2 New Research Awards (January 2024)
From the UNC/NC State Joint BME News announcements: https://bme.unc.edu/2024/01/dr-jason-franz-receives-two-awards-to-accelerate-wearable-sensing-to-optimize-knee-joint-health/
BME Associate Professor Dr. Jason Franz has established a highly productive and collaborative line of research that integrates wearable sensing and machine learning for precision rehabilitation of individuals with knee osteoarthritis. That research, in close partnership with Dr. Brian Pietrosimone from the UNC Department of Exercise and Sports Science, was recently recognized with two awards to accelerate their path from scientific discovery to commercialization and genuine translational impact.
The first, a 2-year $110k translational research grant from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, will generate patient data to demonstrate proof-of-concept and feasibility of a novel wearable sensing and machine learning prediction technology for detecting, treating and monitoring aberrant forces during walking relevant to the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis.
The second, a $50k commercialization grant from UNC Kickstart Venture Services, was awarded to VETTA Solutions – the start-up company inspired by these research discoveries and co-founded by Drs. Franz and Pietrosimone.
Commercialization and entrepreneurship are cornerstones of our mission here in BME, and we want to congratulate Dr. Franz and his entire team for their recent success.”