U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann Secures $3 Million Federal Grant for UTC Translational Research Program
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) is set to receive a $3 million federal grant to establish a new Translational Research Program. This funding, secured by U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Ooltewah, is part of a federal appropriations package. The program aims to bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications, transforming discoveries into patents, licensed technology, and market-ready products. According to Mina Sartipi, UTC's interim vice chancellor for research, the university received nearly $18 million in sponsored project funding last year, but a funding gap often prevents these discoveries from reaching commercialization. The federal funding will enable UTC to test ideas, build prototypes, and prepare research for potential commercialization and licensing. The initial steps for the program include hiring a full-time commercialization counselor and recruiting ambassadors from each of UTC's five colleges to identify viable ideas. Smaller grants will be awarded to facul... 
