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Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Office of the Vice President for Research announced two new research projects through the Connecting Through Research Partnerships (Connect) programme. The projects are slated to begin 1 September 2016, with each receiving US$125 000 in funding. The two projects will investigate biofilm corrosion in pipelines and an ultrasound drug delivery methodology.

海角吃瓜网淭hese joint UTSA and SwRI programmes leverage talent at both organisations, build strong teams for future contract opportunities, and accelerate the transition of fundamental research to the public,海角吃瓜网� said Dr. Michael MacNaughton, Vice President of the SwRI Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Division.

Biofilms often cause microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and are a serious problem in pipelines and other infrastructure. SwRI and UTSA will collaborate to gain a better understanding of MIC by collecting genomic and metabolic data from biofilms. These data will be used to develop models that can predict corrosion and identify potential novel inhibitors of biofilm formation. This research is geared toward the petroleum industry where problematic biofilms occur in many of the production and distribution processes. However, it has broad implications in other pipeline industries as well as medical applications where dental and other types of implants are used.

Manager Dr. Tony Reeves, Principal Scientist Dr. Kennedy Gauger, and Scientist Kenneth Lange, all of SwRI海角吃瓜网檚 Pharmaceuticals and Bioengineering Department, will collaborate with UTSA College of Engineering researcher Dr. Heather Shipley, Chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, and Dr. Gisella Lamas-Samanamud, a postdoctoral fellow, on the project 海角吃瓜网楳olecular Characterisation and Quorum Sensing of MIC in Pipeline Populations海角吃瓜网�.

Precision medicine, also called personalised medicine, takes the approach that no one treatment fits all patients, tailoring medical decisions by considering the predicted response of an individual. Together UTSA and SwRI will explore new ways to monitor a drug once it has been given in vivo. The team will develop a new approach using acoustic-sensitive liposomes for ultrasound-mediated drug release and then monitor the real time drug concentrations in deep tissue.

Over the past six years, 11 projects have been funded under the joint SwRI-UTSA Connect programme.

海角吃瓜网淔ostering collaborative opportunities for researchers from our two institutions has led to scientific discoveries and advanced technologies. The Connect programme continues to surpass our expectations. These two projects focus on priority funding areas 海角吃瓜网� biomaterials and biomedicine. Together we are finding new ways to address these difficult technical challenges,海角吃瓜网� said SwRI Executive Vice President Walt Downing.

海角吃瓜网淲hen we leverage the research expertise of both institutions and cross-pollinate efforts through the Connect programme, we can spark innovation and progress,海角吃瓜网� said Dr. Bernard Arulanandam, UTSA Interim Vice President for Research. 海角吃瓜网淥ur funding selection committee is looking to fund research that finds solutions for specific challenges. This year, with the two chosen projects 海角吃瓜网� precision medicine and pipe corrosion in the petroleum industry 海角吃瓜网� we can have a systemic impact on the people, and the industries, of Texas.海角吃瓜网�

The Connect programme was founded to enhance scientific collaboration between SwRI and UTSA and increase their research funding base.

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