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33 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 2018 2018 | DOING BUSINESS IN CONNECTICUT | 33 Professor Bahram Javidi's MOSIS Lab may look similar to many of the other research spaces dotted across campus, but stepping inside, you are instantly transported into a world filled with cutting- edge research and technology. Javidi, a UConn Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of UConn's School of Engineering, officially launched MOSIS, which stands for Multidimensional Optical Sensing and Imaging Systems, last year. The lab focuses on making impactful strides in the field of imaging and optics — think augmented/virtual reality, 3-D technology, exotic imaging and microscopy — and applying those learnings towards real-life situations in healthcare, cyber-physical security, defense, and many other industries. "The goal of establishing the MOSIS lab was to concentrate our ongoing efforts under one lab and increase not only our visibility, but also our productivity," Javidi said. "Since we established MOSIS, we have received a lot of attention and sponsorship from not only government and academia, but also industry," Javidi said. Although MOSIS is relatively new, Javidi and his team have been busy turning research into next-generation technology over the last several years for public organizations like the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and the National Science Foundation; providing support and expertise towards real-time projects in industry, with past and present sponsors, including Lockheed Martin, Nikon, Hamamatsu Photonics, and Samsung; and forming partnerships with universities and research labs in the United States and all over the world. One of the more recent projects for MOSIS, a portable holographic field microscope, which was supported by funding from Nikon and the National Science Foundation, was developed to create a compact and viable technology to identify diseased cells for medical workers in remote areas. The applications are plentiful, as the technology could be used to quickly identify the diseased cells found in malaria, HIV, and many others. Some of the other ongoing, or past projects that Javidi and his team have worked on include: using 3-D augmented reality devices to see through obscurations, experimenting with technology to better improve human gesture and activities recognition for computers, and creating imaging systems that will work in degraded environments such as low light levels or murky underwater conditions. Siddharth Rawat, left, a Ph.D. student, and Bahram Javidi, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering, operate the portable holographic field microscope in MOSIS Lab. Tim O'Connor '17 (ENG), a Ph.D. student, uses a computer vision device to view a microscope slide in the MOSIS Lab. With 8 million dogs and cats diagnosed with cancer annually, the demand is great. Torigen's cancer vaccine uses the animal's own tumor and specific tumor-associated antigens to stimulate the pet's immune system. The personalized treatment, a series of injections, costs about $1,200. The treatment is currently experimental, but can be used to treat a variety of solid tumors. Kalinauskas is a Connecticut native who earned a bachelor's degree in pathobiology and veterinary sciences at UConn before earning graduate degrees in science and business at the University of Notre Dame. "Connecticut is my home and I wanted to return here,'' she said of her decision to re-establish roots in our state. "When I show veterinarians what we've accomplished, they are very excited,'' Kalinauskas said. "Immunotherapy is the future of cancer medicine, not only for animals, but for humans as well.'' UCONN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS DEDICATED TO HELPING STARTUPS "One of the most gratifying aspects of my work is meeting students and alumni who are profoundly dedicated to changing the world through innovative technology and other means,'' said Dean John A. Elliott. "It is our mission, our aspiration, and our honor to foster the success of these innovative businesses, that offer so much for their customers, our state's economy and the future of industry.'' One of the ways that the School of Business assists companies like Torigen is through its partnership with the Connecticut Small Business Development Center (CTSBDC), a service that offers expert assistance at no cost to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The organization's mission is to help Connecticut businesses start, grow and thrive. Since 2014, the CTSBDC has served 217 UConn-affiliated entrepreneurs, from students and alumni to faculty and staff. Patricia Meagher, a technology business advisor for the CTSBDC, has worked with Torigen to help the start- up thrive. "I help companies navigate the process of dealing with angel investor groups. It often starts with a little 'pitch' practice or review and offering suggestions for improving or fine-tuning the presentation. It is always helpful to have an advocate in the room, or on the phone during investor meetings. I can answer questions or help guide the conversation in a productive direction,'' Meagher said. Providing Industry, Government, and Academia with the Future of Imaging and Optics MOSIS Lab: | PETER MORENUS / UCONN PHOTO | | PETER MORENUS / UCONN PHOTO |