As the year draws to a close, it’s a good time to look back and take stock. For the USTAR initiative, the year has been one of momentum building and an increasing pace of achievement.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll discuss in Utah Pulse the milestones USTAR is hitting in its three main program areas of Research, Buildings, and Technology Outreach. Today’s story covers Research – which represents the efforts of more than 20 leading scientists attracted to Utah through USTAR funding in the focus areas of Energy, Biomedical/Biopharma, Nanotechnology, Medical Imaging/Brain Medicine, and Digital Media.
In the Research arena, the taxpayers can see evidence of a good return on their investment. USTAR is in the phase where we are seeing significant gains in federal, industry and foundation grants attracted to the state.
As of June 30, 2009, the state's investment in USTAR research has been leveraged on a two-to-one basis.
For example, from 2008 to 2009 the University of Utah experienced 16 percent growth overall in research awards ($306 million to $355 million), an impressive performance in a very tough economy for funding. Perhaps even more impressive is that USTAR faculty accounted for 27 percent of this growth, or $13.3 million in awards in FY2009.
Utah State University researchers have as well seen gains in the inflow of extramural funding. In aggregate at USU and U of U, for fiscal years 2007-2009 combined, the state’s investment in USTAR research teams totaled $33.7 million. Based on that investment, these teams have won more than $71.3 million in federal and industry multi-year grants, leveraging the taxpayer investment on more than a two-for-one basis.
In addition to the $71.3 million won, another $152.1 million is pending for decision.
It’s easy to imagine that more grants lead to more scientific breakthroughs, but what’s the economic impact of increased funding? A recent U of U study indicates that for every $1 million in new research funding the university captures, an additional 20 jobs are created. Extrapolating those metrics, the success of USTAR researchers in capturing $71.3 million in new funding could lead to nearly 1,500 new jobs. The study is based on 10 years of data and utilizes RIMS II, a standard econometric model developed by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Two other important metrics that indicate a growing momentum toward economic growth are intellectual property and company creation. In the last fiscal year, USTAR researchers made more than two dozen invention disclosures (a preliminary step to patents) and eight separate patent filings. USTAR researchers have also launched four new companies, in the energy, biomedical, and nanotechnology fields.
The efforts of individual researchers stand out. Some of the highlights include:
| Oct. 2009 | USU researchers awarded $10 million in federal DOE funds to pursue several alternative energy and energy efficiency related projects. |
| Sept. 2009 | U of U’s Brian McPherson’s team wins $2.7 million grant (Dept. of Energy carbon sequestration). |
| Sept. 2009 | USU’s Synthetic Biomanufacturing team successfully demonstrates output of bioplastic from a microorganism. |
| Sept. 2009 | U of U’s Marc Porter and others release a water quality testing device for the International Space Station. |
| Aug. 2009 | City of Logan teams with USU’s USTAR-funded Energy Dynamics Lab and Biofuels teams to launch water quality/biofuel pilot project. |
| Aug. 2009 | U of U’s Marc Porter leads group of 27 faculty that wins a $3 million IGERT grant for biosensor Ph.D. training. |
| July 2009 | U of U’s Julie Korenberg publishes report of highest resolution genetic map of Down Syndrome, pointing the way to new treatments. |
| June 2009 | U of U’s Deborah Yurgulen-Todd named director of VA’s Salt Lake City-based Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center. |
| May 2009 | USU’s Jeff Muhs testifies on algae biofuels before Congress and releases comprehensive national report. |
| May 2009 | U of U’s Julie Korenberg publishes report of cancer-protecting gene in Down Syndrome patients, pointing way to new cancer treatments. |
| May 2009 | USU’s Center for Advanced Nutrition launches human trial studying combined drug/diet approach to reduce cholesterol. |
| April 2009 | U of U’s Brain Institute selects six pilot projects by non-USTAR researchers to utilize high-end MRI device originally funded by USTAR. |
| Feb. 2009 | USU’s Biofuels team announces winning a share of a multi-million dollar Dept. of Defense grant. |
| Dec. 2008 | U of U’s Ling Zang announces improvements to nanotechnology-based explosives detection device. |
| Oct. 2008 | USTAR researchers launch Nano Institute of Utah, http://nanoinstitute.utah.edu |
| Oct. 2008 | U of U USTAR researcher Marc Porter announces prototype of “card swipe” medical test device. |
As these talented researchers move to Utah, get settled in their new university settings, and begin to collaborate with the existing talent at the U of U and USU, exciting things are happening. With the momentum that is now in place, ever greater things are in store.
