By EurekAlert
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
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."
SOURCE