety in NRG Stadium for Super Bowl LI. The NEON solution used
the Harris County Public Safety Broadband network at NRG Park and allowed each
officer to be tracked in 3D from the command center throughout the nearly 2 million
square feet of NRG Stadium. GPS could not be used since the roof over the stadium
was closed during the game.

Project Start Date: 2/1/08, 2/2/09 (two-phase project); Location: Greenbelt, Prince Georges County; Founded: 2004; Website: www.trxsystems.com
Project Manager: David Lemus, Mechanical Engineer; Principal Investigator: Patrick McCluskey, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
189 University of Maryland; Additional Mtech/UMD Programs Utilized: Technology Advancement Program (TAP)
Depicted: TRX NEON Tracking Unit, early version (left, top and bottom); TRX NEON
Tracking Accessory, latest iteration (right).

190
 Under Armour
Advanced Testing of a New Running Shoe Design

Company Description
Under Armour (NYSE: UA) is a leading developer, marketer and distributor of
branded performance apparel, footwear and accessories. The companys products
are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professionals,
on playing fields around the globe. The Under Armour global headquarters is in
Baltimore, Md., with European headquarters in Amsterdams Olympic Stadium, and
additional offices in Denver, Hong Kong, Toronto, and Guangzhou, China.

MIPS Project Challenge

The company wanted to complete research on the science of running to help them
create the best shoe for the sport.

MIPS Role
Under Armours project focused on the biomechanical and physiological assessment
of shoed running and comparing the differences between traditional running shoes
and the companys newly designed running shoes. Under Armour hypothesized
that the companys new shoes could reduce the potential for injury by minimizing
biomechanical risk factors and reducing the metabolic demands of running. Thirty
individuals with two different foot-striking patterns (rearfoot and forefoot) were
recruited. Subjects were asked to run twice a week at self-selected paces for four
weeks. They used traditional running shoes for the first two weeks and Under
Armours new shoes for the last two weeks. Biomechanical measurements and
analysis were performed at the end of each two-week cycle. The kinematic and
kinetic measures, muscular activations and metabolic consumption rate were used to
test the hypothesis. The outcomes of the study were then used by the manufacturers
to make evidence-based decisions on shoe design.

Project Start Date: 2/1/12; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 1996; Website: www.underarmour.com
191 Project Manager: Craig E. Lindemann; Principal Investigator: Jae Kun Shim, Assistant Professor, Kinesiology, University of Maryland
192
 Universal Security Instruments
IoPhic Advanced Fire Alarm Technology

Company Description hypothesized to have a significant improvement in immunity to nuisance sources

Universal Security Instruments Inc. (NYSE Amex: UUU) is an international designer,
developer, manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, professional and easy-to-
install home safety and security products. From its founding in 1969, UNIVERSAL
has grown to be an industry leader, providing residential fire safety and security
products from its own overseas manufacturing facility. The company presently has
government regulatory approvals to distribute in 30 countries.
Beginning in 1973, UNIVERSAL began manufacturing smoke and fire alarms and
has developed a complete assortment of UL-Listed battery powered and hardwired
alarms, with various patented features. UNIVERSAL began shipping carbon monoxide
alarms in 2000. In 2013, the companys product line was expanded to include the
industrys first and only 10-Year Permanent Power sealed battery alarms. Powered by
Duracell Duralock Power Preserve Technology, UNIVERSAL alarms are lithium-free,
providing a safer, more eco-friendly solution to low-battery chirps.
over then-existing smoke detectors, as well as an improved response time for
smoldering fires. UMD researchers validated the performance, capabilities and faster
response of the IoPhic alarm to smoldering fire sources, and the superior resistance
to nuisance alarms.
Results
Researchers found that UNIVERSALS IoPhic-based alarms were significantly less
likely to respond to nuisances. This result is helping USI market its new line of smoke
alarms, along with combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. UNIVERSAL
has now incorporated this breakthrough technology into its line of lithium-free,
10-Year Permanent Power Smart Alarms. By developing alarms with room-by-room
placement, UNIVERSAL takes the guesswork out of proper placement and designates
the best technology type where it is needed.

UNIVERSAL has become one of the largest manufacturers of Smoke and Carbon
Monoxide Alarms in the world. In July, 2003, UNIVERSAL was listed on the American
Stock Exchange.

MIPS Project Challenge

Universal Security Instruments sought to test the companys new line of IoPhic smoke
alarms to measure their response to everyday nuisance sources, such as cooking
smoke and steam.

Project Scope
Nuisance (false) alarms are an ongoing challenge for smoke alarm technology,
particularly for ionization, which is installed in the bulk of residential applications. A
new smoke detection technology developed by Universal Security Instruments was

Project Start Date: 2/1/11; Location: Owings Mills, Baltimore County; Founded: 1969; Website: www.universalsecurity.com
Project Manager: Eric Gonzales, Director of Engineering; Principal Investigator: James Milke, Professor and Chair,
193 Department of Fire Protection Engineering, University of Maryland
194
 Vasoptic Medical, Inc.
XyCAM RI Study: Early Clinical Assessment; 6005: XyCAM-Based Diagnostics

