Completed Projects

Free to Feed

University of Idaho

FY2020 Award Amount: $255,496

The University of Idaho (UI) and industry partner, Free to Feed Inc. are working together to advance Free to Feed’s patent-pending technology that detects allergen proteins in human breast milk. A total of 686 human milk samples were collected during the study. Thirty-eight of these human milk samples are from baseline collections prior to any dietary elimination or intervention. Over 300 human milk samples were collected post dietary elimination of soy-containing products and/or post dietary intervention of soy milk. Three hundred fifteen human milk samples were collected post dietary elimination of bovine milk-containing products and/or post dietary intervention of bovine.

California Safe Soils

University of Idaho

FY2019 Award Amount: $241,667

Plant-feeding roundworms, or nematodes, are responsible for approximately $100 billion in annual agricultural yield loss per year. Using IGEM-Commerce funding, the University of Idaho (UI) and California Safe Soils, are combining mustard seed meal with a food hydrolysate product to develop an affordable new biopesticide that can combat these roundworms while increasing yield and avoiding negative environmental consequences. Experiments are underway to optimize the amounts and methods of pesticide application in the laboratory and greenhouse. Preliminary results show an impact on nematode populations and plant growth. The project team hired a temporary study coordinator to complete a literature review and finalize the study design. In addition, the project team has begun to work on all the materials needed for gaining ethics approvals for the proposed clinical trial via the UI Institutional Review Board.

Premier Technology, Inc.

University of Idaho

FY2019 Award Amount: $274,167

Through a collaboration with industry partner Premier Technology, Inc. (PTI) and Boise State University (BSU), the University of Idaho (UI) is optimizing a laser deposition-based additive manufacturing (3-D printing) technique to produce innovative products for the energy and food processing industries. This unique technique will allow users to quickly make large metallic parts with complex geometry and design flexibility under controlled atmospheric conditions. The project will provide expertise in not only this area but also hands-on research experience to several students, supporting the development of the next-generation technical workforce in additive manufacturing. The project positions PTI as a leader by expanding its presence in the marketplace across Idaho and beyond.

Iris Technologies, Inc.

Boise State University

FY2019 Grant Amount: $242,114

FY2021 Supplemental Award Amount: $49,011

Boise State University (BSU) and industry partner, Iris Light Technologies, Inc. will continue development of a scalable manufacturing process for on-chip color tunable lasers. The grant, awarded to BSU, helped Iris Light Technologies to create a scalable production method for black phosphorus by converting it from the readily available commodity red phosphorus, to render black phosphorus powder into a nanomaterial ink. The nanomaterial ink would then be printed on Iris Light Technologies foundry-produced hybrid silicon laser chips. To date, this project has had many important accomplishments including the demonstration of effective production of photonic inks at a reduced cost, photodetector devices from printed inks, black phosphorous ink purification and the alloying of black phosphorus. In addition, the project has resulted in two peer reviewed journal publications, five public conference presentations, a cooperative research agreement, the filing of a USPTO provisional patent, a graduate student internship at Micron Technologies Inc. and a supplement of over $600,000 through external programs and private investments. With the FY2021 supplemental grant, the research team plans to expand the current mechanochemical conversion, ink formulation and printing processes to simultaneously include the optimization of doping and alloying materials. This advances the widespread adoption of the technology by the silicon photonics industry.

WMDTech

Boise State University

FY2018 Grant Amount: $368,772

Research on this project supports the design and development of a market-ready general-purpose portable infra-sound goniometer. The goniometer will be able to detect natural phenomena sounds as well as differentiating man-made sounds and their sources. Multiple systems have been built and are currently running successful tests in Boise and Utah.

Boise State and WMDTech have been able to continue to work on the project during the pandemic. The design and prototyping are well underway, and two prototypes of the latest iteration have been assembled. Field tests have been conducted to determine refinements to the sensors and firmware. After extensive effort, Boise State filed a patent application to protect novel aspects of the invention.

