Clemson University Research Foundation

It’s #TechTuesday! 🎉 🐷 Animal byproducts like hooves, bones, and fat are often repurposed into products such as lard, soaps, and pet food additives. However, their potential as a biodiesel resource has been limited due to metal and inorganic contaminants that damage refining catalysts. ⚡ Clemson researchers have developed a groundbreaking process to remove these contaminants, unlocking high-value applications in biodiesel refining and animal feed. This innovative method is effective in addressing contaminants that no other strategies on the market can handle. It is also economical, making biodiesel more accessible and sustainable, and simple, supporting the growth of the renewable energy industry. The advantages: ✅ Allows access to high value applications for rendered fats. ✅ There is no other viable solution to this problem on the current market. ✅ Reduces concentrations of metal and inorganic components by about 90% or more. ✅ Methods utilize low-cost materials. ✅ The use of feedstocks for the generation of biodiesel is a rapidly growing market. 🌍 By contributing to cleaner energy solutions, Clemson is driving progress in the face of global energy challenges. To learn more about this #CURF technology, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eErV4eZx

CURF proudly celebrates Dr. Naren Vyavahare for his recent achievement in securing a Chinese patent, “Anti-elastin antibodies and methods of use”. This is an expansion of a patent that we recently highlighted in Japan. We are proud to use Clemson’s worldwide reach exemplified through this patent.

Happy Thanksgiving from CURF! 🦃 In celebration of the holiday, our offices will be closed Thursday, November 28th, and Friday, November 29th. We are grateful for our incredible community and the opportunity to support innovation and research at Clemson University. Wishing you a joyful holiday filled with gratitude and delicious food! #HappyThanksgiving #Thankful #ClemsonResearch

It’s #TechTuesday! 🎉 🏥 Lower back pain is a widespread issue, affecting nearly 85% of people, with 40% of cases linked to Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD). To address this, Clemson University researchers have developed an innovative hydrogel scaffold for early intervention. 🦴 This biomaterial is designed to mimic the structure and function of the nucleus pulposus (NP)—the core of intervertebral discs responsible for supporting spinal compression. Current treatments focus solely on pain relief, but this breakthrough scaffold goes further by replicating native NP tissue properties to help mitigate or halt IDD progression. The advantages: ✅ Utilizes biomaterial formed from decellularized cow NP tissue via the application of tissue- specific decellularization solution and procedure, resulting in a hydrogel that maintains bulk biochemical and mechanical properties similar to human NP ✅ Supports human cell viability, mitigating or halting IDD progression ✅ Can be produced via simple, repeatable, low cost batch process 🔬 By targeting IDD at its early stages, this technology could transform treatment options and improve outcomes for patients before more invasive procedures become necessary. To learn more about how this #CURF technology, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eF4cXVTW

Clemson inventors with connections to CURF, Julian Brinkley, Ph.D. and Dr. Hai Yao, were recognized at the annual InnoVision Awards for their groundbreaking contributions with MyUI.AI and Apex Orthopedics. Read the full story at the link below! https://lnkd.in/etzizejD Clemson University College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences #CURF #Innovation #TechTransfer #ClemsonResearch #InnoVisionAwards

It’s #TechTuesday! 🎉 🧪 Optical fibers power a wide range of modern technologies, from high-energy lasers to advanced sensors—but heat can affect their performance. 💡 Clemson University researcher Dr. John Ballato has developed an innovative molten-core technique to infuse sapphire (Al₂O₃) into silica (SiO₂) fibers. This breakthrough creates temperature-stable optical fibers that overcome thermal dependence issues, paving the way for enhanced performance and new market opportunities in the growing $4 billion optical fiber sensor industry. The advantages: ✅ Record low Brillouin scattering, eliminating one drawback of current high-powered systems by offering athermal acoustic Brillouin spectrum characteristics ✅ Low-cost precursor materials, enabling scalability, and competitive pricing for entry into new markets ✅ Utilizes a continuous process with high-speed manufacturing that is compatible with existing commercial techniques, allowing for easy adaption and switch to this invention To learn more about this #CURF technology, please visit: https://lnkd.in/eVUEmRg6

It’s #TechTuesday! 🎉 🔌 With 86% of the world’s electricity coming from fossil fuels, there’s an urgent need for cleaner, renewable solutions. However, renewable energy sources—like wind, water, and solar—are intermittent, requiring efficient storage to harness their full potential. 🔋 Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at Clemson University, Dr. Mark Roberts, has helped find a solution to this problem. He developed an innovative interface to improve redox flow batteries, enabling longer power cycles and more efficient, affordable energy storage. This breakthrough could help power a cleaner, more sustainable future. The advantages: ✅ Electrochemical pairing of redox materials drastically increases rate of charge transfer, leading to improved power density ✅ Utilize carbon nanotube electrodes, leading to improved conductivity ✅ Utilize unpurified carbon nanotubes, removing a costly step in nanotube synthesis ✅ Modified electrodes generate nearly 10x the typical level of power density 🌎 By advancing storage technology, Clemson University is helping pave the way for reliable, accessible, and eco-friendly energy solutions. This will help contribute to eliminating carbon footprints and moving toward a more sustainable world. 📖 To learn more about this #CURF technology, please visit: https://lnkd.in/ePHR7b_H

CURF had an exciting week filled with events that highlighted industry insights and celebrated graduate student achievements. On Thursday, CURF proudly sponsored an Industry-Academia Panel featuring a distinguished group of professionals: Archana Venkatesh, Brian Aldridge, Bill Baldwin, Liliana Gehring, Kent Juliot, Juanita Edwards, and Jennifer Concepción-Acevedo. The panelists shared insights on industry experience, work-life balance, and advice tailored for graduate students navigating their career paths after graduation. The event concluded with a Q&A, giving graduate students the opportunity to ask specific questions about their careers and gain additional industry insights. We were honored to have Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School, John Lopes , in attendance. On Friday, Clemson hosted its Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition which is an opportunity for selected graduate students to present their thesis and its significance in a compelling and concise manner to a non-specialist audience. CURF was honored to have Chase Kasper, MBA, RTTP serve as a judge for the competition and sponsor the People’s Choice Awards. We are excited to announce the two recipients for this year: Praise Ayinla and Matthew Harrington. Praise is from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice. Matt is from the Department of Bioengineering who also won 1st place and will be representing Clemson at the 3MT Regional Competition. We are incredibly grateful to have sponsored these events, supporting graduate students in their career journeys and recognizing their remarkable talents.

The 2024 3MT winners! First place and People's Choice winner of round 2: Matt Harrington Second place: Jasanmol Singh Third place: Josie Nasekose People's choice round 1: Praise Ayinla *And a special thanks to Chase Kasper, MBA, RTTP and Clemson University Research Foundation for their sponsorship of the 3MT People's Choice Awards! We appreciate your support of these amazing students!

Congratulations!! 🎉