WKU News

WKU researchers will seek a KYNETIC biomedical innovation grant award to develop new features for their nationally recognized Bingocize® program.

A proposal from Dr. Matthew Shake, Associate Professor of Psychological Sciences and Co-Director of the Center for Applied Science in Health & Aging (CASHA), was one of seven selected for the Fall 2020 Kentucky Network for Innovation & Commercialization (KYNETIC) cohort.

In the next step of the competition, Dr. Shake and Dr. Jason Crandall, Associate Professor of Exercise Science & Kinesiology and Co-Director of CASHA, will submit a full proposal and make a pitch to the KYNETIC External Review Board, consisting of academic and industry experts. KYNETIC staff will refer the board’s recommendations directly to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for final review and consideration.

“We are seeking to win the competition to secure funding to develop customer-requested features for our innovative web-based health app for older adults, which we are tentatively calling Bingocize® Connect™,’ ” Dr. Shake said. “This would build off our existing successes in commercializing Bingocize® as a health-promotion program for older adults across the spectrum of care, ranging from independent living to assisted living to nursing homes.”

Dr. Shake and Dr. Crandall have been exploring opportunities to expand and develop new markets for Bingocize®. The program, which combines a bingo-like game with exercise and health education, has focused on older adults and has partnerships with senior centers, assisted living facilities, hospitals, nursing homes and other groups in nearly 40 states and three other countries.

The WKU team advanced through a competitive pre-application process, which garnered 85 proposals, along with review and scoring by an internal advisory committee of experienced stakeholders and specialists. The other teams in the fall cohort include three from the University of Kentucky, two from the University of Louisville and one from Eastern Kentucky University.

The KYNETIC translational research grant program supports faculty, staff and trainees to accelerate the introduction of their groundbreaking innovations to the healthcare marketplace. KYNETIC is funded through the NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program.

In a statewide effort, the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Kentucky Commercialization Ventures, and the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development lead the KYNETIC program to provide this funding opportunity to all of Kentucky’s public institutions of higher education. In addition to offering an inclusive, non-dilutive investment pathway, KYNETIC provides each nominee with access to direct coaching and educational programming in preparation for next steps in the competition and related to its commercialization pathway.

Dr. Bruce Schulte, Associate Vice President and Executive Director of the WKU Research Foundation, is the WKU liaison for the KYNETIC program and oversees Intellectual Property development. Dr. Schulte said that there were competitive applications by five other teams from WKU and these individuals were encouraged to resubmit in the next round.

WKU students or employees with questions about KYNETIC or IP development in general should contact Dr. Schulte at bruce.schulte@wku.edu or (270) 745-5999.