Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative
T
he Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) is a long-term, state-funded investment to strengthen Utah’s “knowledge economy” and generate high-paying jobs. Funded in March 2006 by the State Legislature, USTAR is based on three program areas. The first area funds strategic investments at the University of Utah and Utah State University to recruit world-class researchers. The second area is to build state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facilities at these institutions for the innovation teams. The third program area involves teams that work with companies and entrepreneurs across Utah to promote technology commercialization. Research Teams More than two dozen leading researchers from around the country have been recruited to Utah since USTAR’s inception, and recruitment continues. Strategic innovation focus areas include: • Energy – Conventional and Alternative • Biopharma/Biodevice • Medical Imaging and Brain Medicine • Imaging Technology and Digital Media • Nanotechnology For fiscal years 2007-2009 combined, the state’s investment in USTAR research teams totaled $33.7 million. Based on that investment, these teams—according to preliminary estimates—have won more than $74.3 million in federal and industry grants, leveraging state funds on more than a two-for-one basis. Some research highlights include: With its focus on algae-based
• U of U USTAR researchers Brian McPherson, Marc Porter, Hamid biofuels, USU’s Energy Lab is at the Ghandehari, and Ling Zang have started companies in the energy, forefront of the nation’s quest for alternative energy sources. nanomedicine, and environmental monitoring markets. • A researcher at the U of U’s Brain Institute, USTAR’s Julie Korenberg published groundbreaking studies of Down and Williams syndromes in Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Journal of Medical Genetics. • USU’s USTAR researcher Jeff Muhs testified before Congress in May 2009 and published a comprehensive report on Algae Biofuels and Carbon Recycling. Muhs is collaborating with USU’s Energy Dynamics Lab to produce an algae-based system that will reduce phosphate in the City of Logan’s wastewater treatment lagoons and produce biofuels for city vehicles. • USU’s USTAR-funded Center for Advanced Nutrition, under the direction of David York, launched a human trial to study the effects of phytosterols on cholesterol, looking for breakthroughs in dietary treatment of cardiovascular disease.*
Governor’s Office of Economic Development • Annual Report 2009
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