Seattle, WA – July 7, 2008 – Washington Technology Center has awarded $82,500 in Research and Technology Development funding based on a proposal from University of Washington in collaboration with Healionics Corporation.
Healionics Corporation, a start-up biomaterials company in Redmond, is partnered with the University of Washington Department of Medicine to commercialize technology that will reduce infection from skin-breaching devices such as catheters.
UW will receive $82,500 in Phase I Research and Technology Development funding from Washington Technology Center and $16,500 from Healionics for the project titled “Spherically Templated Angiogenic Regenerative (STAR) Materials for Reduced Infection and Improved Function of Percutaneous Devices.”
Medical devices that breach the skin play an essential role in patient care. They deliver drugs and fluids to the body and have a variety of other uses. However, because the body’s natural barrier to disease is broken by these devices, patients are predisposed to bacterial infection. For example, infections from central venous catheters are attributed to more than 30,000 deaths per year in the U.S. alone. Despite the risks, the medical use of these devices is expected to grow.
In this Phase I project, UW Professor of Medicine Philip Fleckman plans to evaluate healing responses and bacterial reduction attained with a prototype catheter technology developed by Healionics. The prototype’s use of precisely-engineered biomaterials could help to maximize skin healing and thus reduce the risk of infection. Additional studies should help Healionics bring this promising medical technology to market.
Max Maginness, Ph.D., Healionics Chief Technology Officer, stated “we are very pleased WTC recognized the potential of our next generation STAR biomaterial scaffold technology to advance patient care and improve quality of life. We look forward to expanding our strong relationship with Dr. Fleckman and his team at the UW.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to extend our studies of the biology of the interface of the skin with STAR materials and continue our collaboration with Healionics,” said Dr. Fleckman. “The possibility of evolving this technology to a product that will help people by reducing morbidity while building the Washington state economy makes this a win-win project.”
Washington Technology Center competitively awards around $1 million in state funding annually as part of the Research and Technology Development program. State funding enables collaboration between companies and non-profit research institutions on technology projects that show strong potential for commercializing products and creating jobs. Since 1996, the state has funded 324 Research and Technology Development projects.
"I am so pleased with the quality of these research and development partnerships. The funds are clearly encouraging work with enormous potential to provide good jobs," said state Rep. Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland). "Hospital-based infections are a growing problem, so this grant could have wide public benefit, too."
“I congratulate Healionics Corporation and the University of Washington research team for their technology to improve patient care,” said state Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Medina). “This kind of innovation not only helps Washington lead in global health, it helps to keep our local economy diversified and strong.”
In July 2008, Washington Technology Center awarded a total of $512,269 for projects involving seven companies: CHROMiX, of Seattle; EKOS Corporation, of Bothell; Healionics Corporation, of Redmond; Hummingbird Scientific, of Lacey; Impulse Accelerated Technologies, Inc., of Kirkland; Northstar Neuroscience, Inc., of Seattle; and Plant Care Technologies Corporation, of Pullman. Winning proposals described breakthrough research in computer systems and microelectronics, forest products, advanced materials and manufacturing, and biotechnology and biomedical devices.
Applications for the next round of funding are due October 23, 2008. More information about the Research and Technology Development grants program is available online at
http://www.watechcenter.org/re/rtd.
About Healionics Corporation
Healionics is a privately held biomaterials company founded on technology developed by Dr. Buddy Ratner and Dr. Andrew Marshall at the University of Washington Engineered Biomaterials center and licensed from UW. Our mission is to be the leading provider of tissue regeneration and device bio-integration solutions to healthcare manufacturers. The flagship STAR – Sphere Templated Angiogenic Regeneration – biomaterial scaffold is a paradigm shift in biocompatibility. Healionics Corporation is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. For more information, please visit
http://www.healionics.com.
About Washington Technology Center
Washington Technology Center is a statewide economic development organization focused on technology and innovation. We spark ideas, form connections between people and resources, and foster job growth to position Washington State as a national technology leader. As an organization, Washington Technology Center channels state, federal, and private resources to help companies develop and commercialize new products and technologies. Our 15,000-square-foot Microfabrication Laboratory provides companies and university researchers access to facilities and specialized equipment for micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) research and product/process development. The impact of Washington Technology Center’s work has generated more than $500 million in additional investment for Washington companies and researchers. For more information how Washington Technology Center can help research and development projects succeed, visit
www.watechcenter.org or call 206-685-1920.
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