| Vivakor, Inc. (OTCBB: VIVK)
Vivakor, Inc. is a transdisciplinary research company that develops products in the fields of molecular medicine, electro-optics, biological handling and natural and formulary compounds. They also provide contract research services for third parties. They have developed numerous products and have filed many patents or provisional patents with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). They intend to commercialize such products, after completion of any required regulatory approvals, through one of three methods: a sale of the technology, licensing of the product to a manufacturer or distributor or, in some cases, by manufacturing, marketing and directly selling the products ourselves.
Their business model is to be a research hub focused on areas that have both an identified scientific need and a substantial market opportunity. Their company mission is to advance new ideas to improve the quality of life for individual patients, researchers, clinician or consumer. They believe that the development of substantive technologies and cures for complex human conditions, illnesses and diseases require a sophisticated approach with contribution from many areas of scientific expertise typically requiring a lengthier trajectory to market. Their hub approach is intended to provide the necessary environment of transdisciplinary collaboration and cross-pollination to advance this type of research. Their research is anchored by our relationship with collaborative partners and product-specific commercialization strategies. From the commencement of product conception through development, they target specific commercialization strategies and expect to have collaborative partners or licensing arrangements in place for each of their products before completion. They expect this model to offer several advantages to their shareholders, including a more efficient research and development process and a quicker time to market after completion of development.
Their pathway for development of products follows one of two routes to commercialization. First is a short-term path in which products for which an expedited regulatory oversight is available are rapidly pushed to the prototype and alpha testing phase. These projects represent rapidly commercializable technologies and products that they expect will have the potential to generate revenue quickly. Second is a long-term path in which more involved and complex projects are developed. These products typically require substantial regulatory oversight or approval. They anticipate that cash flow generated by the short-term projects will help to fund the long-term projects. These longer incubating projects characteristically represent breakthrough technologies with more risk but higher revenue potential.
Vivakor is a transdisciplinary hub of R&D with divisional spokes developing multiple products and technologies for market. Vivakor's R&D Product Pipeline strategy is anchored to the concept of licensing and strategic partnering. From idea inception, Vivakor's R&D targets commercialization and product-specific exit strategies to increase revenue potential from each new Vivakor technology.
Biological Handling
Vivakor is developing new technologies for the preservation, storage, handling and shipping of biological materials. Cryogenic preservation and rapid freezing and thawing are core methods being improved at Vivakor. Research in this area has lead to the advancement of vials with improved temperature control (e.g. improved cryovials, PCR tubes, etc.), devices for cryogenic sample transport, a novel cryogenic biopsy device, and improved modular cryogenic freezer designs.
Electro Optics
Vivakor is actively designing, building and testing several new electro-optic devices to reach previously un-served or underserved areas of the biomedical device market. These include: a Digital PhotoRefractor (DPR) which will be used to modernize child vision screening, a Label Free Multiplexed Clinical Biomolecular Sensor (CBS) which represents a significant improvement of current antigen array technologies for the detection and diagnosis of complex human conditions (cancer, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, auto immune and inflammatory diseases), multi-spectral imaging devices to examine burn degree and cutaneous melanoma, and spectroscopic devices to track wound healing and ear infection.
Natural Formulary
Vivakor espouses an holistic approach to medicine including both naturopathic and allopathic approaches. Vivakor is investigating the healing properties of botanicals and developing supplements and pharmaceutical (OTC and prescription) products that harness the power of these natural sources. Vivakor is particularly focused on the investigation, validation and adaptation of medical herbalism or botanical medicine.
Contract Research
Vivakor also performs contract research and development in molecular biology and devices engineering. This includes contracts to perform several studies to investigate and validate topical product claims. Vivakor has developed a novel TO2PICAL permeability test that measures breathability of topical products. They also offer contract services in the areas of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, optical layout, and LabView programming for instrument control and digital image analysis. Vivakor is seeking contracts with additional companies to perform contract research.
PRODUCTS
Vivathermic Vials
VivaThermic CryoVial Technology. They are actively developing the technologies required for the cryopreservation of diverse biological samples with improved recovery of viable cells post-cryopreservation. Emphasis has been placed on strategies to eliminate the variations and time delays experienced in the current biopsy and tissue preservation procedure by integrating a cryogenic freezing capacity into the biopsy device.
