by Sara Miller
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command
With the heightened focus on biodefense and bioterrorism, Maryland has become a hotbed for biotech companies looking to utilize the state's abundance of research centers, federal laboratories and programs designed to facilitate technology transfer to address these national concerns.
The Fort Detrick Technology Transfer Initiative (FDTTI) was established to provide awards to for-profit small businesses in support of technology development projects. Emphasis is on the development of technologies that meet the medical needs of the Army, as well as the commercialization of technologies developed in Fort Detrick's research laboratories.
Funded by Congress, the FDTTI was formed through a partnership between the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (OED), and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), headquartered at Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.
"I am working in the United States Senate to make our economy stronger, make America smarter and make our troops and our communities safer—that's what TEDCO stands for as well," said Senator Barbara A. Mikulski. "TEDCO is an anchor tenant of Maryland's 21st century economy. I am so proud to have fought for this federal investment."
Through the FDTTI, companies can apply for and receive awards of up to $50,000 for eligible projects. Since the initiative was launched in 2005, 16 companies have received awards totaling $800,000. In addition, the Frederick County OED offers business planning, development, and financing assistance as needed. Thus far, there have been no failures pertaining to the companies that have received awards.
"FDTTI is a proven vehicle for helping the private sector commercialize cutting-edge innovations developed in Fort Detrick laboratories," said Renée Winsky, president and executive director of TEDCO. "We are pleased to use this federally funded program to carry out TEDCO's mission to help foster and grow early-stage technology companies that will develop innovations for the betterment of society."
Several of the businesses that have taken advantage of FDTTI awards are also housed at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), Frederick County's business incubator. FITCI provides Maryland entrepreneurs a low-cost space for startup companies to share resources such as office space, research and development labs, Internet and network management.
Akonni Biosystems, a small Maryland life science company founded in 2003 and also a graduate of the FITCI incubator, is one such company that won a FDTTI award. It used the $50,000 to further efforts in developing, manufacturing and selling genetic-based diagnostic and disease surveillance products for infectious and other human health diseases. Akonni's technology is based on a microarray technique developed at Argonne National Laboratory. Currently, Akonni is working with the Fort Detrick-based U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) to evaluate its microchip identification system to identify possible biodefense threats.
Akonni used the $50,000 it received from FDTTI to further efforts in developing genetic-based diagnostic and disease surveillance products. (Click image to enlarge)
