image: The signing ceremony took place at UC Riverside. From left, Craig Sheward, assistant vice chancellor for technology commercialization; Anand Ray, assistant professor of entomology, and Amro Albanna, CEO of OlFactor Laboratories, Inc. view more
Credit: Michael Elderman
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- OlFactor Laboratories, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of Avisio, Inc. acquired an exclusive license to patented technology from UC Riverside.
The technology is based on an advanced scientific understanding of how two-winged blood-feeding insects, e.g. mosquitos and black flies, utilize their olfactory neurons to detect carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from animals and humans. CO2, which is a major component in human and animal breath, attracts the insect to its prey.
Developed by Anandasankar Ray, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of UC Riverside's Department of Entomology, the technology can be used as a repellent by inhibiting the detection of CO2 or as a trap by stimulating the detection of CO2. This radical new approach to fighting the transmission of infectious disease from blood-feeding insects is inexpensive and easy to produce, and uses chemicals that are safe and effective at the low concentrations required for these applications.
"We are excited to be working with Dr. Ray and his team at UC Riverside," said Amro Albanna, CEO of OlFactor Laboratories, Inc. and Avisio, Inc. "We look forward to shepherding the technology from its current technical feasibility status to full commercialization."
"We are fortunate to have a partner that understands the impact this new technology may have on millions of people around the world," said Craig Sheward, UC Riverside's Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Commercialization. "The company's ability to take this technology from the lab to a commercially viable product is of paramount importance as we move forward."
Related video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qEOQ4pwZiQ
The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment of about 18,000 is expected to grow to 21,000 students by 2020. The campus is planning a medical school and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion.
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