University News

Kevin Leslie will be Old Dominion University’s first associate vice president for innovation and commercialization, the Norfolk-based university announced Friday. Leslie will improve ODU’s technology transfer operation to better identify, develop and market faculty, staff and student intellectual property and startups. He also will lead federal and other grant applications related to innovation and ecosystem …

Fairfax, VA –  Deployed military personnel frequently face numerous health and safety hazards as part of their daily activities in service to their nation. Among many dangers is the possibility of encountering hemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs), a group of highly infectious pathogens such as the Ebola virus. Many of these diseases do not currently have …

George Mason University will launch a new program to catalyze the growth of the nanotechnology industry in Northern Virginia, thanks to $3.75 million in grants. The Fairfax institution is receiving $2.5 million for the initiative through Go Virginia Region 7, the local chapter of the commonwealth-funded initiative led by the Virginia Department of Housing and …

Virginia Tech’s Advancement Division recently added Martha Quinn to its team as assistant vice president of advancement for health sciences and technology and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Quinn, who started on Sept. 20, previously served as executive director of development at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center. Prior to that, she was …

Virginia Commonwealth University is working on the development of a potential treatment for Covid-19. Michael Peters, Ph.D., a professor in VCU’s Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, is leading the research. Peters said he works everyday in response to the pandemic, which led him to the discovery of a possible lifesaving novel peptide therapeutic …

Tiny Cargo Co., a biotech startup founded by Rob Gourdie, professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, is among five companies to receive a Washington, DC Health Innovation QuickFire Challenge award. Spencer Marsh, a postdoctoral researcher in Gourdie’s laboratory, presented the pitch that awarded the company $50,000, the opportunity to reside at JLABS @ Washington, D.C. with …

George Mason University’s Mason Enterprise is establishing a new network of life science business mentors to help startups across Virginia launch and scale their ventures. The new team of mentors will support a broad range of life science companies in bringing their innovations, including therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and software, to market. This network will …

Bank of America is making a $1 million anchor grant to Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) College of Engineering. The grant will support ongoing programs that expand access for students to pursue a technology education, engage thousands of K-12 students in engineering outreach experiences and increase teacher participation in professional development sessions. This grant is the …

A study led by researchers from the Institute Cajal of Spanish Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid, Spain in collaboration with the Bioengineering Department of George Mason University in Virginia, U.S. has updated one of the world’s largest databases on neuronal types, Hippocampome.org. The study, which is published in the journal PLOS Biology, represents the most …

Student teams and faculty from around the globe will compete, learn, collaborate, and network virtually at the 2021 Virginia Tech Global Case Challenge in August. Hosted by the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center and Outreach and International Affairs, the Global Case Challenge offers student teams from around the globe the opportunity to present solutions to real-world industry problems. Teams of between …

COVIDsmart, a digital health study designed to examine the many impacts of COVID-19 on individuals and their communities launched today, with an open call for participation. The study welcomes participants from all walks of life across Virginia to share information on how the pandemic has affected their lives, even if they have not had COVID-19. …

The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hub partnership between Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, Carilion Clinic, and Inova Health System has awarded $200,000 in funding to five research projects through the Pilot Translational and Clinical Studies Program. Multi-institutional teams of scientists, physicians, and engineers will study Parkinson’s disease, celiac disease, pediatric heart transplant, …

The George Mason University, National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, within the College of Science, invites well-qualified candidates to apply for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the area of virology working with RNA viruses. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and …

The agricultural landscape is changing. Increased food production is needed to support the world population. Innovative efficiencies are needed throughout agriculture. Climate change scenarios suggest significant modifications in agriculture. In order to address these issues and use informed scientific discovery and technology-driven innovation to develop solutions, the Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences …

Sentara Healthcare announced that it has awarded a $4 million grant to Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University to help develop a regional School of Public Health. The funding is part of a $10 million community investment – the Sentara Healthier Communities Fund – which will be split into three areas of focus over …