Shaw Mountain Technology, LLC

Boise State University

FY2018 Grant Amount: $343,330

This project further supports the development of a working Magnetic Shape Memory (MSM) Micro-pump proto-type for volume production. The industry partner, Shaw Mountain Technology, LLC (SMT) is a Boise State University startup company founded in 2015 by Distinguished Professor and former Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Department, Dr. Peter Müllner. The research and development of this project are focused on replacing the driving mechanism, currently an electromotor and permanent magnet assembly, with a more compact and energy-efficient electromagnetic system. A new industry partner, House of Design, has been engaged to assist with production scalability. SMT has sold two pumps and three additional patents have been filed by Boise State University for further iterations and improvements to the pump technology manufacturer.

Sakae Casting, LLC

University of Idaho & Boise State University

FY2018 Grant Amount: $237,898

Researchers from the University of Idaho in Idaho Falls, the Center for Advanced Energy Studies research consortium, and Japan-based Sakae Casting, LLC used IGEM funding to perform criticality assessments of potential casks, develop mechanical and chemical means to dissolve boron compounds in molten aluminum, cast a prototype used fuel cask, and conduct experimental tests on that prototype used fuel cask to determine the maximum heat loading permitted. These tasks were conducted to develop and bring to market a borated aluminum cask for cooling used nuclear fuel. The cask will strengthen used fuel management at nuclear power plant sites around the world, as many reactor sites have limited space to store used fuel, which is often stored in large, deep water-cooled pools. The cask presents an intermediate, space-saving storage option.

Idaho Hydro Tech (IHT)

Boise State University & Idaho State University

FY2017 Grant Amount: $413,681

This IGEM grant has led to a multi-institution effort to develop an integrated miniaturized air scrubber and cloud-enabled wireless distributed sensor network to monitor and control the storage environment for potatoes. The Boise State University team developed and tested temperature, gas, and humidity sensors in a laboratory environment. A web-based client application that provides interfaces for users to view the real-time readings of different sensors that are physically present in the storage facility has also been developed. ISU extensively tested the Idaho Hydro Tech (IHT) Humigator on its ability to remove mold spores, bacteria, and viruses from the air. Analysis of the results and manuscript preparation is in the final stages. The analysis indicates that the Humigator™ is effective in removing bacteria from the air, although results were influenced by patterns of airflow in the test lab

This integrated solution should enable IHT, the industry partner, to increase its share of the potato storage market. While each component of the integrated system has unique capabilities, their integration marks an important advance in agricultural technologies.

Fi-Ber Sports

Idaho State University

FY2017 Grant Amount: $111,453

The central focus of the project was the testing of a hockey safety device called HOPlite Skate Armor™, developed by Fi-Ber Sports, that was to be worn over a standard hockey skate. HOPlite Skate Armor™ is a patented two-piece composite plastic foot protector intended to reduce foot-related injuries for hockey players. The Idaho State University research team was charged with the development of a consistent delivery system capable of accelerating a hockey puck to 100 mph and recording the velocity of the puck prior to its impact with the protective device.

The mission was to record impact data and video from the puck collisions with the HOPlite Skate Armor™ de-vice for analysis. The research final report contained detailed information allowing for replication of the testing process. The puck launching system has applications for other safety devices as well and could accelerate a puck to 190mph. With the impact film data and high-speed video provided by the ISU research team, Fi-Ber Sports will be able to conduct an analysis of the reaction of the material used in the construction of HOPlite Skate Armor™. ISU administrators met with the HOPlite Skate Armor™ team in early 2019 to discuss the next steps. ISU volunteered the use of the necessary testing equipment so that HOPlite Skate Armor™ could pursue third-party testing to verify the data. This new data, along with existing data provided by ISU, could allow for HOPlite Skate Armor™ to become the industry standard in foot safety equipment for hockey players.

Fiberguide Industries, Inc

Boise State University

FY2017 Grant Amount: $260,435

Boise State University has developed a spectroscopic time-of-flight reflectometer (STOFR) to assist the manufacturing and quality control process of a new revolutionary process that reduces and eliminates reflections from the end of an optical fiber (RARe Motheye Fiber™ process), developed by Fiberguide Industries, Inc. The instrument measures optical reflection from RARe Motheye Fiber™ over a wide range of wavelengths from near UV to near-infrared. STOFR is capable of measuring reflections less than 0.1% and is insensitive to optical alignment (an important factor in the manufacturing environment). An instrument with such broadband capability and high sensitivity does not exist in the current commercial market. STOFR has been in field operation since July 2018. The revenue generated by RARe Motheye Fiber™ is expected to exceed $1 million annually.

Kairosys, Inc.

Boise State University

FY2017 Grant Amount: $194,000

This project allows Boise State University’s Department of Geosciences to apply its experience and expertise in remote sensing data collection and analysis to provide protocols and prediction models to the industry partner, Kairosys, Inc., that will form an important part of the suite of solutions it is developing for managed pollination. Boise State is using imaging technology based on spectroscopy science for monitoring alfalfa as it progresses through its flowering cycle. Based on the success of the project, S&W Seed Company has joined as a new industry partner. In partnership with S&W, sensors were deployed in several alfalfa fields and a predictive model is under development. S&W has provided additional data to the project and along with the founders of Kairosys, are actively engaged in the product development of the predictive model.

Armor1, Ankle Roll Guard™

Boise State University

FY2016 Grant Amount: $148,927

A new, innovative orthopedic product (Armor1) that prevents injury by limiting excessive inversion of the ankle has been developed by Ankle Roll Guard™. Boise State University quantified Armor1’s effectiveness and compared its ability to prevent excessive ankle inversion with existing orthopedic products. The preliminary quantitative data demonstrated that Armor1 provides similar prevention of excessive inversion as existing orthopedic products but may allow the wearer more natural ankle motions and better physical performance. Using this data, Ankle Roll Guard™ has initiated negotiations with several medical device distributors.

Z Data Inc.

University of Idaho

FY2016 Grant Amount: $161,524

The University of Idaho, along with assistance from Z Data Inc. has developed software tools to assist Empire Unmanned in handling enormous amounts of data acquired during unmanned aerial system (UAS) flights. The ability to process, visualize and disseminate large volumes of gathered data enables Empire Unmanned to expand its product offering.

Inergy Solar

University of Idaho

FY2016 Grant Amount: $178,178

The University of Idaho in collaboration with Inergy Solar, the industry partner, has engineered and manufactured a new 2,000-watt Split Phased Gallium Nitride High-Frequency Inverter. With the success of this development, researchers designed and are closer to realizing a 6,000-watt capacity inverter. These inverters will augment Inergy Solar’s current product offering by advancing development toward a complete home solar solution. A new front-panel design and advanced user-controlled features have also been added, including the ability to set the power output, receive light and temperature conditions, collect optional sensor data through a web-based app. In addition to the gallium nitride focus, this project’s research has also included an emphasis on network cybersecurity protection for this off-grid energy source. The project is continuing to refine the design for attaining increased power loads, enabling internet access to operate the product, advanced user features and displays, and better cybersecurity.

Evolutionary Markings Inc.

University of Idaho

FY2016 Grant Amount: $299,651

The University of Idaho and its National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (NIATT) have validated the safety benefits of EMI’s Smart Pavement Markers in different applications. A multidisciplinary team of UI researchers improved the functionality of these markers by adding wireless communication capabilities to them, opening the door for several real-time adaptive on-pavement warning systems to improve traffic safety in different roadway segments. Through a partnership with Idaho-based Evolutionary Markings Inc., UI produced innovative, real-time communication and data exchange between RPM devices and different traffic control systems, connected vehicles, and autonomous vehicles. A test installation of the technology was featured in a journal for the Washington State Institute of Transportation Engineers. Using EMI’s pavement markers, a UI team of students were finalists in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Traffic Control Device Competition to reduce wrong entry crashes on high-speed roads. In addition, the Idaho Transportation Department installed EMI markers in different segments of its two-lane rural highway systems to improve safety.

University of Idaho

FY2013 Grant Amount: $124,021
FY2016 Grant Amount: $105,452

This project was an inaugural recipient of IGEM funding in FY2013. Since the initial investment, this project has successfully progressed toward the commercialization of a fish vaccine to combat Cold Water Disease (CWD). Idaho is the national leader in trout production, accounting for over 70% of all commercial (food fish) rainbow trout. Commercial aquaculture production contributes over $110 million to Idaho’s economy. Due to this second round of funding, an exclusive license has been successfully negotiated and executed. The University of Idaho continues to work directly with the company sponsor to gain final U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory approval for this vaccine. The process has steadily moved forward, and initial laboratory safety trials have recently been completed and submitted to USDA for review. Upcoming laboratory efficacy and field safety trials remain to be completed. Once results are reviewed and approved, full vaccine licensing approval is expected from USDA, which is required prior to commercialization, marketing, and product launch.

Marshall GIS

Boise State University

FY2016 Grant Amount: $211,098

With IGEM funding, Boise State University and industry partner, Marshall GIS, developed a sensor device to improve the collection, modification, and delivery of remotely-sensed GPS, vehicle diagnostics, and other related data. The sensor adapter fills a critical gap in the delivery of data from diverse sensors to the growing internet Platform as a Service (PaaS) marketplace, allowing sensor agnostic and carrier agnostic delivery of data to the cloud for use by a wide variety of applications.

JR Simplot Company

Boise State University

FY2015 Grant Amount: $343,072

Boise State University worked with the JR Simplot Company to develop a data analytics solution for agronomic decision-making based on historic farm and crop yield data. The goal of this project was to leverage Simplot’s existing data to give growers new tools and resources they need to optimize their yields. Researchers automated the process of matching the multi-spectral photosynthetic images for Simplot so they can be used to produce predictive models for their network of growers

JR Simplot Company

Idaho State University

FY2015 Grant Amount: $179,755

This project utilizes hyperspectral imaging mounted on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to advance precision agriculture. ISU and the Idaho-based JR Simplot Company worked together to advance remote sensing applications in the evaluation of multi-platform data collection using UAS. Researchers have discovered a detection methodology that identifies the Potato Virus Y (PVY). The detection of PVY is critical for potato growers to prevent yield losses. The project team secured additional grant funding through the Idaho Specialty Crop Grant program from 2018 – 2020 and 2020 – 2021. New field trails in the 2019 and 2020 growing sea-son provided additional data to refine the approach to detect the PVY crop threat and develop customized sensors. ISU successfully submitted a full patent application in 2018 for this technology. Dr. Donna Delparte, the principal investigator, created a new Idaho registered startup business, I2I Geo LLC, to market this technology.

University of Idaho

FY2015 Grant Amount: $427,173

This project validated and brought to scale a new reactive filtration water treatment platform. USPTO patent No. 10,366,468 “Biochar Water Treatment” was issued in July 2019 and a similar EU patent is pending. The potentially carbon-negative advanced water treatment technology can clean and sterilize contaminated wastewaters while recovering critical phosphorus and clean water for reuse. The process can remove biological and chemical contaminants in the water using treated Biochar charcoal made from agricultural or forestry waste, as well as through a catalytic oxidation process that destroys most compounds of concern, such as hormones and pharmaceuticals. The system has been successfully trialed at municipal water treatment plants in Moscow and Troy, Idaho, at an agricultural drainage canal near Parma, Idaho, and in Idaho’s Magic Valley to address water challenges of the dairy processing industry.

The GreenTech BlueWave biomimicry water technology, advanced separations project (a subset of the IGEM grant) was funded this summer by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture with awards totaling $2 million dollars.

University of Idaho

FY2014 Grant Amount: $296,917

At the University of Idaho, researchers tested an organic compound called 2E-Hexenal as a fungicide for stored potatoes. Converted to and applied in a gaseous state, this new approach to eradicate fungi would be industry-changing. UI partnered with several companies to study the effectiveness of this fungicide in post-harvest tubers. The project shifted from large-scale potato trials to smaller-scale trials, which incurred cost savings. Those savings were utilized to conduct additional research on the use of 2E-Hexenal in onion storage facilities, where it has successfully demonstrated a dramatic reduction in crop losses due to post-harvest pathogens. The product is now patented.

UI licensed the fungicide with one of the partnering companies, which is pursuing EPA registration and will attempt to bring this technology to market by 2023. Researchers in Wisconsin, Michigan and Idaho carried out further testing of 2E-Hexenal in large-scale trials last winter. Initial results are good, and trials will expand during storage season to collect more data for EPA registration.

ON Semiconductor

Idaho State University

FY2014 Grant Amount: $300,000

Idaho State University partnered with ON Semiconductor for analytical research in the development and improvement of semiconductor products. The Commerce IGEM award allowed for the acquisition and installation of Scanning Electron Microscope and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM/EDAX) equipment. The equipment is in the Eames Advanced Technical Education and Innovation Complex, in the newly remodeled Material Analysis and Microscopy Laboratory (MAML). The equipment positioned in MAML has fostered collaboration between ISU and multiple industry partners as well as numerous governmental agencies.

In FY2019, work was completed on infrastructure to support the MAML lab; chillers and UPS units were installed and located in a separate room from the microscopes themselves to enhance user experience in these labs. Large vacuum pumps were emplaced for potential implementation of a future central vacuum system, to further reduce noise and vibration levels in the microscopy lab. The JEOL FX2000 TEM was serviced and the electron source was upgraded from a Tungsten filament to LaB6 crystal which will yield increased brightness imaging and improve beam stability over its useful life.

MWI

Boise State University

FY2014 Grant Amount: $110,454

A new implant, the Bionic Hip System™, was developed by MWI to improve the standard of care for treating hip osteoarthritis by reducing cost, improving canine mobility, and lowering complications. Boise State University characterized the mechanical performance of the implant. MWI has submitted a utility patent on the technology and West Vet is currently developing instruments to use with the bionic hip implants in canines. The bionic hip implant successfully completed over a million cycles of wear testing, and these findings were published in the Journal of Orthopedic Research. This study also led to the development of a new technique to measure abrasive wear in hip implants, which was published in the Wear Journal. The undergraduate working on this project was awarded an NSF graduate fellowship and is now completing her Ph.D. at Boise State. The next step for this project is to implant these devices in a small sample size of canines.

BHS Specialty Chemical Products (DuBois Chemicals)

Boise State University

FY2014 Grant Amount: $265,000

Boise State University partnered with BHS Specialty Chemical Products to create renewable chemicals by converting oils into surfactants for use in products marketed to industrial food processing, personal care, and petroleum industries. Researchers were successful in creating surfactants from pure oil feedstocks, as well as developing a method to make surfactants from high-grade vegetable oil waste. Likewise, researchers were able to use low-grade vegetable oils from food production facilities as feedstock for surfactant synthesis. BHS was bought out by DuBois Chemicals in 2017 and further development of this technology was terminated.

University of Idaho

FY2013 Grant Amount: $124,021
FY2016 Grant Amount: $105,452

This project was an inaugural recipient of IGEM funding in FY2013. Since the initial investment, this project has successfully progressed toward the commercialization of a fish vaccine to combat Cold Water Disease (CWD). Idaho is the national leader in trout production, accounting for over 70% of all commercial (food fish) rainbow trout. Commercial aquaculture production contributes over $110 million to Idaho’s economy. Due to this second round of funding, an exclusive license has been successfully negotiated and executed. The University of Idaho continues to work directly with the company sponsor to gain final U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory approval for this vaccine. The process has steadily moved forward, and initial laboratory safety trials have recently been completed and submitted to USDA for review. Upcoming laboratory efficacy and field safety trials remain to be completed. Once results are reviewed and approved, full vaccine licensing approval is expected from USDA, which is required prior to commercialization, marketing, and product launch.

Micron

University of Idaho

FY2013 Grant Amount: $150,000

Partnering with Micron, this project allowed for the speedier development and design of next-generation memory modules with the acquisition of the Vector Network Analyzer. The acquisition of the Vector Network Analyzer not only helped Micron but also prepares UI students with hands-on education on the latest industry equipment. Additionally, the Micron Foundation gifted $1 million to UI to fund an endowed professorship in microelectronics in the College of Engineering. This gift has helped UI’s efforts to better position itself as a leader in microelectronics education and research.

University of Idaho

FY2013 Grant Amount: $78,076

The project examined if there was a better process to detect and determine the strains of E. coli within the beef processing system. While the project was successful in decreasing the detection time, the new process was not sufficient for commercial use at a beef processing plant. The process did recognize six strains that are considered adulterants in fresh ground beef products. Additionally, beef trim contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 could be identified in approximately 18 hours, which is about 24 hours faster than other generic methods.

Boise State University

FY2013 Grant Amount: $80,986

The project focused on the analogs of doxorubicin and mitomycin C, two compounds that have an important role in the treatment of a variety of cancer types. The use of these two compounds has declined due to side effects, including myelosuppression and the onset of irreversible acute cardiotoxicity. Research efforts to gain knowledge on doxorubicin and mitomycin C’s mechanism of toxicity have provided tangible results. Researchers discovered favorable results from one of the analogs, GPX-160. They found it to be a more stable analog and a patent has been submitted on GPX-160, with two initial manuscripts following 1) synthesis and anticancer activity and 2) mechanic studies. Gem Pharmaceuticals has contributed over $100,000 in sponsored research toward this partnership.

Idaho State University

FY2013 Grant Amount: $250,000

The project allowed for the acquisition of a Dualbeam-Nanomachine Center. The Dual-beam system provides both high-resolution imaging and nano-machining capabilities in a single component. This tool enables ISU to provide ultra-precise machining and nanofabrication capabilities that meet the needs of its industry, educational, and research partners. The machinery is also located in the Material Analysis and Microscopy Laboratory (MAML) in the Eames Complex. The equipment positioned in MAML has fostered collaboration between ISU and multiple industry partners as well as numerous governmental agencies. The Dualbeam system is currently installed in the MAML microscopy suite and is connected to air, chiller and vacuum services. Once the service maintenance is completed on the Dualbeam system, it will be back into the full operational specification and the instrumentation will be ready to resume collaborative research and contractual services on an on-demand basis.

GenZ Technology

University of Idaho

FY2013 Grant Amount: $46,146

The project allowed for field tests to be conducted to quantify the effectiveness of a new pesticide spraying technology compared to conventional spraying. GenZ Technology, the industry partner, learned from field tests that the new spraying technology performed better than the existing technology. This new pesticide application system has been used for strawberry and lettuce crops. This project has raised $2 million in capital for the industry partner from angel funds and has also hired 8 new employees. GenZ Technology was also a Regional Winner of the 1776 Challenge Cup and invited to compete at the Global 1776 Challenge Cup competition.

BioCement Technologies, Inc.

University of Idaho

FY2013 Grant Amount: $114,864

The project allowed an assessment to be made on the viability of MICP, a process that uses microorganisms already present in the soil to form calcite. A new Idaho company BioCement Technologies, Inc. has been created as a result of this new product and a license of this technology has been negotiated with the University of Idaho. In addition to receiving IGEM grant funds, this project has also received National Institute of Health (NIH) Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) funding.

The SBIR Phase 1 grant awarded $53,968 for a 6-month study to reduce the mobility of lead (Pb) in soils at sites in and near Kellogg, Idaho. This technology has been patented in the US, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. BioCement Technologies has 12 road stabilization pilot projects resulting in company revenue. BioCement continues to market and test the technology in various locations, and for several use cases.