Dong-Hyun Kang, WSU assistant professor and researcher in Food Science and Human Nutrition, is one of the principal investigators for a grant of $700,000 through the National Institute of Health’s Small Business Innovation Research to develop rapid methods for identification of pathogens in foods.
Kang’s research works specifically with rapid methods developments initially begun with a seed grant from the IMPACT Center in 2001. Through that research, Kang was able to establish contacts with several companies interested in his research and, ultimately, receive additional funding from the NIH.
Established by the state Legislature in 1985, WSU’s IMPACT (International Marketing Program for Agricultural Commodities and Trade) Center uses advances in science and technology to improve the competitiveness of food and agricultural systems in today’s global market.
“Based on the research results, I have connections with several companies,” Kang said. “Without the basic experiment supported by IMPACT it would have been impossible to submit the proposal.”
The NIH Small Business Innovation Research program funds early-stage research and development at small technology companies and is designed to stimulate technological innovation, increase private sector commercialization of and small business participation in federal research and development, and foster participation by minority and disadvantaged firms in technological innovation.
