University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Neurosurgery Assistant Professor Jesse Jones, M.D., has been named a recipient of the highly competitive 2024 Blazer Bridge Fund (BBF) grant, an initiative of the Bill L. Harbert Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HIIE).

The BBF, now in its second year, supports groundbreaking research and innovations from UAB faculty and staff with the potential for commercialization.

Jones’ winning project, titled “Flexi-coat: an innovative solution for biomedical device coating,” is a collaboration with Vinoy Thomas, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. The BBF grant, awarded in the amount of $50,000, will support further development of the Flexi-coat project over a one-year period, starting on October 21, 2024, and running through October 17, 2025.

This grant represents an opportunity for Jones and Thomas to move their research into practical applications that can improve patient care in real time.

The BBF, which was established by HIIE in the spring of 2023, seeks to identify and develop promising discoveries and technologies from faculty and staff, helping researchers move their ideas closer to market. According to HIIE, the goal is to bridge the gap between early-stage research and the commercial sector by providing resources that help transform ideas into viable products.

This year, the fund received 27 applications from across UAB, representing a wide range of disciplines. Each proposal was evaluated by a panel of eight independent reviewers, most of whom were external to the university. Jones’ project scored at the highest level, making it one of the top six projects selected for funding.

With grant funding in place, Jones and his collaborators are poised to make a significant impact on the future of biomedical device technology, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes.