The UAB Proof of Concept call speeds up three research projects
The Proof of Concept grants are awarded by the University itself with the aim of accelerating the transfer of knowledge of UAB research groups through studies that help advance towards the necessary research results. Three projects have been selected in this latest edition.
Each selected project receives 50,000 euros to conduct pre-commercial activities for the valorization of research results, aimed at tranferring these results to the productive sector and generating a real impact on society. The three projects awarded grants in the 2024 call are:
Sun4Green: SOLAR-Driven GREEN Ammonia Production from Agricultural Wastewater
This project, coordinated by Gonzalo Guirado López from the Department of Chemistry of the UAB, proposes the construction of a portable photochemical reactor capable of converting nitrates from agricultural soils into ammonia, right in the field. This reactor, validated at laboratory scale, is powered by solar energy, and uses the excess of non-absorbed fertilisers in soils (nitrates) as raw material and converts them into ammonia, which is used, in turn, as a fertiliser.
In this way, the Sun4Green device would make it possible not only to supply agricultural fields with fertiliser on site and on demand, but also to prevent the pollution of soil and natural waters with nitrates, a chemical species that, in moderate concentrations, is already toxic.
NERO-ALS: Neuroresolving Therapeutics: Developing Innovative Treatments to Combat Neuroinflammation in Degenerative Diseases with a Focus on ALS
The objective of this project, led by Rubén López Vales, researcher in the Neuroplasticity and Regeneration Group of the Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology and the Institut de Neurociències (INc-UAB), is to develop and commercialise a new treatment to limit neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative disorders, with an initial focus on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Chronic inflammation, characteristic of central nervous system diseases such as ALS, is a major cause of neurodegeneration and neurological decline. The UAB research group is developing a new therapy that activates the body's natural mechanisms to resolve excessive inflammation. This strategy avoids the adverse effects of current therapies, which are based on suppressing the immune system.
Central to this strategy is maresin 1 (MaR1), a novel biolipid mediator produced naturally by immune cells in inflamed tissues. Previous research by the group has shown a deficiency in MaR1 synthesis in pathologies such as ALS, and therefore this therapy aims to correct this imbalance by administering MaR1.
Studies in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases have shown very promising results, with a significant reduction in neuroinflammation and no side effects such as immunosuppression or toxicity.
OMNIWAVE: High-Efficiency Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer
This project consists of a dynamic wireless charging system for electric vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, allowing them to be charged while on the move. This innovative technology solves the alignment and synchronisation problems of current wireless power transfer systems, allowing the charging of vehicles on the move at any speed. This system reduces the size, weight and cost of batteries, making it ideal for long-distance and high-speed transport.
The project's researcher, Jordi Bonache, from the Department of Electronic Engineering, aims to create a prototype capable of powering a model car with wireless energy alone and, thus, validate its real application. Institutions such as Mobile World Capital, as well as several companies in the automotive sector, have already shown interest in collaborating in the development and future implementation of this technology.