Advancing High Pressure Slurry Ablation Technology for Direct Rare Earth & Critical Mineral Liberation
This proposal aims to advance, validate and optimize High Pressure Slurry Ablation (HPSA) developed by DISA Technologies Inc. for the liberation of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals (CMs) from different geological resources. HPSA employs high-velocity, opposing slurry jets that induce particle-on-particle collisions, selectively disaggregating mineral grains based on hardness contrasts and bonding strength. […]
Exploration of Potential Uses for Tailings, Byproducts, and Co-products in the Burgeoning Domestic Rare Earth Element Industry
Production of rare earth elements (REEs) in the United States is critical for national security and economic resilience, reducing reliance on foreign supply. REEs are essential for defense technologies, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. Currently, China produces more than 60% of the global REE supply and controls almost 90% of the refining and […]
Scalable Conversion of Metallurgical Coal to Polycrystalline Nano-Graphite via Microwave Plasma Technology
This project, led by Dr. TeYu Chien of the University of Wyoming, will develop the foundational scientific and engineering basis for the scalable conversion of metallurgical coal into high-purity polycrystalline nano-graphite using a patented microwave-assisted plasma system. The proposed research will move this concept from Technology Readiness Level TRL 2 to TRL 3, or early […]
Preclinical Development of Odanacatib for Diabetic Wound Healing
Non-healing wounds are a serious complication of diabetes, affecting more than 6 million Americans annually. Despite their prevalence, effective treatment options remain limited, with few FDA-approved therapies offering meaningful benefits. A hallmark of diabetic wounds is excessive protease activity, which degrades structural proteins and impairs tissue regeneration. To address this unmet need, we are developing […]
Low-Cost Carbon Recovery for Economic Valorization and Development
The technology in the proposed project aims to significantly reduce the cost of carbon resource recovery from the combustion of fossil resources and, eventually, the utilizations, e.g., enhanced oil recovery (EOR) of the recovered carbon resources. Wyoming is well known for its rich hydrocarbon resources, including coal, natural gas, and oil. Especially for coal, Wyoming […]
Cold-chain free stabilization of RNA-lipid nanoparticle formulations
Our proposed project will develop new technology that will allow for the long-term storage of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated RNA therapeutics in a dry rather than cold state. We have already demonstrated that RNA and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), needed to deliver RNA into human cells, can be stabilized separately using our approach. Here, we will test our […]
Final Steps Towards a Commercial Photoacoustic Absorption Spectrometer
There is a societal need for improved measurements of absorbing aerosol (small particles) in the atmosphere. Absorbing aerosol impact human health, visibility, and weather. They are measured at thousands of sites in the U.S. and globally, but these measurements are typically made with filter-based instruments that tend to be slow, labor intensive, and can have […]
Commercialization of Software for Full-3D Tomography (F3DT)
F3DT is a new technology for non-invasive imaging of the interior of an object. It is like the CT scan for imaging the interior of the human body, but instead of using radiative X-rays, it uses non-invasive mechanical waves (i.e., elastic waves in solids, sound waves in liquids). F3DT has a wide range of applications, […]
Development of a Sensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay Device for Analyzing Nasal Swab Samples Collected on a Dissolvable Surface
Influenza (flu) infections are commonly diagnosed using Rapid Influenza Diagnostic Tests or RIDTs that are inexpensive, do not require specialized equipment, and can provide results within 15 minutes. RIDTs, however, often produce false negative results requiring that their outcomes be validated with advanced tests which largely compromises their time and cost benefits. In this project, […]
Skin-Like Cardiac Patch for Personalized and Preventive Heart Care
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, driving urgent demand for advanced, reliable, and patient-centric cardiac monitoring solutions that enable early detection, continuous care, and data-driven clinical decisions. Existing ambulatory devices, which rely primarily on electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring, are limited by patient discomfort, rigid connections, poor breathability, short battery life, and inadequate long-term […]