18
COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014
Three NSU Researchers
Receive Patents
Three NSU professors from three different colleges recently secured
patents for their innovations.
Appu Rathinavelu, Ph.D.
, associate dean
for institutional planning and development at the College of Pharmacy
and executive director of NSU’s Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Can-
cer Research, received a Japanese patent for developing a novel cancer
treatment. The small organic molecule called JFD that he and his team
discovered is anti-angiogenic, meaning it starves tumors and other can-
cer cells by preventing blood flow that supplies the tumors with oxygen
and nutrients that would otherwise help them to grow and survive.
Jeffrey Thompson, Ph.D.
, professor of prosthodontics and director
of the Biosciences Research Center in the College of Dental Medicine,
secured a U.S. patent for developing a surface modification technology to
promote chemical bonding between high-performance ceramic materials
like alumina and zirconia and biological materials, such as tooth struc-
tures, and synthetic materials, such as dentures and crowns.
Joseph Harbaugh, LL.M.
, professor of law and dean emeritus at the
Shepard Broad Law Center, received a U.S. patent for developing a com-
puter-based system called AAMPLE®—the Alternative Admissions Model
Program in Legal Education. The program reviews students’ outcomes
in a small number of classes to predict their likelihood of excelling in law
school and passing the state bar exam. This differs from the widespread
practice of heavily weighing students’ LSAT scores and GPAs to deter-
mine admission to law school.
Audiology Students Help Children
Hear for the First Time
Doctor of Audiology students from the
College of Health Care Sci-
ences’ Department of Audiology
partnered with Phonak to donate
hearing aids and other supplies valued at more than $50,000 to Los
Pipitos—a Nicaraguan nonprofit facility for 21 children with disabilities.
As part of NSU’s Hearing Aids for Nicaraguan Students service
program, six audiology students and a faculty adviser traveled to the
Central American country to provide audiograms and other necessary
tests and fit the children for their new hearing aids. They also conducted
information sessions on how to use and care for the devices for the
children and their families.
One child spoke for the first time after receiving his hearing aids. He
had previously only mouthed words without making a sound.
Researchers Receive Patents...Give Kids a
Smile Day...Glass Ceiling Award
Pictured (from left) are George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU
president and chief executive officer, Dr. Rathinavelu, Dr.
Thompson, Dr. Harbaugh, and Gary Margules, Sc.D., NSU vice
president for research and technology transfer.
NSU Executive Vice President
Receives Glass Ceiling Award
Jacqueline A. Travisano, M.B.A., CPA
, NSU’s executive vice presi-
dent and chief operating officer, has been named a 2014 recipient of the
Glass Ceiling Award presented by the Florida Diversity Council.
Travisano is one of 13 women who were recognized during the Fourth
Annual Florida Women’s Conference held at NSU’s main campus on
March 7. The National Diversity Council seeks to recognize and honor
women who not only achieved personal success but have made it pos-
sible for others to more easily follow in their footsteps.
Recipients of the Glass Ceiling Award were honored for meeting cer-
Doctor of Audiology students Melissa Cordova and Lola
Zaka testing 10-year-old Jorge Mercado’s hearing prior to
programming his hearing aids.