Company Description
Vasoptic Medical Inc. is a medical device company developing and commercializing
high-quality, cost-effective products for the non-invasive, dynamic assessment of retinal
blood flow and vascular status. Vasoptic Medical has developed a low-cost, portable,
noninvasive retinal imaging instrument (the XyCAM), which can complement fundus
photographs with retinal blood flow information obtained at high spatio-temporal
resolution without the introduction of any dyes. This handheld retinal imager has the
potential to help detect a number of clinical conditions, including diabetic retinopathy
(DR), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Early detection can often
prevent vision loss. The XyCAM device is being designed to detect these conditions in
their earliest stages to help healthcare providers manage and prevent DR and glaucoma
progression through a convenient, low-cost, minimally invasive procedure.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project was to collect clinical data to validate the performance
and reliability of Vasoptics hand-held imaging system as a precursor to its
development for disease detection, including the diagnosis and monitoring of
diabetic retinopathy (DR), glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Vasoptic
needed first-in-human retinal images to optimize its system for the intended use
case.
Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, researchers conducted a small, early feasibility clinical
study to capture retinal images using the XyCAM and a clinical standard (color fundus
photography). They then analyzed and compared image qualities and the robustness
of blood flow measurements based on objective metrics.
During a subsequent, current MIPS project, researchers plan to test the hypothesis
that retinal blood flow information produced by the XyCAM will correlate with
the stage and severity of glaucoma, demonstrating the feasibility of developing a
novel diagnostic strategy that may be useful in deciding the course of treatment,
particularly through early diagnosis.
Results
The goal of the first MIPS project was
achievedtesting of the XyCAM RI
prototype for the first time in human
subjects and assessing its most crucial
aspect, its ability to estimate retinal
blood flow. The study validated the
first handheld retinal imager capable of
reliably measuring retinal blood flow.
An abundance of data was collected,
analysis of which continued beyond the MIPS project, and results were reported both
through peer-reviewed publications and through presentations at scientific venues.
The project helped obtain key evidence pertaining to the feasibility of the XyCAM
system in the clinic. The results justified the XyCAMs continued development and
consideration as an affordable and convenient diagnostic instrument. The project
also helped Vasoptic in fundraising and making significant strides towards regulatory
approval. Multiple presentations were made at ARVO, the most widely attended
scientific meeting for ophthalmology worldwide.
The second MIPS project, on glaucoma detection, is currently in progress. Both
projects aim to enable primary care physicians to perform initial screening exams for
retinal conditions.
Vasoptic has raised over $3 million in funding to date.

Project Start Date: 8/1/13; 8/1/17 (two separate projects); Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2012
Website: vasoptic.com; Project Manager: Abhishek Rege, Chief Technology Officer
195 Principal Investigator: Osamah Saeedi, Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore
MIPS helped my company achieve first-in-human images of retinal blood flow
using our handheld XyCAM retinal imager, a key milestone in the development of a
low-cost, portable retinal imager for disease diagnostics.
ABHISHEK REGE, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT, VASOPTIC MEDICAL

196
 Vheda Health
Real-time Chronic Disease Mobile Platform

Company Description
Vheda Health is dedicated to humanizing healthcare through technology.The companys
flagship product is a mobile care management platform that facilitates cost savings
for payers by automating care plan compliance. The platform engages Medicaid and
Medicare members with a smartphone-enabled mobile app focused on creating new
communication channels and monitoring real-time compliance. The result is an average
$17,175 per member, per year savings and 71 percent decrease in hospital and ER
utilization. .
Vheda Healths mobile care management platform currently delivers the highest
member compliance, and member satisfaction of any technology-enabled service in
its class 87%, 84%, and 95%, respectively.
Vheda Health has raised more than $1.8 million in venture funding and achieved
profitability in less than four years.
Vheda Health sales have increased more than 10 times, into the millions.

MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of the first MIPS project was to study the effectiveness of Vheda Healths
product and establish its value in the management of diabetes. The second MIPS
project sought to explore the effectiveness of Vheda Healths mobile health software
among Medicaid populations in increasing medical outcomes, while decreasing
hospitalizations, total cost of care, and health disparities among the most vulnerable
American citizens.
The MIPS partnership delivers the right mix of research
validation and commercialization. We are humbled to
partner with our alma mater, the University of Maryland,
College Park. Go Terps!
- SHAMEET LUHAR, CEO, VHEDA HEALTH

Project Scope Vheda Health is humanizing healthcare, through technology. Vheda Healths mobile
For these MIPS projects, researchers planned to: develop models of Vhedas data to care management platform saves Medicaid and Medicare health plans an average
drive the future design of automated care planning protocols, with some product of $17,175 per member, per year by automating care plan compliance. The company
integration within the project period; explore evidence as to the effects of VH reaches 12 million lives across the nation.
technology and processes on adults diabetes self-care and the financial impact
of the VH solution; assess findings on what patient characteristics moderate the
effectiveness of VH technology, and recommendations on how to use those findings
to increase the products effectiveness.

Results
Since its founding, Vheda Healths staff has grown to more than 25 employees across
the United States, with eight in Maryland.

Project Start Date: 2/1/15, 2/1/16 (two separate projects); Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 2013
Website: www.vheda.com; Project Manager: Philip Rub, President; Principal Investigator: Guodong Gao, Associate Professor,
197 Department of Decision, Operation, and Information Technologies, University of Maryland
Vheda Health was named
2015 winner of the Maryland
Incubator Company of the Year
in the healthcare category by
the Maryland Business Incubator
Association and State of Marylands
Department of Business and
Economic Development (DBED).
Vheda was also a 2015 finalist for
the InvestMaryland Challenge in the
Information Technology category.
Vheda won the Pitch Across
Maryland competition in 2014, with
the company named Best Startup in
Maryland. (Source: Vheda Health)

198
 vCalc, LLC
vCalc; vCalc and STEM Ed

Company Description
vCalc is an online, crowd-sourced calculating encyclopedia (wiki) with over 12,000
free, online calculators. The companys information comes from engineers, university
professors, students from around the world, and anyone else that chooses to contribute.
In addition to accessing the database of calculators and formulas, users are also able to
create and contribute their own equations for personal or public use.
project also resulted in a library of STEM calculators that were translated into Spanish.
Results
VCalc now offers 12,000 online calculators that are free to the general public and are
used in over 100 countries on a regular basis. The company also acquired a $420,000
contract from Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac.

MIPS Project Challenge MIPS helped vCalc identify the math calculators most needed by first- and second-
vCalc was developing an online library of calculators and equations. For its first year college students, and then it helped us produce them.
MIPS project, the company sought expertise to identify the mathematics needed Kurt Heckman, President and Managing Partner, vCalc
for a strong set of classes, catalog those equations with strong references in a
requirements document, and implement the mathematics identified into vCalc. For
its second MIPS project, the company sought high-value, college-level math formulas
and data to be added to vCalc.

