The Proof of Concept UAB call will accelerate three research projects
The Proof of Concept calls are a UAB-owned call for proposals with the goal of accelerating the knowledge transfer of the university’s research groups through studies that allow the advancement of the maturation of the results of the research that want to be transferred. The last edition selected three projects.
Each selected project will receive €50.000 to carry out precommercial activities of valorisation of the results of research, aimed at translating said results into the productive sector and the generation of a real impact in society. The three projects financed in the 2024 call are the following.
Sun4Green: SOLAR-Driven GREEN Ammonia Production from Agricultural Wastewater
This project, coordinated by Gonzalo Guirado López, from the UAB Department of Chemistry, proposes the construction of a portable photochemical reactor able to convert the nitrates of agricultural soil into ammonia in the same crop field. This reactor, validated at a lab scale, is powered by solar energy and uses the excess of unabsorbed fertilisers in the soil (nitrates) as raw materials and converts them into ammonia, which is used, at the same time, as fertiliser.
Thus, the Sun4Green dispositive would allow not only to supply fertilisers in situ and on demand at the crop fields but also to avoid soil and natural water contamination with nitrates, a chemical species that, even in moderate concentrations, already exhibits toxicity.
NERO-ALS: Neuroresolving Therapeutics: Developing Innovative Treatments to Combat Neuroinflammation in Degenerative Diseases with a Focus on ALS
The goal of this project, led by Rubén López Vales, researcher of the Neuroplasticity and Regeneration Group of the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology and the Institute of Neurosciences, is to develop and commercialise a new treatment to limit neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disorders, with a lineal focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Chronic inflammation, characteristic of diseases of the central nervous system such as ALS, is one of the major causes of neurodegeneration and neurological decline. The UAB research group is developing a new therapy that activates the body’s natural mechanisms to solve the excess inflammation. This strategy allows avoiding the adverse effects of current therapies, based on the suppression of the immune system.
The central element of this strategy is Maresin 1 (MaR1), a novel biolipid mediator produced naturally by immune cells in inflamed tissues. Previous research has shown that a deficiency in the MaR1 synthesis in pathologies such as ALS, which is why this therapy promotes correcting this imbalance through MaR1 administration.
The studies being carried out on animal models of neurodegenerative disorders have shown very promising results, with a significant reduction of neuroinflammation and without the secondary effects like immunosuppression or toxicity.
OMNIWAVE: High-Efficiency Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer
This project consists of a dynamic, wireless charging system for electric vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, which allows them to charge while moving. This innovative technology solves the alignment and synchronisation problems of the current systems of wireless energy transfer, allowing the charging of moving vehicles at any speed. This system allows for the reduction of the size, weight, and cost of the battery, making it ideal for long-distance and high-speed transport.
Jordi Bonache, lead researcher from the Department of Electronic Engineering, has the goal of creating a prototype able to power a scale model car just with wireless energy and, thus, validate its real application. Institutions such as Mobile World Capital, as well as different companies from the automotive industry, have already shown interest in collaborating in the development and future implementation of this technology.
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