Huntington, WV — On Saturday, March 19th, San Diego’s Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) will host the ninth annual “March Madness for the Mind” event. This exhibition spotlights exciting new work by fifteen of the nation’s top teams of student scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.

The Vandalia E-team at Marshall University has been invited to exhibit their project “Instrumentation for Large Scale DNA Manufacturing” during March Madness for the Mind.

In spring of 2003 Dr. Elizabeth Murray, Associate Professor of Biotechnology in the Integrated Science & Technology (IST) department and Dr. Herbert Tesser, Weisburg Professor in the College of Information Technology & Engineering (CITE), offered an NCIIA-funded course entitled “Technology and Innovation”. Dr. Murray challenged IST students Derek Gregg and Justin Swick with the problem of mass-producing specific DNA sequences. With the assistance of Professor of Chemistry Dr. Michael Norton, the Vandalia E-team succeeded in developing a solution.

Over the past two years, the students and faculty mentors have developed an innovative system and process (patent pending) for the mass production of specific DNA sequences with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result is the Triathlon Thermal Cycler, a continuous PCR solution that will ultimately support throughput volumes of up to six liters per day, suitable for large industrial applications. The project has now developed into a commercial endeavor. In March 2004, Gregg, Murray, Norton, and Swick formed Vandalia Research, LLC to commercialize the technology.

“These exceptional teams of young innovators represent the future of technology innovation,” said Phil Weilerstein, executive director of the NCIIA. “They’re taking exciting ideas from lab to market as part of their education—they are benefiting from a new orientation in higher education that gives students the opportunity to be successful innovators in today’s dynamic, collaborative workplace.”

March Madness for the Mind is presented in conjunction with the NCIIA’s 9th Annual Meeting—Dynamic Learning: Changing models for changing times, which brings engineering, science, and business faculty together in San Diego for three days of papers, panels, workshops, plenaries, and networking opportunities.

About Vandalia - Vandalia Research, LLC is a life sciences research company based in West Virginia, and was formed in March 2004 as a direct result of the above E-team research. Vandalia has placed strong emphasis on research and development directed to specific market needs, with the objective of commercializing novel biotechnology instrumentation and advanced biotechnology manufacturing techniques. Vandalia is developing tools, such as Triathlon, to be competitive in a large marketplace. Vandalia will use these tools to market DNA products and services to
commercial, educational, and other research facilities. In addition, Vandalia is seeking strategic partnerships to broaden the use of novel instrumentation and manufacturing techniques. For more information, call (304) 412-2128, or visit the Vandalia Research website at www.vandaliaresearch.com.

About the NCIIA - The NCIIA is an initiative of the Lemelson Foundation, a private philanthropy established by one of the country’s most prolific inventors, Jerome Lemelson (1923-1997), and his family, supporting faculty and students who believe that invention and innovation are critical to American higher education. The NCIIA provides grant support to colleges around the country for the creation of E-Team courses, projects, networking opportunities and resources for faculty and student innovators. The NCIIA funds E-Teams whose work is likely to result in the licensing of new products or technologies, or the start up of entrepreneurial ventures. There are currently 175 colleges and universities with membership in the NCIIA. For more information about the NCIIA meeting, call (413) 587-2172, or visit the NCIIA website at www.nciia.org.