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translational research, and a network of ART ambassadors, who will serve as role models, peer mentors, and advo- cates for societally impactful transla- tional research.
In addition, UMass Amherst’s ART ambassadors will be part of a nation- wide network of ART ambassadors from all funded institutions. Diverse, equitable, and inclusive efforts will pri- oritize and champion the involvement of members of traditionally underrep- resented groups in every aspect of the project.
“This award provides the campus with an unprecedented opportunity to build a sustainable innovation engine that will prepare students and fac- ulty to contribute to the innovation economy, shorten timelines between ideation and de-risked technologies,
“The project will equip diverse groups of scientists and engineers, from undergraduates to senior faculty, with skills to extend research excellence toward impactful translational outcomes.”
and result in enterprises that include diverse leaders in the development
of technologies to address important societal needs,” said Peter Reinhart, founding director of IALS. “The project will equip diverse groups of scientists and engineers, from under- graduates to senior faculty, with skills to extend research excellence toward impactful translational outcomes.”
Reinhart will serve as the grant’s principal investigator. Co-principal investigators include Provost Mike Malone; Burnley Jaklevic, director
of the UMass Amherst Technology Transfer Office; and Karen Utgoff, director of IALS Venture Develop- ment. Partner organizations include MassVentures, the Berkshire Innova- tion Center, Massachusetts Biomedi- cal Initiatives, and Somerville-based innovation accelerator FORGE.
According to the National Science Foundation, more than $100 million was awarded to the 18 teams. Each awardee will receive up to $6 mil- lion over four years to identify and build upon academic research with the potential for technology transfer and societal and economic impacts, to ensure availability of staff with technology-transfer expertise, and to support the education and training of entrepreneurial faculty and students.
“Congratulations to the IALS team and the UMass Amherst campus on this significant award,” said Jeanne LeClair, vice president of Economic Development & Partnerships for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.
“The center is incredibly proud of its significant investments in IALS as an anchor institution of our burgeoning Western Massachusetts life-sciences cluster. This award will only further spur innovation, translational research, and entrepreneurship for the region and our Commonwealth.”
Massachusetts Secretary for Eco- nomic Development Yvonne Hao added that “this ART award will help to grow the innovation economy in Western Massachusetts. The region has a lot to offer talented people who want to cre- ate new businesses, expand them, and to really succeed and thrive here.”
More Successes for IALS
The ART announcement came on the heels of two IALS core facilities receiving sophisticated microscopy instruments — the first such instru- ments to be located in Western Mass. — through grants totaling more than $3.2 million from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC).
The UMass Amherst grants are included in a funding package of more than $30.5 million to sup- port life-sciences innovation, work- force, and STEM education across Massachusetts.
The first award of $1,655,774 will fund the IALS Electron Microscope
facility’s purchase of a cryo-transmis- sion electron microscope, technology that the microscopy facility did not pos- sess, and which will be the first to be located in Western Mass., according to facility director Alexander Ribbe.
The second award, $1,555,276,
will allow the Light Microscopy facility, under the direction of James Cham- bers, to purchase technology that was missing from its imaging portfolio, expanding light microscopy offerings for biomedical training and research at UMass Amherst and beyond. BW
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