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THERAPEUTIC UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM TO PREVENT CATHETER RELATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS (CRBSIS) IN PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETERS (PICCS)

THERAPEUTIC UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM TO PREVENT CATHETER RELATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS (CRBSIS) IN PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETERS (PICCS) - ABSTRACT THE GOAL OF PURACATH’S COMMERCIAL READINESS PILOT IS TO PREPARE FOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF A THERAPEUTIC SYSTEM FOR DISINFECTION OF A NEEDLELESS CONNECTOR FOR PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETERS THAT REDUCES THE RISK OF INTRALUMINAL COLONIZATION AS A SOURCE OF CATHETER-RELATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS. THE SYSTEM USES ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT TO ELIMINATE MICROBES AND BIOFILM DERIVED FROM FUNGI AND BACTERIA BY 99.99%, A 4-LOG REDUCTION, TO PREVENT CATHETER LINE ASSOCIATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS. WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A COMMERCIALIZATION-READY FIREFLY™ UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM CONSISTS OF A NEUTRAL DISPLACEMENT, STRAIGHT VALVE, UV-TRANSMISSIVE, NEEDLELESS CONNECTOR; AND A HANDHELD DEVICE WITH UV LEDS AND SENSOR TECHNOLOGY. IN PHASE II, PURACATH MEDICAL DEVELOPED AND VALIDATED THE FIREFLY™ UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. THE FDA 510(K) SUBMISSION PROCESS WAS INITIATED, AND AN INITIAL CLEARANCE WAS RECEIVED FOR THE FIREFLY NEEDLELESS CONNECTOR (K203796, CLEARED JULY 30, 2021). THE FIREFLY UV DISINFECTION HANDPIECE AND CHARGING STATION ARE CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW WITH THE FDA WITH CLEARANCE FOR THE INITIAL DESIGN PENDING (K213160, APPLICATION FILED NOVEMBER 12, 2021). IN THIS COMMERCIAL READINESS PILOT, WE WILL COMPLETE THE STEPS NEEDED TO SUPPORT CLINICAL USE AND COMMERCIALIZATION, WITH FOUR AIMS: 1) ESTABLISH READINESS FOR COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURING, 2) PREPARE FOR CLINICAL TRIALS, 3) DEVELOP A QUALITY SYSTEM, INTEGRATE MANUFACTURING PARTNERS, AND DESIGN AND PREPARE TRAINING MATERIALS AND; 4) DEVELOP SOFTWARE TO MONITOR AND ENSURE PROPER USE AND COMPLIANCE. THESE RESULTS WILL ENABLE US TO CONDUCT CLINICAL STUDIES THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR EFFICACY CLAIMS AND PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF THE BENEFIT OF THE SYSTEM. IN PARALLEL, WE ARE SEEKING PHASE IIB SUPPORT TO CONDUCT THE CLINICAL TRIALS. THE OUTCOME OF THIS ENTIRE SBIR PROGRAM WILL BE A BODY OF CLINICAL EVIDENCE TO DRIVE ADOPTION OF THE FIREFLY™ UV DISINFECTION SYSTEM BY HOSPITALS. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL IMPROVE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN THE UV DISINFECTION SPACE FOR COLONIZED SURFACES AND CLINICAL PRACTICES FOR INFECTION CONTROL IN HOSPITALS AND OUTPATIENT CLINICS. ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE HELP OF THIS NIH CRP GRANT WE WILL GENERATE DATA SUPPORTING OTHER UV LED APPLICATIONS FOR DISINFECTION IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS.

