Ohio Ag Connection - Ohio Advancing High-Tech Solutions to Combat Opioid Abuse

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Ohio Advancing High-Tech Solutions to Combat Opioid Abuse
Ohio Ag Connection - 12/11/2017

At the request of Governor John R. Kasich, the Ohio Third Frontier has made available up to $20 million to advance new technology in the battle against drug abuse and addiction. As part of a two-pronged approach to accomplish this goal, today the Ohio Third Frontier Commission approved $10 million to advance technologies ranging from pain management alternatives to new apps that improve diagnosis and treatment.

"We're utilizing innovative solutions and new technology to help combat the opioid problem," said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency and chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. "This is an opportunity to save lives."

Ohio Opioid Abuse, Prevention and Treatment Technology Initiative includes:

- Cordata Healthcare Innovations, located in Cincinnati (Hamilton County), was awarded $1,500,000 to use data and predictive analytics to improve the ability to anticipate high risk locations, and improve the quality of intervention in cases of abuse and overdose.

- DeUmbra, Inc, located in Austin, Texas, was awarded $860,678 to produce a web application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify patterns in patient data that can alert physicians to how susceptible patients are to opioid addiction.

- Elysium Therapeutics, Inc., located in Danville, California, was awarded $2,989,159 to commercialize a compound inhibiting opioid absorption when a person takes more than a prescribed dose.

- Innovative Medical Equipment, located in Lyndhurst (Cuyahoga County), was awarded $177,000 to validate the use of a thermoelectric device to deliver targeted heating and cooling therapy as a substitute for opioids in treating chronic and post-operative pain.

- Sober First LLC doing business as Ascent, located in Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), was awarded $464,000 to bring a web-based, 24-hour hotline connecting individuals in recovery with peer coaches to support their recovery and connect them to resources.

- Sollis Therapeutics, located in Columbus (Franklin County), was awarded $2,000,000 to commercialize an implantable non-opioid, non-steroid drug-device combination for treatment of sciatic nerve pain as an alternative to opioids.

- The University of Akron located in Akron (Summit County), was awarded $2,000,000 to commercialize a degradable mesh for surgical use that releases a local anesthetic in place of oral opioids for managing post-operative pain.

The Ohio Third Frontier Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF) provides grants to Ohio institutions of higher education and other nonprofit research institutions to see whether technologies developed by the institution are commercially viable, through activities such as testing and prototyping.

The goal is to license the technologies to companies.

- Case Western Reserve University, located in the city of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), was awarded $500,000 for the Case Western Reserve University Technology Validation and Start-up Fund.

- The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, located in the city of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), was awarded $500,000 for the Cleveland Clinic's Technology Validation and Start-up Fund.

- The Ohio State University, located in the city of Columbus (Franklin County), was awarded $500,000 for the "Accelerator Awards."

- Ohio University, located in the city of Athens (Athens County), was awarded $200,000 to create the Ohio University Technology Validation and Start-up Fund.

In addition, companies aiming to license institution-owned technologies can receive funding to accelerate commercialization through activities such as market research and further prototyping. This helps companies either raise funds or get the licensed technology to the marketplace faster.

- Enhale Medical Inc., located in the city of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), was awarded $150,000 to further develop an implantable neurostimulation device to alleviate sleep apnea.

- LENTECHS LLC, located in the city of Columbus (Franklin County), was awarded $150,000 for prototyping and testing on unique soft contact lenses for people with age-related farsightedness.

- Sotera Medical Corp, located in city of Cleveland (Cuyahoga County), was awarded $150,000 to further develop a temporary protective device that is inserted in the esophagus of patients undergoing treatment for atrial fibrillation.

- Ubihere, Inc., located in the city of Columbus (Franklin County), was awarded $100,000 to collect data and produce a beta version of its technology for precisely pinpointing the location of employees, equipment or inventory.

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