Two USF Health faculty members Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, and Shufeng Zhou, MD, PhD, were among the four USF professors to receive this year’s USF Excellence in Innovation Award for exceptional achievement in technological innovation and entrepreneurial success.
They each received a $2,000 award with a plaque of recognition, presented by USF President Judy Genshaft and Dr. Paul R. Sanberg, senior vice president for research and innovation and president of the National Academy of Inventors, at the sixth annual meeting and luncheon of the USF Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors. The event was held Oct. 13 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in the USF Research Park on the university’s Tampa campus.
Dr. Mohapatra (left) and Dr. Zhou
Dr. Subhra Mohapatra, associate professor of molecular medicine in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, was selected for her development of innovative platforms for anti-cancer drug discovery and personalized cancer therapy through growth of new intellectual property, a licensing agreement, the transition from preclinical discovery to the clinic, for funding obtained through federal programs such as SBIR, and for significant publications in technology.
Dr. Shufeng Zhou, professor, associate vice president of global medical development, associate dean of international research, and chair of Pharmaceutical Sciences, in the College of Pharmacy and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, received the award for his development of patent pending nano-formulated tobacco oil for electric cigarettes on porous polymers and cyclodextrin, a technology that provides a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes and is more environmentally friendly; and for his continued development towards patents in stem cell therapy, potential treatment in tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, liver injury protection, and pain reduction.Rea
