The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/114745
π W Physics professor Izabela Stroe uses spectroscopy to foresee the formation of Alzheimer's plaques. early warning Innovative Devices to Detect Alzheimer's and "Date Rape" Drugs Take 2012 Kalenian Award A FACULTY MEMBER AND AN ALUMNUS who now serves as an intellectual property attorney shared the 2012 Kalenian Award, the university's top prize recognizing commercialization potential for a given invention. Assistant professor of physics Izabela Stroe was honored for her research in amyloidogenic diseases, which led her to discover a technology to detect speciƂc proteins responsible for the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Fueled by her desire to contribute to others' lives, Stroe noted the devastating toll the disease takes on society and, if successful, the breakthrough it would provide for the disease. "First, it improves the lives of millions of families who give care to their loved ones 12 Winter 2013 who suffer the hideous consequences of the disease. It is estimated that, in 2011 alone, unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 17.4 billion hours of uncompensated care. Second, it would reduce the cost of care on society as a whole, costs estimated to approach $200 billion in 2012." Splitting the $25,000 award with Stroe, Michael Abramson '05 was selected for his glassware that will identify odorless, colorless, and tasteless "date rape" drugs. Another alumnus, Kevin Harrington '10 received $5,000 in in-kind legal services from Boston-based intellectual property Ƃrm Wolf, GreenƂeld & Sacks, P.C. He was awarded for his development of a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education kit for youths. Established in 2006, the Kalenian Award has supported the ideas and inventions of WPI students, faculty, and alumni. To honor the late inventor Aram Kalenian '33, his wife, Alba, endowed the award to provide funds to advance novel ideas. Gina Betti, associate director of the Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at WPI, who manages the award, says, "The Kalenian Award stands for the future of the American economy by rewarding those that will contribute through invention, innovation, and job creation. It stands also to reward good innovation in practice among the current and extended WPI community."