NSBRI INDUSTRY INSIDER - Industry Forum Newsletter
Success Story
Pulsar Informatics, Inc.
This young company develops computerized cognitive testing tools and biomathematical models to track human performance capability and deliver countermeasures to reduce fatigue-related human error in high-risk 24/7 operational domains. With grant funding from NSBRI, Pulsar is collaborating with Dr. David Dinges (see "Scientifically Speaking") to enhance a rapid psychomotor assessment test called the PVT and is developing other testing platforms for the home healthcare, occupational performance, and pharmaceutical clinical trials markets.

Company website: www.pulsarinformatics.com
Location: HQ in Philadelphia, PA
Founded: 2001
No. of Employees: 6
Current Customers: NASA, DoD, & Fortune-500 pharmaceutical companies

Reflectance Medical, Inc.
This early-stage company is developing technology to rapidly and non-invasively detect tissue perfusion and acidosis for assessment of health, fitness, trauma and other medical conditions. Developed using NSBRI, NASA and DoD funding, the CareGuide patient monitor continuously and quantitatively displays levels of microvascular oxygen, pH and hematocrit. The company is seeking Series-A financing and has a portfolio of 7 awarded U.S. patents with additional U.S. and international patent applications.

Company website: www.reflectancemedical.com
Location: HQ in Northborough, MA
Founded: 2007
No. of Employees: 2
Current Customers: NASA, DoD
Member Company Spotlight
Alion Science and
Technology Corporation

Alion Science and Technology Corporation is an employee-owned engineering and software solutions company. In 2007, Alion was a recipient of a 4-year peer-reviewed NSBRI grant of approximately $1.7M. The principal investigator, Mr. Ron Small, is a member of the NSBRI Sensorimotor Adaptation Team and is developing an enhanced software tool that integrates data from multiple sources to mitigate astronaut and pilot spatial disorientation in flight.

Company website: www.alionscience.com
Location: HQ in McLean VA, with nearly 60 branches in 12 countries
Founded: 2002
No. of Employees: 3400
Current Customers: 86% DOD; 7% Commercial; 7% Civilian Government
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Volume 1_December 2009
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Inside the Forum
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) Industry Forum is a network of companies whose products, services, and expertise contribute to the science and technology discoveries that enable human space exploration and benefit life on Earth. This newsletter offers insights into business opportunities in space biomedical Research & Development.

What to Expect

  • Scientifically Speaking: NSBRI technologies with Earth-based markets
  • Success Stories: NSBRI-funded R&D launching young companies
  • Featured Industry Forum Member Companies
  • NSBRI Industry Forum Activities and Opportunities

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    Scientifically Speaking
    Are You Awake Enough to Do Your Job?
    Sleep-deprived? Before you operate complex machinery or perform a demanding task, assess your psychomotor reactions and susceptibility to errors of attention by self-administering a 3-minute test on your computer. Dr. David Dinges from the University of Pennsylvania and his team are working with Pulsar Informatics, Inc. (see "Success Stories" section) on performance-measurement software. The Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) helps people involved in safety-sensitive occupations (e.g., airline and ship pilots, air-traffic controllers, military and medical personnel and first responders) assess their fitness to conduct critical tasks.

    Taking the Lag Out of Jet Lag
    "Shifter" is a computer program that helps travelers crossing several time-zones recover more quickly from jet lag. Developed by Dr. Elizabeth Klerman and her team at the Harvard Medical School & Brigham and Women's Hospital, the mathematically-based program takes into account the travel direction, time differences and schedule of activities, and automatically optimizes bright light as a countermeasure. The same method can be used for other interventions such as power-naps or a cup of coffee for any particular schedule. This technology has garnered interest as both a travel aid and as a workforce scheduling tool from commercial airlines, the Department of Defense and the general public.
    Industry Forum Activities
    Industry Forum Launches Website
    September 30, 2009

    To help link companies and researchers with areas of common interest and provide one-stop shopping, the Industry Forum has a new website (www.nsbriforum.org). Check it out and let us know what you think.

    Technology Commercialization Workshop
    Houston, TX; May 28, 2009

    A meeting of business experts and NSBRI investigators took place in May to discuss moving scientific discoveries from bench to market. Links to webinars of presentations and Q & A sessions can be found on the Industry Forum website in the Past Events Section.

    The Topics Covered:
    Entrepreneur Lessons Learned
    Intellectual Property Protection
    Licensing Discoveries
    Conflicts of Interest
    Gap Funding
    Regulatory and Clinical Considerations
    Manufacturing and Prototype Production
    Contact: //P: 713 798 7412  //E: info@nsbriforum.org
    NSBRI NATIONAL SPACE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE