KU News Release

Biomaterials grant proposal at KU receives matching pledge

TOPEKA — The Kansas Bioscience Authority today announced it will contribute $2 million in co-funding in support of a major research proposal being submitted by the University of Kansas to the National Science Foundation.

The proposed $12.3 million, six-year grant would establish a Materials by Advanced Technologies and Research Innovation Center in Kansas. The KBA contribution is contingent on an NSF award being made. The outcome of the grant-making process won’t be known until later this year.

KBA’s commitment is part of its Federal Matching Program, which is open to all universities and colleges in Kansas conducting bioscience research. Offering matching funds can improve the competitive position of a proposal for federal funding. Institutions are eligible for one-time matches of up to 50 percent of the grant, with $2 million as the maximum amount.

The proposal for the Materials by Advanced Technologies and Research Innovation Center is led by Paulette Spencer, a University Distinguished Professor in KU’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of KU’s Bioengineering Research Center. The proposal involves an interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers from KU and Wichita State University. Applications of the resulting technology include medical devices.

The KBA portion of the project would support applied research and commercialization efforts, including support equipment, some administrative costs and collaborative research projects involving companies, such as proof-of-concept and prototype development.

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