BMS Scholar J. Paul Robinson Among Six Purdue Innovators to Receive Trask Innovation Funding

Dr. J. Paul Robinson, the SVM Professor of Cytomics in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences, is one of six Purdue University researchers receiving a total of nearly $209,000 from the Trask Innovation Fund to help their labs commercialize their innovations.  The fund is a development program established to support projects that advance the commercial value of Purdue intellectual property.

Dr. Robinson holds a joint appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering.  He is receiving Trask funding for a handheld device for real-time detection of pathogens, toxins, and contaminating chemicals for biodefense and food analysis.

The Trask Innovation Fund makes awards twice a year to aid faculty and staff with their patented innovations that are being commercialized through the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), which is housed in the Convergence Center in the Discovery Park District.  There are three Trask Innovation Fund tracks: Innovation Sparks for Life Science, Innovation Sparks for Physical Sciences, and Commercialization Partner Spark.  Dr. Robinson is receiving support through the physical sciences track. 

The other five Purdue researchers receiving funding this round are:

  • Dr. Jean Chmielewski, Alice Watson Kramer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry (track: life science)
  • Dr. Arun Bhunia, professor of food science (track: life science)
  • Dr. Luna Lu, ACPA Professor of Civil Engineering (track: commercialization)
  • Dr. Pedro Irazoqui, Reilly Professor of Biomedical Engineering and professor of electrical and computer engineering (track: commercialization)
  • Dr. Jeffrey Youngblood, professor of materials engineering (track: physical sciences)

Click here to view a news release with further details about the other funded innovations.

“Even during a global pandemic, researchers created many technologies worthy of OTC’s investment to develop solutions through the Purdue commercialization ecosystem and Purdue’s growing Discovery Park District,” said Abhijit Karve, director of business development for OTC.  Purdue inventors who are prepared to move their innovations to market have until February 19 to apply for funding through the Trask Innovation Fund.

All Purdue faculty, staff, and researchers who have submitted a disclosure to OTC are eligible to submit proposals.  To learn more about these and other Purdue technologies, contact OTC at otcip@prf.org or visit the OTC Inventions page at inventions.prf.org. The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by the office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing, and protecting Purdue intellectual property.

Writer(s): Chris Adam, Purdue News Service | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

PVM White Coat Ceremony Celebrates Major Milestone for DVM Class of 2026

The Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms provided a classic setting for an annual event that has become a cherished tradition of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Members of the DVM Class of 2026 gathered with family, friends and faculty and staff on the evening of April 12 for the annual White Coat Ceremony that signals the transition of the third year veterinary students from the classroom to the clinics.

Breast Cancer Drug Supinoxin Shows Potential for Small-cell Lung Cancer Treatment in New Tests

Purdue University scientists led by co-principal investigators in the Colleges of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine have identified the Supinoxin small-molecule drug as a possible new therapy for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Tail-Wagging Success Characterizes PVM’s Participation in Purdue Day of Giving

As the day dawned Wednesday, April 30, evidence came pouring in that Boilermakers everywhere – whether alumni, friends and/or fans – were answering the call to make the 2025 Purdue Day of Giving our loudest and proudest “All hail!” yet. And Purdue Veterinary Medicine played a part in the success!

PVM’s Oncology Team Buoys Purdue Institute for Cancer Research 5K Fundraising Run

It is no surprise that the members of Purdue’s Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center (WCORC) in the College of Veterinary Medicine would not back down from a challenge, especially when it comes to supporting innovative cancer research. So, true to form, about two-dozen representatives of the center could be found out on the course Saturday, April 12, participating in the 17th annual 5K Challenge fundraising run to support the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we extend our appreciation to Lisa Hepworth, DVM, who is a senior lecturer and instructor of record for small animal junior surgery.