Critical advancements in biological sample preservation are evolving. They have developed specialized cryovials that accommodate an improved method of cryopreservation of cells, blood, and other bio-materials. When cryopreserving biological materials, the rate of cooling is the main factor affecting the cell viability. Material choice and design features of cryovials are critical parameters affecting the cooling rate. Existing cryovials do not allow for rapid freezing. They are usually manufactured from conventional polypropylene which is a poor thermally conductive material. In addition, they offer no special design features to enhance heat transfer.
Their cryovials benefit from better designs, a unique cap feature and improved use of materials resulting in better performance during the freezing and thawing process. The target markets for their cryovials include clinical laboratories, hospitals, fertility clinics, veterinarians, agribusiness, animal breeding and research laboratories.
Vivaslices
SLICES™. their acquisition of HealthAmerica’s SLICES™ technology will provide a technology platform for optimization and adaptation by our scientists. This patented technology has received FDA 510(k) clearance and it is intended that this technology will enhance the resolution of images resulting from MRI. The underlying algorithm may be useful in the determination of blood flow velocity measures in imaged tissues. Such information would be valuable in accessing areas of blood flow constriction from plaques or other hematologic deposits. This information could help physicians better diagnose, predict and assess stroke and related diseases involving blood flow obstruction.
Vivasight
VivaSight (Digital PhotoRefractor or DPR). They have developed a device that they expect will modernize screening of pre-verbal and pre-literate children for ocular disorders. This type of screening is increasingly required by state governments prior to enrollment in the public school system. Their scientists are collaborating with physicians and clinicians at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences to develop a clinic-ready device.
Data from the National Eye Institute (NEI) states that 2.3 million children have undiagnosed eye disorders that can lead to blindness if left untreated. Amblyopia, commonly known as “lazy eye”, is the leading cause of monocular vision loss in the 20 to 70+ age range. It causes more vision loss than diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Amblyopia occurs when the optical powers of the two eyes are different and the brain favors the visual signal from one eye, functionally ignoring the vision in the amblyopic eye. According to the NEI, an estimated 300,000 to 750,000 children between the ages of three to five suffer from amblyopia. Visual acuity develops principally during the pre-school years, from birth to about five years old, as a child’s visual experience molds its genetic blueprint into its adult visual sensory system. If treatment is not initiated during the visual maturation period, the prognosis for normal visual development is poor. Amblyopia can be reversed and cured if it is detected and treated during the critical visual development period. Unfortunately, less than 21% of preschool children receive some form of vision screening each year. Even those who are screened are often improperly screened by a general health practitioner, pediatrician or screening volunteer due to inadequate experience and lack of equipment or techniques for an assiduous exam. Some children receive proper eye exams once they start school; unfortunately by then it may be too late to effectively treat amblyopia
Their DPR has been designed with ongoing end-user input to produce a device that will readily penetrate and gain wide acceptance in the vision screening market. Most importantly their DPR offers all screening programs a low cost device with a high sensitivity and specificity. This device will streamline the screening process by the following: 1) Eliminate recurring cost of Polaroid film, 2) Instantaneously image a subject across two meridians of strabismus and refractive error, 3) Detect improper subject fixation, 4) Digitize and automate the interpretation process, 5) Quantify the image interpretation and adjust the referral criteria based upon screening demographics to achieve predetermined levels of sensitivity and specificity, and 6) Give an instant refer/do not refer response to the screener. This device is currently in clinical testing and is in Phase II of the development process. On May 5, 2009, the National Institute of Health through the National Eye Institute awarded us a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Award grant in the amount of $112,912 to conduct research related to the development of the our DPR and the detection of amblyogenic risk factors.
Vivablend
VivaBlend (USPTO Provisional Patent#61093311). Their proprietary balanced blend of more than 18 different sources of phytochemical extracts from antioxidant rich bioactive fruits and vegetables tested by the USDA that can be added to many consumer foods, drinks and nutraceuticals as a convenient daily source of important antioxidants and other critical bioactive phytochemicals.
Leadership
Dr. Tannin Fuja, PhD, Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Tannin Fuja, PhD, serves as a director and as Chief Executive Officer of our Company. Prior to joining our company, Dr. Fuja headed the Molecular and Cell Biology Research Group at the National Center for Voice and Speech, and was a Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Dermacia, Inc. