The Innovator’s Quarterly: Handheld Skin Cancer Evaluation Tool Based on BU Research Receives FDA Clearance

April 2024 | News from BU Industry Engagement and Technology Development

In this issue…

A product from DermaSensor Inc., based on technology for skin cancer detection developed by BU spectroscopy researcher Irving Bigio, recently received FDA clearance.
BU engineers Ji-Xin Cheng and Selim Ünlü are developing breakthrough microscopy technologies to help scientists visualize their samples more accurately, with two provisional patents filed and two companies interested in commercialization to date.
Speaking of microscopes, BU engineer Lei Tian is attracting funding from foundations and industry partners to develop petite, lightweight microscope designs empowered by special miniaturized lenses that enable powerful imaging despite their compact size.
The Amazon Research Awards program seeks to fund machine learning research related to information security. Applications are due by Tuesday, May 7.
On Tuesday, May 7, the BU community is invited to the presentation of the BU Innovator of the Year Award to Dr. Thomas Bifano, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the BU Photonics Center.

Handheld Skin Cancer Evaluation Tool Based on BU Research Receives FDA Clearance

Photo courtesy of DermaSensor

BU Inventor Lei Tian Combines Cutting-Edge Microscopes with Deep Learning Algorithms

Photo by Kelly Pena

BU Engineers Make Significant Advancements in the Field of Vibrational Imaging

Photo by Logan Moreno Gutierrez on Unsplash

Boston University Ignition Awards Accelerate Promising, Commercially Viable Research

Photo by Adele Bertschy

Funding Opportunity

AI for Information Security Call for Proposals

The Amazon Research Awards program seeks to fund machine learning research related to information security on the following topics:

Threat, intrusion, and anomaly detection for cloud security
Generative AI and foundation models for information security
Graph modeling and anomaly detection on graphs
Learning with limited/noisy labels and weakly supervised learning
ML for malware analysis and detection
Finding security vulnerabilities using ML
Causal inference for information security
Zero/one-shot learning for information security
Reinforcement learning for information security
Protecting and preserving data privacy in the cloud
Securing generative AI and foundation models

Apply by May 7

Mark Your Calendar

On Tuesday, May 7, join us for talks from BU innovators and presentation of the 2023 Innovator of the Year Award

In a series of short lectures, BU faculty and alumni will share their diverse paths from invention to market to impact. Each innovator will offer insights on the challenges and opportunities that defined their journeys, including information about the institutional supports, advocates, mentors, and resources that helped them along the way. The event also includes the presentation of the BU Innovator of the Year Award to Dr. Thomas Bifano, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the BU Photonics Center.

Take Action

Expert advice, programs, and resources to support research collaboration and commercialization at BU

Patents, Licensing, and Starting a Company

The BU Technology Development website is your portal for one-on-one support, resources, and mentorship to help launch your commercialization efforts, from guidance on pitching your idea to investors to applying for a Small Business Innovation Research grant.

Support for Engaging with Industry

Industry Engagement offers individualized consultation and assistance to BU researchers interested in partnering with industry to advance their research and deepen their impact, as well as dynamic, curated lists of external industry funding opportunities, powered by Pivot-RP.

Meet the Team

We can help advance your goals. Get to know a few of our experts below or contact us to get started.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

Nevena Dimova, Director, Life Sciences Business Development

What I do: I help faculty identify what aspects of their ideas are patentable so they can advance their research to market.

Ask me about: Baking, my European origins, and help with patents and licensing.

INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT

Mark Simes, Director, Life Sciences

What I do: I work closely with researchers in the life sciences, across all campuses, to help identify and develop collaborative relationships with industry partners in their mutual areas of interest.

Ask me about: Skiing, the Boston dining scene, and opportunities for collaborating with industry in the life sciences.

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