SBIR PHASE II: NOVEL PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETER TO REDUCE INFECTIONS

WEST VIRGINIA HARVEST (WVH) IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE, SPECIALTY FOOD BRAND FOCUSED ON POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM THROUGH INNOVATIVE LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. THE WV HARVEST FARM TO INSTITUTION APPLICATION WILL CONNECT PRODUCERS AND GROWERS WITH STATE INSTITUTIONS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS THAT RESULT IN STRONGER LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN WV. WV HARVEST WILL ENGAGE WITH THE CURRENT GROWERS, PRODUCERS, AND PROCESSORS IN THE STATE OF WV TO BEGIN THE STRATEGIC AGGREGATION OF LOCALLY GROWN RAISED PRODUCED FOOD PRODUCTS UNDER THE WV HARVEST BRAND. THIS INCLUDES CREATING AN INSTITUTION FOCUSED COORDINATED FOOD CHAIN AND MID TIER VALUE CHAIN, PURCHASING LOCALLY GROWN RAISED PROCESSED PRODUCTS, AND AGGREGATING STORING LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCED PRODUCTS IN A CENTRAL LOCATION.IN ADDITION, WV HARVEST WILL EXPAND ON CURRENT WORK BY INFORMING THE NUTRITIONAL DIRECTORS IN K 12 AND PURCHASING MANAGERS AT WV STATE INSTITUTIONS ABOUT THE LARGE SELECTION OF FRESH AND VALUE ADDED FOOD PRODUCTS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPING STRATEGIES AND ACTION TOOLS FOR KEY DECISION MAKERS OF STATE INSTITUTIONS TO BECOME MORE INFORMED OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE PRODUCTS THROUGH WV HARVEST. WV HARVEST WILL MARKET THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB CREATION AND COMMUNITY GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH PURCHASING LOCALLY RAISED GROW PRODUCED FOOD PRODUCTS TO STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO ELEVATE THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM IN WV. THIS INCLUDES INFORMATIONAL DISPLAYS AND MARKETING INSTALLATIONS IN SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

LIVING CONDITIONS AND INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES ARE POOR FOR NÁHUATL PIPIL RESIDENTS-ESPECIALLY FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. FUNDACIÓN PARA EL DESARROLLO SOCIOECONÓMICO Y RESTAURACIÓN AMBIENTAL (FUNDESYRAM) PROVIDES ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS ON SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES VEGETABLE GARDENS AND SMALL ANIMAL PRODUCTION. AT THE IAF WE SUPPORT COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN EL SALVADOR. FUNDESYRAM'S ACTIVITIES PROMOTE SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION TO ENHANCE FOOD SECURITY AND ENSURE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITIES TO THRIVE. THIS GRANT IS PART OF THE IAF'S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF IRREGULAR MIGRATION IN CENTRAL AMERICA.

STTR PHASE I: ECO-FRIENDLY POLYIMIDES FOR NEXT-GEN FLEXIBLE CIRCUITRY -THE BROADER/COMMERCIAL IMPACT OF THIS SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PHASE I PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL BURDEN OF ELECTRONIC WASTE BY ENABLING THE RECYCLING OF MATERIALS USED IN FLEXIBLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES. AS DEMAND FOR COMPACT, DISPOSABLE ELECTRONICS IN HEALTHCARE, PACKAGING, AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS CONTINUES TO RISE, SO DOES THE VOLUME OF UNRECYCLABLE SUBSTRATE MATERIALS, MANY OF WHICH ARE INCINERATED OR LANDFILLED. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THIS GROWING ISSUE BY DEVELOPING NEW DEGRADABLE MATERIALS THAT MATCH THE PERFORMANCE OF CONVENTIONAL ALTERNATIVES WHILE ENABLING LOW-COST, SCALABLE RECYCLING OF HIGH-VALUE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. THE INNOVATION COULD SUPPORT CIRCULAR MANUFACTURING PRACTICES AND REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON OVERSEAS MATERIAL SUPPLY CHAINS. WITH CONSUMERS AND MAJOR ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS SETTING AMBITIOUS SUSTAINABILITY TARGETS, THIS SOLUTION ALIGNS WITH BOTH REGULATORY AND MARKET TRENDS. THE FIRST MARKET SEGMENT TARGETED IS SUPPLIERS OF FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT SUBSTRATES, A SEGMENT PROJECTED TO SURPASS $55 BILLION BY 2031. THIS PROJECT?S OUTCOME HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE A DURABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE BY ENABLING COST-EFFECTIVE, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL NONRECYCLABLE SUBSTRATES. BY YEAR THREE OF PRODUCTION, THE TECHNOLOGY COULD GENERATE MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR REVENUES WHILE SUPPORTING U.S.-BASED MANUFACTURING, ENHANCING SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE, AND CONTRIBUTING TO NATIONAL EFFORTS TO REDUCE WASTE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS INNOVATION. THIS SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PHASE I PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP RECYCLABLE, HIGH-PERFORMANCE POLYMER SUBSTRATES FOR FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS USING A NOVEL PHOTOPOLYMERIZABLE, DEGRADABLE MATERIAL PLATFORM. TRADITIONAL POLYIMIDES OFFER HIGH THERMAL STABILITY BUT ARE NEITHER RECYCLABLE NOR DEGRADABLE UNDER PRACTICAL CONDITIONS, CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO ELECTRONIC WASTE. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THAT LIMITATION BY SYNTHESIZING CROSSLINKED, THERMOSETTING POLYMERS VIA PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION USING MONOMERS CONTAINING DEGRADABLE ESTER LINKAGES. THE PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON DEMONSTRATING KEY PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES?THERMAL STABILITY ABOVE 250 DEGREES CELSIUS, MECHANICAL INTEGRITY, AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES?WHILE MAINTAINING PHOTOPROCESSABILITY FOR SINGLE AND MULTILAYERED CIRCUIT FABRICATION. THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES INCLUDE DEVELOPING COST-COMPETITIVE FORMULATIONS USING EXISTING CHEMICAL SUPPLY CHAINS, OPTIMIZING PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION PARAMETERS FOR MANUFACTURING COMPATIBILITY, AND ESTABLISHING MILD CHEMICAL DEGRADATION CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW RECOVERY AND REUSE OF FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF CLOSED-LOOP RECYCLING BY REPOLYMERIZING DEGRADED MATERIALS AND CONDUCTING A FULL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION WILL ESTABLISH A SCALABLE METHOD FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES WITH END-OF-LIFE RECYCLABILITY, ENABLING BOTH ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. THE ANTICIPATED TECHNICAL RESULTS INCLUDE THE FABRICATION OF FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT DEMONSTRATORS, VALIDATION OF DEGRADATION PROTOCOLS, AND CONFIRMATION OF KEY MATERIAL PERFORMANCE METRICS, SUPPORTING THE COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE PROPOSED PLATFORM. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

A DEVICE TO REDUCE CATHETER RELATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTION RATES IN PATIENTS WITH PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETERS (PICCS)

SBIR PHASE I: NOVEL PERITONEAL DIALYSIS CATHETER TO REDUCE INFECTIONS

FARMERS ARE OFTEN ABSENT FROM DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOW POLICIES AND PROGRAMS IMPACT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. AT THE IAF, WE ARE INVESTING IN A REGIONAL EFFORT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA THAT WILL GIVE VOICE TO FARMERS AND DIRECTLY SUPPORT THEM IN COLLECTING, ANALYZING, AND PRESENTING DATA THAT THEY CAN INCORPORATE INTO THEIR OPERATIONS TO MANAGE THEIR FARMS MORE EFFICIENTLY. FUNDACIÓN PARA EL DESARROLLO SOCIOECONÓMICO Y RESTAURACIÓN AMBIENTAL (FUNDESYRAM) ESTABLISHED THE FIRST PARTICIPATORY CERTIFICATION SYSTEM IN EL SALVADOR. IT ALSO CONNECTS PRODUCERS DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS TO IMPROVE FARMERS’ QUALITY OF LIFE AND CONSUMERS’ FOOD SECURITY. FINALLY, FUNDESYRAM CREATES SPACES FOR DIALOGUE AMONG PRODUCER ORGANIZATIONS, INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ABOUT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. THE RESULTS OF THIS REGIONAL PROJECT WILL INFORM AGRICULTURAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS (GOVERNMENT EXTENSION EXPERTS, FARMER GROUPS) AND POLICY-MAKERS WITH CONTEXT-SPECIFIC DATA ABOUT HOW TO ENCOURAGE THE TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES TO IMPROVE FOOD SECURITY, ENHANCE FARMER LIVELIHOODS, AND MINIMIZE ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION. THIS IS PART OF THE IAF’S STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE.

CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM

HOMELESS ASSISTANCE

PERSISTENT POVERTY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT MARKET DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

REASTAURATION OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY CATHEDRAL OF SANTA ANA.

IMPLEMENTACI N DE UN PROGRAMA DE CAPACITACI N PARA LA CONSERVACI N DEL PAISAJE CHINAMPERO Y SU BIODIVERSIDAD, DIRIGIDO A USUARIOS DEL REA NATURAL PR

AXOLOTL AND CHINAMPAS: PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY AT CONSERVATION AREA, SOUTHERN OF MEXICO CITY.