Inventor of Microfluidic System with Nanomedicine Applications Receives 2024 NovaUCD Invention of the Year Award
Associate Professor Nan Zhang, a researcher in the UCD School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and in the UCD Centre of Micro/Nano Manufacturing Technology, has been named the recipient of the 2024 NovaUCD Invention of the Year Award.
His research interests, and that of his research group, include manufacturing of plastic microfluidic chips, high precision 3D printing of microfluidic devices, and microfluidics for drug synthesis and diagnostics, which have applications in areas such as nanomedicine and medical devices.
Associate Professor Zhang was presented with the Award by Professor Orla Feely, President, University College Dublin (UCD) during the annual presentation of the NovaUCD Innovation Awards which took place at the UCD University Club.
Professor Orla Feely, President, UCD said, “The NovaUCD Innovation Awards have become a key annual event highlighting the University’s commitment to innovation and recognise the achievements of our research, innovation and entrepreneurial communities and I congratulate all who have received this year’s Awards. I would also like to wish the Awardees future success as they continue to work towards delivering economic and societal impact in Ireland, and further afield, through their commercialisation, consultancy, entrepreneurial and innovation activities.”
Associate Professor Nan Zhang and Professor Orla Feely, President, UCD
Associate Professor Zhang and his research team have developed a patented microfluidic system and process for the formulation of nanomedicines. The invention consists of a high-throughput microfluidic system, featuring a cartridge with a uniquely designed mixing channel, coupled with a desktop machine for conducting nanoparticle synthesis. This system is designed to accelerate formulation screening and to enhance formulation optimisation, crucial for the development of gene therapy, cell therapy, and vaccines.
On receiving the 2024 NovaUCD Invention of the Year Award, Associated Professor Nan Zhang, said, “The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented loss of lives, and the development of mRNA vaccines has underscored the critical importance of nanomedicine in today's world. I sincerely hope that our high-throughput microfluidic formulation solution will significantly accelerate the development of nanomedicines. Our aim is to enable patients suffering from cancer, infectious diseases, and rare conditions to have access to more effective and targeted treatments and to access the medicine as fast as possible, ultimately saving lives.”
Associate Professor Zhang is currently a participant in the 2024 UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme at NovaUCD to support him and his new venture team to develop a viable business plan to commercialise this intellectual property.
He added, “We have established a commercialisation team focused on bringing the technology into a stage ready for external investment with the support of the NovaUCD team. Our plan is to launch a first laboratory-oriented system by mid-2025.”
The annual NovaUCD Innovation Awards highlight successes made in areas of knowledge transfer, consultancy, entrepreneurship and the promotion of an innovation culture, by members of the UCD research, innovation and entrepreneurial community.
A total of 7 Awards were presented by Professor Orla Feely, UCD President. The other Awardees are;
2024 NovaUCD Innovation Award: Professor Therese Kinsella, CEO and founder, ATXA Therapeutics
2024 NovaUCD Spin-out of the Year Award: EpiCapture
2024 NovaUCD Consultancy of the Year Award: Professor Fiona Timmins, UCD School of School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems
2024 NovaUCD Licence of the Year Award: Go Eve
2024 NovaUCD Founder of the Year Award: John Byrne, CEO and Founder, Corlytics
2024 NovaUCD Innovation Champion of the Year Award: Professor Nick Holden, UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering.
ENDS
12 April 2024
For more information contact Micéal Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, NovaUCD, UCD Research and Innovation, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie.