Author: Asher Alt

From the Lab to the Law: My journey to IP, from an OTT intern

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

My life journey to this point has been anything but traditional. While some might call my path “circuitous,” I would argue my experiences helped me develop a multitude of transferable skills. I decided in my last two years of my undergraduate education at Georgia State University (Go Panthers!) to pursue becoming a medical doctor. During this time, I was also interested in applying for “Teach for America” as I had a passion to be a part of educational equity in our society. I was accepted as a corps member and taught eighth grade science for four years – a  whole Read More …

The Hatchery offers space for student entrepreneurs to innovate

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

“Entrepreneurship” has become a buzzword in popular culture. Look no further than the 40% of Americans who’ve started a side hustle, or to the popular show Shark Tank, in which start-up businesses seek investors and get feedback. At Emory, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well, and there are dozens of resources for the campus community to use – even beyond the business school. One of the largest facilitators of entrepreneurship at Emory is in The Hatchery, Center of Innovation. The Hatchery supports student innovators and entrepreneurs from all Emory schools and covers all stages of innovation, from inspiration and Read More …

From the Director: March-in authority to control drug prices ultimately hurts Americans

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Todd Sherer, PhD is the Associate VP for Research and Executive Director of the Emory University Office of Technology Transfer. In this article, Todd reflects on the Bayh-Dole Act and provides a lesson on march-in authority as outlined in the law. Before the bipartisan Bayh-Dole Act was passed in 1980, no federally funded drugs, vaccines, or products were commercialized and brought to market. This was because the government, not the inventing organizations, took ownership of the patent. At a time when American industrialism was threatened, the Bayh-Dole Act strengthened U.S. competitiveness. In the past, activists have tried to challenge Bayh-Dole Read More …

An Overview of PTSD

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious and greatly misunderstood condition. There is a high degree of stigma, controversy, and mystery attached to this condition, which is why it was only in 1980 that the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) recognized PTSD as a disorder. Although progress has been made since its recognition as a disorder, PTSD is still controversial in many spaces, and scientists and patients alike struggle with miseducation and dismantling stigma. Causes PTSD can develop in a person if they are subject to a “catastrophic stressor,” or exposure to an upsetting, traumatic event. Exposure Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Samuel Sober

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

The singing of Bengalese finches led Samuel Sober, PhD, to a breakthrough technology for understanding how the brain controls movement and the processes of sensorimotor learning. “Songbirds are the best model system for understanding how the brain controls complex vocal behavior, and one of the best systems for understanding control of motor behavior in general,” says Sober, Emory associate professor of biology. This breakthrough comes after decades in the neuroscience field. After getting his bachelor’s in neuroscience and behavior, Sober pursued a doctorate in neuroscience at the University of California, San Francisco. His doctoral thesis researched human motor planning and Read More …

Chronic Kidney Disease: The Basics

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Two small, bean-shaped organs – the kidneys – have a big impact on our overall health. They filter out waste and excess fluids and help regulate our blood pressure. When our kidneys gradually stop working, it can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this article, we will discuss what CKD is, its causes, symptoms, and ways to prevent it. What is chronic kidney disease? Chronic kidney disease is a progressive condition that gradually reduces the function of the kidneys, leading to a build-up of waste and fluids in the body. When the kidneys can’t filter blood as effectively as Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2023 Awardees: Anant Madabhushi, PhD

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Can you introduce yourself? I am Anant Madabhushi, the Robert Woodruff Professor of biomedical engineering at Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology. I also have a joint appointment in Biomedical Informatics, pathology and radiology. Apart from that, I’m also a research career scientist at the Atlanta VA Medical Center. My research interest is in convergence AI and machine learning for problems in precision medicine. Specifically, my group is interested in using routinely acquired data – such as CAT scans, MRI scans, and biopsy images – to interrogate with AI/machine vision-based algorithms and identify patterns that will allow us to Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2023 Awardees: Rasheeta Chandler, PhD, RN

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Rasheeta Chandler, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN is an Associate Professor, tenured, at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Her research interests include HIV prevention in minority populations and comprehensive sex health promotion, supported by funding from the National Institute on Nursing Research. Can you introduce yourself? I am a professor at Emory in the School of Nursing, and my passion comes first and foremost from being a Black woman. As a healthcare provider, I’m driven by the opportunity to provide care to marginalized women and women of color – listening to them and their needs, and helping Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2023 Awardees: J. David Prologo, MD

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Dr. Prologo is an interventional radiologist whose research has focused on the application of image guided techniques to the delivery of stem cell therapies, the treatment of cancer pain, and for obesity management. Can you introduce yourself? I am David Prologo – an Interventional Radiologist and Associate Professor of Radiology in the Emory School of Medicine. What did you enjoy about winning an award? This is an amazing honor given the incredible level of innovation and commercialization that comes out of Emory. Can you tell us a little bit more about the technology/innovation you received the award for? My partner Read More …

Q&A with Annual Celebration 2023 Awardees: Cassandra Quave, PhD

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Cassandra Quave, Ph.D. is Curator of the Herbarium and Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory University, where she leads natural product drug discovery research initiatives and teaches courses on medicinal plants, microbiology, and pharmacology. Can you introduce yourself? I’m an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Human Health at Emory. I also serve as the Curator of the Emory Herbarium. I cofounded Verdant Scientific in the summer of 2022 and serve as the CSO for the company. What did you enjoy about winning an award? It is always nice to receive recognition for one’s work. I am passionate Read More …

Funding Opportunities for Women-Owned Start-Ups

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Women-owned businesses are on the rise: According to 2022 census data, their average earnings increased by 27% from 2021, they employ 10.9 million Americans, and they had an estimated $432.1 billion in annual payroll. But despite these impressive numbers, women-owned businesses still lag behind their non-women-owned counterparts in an important area. While women-owned businesses were more likely to take funding compared to men in 2022, they got less money. In 2022, male-owned businesses received 41% more in funding than women-owned enterprises. Since a lack of funding can prevent a start-up from getting off the ground, these facts put women-owned start-ups Read More …

About Hemophilia

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

In 1854, the son of Queen Victoria, Prince Leopold, died following minor fall. Leopold had hemophilia: a hereditary bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot properly. In the 19th century, hemophilia was a misunderstood and devastating disease, and contributed to the deaths of people in all levels of society, including princes. But with his prominence in society as a member of the Royal Family, Prince Leopold’s death led to more attention to the disease and more research for a cure. Today, hemophilia can largely be controlled, and patients’ quality of life can remain high. What is hemophilia? Hemophilia Read More …

4 Federal Grant Options for Small Businesses and Start-ups

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Ask any entrepreneur, and they’ll tell you that money is a top concern for their small business. Profits are essential, but grants specifically for small businesses can also be a gamechanger for their long-term success. Grants – monetary awards designated for a specific purpose – help small businesses in more ways than one. They can bring in more cash flow, offer visibility and credibility, and make businesses more likely to receive other forms of funding. For U.S.-based companies, there are several small business grant options, starting with the government. Does the government provide small business grants? Yes! The United States Read More …

Lupus 101

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Maybe you know someone with lupus, or you’ve heard celebrities like Selena Gomez and Toni Braxton share their stories and experiences with the disease. Lupus is challenging to diagnose, difficult to treat, and presents differently in each person. These facts make it an unpredictable and largely misunderstood disease, even though the most common type of lupus affects about 200,000 US adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s also disproportionately represented in women, who account for 9 out of 10 diagnoses. While lupus and other diseases like it don’t yet have known causes, there are treatments to Read More …

15 Good Minutes: Stefan Sarafianos

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Stefan Sarafianos is the rare researcher whose expertise spans structural biology, biochemistry, and virology. He recently led the groundbreaking development of a SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic replicon system, including mutants, that can be used for high-throughput screening and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 replicase inhibitors at a lower biosafety level—considerable benefits for pursuing studies such as drug discovery and inhibitors assay. Many of us are familiar with the bedeviling question: “Do you want it faster, cheaper, and better? Pick one.” In the case of the replicon system Stefan Sarafianos has developed, researchers studying SARS-CoV-2 are able to benefit from all three and add one Read More …

COPD at a glance

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes breathing problems for millions of Americans. Not only is it in the top five leading causes of death in the U.S., but also it can be tricky to treat. Depending on the type of COPD a patient has, like emphysema or chronic bronchitis, it can cause damage to their lungs and obstruct their airways, making it difficult to breathe and participate in everyday activities. How does COPD work? Our lungs have tiny, elastic air sacs called alveoli. In healthy lungs, breathing in causes the alveoli to inflate, and breathing out makes them deflate. With Read More …

4 Benefits of Going Sober for One Month

Posted onAuthorAsher Alt

After all the indulgence that can come with the winter holidays, it might seem like a good idea to get a fresh start in the new year. Dry January, a social challenge created by charity Alcohol Change UK, might be your inspiration to do so. The goal is to forego alcohol for 31 days, not only to “detox” from the holidays, but also to approach alcohol more intentionally. In the decade since Dry January was created, it’s exploded in popularity: A 2022 national survey suggested that up to 35% of US adults abstained from alcohol last January. But you don’t Read More …