Project Scope
For its first project, the company worked with researchers at Frostburg State to
determine the most frequently used math equations across many college-level
disciplines. They then compiled a master list of those formulas, ordered by discipline,
and added them into vCalcs online database. Once established, the company had
researchers test its platform for ease of use and to ensure all the equations had
direct applicability to routine math problem solving in the university environment. A
notable success in this effort is the Microeconomics Calculator and suite of business
and finance formulas.

For its second project, the company planned to expand its database for STEM
subjects like physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. Researchers at the college
were asked to identify key formulas and then supervise graduate students as they
programmed those formulas into vCalcs database for future educational use. This

Project Start Date: 2/1/14, 2/1/16 (two separate MIPS projects); Location: Hagerstown, Washington County; Founded: 2012; Website: www.vcalc.com
Project Manager: Kurt Heckman, President and Managing Partner; Principal Investigator: George Rinard, Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science and
Information Technologies, Frostburg State University; Randolph Kenneth Larsen, III, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St. Marys College of
Maryland
199
Maryland Universities shared their STEM knowledge
with vCalc through the MIPS grant. By doing so,
they are now helping students in high schools and
colleges across the United States and around the
world every day. In essence, the MIPS program has
helped give powerful and free online resources at
vCalc.com to help STEM students around the globe.
KURT HECKMAN, PRESIDENT AND MANAGING PARTNER, VCALC

200
 VLP Therapeutics
Development of Malaria Vaccine Candidate, VLPM01

Company Description
VLP Therapeutics is dedicated to developing innovative medical treatments and VLP Therapeutics proprietary vaccine technology
transforming traditional vaccines and targeted antibody therapies to address global
manipulates virus-like particles (VLP) to expose antigen
unmet medical needs. Its vision is to combat 21st century global public health problems
through its i-VLP (inserted alpha VLP) Technology. epitopes in a repetitive array. As a result, VLP-based
vaccines induce high titers of antibody. Currently, no
MIPS Project Challenge
FDA-approved malaria vaccine is available.
The goal of this MIPS project was to assist with the clinical study design for VLP
Thereapeutics malaria vaccine, VLPM01, including regulatory documentation, (SOURCE: VLP THERAPEUTICS)
protocol and an investigators brochure.

Project Scope
Through this MIPS project, Laurens was slated to develop and finalize the protocol
for the Phase I/IIa study of the companys malaria vaccine, VLPM01. He planned to
provide input on the overall design and help write the objectives, methodology,
and clinical evaluation sections of the protocol. Laurens also assisted with the
development and finalization of the Investigators Brochure, a comprehensive
compilation of clinical and non-clinical data about the investigational product under
study. Lastly, Laurens would serve as the medical monitor throughout the duration of
the clinical study.

Results
Through MIPS, Laurens continues to provide valuable clinical/regulatory input to the
companys upcoming malaria Phase 1/2a study and to help VLP Therapeutics meet its
objectives in vaccine development.

Project Start Date: 2/1/16; Location: Gaithersburg, Montgomery County; Founded: 2012; Website: vlptherapeutics.com
Project Manager: George Moonsammy, Director of Clinical Development; Principal Investigator: Matthew Laurens,
201 Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Medicine, Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland, Baltimore
MIPS helped our company achieve our goals to develop
the malaria study protocol and to prepare regulatory
documents to initiate our Phase 1/2a clinical study.
WATARU AKAHATA, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

202
 VoiceVibes, Inc.
Voice Classification Models for Public Speaking

Company Description MIPS has enabled VoiceVibes to

VoiceVibes Inc. is a Maryland startup helping people to be more effective
communicators. The companys first product, MyVoiceVibes, is a cloud-based, public
develop and validate predictive
speaking practice tool that enables students to practice and improve their oral models built around our patented
communication skills. technology and feature extraction
algorithms. These models are not
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project was to help VoiceVibes collect data to help train and only used in the companys public
validate its predictive vibes models so it can provide users with feedback on how speaking practice product, but
their speaking style is received by listeners. are now also available through our API service, powering
MIPS Role:
applications such as hiring assessments and call analytics.
Through this MIPS project, researchers collected nearly 2,000 audio samples from - DEBRA BOND CANCRO, CEO, VOICEVIBES
various speakers, and had them rated by groups of listeners. Samples were rated in
twenty categories called vibes, such as confident, boring, captivating, authentic
and timid. The majority of the samples and ratings were provided to the company Additional Mtech/UMD programs utilized
to enable them to train their software models. A portion of the rated samples were UMD Law Clinic
retained at Towson University and used in an independent validation study to
determine how accurately the VoiceVibes software could predict human reactions.
The VoiceVibes software scored above 90 percent accuracy for all 20 vibes when the
software predictions were compared to human ratings of the same passages.

Results
In January, 2016, VoiceVibes began beta testing its MyVoiceVibes product at local
colleges and universities. Wor-Wic Community College conducted a series of pilots
in sections of its basic communications course, provided detailed product feedback
from instructors and students, and eventually became VoiceVibes first customer.
The company began selling subscriptions in January, 2017, and is now used in over
20 colleges and universities across the country. As of September, 2017, VoiceVibes
employed seven people.

Project Start Date: 8/1/13; Location: Marriottsville, Carroll County; Founded: 2010; Website: www.myvoicevibes.com
203 Project Manager: Debra Bond Cancro, CEO, Principal Investigator: Ellyn G. Sheffield, Associate Professor, Psychology, Towson University
204
 WellDoc, Inc.
Mobile-Integrated Therapies
Company Description
WellDoc is a leading digital health company revolutionizing chronic disease
management to help transform lives. The companys groundbreaking technology is
guiding individuals through the complicated journey of living with chronic diseases,
with a goal of improving their health and helping them to be more balanced. WellDoc
is the first digital health company based on a life science business model, and its
foundation is built on randomized clinical trials that demonstrate significant clinical
outcomes. The company has mastered diabetes management by taking an aggressive
and innovative approach that utilizes sophisticated logic and precise algorithms, and
integrates the most advanced mobile technology, behavioral insight, and diabetes
education for those living with type 2 diabetes. WellDocs FDA-cleared, proven digital
therapeutic, BlueStar, provides real-time and timely individualized coaching and
support, as well as diabetes educational tools that are actionable and personal. The
companys clinical evidence shows a 1.7- to 2.0-point mean A1C reduction for adults
living with type 2 diabetes who used BlueStar.
MIPS Project Challenge
WellDoc sought data from clinical trials to demonstrate its products effectiveness.
The company also wanted to prove that its easy-to-use diabetes management system
could be implemented on a large scale.
Project Scope
Charlene Quinn and WellDoc evaluated the effectiveness of a patient-to-provider
interactive diabetes management system that could be utilized with readily
available personal electronic devices. In the MIPS Phase 1 project, patient diabetes
management algorithms were revised to test the effectiveness of the WellDoc
intervention for a larger, randomized control trial (RCT) conducted in the Phase 2
MIPS project. The randomized control trial involved 30 patients, who were given WellDocs
cell phone-based diabetes management software, which securely captured data and
provided real-time diabetes management feedback. In addition, WellDocs system analyzed
patient data and provided suggested action plans to patients healthcare providers (HCPs).
Project Start Date: 2/1/08; Location: Columbia, Maryland; Founded: 2006; Website: www.welldoc.com; Project Manager: Malinda Peeples,
205 VP Clinical Services, Programs, and Research; Principal Investigator: Charlene Quinn, Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine
The solution promoted patient self-management and enhanced communication between
patients and their HCPs.
Results
The MIPS study showed that adults with type 2 diabetes using WellDocs software
achieved a 2.03-point reduction in A1c, an indicator used to identify the average
blood glucose level of a diabetic over a 12-week time period. Every one-point drop
reduces the risk of diabetes complications (e.g., amputations, blindness) by as much
as 40 percent. The top ten diabetes drugs in the U.S., on average, reduce A1c by
about one point. The results of this trial were published in Diabetes Technologies and
Therapeutics, Volume 10, 2008.
Quinn then conducted the first, one-year randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a mobile
phone-based diabetes coaching and decision support intervention. The results of
this study were published in the September, 2011 edition (Volume 34, Number 9) of
Diabetes Care, the worlds preeminent diabetes-focused scientific journal, published
by the American Diabetes Association. The trial met its primary endpoint of reducing
blood glucose levels over one year, demonstrating that patients using the WellDoc
system, plus their usual care, had an average decline in A1c of 1.9 percentage points
compared to a 0.7-percentage-point decline seen among patients treated with usual
care alone (control group).
WellDoc became one of the first mobile health (mHealth) solutions to receive United
States FDA 510(k) clearance to market its software product as a class II medical device
for health care providers and their adult patients with type 2 diabetes.
The company entered the Emerging Technology Center (ETC), won a national award
from the National Business Incubation Association for best incubator company of the
year, and now has 65 employees, with offices in Columbia, Md., Wilmington, Del., and
Bangalore, India.
Pictured from left to right: Kevin McRaith, President & Chief Executive Officer; Malinda Peeples, RN, MS, CDE, FAADE, Vice President,
Clinical Services, Programs and Research; and Anand Iyer Ph.D., MBA, Founder & Chief Strategy Officer.

There is a vast amount of noise in the crowded mHealth space and

this is especially true for digital solutions focused on chronic disease
management. These MIPS randomized, controlled clinical trials were not
only groundbreaking but also critical to our ability to differentiate and
continue to grow as a company. The results unequivocally prove that our
highly tailored solution can improve the effectiveness of a patients self-
care and can truly transform lives.
- KEVIN MCRAITH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WELLDOC

WellDoc was founded on a life sciences business model that values clinical trials and clinical outcomesit is core to
our values and what we do as a company. The trials that MIPS supported truly helped validate the WellDoc mission
and, ultimately, elevated our BlueStar solution.
- MALINDA PEEPLES, VICE PRESIDENT, CLINICAL SERVICES, PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH, WELLDOC
206
 Werbie, LLC
Improving GDM Glucose Control with GlucoseMama
Company Description
Werbies mission is to build solutions for women with diabetes. The company focuses
on women because women have unique physical and emotional needs that the
companys team of medical and tech experts is uniquely qualified to address. Werbies
first product, the GlucoseMama Kit for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), is a one-box
solution containing the necessary hardware and software for patients to self-manage
GDM. In the future, Werbie will also create customized kits for type 2 and type 1
diabetes in non-pregnant women. The companys aim is to help all women self-manage
diabetes, with a focus on psychosocial support, nutrition guidance, and assistance with
medication and insulin dosing.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project is to keep patients with gestational diabetes engaged in the
self-management of glucose and carbohydrate logging between prenatal appointments to
reduce the need for medications and to ensure the best possible outcomes for mothers and
neonates.
Project Scope
For this MIPS project, the research team at the University of Maryland Medical
Centers Maternal Fetal Medicine Department, led by Sarah Crimmins, FACOG,
designed a four-arm randomized control of 120 patients with GDM. They utilized
group prenatal care for these patients, as well as the GlucoseMama mobile software
platform, to track blood glucose levels and provide nutrition therapy with daily,
HIPAA-secure SMS texting. This model of group care with inter-session support has
not been utilized previously for GDM.
Results
The MIPS study is currently underway. The project is investigating the impact of
GlucoseMama on the rate of compliance with intersession blood glucose monitoring
both during pregnancy and postpartum. The research team is also collecting outcomes
Project Start Date: 8/1/16; Location: Bethesda, Montgomery County; Founded: 2014; Website: www.werbie.co; Project Manager: Catherine Jones, Co-
207 Founder and CEO; Principal Investigator: Sarah Crimmins, Assistant Professor, OBGYN, FACOG, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore
on the rates of gestational weight gain and medication use in the study population.
Werbie has a partnership with Eocene Health Systems to provide the hardware for
the GlucoseMama Kit, including a glucometer and supplies for blood glucose testing.
As Werbie collects data points from its growing number of patients, the companys
tech team is constructing data libraries to create algorithms to further enhance and
personalize the GlucoseMama nutrition platform, medication and insulin dosing,
targeted SMS texting, and live chat interactions between patient and certified
diabetes educators.
Gestational diabetes is an increasingly common condition during pregnancy that
can have serious and potentially fatal consequences for both mother and child.
Managing all types of diabetes during pregnancy is best accomplished with close
communication between patients and their doctors and care teams. Patients are
required to self-manage on a daily basis by logging glucose levels, restricting
carbohydrate intakes, and walking after meals. Logging is essential to guiding
treatment and dosing oral medications and/or insulin, which need to to be constantly
adjusted as a womans pregnancy progresses. This study is also focused on post-
partum compliance, as recent studies indicate that 50 percent of women who
develop GDM will eventually develop type 2 diabetes 5-10 years after delivery, and
they have a higher chance of developing GDM in subsequent pregnancies. (Source:
Werbie)
MIPS funding allowed Werbie to pursue clinical
validation of the GlucoseMama software system
through an IRB-based clinical trial, which may
provide evidence to support Werbies claims of
improved compliance and outcomes with reduced
costs from complications.
CATHERINE JONES, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO

208
 Whisker Labs
Building Models for Demand Response Energy Trading

Company Description
Whisker Labs has built an energy management platform, Connected Savings , which
SM
is an intelligent demand side management (IDSM) system that ties homes with utilities,
big weather data and analytics to save energyfor customers, utilities and retail energy
providers. The solution combines connected thermostats with proprietary weather
information and thermodynamic models, developed in part with the University of
Maryland, that predict how homes will respond to changing weather conditions, thus
correlating energy usage to weather. Homes can then be intelligently precooled and
setback, keeping customers comfortable while shifting loads for utilities during peak load
events (DR events).
MIPS Project Challenge
Earth Networks (the former parent company of Whisker Labs) owns the largest
network of weather stations in the world, and originally sought to utilize the data
collected through this network to intelligently control the climate in peoples homes.
The first MIPS project (and two that followed) sought to create and improve upon
thermodynamic models for DR. Whisker Labs continues this work today, utilizing
the same weather data from Earth Networks, and offers a suite of energy products
derived from the core technology.
Project Scope
Whisker Labs improved Connected Savings by working with Kim, as well as his former
graduate student Michael Siemann (Ph.D., mechanical engineering, 13). Together,
they developed thermodynamic models over the span of three MIPS projects, from
2012-2016. The technology developed through MIPS was licensed by Earth Networks,
and currently by Whisker Labs, from the University of Maryland.
Results
Over several years and several studies, the Connected Savings solution has
outperformed similar, competing energy demand-response products by 15-20
percent. Additionally, homes have seen a 10 percent average HVAC energy saving for
participating homes through thermostat efficiency adjustments, often over $100 in
savings. Recently, Whisker Labs was ranked as the #2 residential demand response
provider in the prestigious Navigant Research Leaderboard: Residential Demand
Response report.
Currently, over 100,000 customers across the U.S. are using Whisker Labs home
energy system, while approximately 20 utility partners are using Connected Savings
in Texas, California, New England, and Maryland.
Siemann joined Whisker Labs after graduating, as have an additional four previous
UMD engineering graduate students. In addition, the Whisker Labs Connected
Savings team has grown from four employees prior to the MIPS grant, to nearly 30
here in Maryland.
Starting in January, 2017, Whisker Labs commenced a new MIPS project with
mechanical engineering Professor Steven Gabriel, to study the potential economic
benefits of DR for retail energy providers through the use of the Connected Savings
solution and advanced setpoint scheduling. The research team also still works
closely with Professor Kim on advancing its HVAC Fault Detection and Diagnostics
technology.
In addition, Whisker Labs has developed a new product that sits on breaker panels
in homes, installs in minutes, can tell what appliances are running based upon their
electronic signatures, and provides detailed insights about a homes energy usage.
The company anticipates that with this new technology, combined with connected
thermostats, connected homes, proprietary weather data, home energy score cards
and thermodynamic analytics developed with the University of Maryland in the
Connected Savings solution, it will become the leading provider of demand-response
energy savings in the nation.

Project Start Date: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 (phase 2), 2017; Location: Germantown, Montgomery County; Founded: 2017
(Recent spin-off of Earth Networks, founded in 1993); Website: www.whiskerlabs.com; Project Manager: David Oberholzer, VP,
209 Business and Partner Development; Principal Investigator: Jungho Kim, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland
We are fortunate to work with a great mechanical engineering group at the University
of Maryland. MIPS funding allowed us to get into the market offering a novel approach to
demand response challenges. Now that we have data certified by utilities and consumers
like us, we are expecting to grow the program into a much larger initiative that will result
in more skilled and well-payingjobs here in Maryland. MIPS funding was critical in taking
the Connected Savings program from concept to reality.
CHRISTOPHER SLOOP, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER, WHISKER LABS
210
 XChanger Companies, Inc.
Evaluation and Optimization for XChanger Box

Company Description thermocouples, relative humidity sensors and air

XChanger Companies, Inc. is the owner and velocity meters. During Phase 2, researchers conducted
implementation group for a patented product with a new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and
strategy in heating and cooling. The XChanger technology building energy simulation on the same facility.
involves efficiently stratifying air to decrease the amount of
energy required to heat and cool a space. The companys Results
methodology is different from conventional HVAC This MIPS project resulted in data concluding that the
techniques on the market today. XChanger has the ability XChanger system saves buildings 19.3 percent in HVAC
to deliver conditioned air to targeted locations directly, electricity and 25.2 percent in gas yearly with its extra
dependent upon temperature and demand. Supplies pressure drop and 37.4 percent in HVAC electricity and
and returns become free-flowing ducts, able to deliver 7.7 percent in gas without added pressure drop.
or remove air as the system dictates. The XChanger is a
complementary technology, working with any forced air One paper, Evaluation of an Extended-Duct Air Delivery
system, including those powered by oil, gas, electric and System in Tall Spaces Conditioned by Rooftop Units
geo-thermal. The system of air delivery requires only a (IMECE2016-65523), was published at the 2016 ASME
minor modification to an existing unit, and can cleanly IMECE.
stack atop or below an existing unit.

MIPS Project Challenge

The goal of this MIPS project was to measure and
validate the energy savings of the companys XChanger
Box HVAC solution.

