Product/Service Development

Rachel Teitelbaum of Hervana, Ltd. in Israel will develop and test a biological vaginal formulation that produces a sperm-binding agent, which interferes with sperm motility or fertilization or both. It is hoped that this non-hormonal contraceptive will need only infrequent administration to maintain its effectiveness. In this project's Phase I research, Teitelbaum developed a lead formulation and demonstrated initial proof-of-principle that such an approach can provide effective contraception.

Sujoy Guha of the Indian Institute of Technology in India will test a new transcervical contraceptive made from a polymer compound for its ability to incapacitate both sperm and ovum. The novel compound is delivered to the fallopian tubes in liquid form, changed to a semi-solid form with an external application of radio frequency, and can be flushed out for fast and complete reversibility.

Abi Santhosh Aprem of HLL Lifecare Ltd. in India will attempt to eliminate the side effects associated with copper T intrauterine devices by coating the copper with biodegradable polymers. The polymers could prevent bulk shedding of copper ions that cause bleeding, cramping and pain, leading to increased acceptance of this highly effective contraceptive device. In this project's Phase I research, Aprem determined the optimal polymer film and coating technique and demonstrated that it was safe and effective in controlling copper ion release at the required daily levels.

Chakib Tadj of École de Technologie Supérieure in Canada will design a non-invasive diagnostic tool using computer acoustical analysis of newborn cries to detect serious medical conditions such as heart defects and infections. Cry production in newborns can be influenced by neurological and physiological states. In this project's Phase I, Tadj and his team analyzed cries from 120 healthy and sick newborns to identify acoustic features that can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Md Abdul Quaiyum of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research in Bangladesh will develop and test an inexpensive, biodegradable absorbent mat that can be placed under mothers who have just delivered babies to assess immediate postpartum blood loss. The mat can be weighed at regular intervals to measure absorbed blood, providing easy and early detection of postpartum hemorrhaging.

Charles (Skip) Smith of Seattle Children's Hospital in the U.S. seeks to develop a low cost pulmonary surfactant that can be administered by minimally educated health care workers to premature infants as they are being born as a means to avoid infant intubation as well as injury to premature lungs.

Joanna Long of the University of Florida in the U.S. will work to develop thermally and chemically stable pulmonary surfactant formulation for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. If successful, this new synthetic pulmonary surfactant can be easily transported as a dry power and reconstituted in remote clinics to help decrease infant mortality rates.

Arye Rosen of AMT, Inc., in the U.S., along with neonatologist Harel Rosen will develop and test a prototype, low-cost portable blanket phototherapy system to provide light therapy for the treatment of jaundiced infants at risk for acute bilirubin encephalophathy. This blanket will be powered by a battery charged via a photovoltaic panel, offering a low-cost therapy for newborns in resource-poor areas, including those where grid electricity is unavailable.

Jussi Saukkonen of Boston University School of Medicine and Alex Slocum of Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the U.S. will develop and test low-cost mechanical ventilators for infants in resource-poor settings. The use of simple parts and low-cost technology, along with small size and battery power, will allow for ease of use in remote locations.

Michael Chikindas of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in the U.S. will evaluate the effectiveness of the natural antimicrobial protein subtilosin to not only treat vaginal infections but also act as a spermicidal agent. If successful, the protein could be used in a discrete formulation to help women maintain healthy vaginal flora and prevent pregnancy.