May 13, 2005

NSU Researchers Head To Orlando For 2nd Annual Statewide Tech Transfer Conference

ORLANDO, FL— Fifteen Nova Southeastern University (NSU) researchers will head to Orlando May 18-19 for the Florida Research Consortium’s second annual Tech Transfer Conference. The event, held at the Hilton Walt Disney World Resort, is designed to share knowledge, help define the role that universities play in today's economy, and seek commercialization opportunities for projects currently in development around the state.

“Strong, well funded research-oriented universities are a must in today's dynamic knowledge-based economy,” said Ray Ferrero, Jr., J.D., president of NSU. “This conference showcases the breakthroughs in information technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology that Florida's universities have to offer. Our ultimate goal is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry in our region, and cultivate the skilled workforce to support it.”

NSU has several research projects underway that will be presented during the Tech Transfer Conference. They include:

• A rapid, cost-effective digital system for identifying a large number of victims of natural disasters, acts of terrorism and warfare.  The project, which integrates the use of radiology, dental records and DNA fingerprinting, has the potential to help federal agencies and the military streamline the process of victim identification, reducing the suffering of relatives.
  
  
• An advanced medical treatment delivery system which uses small strands of genetic information instead of injections of drugs or vaccines. The potential advantage of this treatment delivery system is an elimination of drug or vaccine side-effects.
  
  
• A potential drug target that would speed up wound healing, reduce scars and diminish wrinkle formation in patients.
  
  
• An investigation of how to use bacterial extracts to prevent the growth and survival of cells which could lead to a new treatment for cancer-causing tumors.
  
  
• A new cancer therapy that kills cancer cells by shutting down their blood supply, which has the potential to help people suffering from breast, ovarian and other forms cancer.

The Florida Research Consortium (FRC) is a not-for-profit strategic partnership between Florida’s universities, the business community and state government. For more information, visit www.floridaresearch.org.

Nova Southeastern University has more than 25,000 students and is the largest independent institution of higher education in the Southeast, and the 8th largest non-profit independent institution nationally. For more information, please visit http://www.nova.edu.