Project Scope
During Phase 1 of this MIPS project, researchers
conducted field measurements of the XChanger Boxs
energy savings and thermal comfort potentials in
a typical building with a 30-feet high ceiling using

Project Start Date: 2/1/14, 8/1/15 (two-phase project); Location: Annapolis, Anne Arundel County; Founded: 2010; Website: www.xchangercompanies.com
Project Manager: Richard Elder OBrien, VP, Business Development; PI: Yunho Hwang, Research Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland

211
MIPS was instrumental in enabling Sterilex to bring this technology to the dental
market and is the only product to date [at that time, and to the current date] granted
claims by the EPA to include the prevention, penetration, and removal of biofilm from
dental unit waterlines, including the killing of biofilm bacteria. MIPS support was
extremely valuable to the company.

SHIRA KRAMER, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, STERILEX 212

 Xcision Medical Systems, LLC
Radiosurgery of Early Stage Breast Cancer

Company Description Results

Xcision Medical Systems is a medical technology company developing advanced
stereotactic radiotherapy solutions with the potential to dramatically raise the quality
of treatments and improve the lives of patients and their loved ones. The companys
solutions are designed to extend the benefits of radiation oncology to more patients
and enable noninvasive treatments that allow patients to return to living fuller lives
more quickly and less painfully after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
In the study, researchers identified the geometric and dosimetric accuracy of the
breast cup device, identified patients not suitable for GammaPod, and confirmed
patient comfort.
The research generated through this MIPS project resulted in three peer-reviewed
publications in 2013 and eight patents.

Xcisions initial focus is on breast cancer, using stereotactic partial breast irradiation
to treat patients eligible for breast-conserving therapy. The companys first product,
GammaPod, is a new, stereotactic radiotherapy system optimized for the treatment
of breast cancer in 1-5 sessions.
MIPS Project Challenge
The broad goal of this two-phase MIPS project was to test the clinical feasibility of the
GammaPod.
Project Scope
This project was designed to perform pre-clinical and clinical testing to gather safety
and feasibility information in support of FDA submission for device approval. Pre-
clinical testing of the GammaPod device involved assessment of both geometric
and dosimetric accuracy. Researchers also identified and evaluated the most and
least favorable candidates for treatment, and assessed patient comfort with the
device. In addition, through a clinical study, they delivered radiation treatments to
eligible patients and assessed the feasibility and safety of using GammaPod to
deliver a focal dose of radiation to a target in the breast. Such clinical evidence was
crucial for both gaining FDA clearance and for market adoption.
In 2015, the company obtained the necessary MDE (NRC) licenses, FDA IDE approval
to start clinical testing, and NRC source and device registration necessary for ultimate
market launch.
Xcision has achieved revenue of $5.2 million and acquired $13.7 million in private
funding. Through sales revenue and investment funding, Xcision was able to increase
its number of employees from 17 to 22.
The first patient treated using the GammaPod occurred on 3/8/16. The IRB-
approved clinical trial under the FDA IDE approval completed enrollment in August,
2017. Xcision has submitted application to the FDA for full clearance.
Faculty members at the University of Maryland, Baltimore invented
a method and device for delivering stereotactic radiotherapy
specifically for breast cancer. By licensing this technology from
UMB and collaborating with the PI and his research team, Xcision
developed a new, breast-specific stereotactic radiotherapy machine,
the GammaPodTM . The GammaPod uses tens of thousands of radiation
beams to focus the radiation at the tumor to kill tumor cells.

Project Start Date: 7/1/2012; Location: Columbia, Howard County; Founded: 2006; Website: www.xcision.com; Project Manager:
Cedric Xinsheng Yu, CEO; Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Nichols, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine;
213 Steven Feigenberg, Associate Professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Both pre-clinical and clinical testing are crucial for the GammaPod device
to gain FDA clearance and market adoption. Through the first in-human
clinical testing, we verified that the GammaPod system is capable
of delivering a high focal dose to a target in the breast with low
doses to surrounding structures and organs such as
the lung, heart, and normal breast tissue.
CEDRIC XINSHENG YU, CEO,
XCISION MEDICAL SYSTEMS

214
 xMD Diagnostics, LLC
Prototype for xMD Enrichment of Patient Biopsies

Company Description
xMD Diagnostics is a biotechnology company focused on developing products for the
fields of pathology and microdissection. The company is currently working to develop
a product line of microdissection instruments and kits to help researchers and clinicians
rapidly analyze tissue and cells for diagnostic and scientific purposes. The technology
being used to develop the tools is proprietary and was exclusively licensed to xMD by the
National Institutes of Health.
xMDs optical-antibody technology can extract only the cancer cells over entire biopsy
samples, in seconds.
MIPS Project Challenge
The goal of this MIPS project is to construct an optimized version of the companys
xMD (expression micro dissection) system so it can be tested in a clinical setting.
Project Scope
While this project is in progress, researchers plan to build a beta prototype of the
xMD system, after which it will be tested by the company in collaboration with Sinai
Hospital in Baltimore.
Results
This MIPS project is currently in progress.
razor blade. In order to separate cells of interest (e.g. tumor cells from surrounding
cells), a pathologist circles a region on a tissue slide and then a lab tech uses a razor
blade to scrape off the cells of interest. Not only is the process crude and lacks
repeatability, but it is not applicable to the complex morphology of most tissue
samples, where the target cells can be distributed in a complex way within the tissue
sample.
In research labs (university-based medical schools, teaching hospitals, research
and government laboratories), there is laser capture microdissection (LCM). In laser
capture, a user manually points a focused laser at cell targets essentially one by
one, fires the laser, and that small group of cells is lifted. The process uses complex
microscope-based capital equipment (typically $250,000 per instrument), and takes
hours per sample. LCM is a great research tool, has been around for 20 years, but it is
not practical for a clinical setting. It is too expensive and takes too long. Pathologists
cannot spend hours on a sample from one patient. For this reason, LCM has only
penetrated into the research market.
xMD essentially combines the accuracy of LCM with the speed of a razor blade. It was
invented at NIH by the same people that invented LCM twenty years ago, and has
been exclusively licensed to xMD from NIH. (Source: xMD)

Additional Information
In the pathology clinic, the competition to xMDs technology is the manual use of a

Project Start Date: 8/1/17; Location: Baltimore City; Founded: 2014; Project Manager: Steve Ritterbush, CFO
Principal Investigator: Edo Waks, Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland

215
MIPS was instrumental in enabling Sterilex to bring this technology to the dental
market and is the only product to date [at that time, and to the current date] granted
claims by the EPA to include the prevention, penetration, and removal of biofilm from
dental unit waterlines, including the killing of biofilm bacteria. MIPS support was
extremely valuable to the company.

