Great reading for the long weekend: The Spark of Invention

What better way to spend some time this Thanksgiving weekend than thinking about invention!? The meaning of invention, the status of inventing, the future... Here's a link to a recent article in TIME Magazine entitled "The Spark of Invention."  Happy Thanksgiving!

SIU inventor's medicine to protect hearing nears final research phase

The 2012 SIU Inventor of the Year Dr. Kathleen Campbell in the news!
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/11/prweb11265064.htm

According to the State Journal Register, thousands of American soldiers and millions of civilians could avoid Noise Induced Hearing Loss if D-met trial is a success.

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(PRWEB UK) 4 November 2013

The next stage of research, scheduled to begin in November at a U.S. Army base, hopes to prove the benefits of a protective medicine, invented by a scientist at Springfield’s Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Dr Campbell has created an orange-flavored liquid, which contains a concentrated substance called D-methionine. This component of protein is commonly found in dairy products. In various studies, D-met has been shown to slow the development of “free radicals,” which can lead to long-term hearing loss.

“I want to see this over the finish line,” said Kathleen Campbell, an Southern Illinois University faculty member for 25 years. Ms Campbell is the school’s first researcher to develop a product that has reached the highest level of testing, a Phase 3 trial conducted before Food and Drug Administration approval.

The Phase 3 trial, scheduled for the next two years, will consist of four daily tablespoons of D-met syrup being taken by drill-sergeant instructor, during two weeks of rigorous training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

The U.S. Army are particularly interested in her research, and they have become heavily involved in the clinical trial.Noise induced hearing loss is the most common reason troops cannot be redeployed. Agriculture and Construction are two of the many industries who would benefit substantially from a drug that could reduce, or even cure, noise induced hearing loss. (2)

“They fire exactly 500 rounds of M16 weapon fire in 11 days,” Campbell said. “It’s a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. At the end of the trial, we should have less permanent hearing loss in those that are on D-met rather than the placebo.”

A total of 600 soldiers will be involved with the study, funded by the $2.5 million grant Campbell received from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Thomas Fairclough, Asons Executive, Stated that:

“Cambell’s developments could finally provide a solution for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss. Whether it is as a result of exposure to gunfire, or from working in a loud working environment, these developments made by the Southern Illinois University could be life changing for the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from Noise Induced Hearing Loss, or Industrial Deafness.”

If a private company is willing to provide financial support to Campbell, assisting her in licensing D-met patents and by funding the final Phase 3 trial, the medicine could be on the market in as soon as five years, pending FDA approval.

Studies so far indicate that the medicine could be used prior to, during, and up to three days after noise exposure, and still help cells in the inner ear recover, preventing Noise-induced hearing loss.

If D-met makes it to market, Kathleen Campbell’s invention will be the first medicine proven to prevent noise-induced hearing loss, the most-common cause of hearing loss worldwide. (1)

However, Dr Campbell says the treatment should not be considered a substitute for hearing protection, like earmuffs or earplugs. (2)

Asons Solicitors suggest, that if someone would like to learn more about Noise-Induced Hearing Loss, or if they would like to better understand the causes of Industrial Deafness, that information is available athttp://www.asons.co.uk, or via an expert helpline on 01204 521 133.

SIU inventor’s medicine to protect hearing nears final research phase - http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x882691286/Final-research-phase-for-SIU-inventor#ixzz2iMsE5qzs – The State Journal Regiter October 2013
Springfield Researcher Promotes Treatment For Hearing Loss - http://wuis.org/post/springfield-researcher-promotes-treatment-hearing-loss - WUIS October 2013

About Asons Solicitors:

Asons Solicitors is a Bolton-based law practice that specialises in personal injury and industrial disease claims. Founded by brothers Imran Akram and Kamran Akram, Asons Solicitors has developed to become a young and dynamic law firm that delivers practical solutions to clients in times of difficulty. Their continued focus on their staff has seen them awarded with the Investors in People “Gold Award”; which is reflected in the professional and personable approach they take in working with clients. They strive to grow and to develop, and their supportiveness and attention to detail ensures that their clients use them time and again.