SHIRA KRAMER, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, STERILEX 216

 Company Index by County

COMPANY COUNTY PAGE COMPANY COUNTY PAGE

Berkeley Springs Instruments, LLC Allegany 31 Lockheed Martin Baltimore 101
Northrop Grumman Corporation Anne Arundel 135 Manta Biofuel Baltimore 105
PharmAthene Anne Arundel 147 MastiX, LLC Baltimore 113
Quantum Sail Design Group Anne Arundel 157 Potomac Photonics Baltimore 153
XChanger Companies, Inc. Anne Arundel 211 Sterilex Corporation Baltimore 177
Blue Wave Semiconductors Baltimore City 35 Under Armour Baltimore 191
CoapTech, LLC Baltimore City 45 Universal Security Instruments Baltimore 193
Dipole Materials, Inc. Baltimore City 55 Johnny Oysterseed, LLC Calvert 95
Firefox Pharmaceuticals, LLC Baltimore City 61 VoiceVibes, Inc. Carroll 203
Fyodor BioTechnologies Baltimore City 67 Crab Machinery, LLC Dorchester 49
Gliknik, Inc. Baltimore City 73 FiberCell Systems Frederick 59
ICmed, LLC Baltimore City 87 Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, Inc. Harford 111
InstantLabs Medical Diagnostics Corp Baltimore City 89 Nutramax Laboratories Harford 137
Itutela, LLC Baltimore City 93 A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc. Howard 11
Juxtopia, Inc. Baltimore City 97 dlhBowles Howard 57
Maritime Applied Physics Corp Baltimore City 107 HY-TEK Bio, LLC Howard 83
Pixelligent Technologies Baltimore City 149 iBiquity Digital Corporation Howard 85
Plant Sensory Systems, LLC Baltimore City 151 Martek Biosciences Howard 109
Profectus BioSciences Baltimore City 155 Matrics Technology Systems Howard 115
RedShred, LLC Baltimore City 159 Milestone Sports, Ltd. Howard 127
SilcsBio, LLC Baltimore City 169 Syntonics, LLC Howard 181
Smart Slope, LLC Baltimore City 171 Vheda Health Howard 197
Sonavex, Inc. Baltimore City 175 WellDoc, Inc. Howard 205
Tarsier Optics, Inc. Baltimore City 183 Xcision Medical Systems, LLC Howard 213
TheraCord, LLC Baltimore City 187 PaverGuide, Inc. Kent 145
Vasoptic Medical, Inc. Baltimore City 195 20/20 GeneSystems Montgomery 5
xMD Diagnostics, LLC Baltimore City 215 3i Diagnostics, Inc. Montgomery 9
Black & Decker Baltimore 33 Abilis Life Sciences, Inc. Montgomery 13
BondTrue, LLC Baltimore 37 AnthroTronix, Inc. Montgomery 19
Fleetpro, Inc. Baltimore 63 Artgen, Inc. Montgomery 21
COMPANY COUNTY PAGE COMPANY COUNTY PAGE
Automated Precision, Inc. Montgomery 25 OmniSpeech, LLC Prince Georges 139
Bahari Energy, LLC Montgomery 27 Optimal Solutions Group, LLC Prince Georges 141
Cellex Montgomery 41 Resensys, LLC Prince Georges 161
Cellphire Montgomery 43 TRX Systems Prince Georges 189
Fuzbien Technology Institute, Inc. Montgomery 65 High Impact Environmental, Inc. Queen Annes 79
Genovation Cars Montgomery 71 MeTompkin Seafood, Inc. Somerset 123
Hughes Network Systems Montgomery 81 38 North, LLC St. Marys 7
IT Curves Montgomery 91 Shore Thing Shellfish, LLC St. Mary's 167
MedImmune 1 Montgomery 117 Solar Tech, Inc. St. Marys 173
MedImmune 2 Montgomery 119 Green Eyes, LLC Talbot 77
MedImmune 3 Montgomery 121 Mack Trucks Washington 103
Microsphere Material Solutions, LLC Montgomery 125 vCalc, LLC Washington 199
Millennium Engineering and Montgomery 129 AHPharma, Inc. Wicomico 15
Integration Company ATP-MD, LLC Wicomico 23
Mimetas UA Montgomery 131 Belloso Motor Company Wicomico 29
N5 Sensors, Inc. Montgomery 133 CARE-2, LLC Wicomico 39
Otomagnetics, LLC Montgomery 143 K&L Microwave Wicomico 99
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Montgomery 163
RioRey, Inc. Montgomery 165
Stress Indicators, Inc. Montgomery 179
The Low Impact Development Design Montgomery 185
Group, Inc.
VLP Therapeutics Montgomery 201
Werbie, LLC Montgomery 207
Whisker Labs Montgomery 209
Airgility, Inc. Prince Georges 17
DataStream Content Solutions Prince Georges 51
Diagnostic anSERS, Inc. Prince Georges 53
gel-e, Inc. Prince Georges 69
Global Resource Recyclers, Inc. Prince Georges 75
 Company Index by Campus

COMPANY CAMPUS PAGE COMPANY CAMPUS PAGE

MedImmune 1 Bowie State University 117 Sterilex Corporation University of Maryland, Baltimore 177
Berkeley Springs Instruments, LLC Frostburg State University 31 TheraCord, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 187
Itutela, LLC Frostburg State University 93 Vasoptic Medical, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 195
iBiquity Digital Corporation Salisbury University 85 VLP Therapeutics University of Maryland, Baltimore 201
Shore Thing Shellfish, LLC St. Marys College of Maryland 167 WellDoc, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 205
Solar Tech, Inc. St. Marys College of Maryland 173 Werbie, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 207
vCalc, LLC St. Marys College of Maryland 199 Xcision Medical Systems, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 213
Fleetpro, Inc. Towson University 63 Bahari Energy, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore County 27
VoiceVibes, Inc. Towson University 203 Belloso Motor Company University of Maryland, Baltimore County 29
A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 11 Black & Decker University of Maryland, Baltimore County 33
Abilis Life Sciences, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 13 Dipole Materials, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore County 55
Artgen, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 21 MedImmune 2 University of Maryland, Baltimore County 119
Cellex University of Maryland, Baltimore 41 Northrop Grumman Corporation University of Maryland, Baltimore County 135
Cellphire University of Maryland, Baltimore 43 Potomac Photonics University of Maryland, Baltimore County 153
CoapTech, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 45 RedShred, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore County 159
CoolTech, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 47 Tarsier Optics, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore County 183
FiberCell Systems University of Maryland, Baltimore 59 38 North, LLC UMD Center for Environmental Science 7
Firefox Pharmaceuticals, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 61 Green Eyes, LLC UMD Center for Environmental Science 77
Fuzbien Technology Institute, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 65 HY-TEK Bio, LLC UMD Center for Environmental Science 83
Gliknik, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 73 Manta Biofuel UMD Center for Environmental Science 105
ICmed, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 87 MeTompkin Seafood, Inc. UMD Center for Environmental Science 123
InstantLabs Medical Diagnostics Corp University of Maryland, Baltimore 89 Plant Sensory Systems, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 151
MastiX, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 113 20/20 GeneSystems University of Maryland, College Park 5
Mimetas UA University of Maryland, Baltimore 131 3i Diagnostics, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 9
Nutramax Laboratories University of Maryland, Baltimore 137 Airgility, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 17
PharmAthene University of Maryland, Baltimore 147 AnthroTronix, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 19
Profectus BioSciences University of Maryland, Baltimore 155 Automated Precision, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 25
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals University of Maryland, Baltimore 163 Blue Wave Semiconductors University of Maryland, College Park 35
SilcsBio, LLC University of Maryland, Baltimore 169 BondTrue, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 37
Sonavex, Inc. University of Maryland, Baltimore 175 CARE-2, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 39

219
COMPANY CAMPUS PAGE COMPANY CAMPUS PAGE
Crab Machinery, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 49 Pixelligent Technologies University of Maryland, College Park 149
DataStream Content Solutions University of Maryland, College Park 51 Quantum Sail Design Group University of Maryland, College Park 157
Diagnostic anSERS, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 53 Resensys, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 161
dlhBowles University of Maryland, College Park 57 RioRey, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 165
Fyodor BioTechnologies University of Maryland, College Park 67 Smart Slope, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 171
gel-e, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 69 Stress Indicators, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 179
Genovation Cars University of Maryland, College Park 71 Syntonics, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 181
Global Resource Recyclers, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 75 The Low Impact Development Design University of Maryland, College Park 185
High Impact Environmental, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 79 Group, Inc.
Hughes Network Systems University of Maryland, College Park 81 TRX Systems University of Maryland, College Park 189
IT Curves University of Maryland, College Park 91 Under Armour University of Maryland, College Park 191
Johnny Oysterseed, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 95 Universal Security Instruments University of Maryland, College Park 193
Juxtopia, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 97 Vheda Health University of Maryland, College Park 197
K&L Microwave University of Maryland, College Park 99 Whisker Labs University of Maryland, College Park 209
Lockheed Martin University of Maryland, College Park 101 XChanger Companies, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 211
Mack Trucks University of Maryland, College Park 103 xMD Diagnostics, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 215
Maritime Applied Physics Corp University of Maryland, College Park 107 AHPharma, Inc. University of Maryland, Eastern Shore 15
Martek Biosciences University of Maryland, College Park 109 ATP-MD, LLC University of Maryland, Eastern Shore 23
Maryland Aquatic Nurseries, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 111
Matrics Technology Systems University of Maryland, College Park 115
MedImmune 3 University of Maryland, College Park 121
Microsphere Material Solutions, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 125
Milestone Sports, Ltd. University of Maryland, College Park 127
Millennium Engineering Integration University of Maryland, College Park 129
Company
N5 Sensors, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 133
OmniSpeech, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 139
Optimal Solutions Group, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 141
Otomagnetics, LLC University of Maryland, College Park 143
PaverGuide, Inc. University of Maryland, College Park 145

220
 MIPS/DNR-Funded Projects

About MIPS/DNR-Funded Projects COMPANY PAGE

The Innovative Technology Fund, a partnership between the Maryland Department 38 North, LLC 7
of Natural Resources (DNR), the University of Maryland and the U.S. Environmental AHPharma, Inc. 15
Protection Agency (EPA), is continuing to accelerate Chesapeake Bay restoration High Impact Environmental, Inc. 79
through the development of new technologies. At the 2007 Chesapeake Bay Program HY-TEK Bio, LLC 83
Executive Council meeting, the State of Maryland and the Environmental Protection Johnny Oysterseed, LLC 95
Agency agreed to promote investments in technologies that could accelerate Bay Manta Biofuel 105
restoration efforts. MeTompkin Seafood, Inc. 123
PaverGuide, Inc. 145
The Maryland DNR elected to utilize the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) Shore Thing Shellfish, LLC 167
proposal and vetting process for selected projects that would contribute to sediment Smart Slope, LLC 171
and nutrient reduction in the Chesapeake Bay. The Innovative Technology Fund The Low Impact Development Design Group, Inc. 185
began in 2008 and is made possible through funding from Marylands Chesapeake
and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund and the Environmental Protection Agency in
partnership with MIPS and the Mtech Ventures Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund.
Additional technical assistance is provided by Maryland DNR and the Chesapeake &
Coastal Program.

This program continues today, with several of the listed MIPS/DNR projects still
underway.