Free Patent Seminar on Nov. 15 in Carbondale

A free patent seminar is taking place on Friday, November 15.  The topic of the seminar is “Patents, Innovation and the America Invents Act.”  Mr. Ari M. Bai, patent attorney for Posinelli business and litigation law firm will be the guest speaker.  Please view this PDF flyer for additional information.

There is no registration fee and a box lunch will be provided starting at 11:30 AM.  Space will be limited, so registration is required.  Register by phone: 618.453.6754 or by email: innovation@siu.edu.

First Tuesday Tech Tran Coffee Talk next week, Nov. 5

You can join the SIU Technology Transfer team (Jeff Myers, Amy McMorrow Hunter) at the SIU Student Center McDonald's every first Tuesday of the month for coffee and rolls. We discuss patents, innovation, startups, and try to answer any questions you may have, or provide updates on your case or other things happening.  Just drop in if you can between 9:30-11:00 a.m. and join the discussion.  Hope to see you there!  Questions?  Email techtran@siu.edu or call (618) 453-4556.

The Saluki Times: Innovation and Saluki Idea award winners named

By Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2013 Technology and Innovation Expo and Saluki Idea competition fostered and honored Saluki innovation and creativity. 

The two-part event took place Oct. 25 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center and included the announcement of the 2013 Inventor Award winners.
The winners are:

• Inventor of the Year -- David Lightfoot, professor of plant, soil and agricultural systems, College of Agricultural Sciences, honored for his research primarily focusing on crop productivity and disease resistance.  He is co-inventor for seven patents issued since 1999 and also the inventor or co-inventor for eight pending patents.
• Innovator of the Year -- Peter Fadde, associate professor in curriculum and instruction, College of Education and Human Services, honored for work with computer applications used for training expert perceptual skills in sports.  A patent is pending and Fadde’s research resulted in a product now being sold commercially nationwide.
• Startup Company of the Year -- Minerals Development Technologies Inc., whose founders include Paul Chugh, mining and mineral resources engineering professor, College of Engineering.  The business is initially focusing on dust control technologies for continuous mining machines.  One patent has already been approved and two are pending.
• Student Startup of the Year -- orderbolt, an app that is promoted as “the new premier mobile payment platform.”  The business is operated by Bryce Morrison, Tom Harness, Jonathan Bening, Geoff Veliz and Aarika Price and others, most of whom are all graduates, students, or former students at SIU Carbondale. 

The event also served as the final round for the Saluki Idea Competition in which students and student-led teams showcased their ideas for new, technology-based, commercially viable products and services.  

The theme was “Innovating for Impact,” with contestants competing for $1,000 in grant funds from the SIU Sustainability Council.  In addition, SalukiTech Computer Store and Help Desk provided a Dell tablet as a door prize.  More than 20 campus and community organizations and entities provided support for the Tech Expo and Saluki Idea Competition.
Saluki Idea Competition winners are:

• First place -- D.scribe, a communication eco-system that provides accurate transcriptions of conversations for the deaf or hearing impaired, by Christopher Faller and Briana Royster, seniors in industrial design.
• Second place -- Radiation Water Pump for Developing Countries or Off-grid Communities, an affordable, solar-powered water pump/irrigation system, by Felipe Paulino Silva, and Abdiel Quetz, mechanical engineering students.
• Honorable mention -- PowerPrice, an e-commerce, online, auction-type website allowing customers to solicit for their desired item and prices, by Azadeh Omrani-Kermani, MBA student.
• Honorable mention -- ReNew, an interactive recycling/sustainability campaign, by senior industrial design students John Leco and Gene Park.
• Honorable mention -- Solar for All, a solar power-sharing concept, by senior technical resource management student David Schau.   

Judges for the competition included Jim Garvey, vice chancellor for research; Dennis Cradit, dean of the College of Business; Robyn Laur Russell, SIU director of business development and international trade; Chester Wilson, associate professor at Louisiana Tech and Lawrence Cruz, chief patent council for Conair Corp.  

For more information about the Tech Expo visit www.tie.siu.edu.  To learn more about the Saluki Idea Competition, visit siu.launcht.com/.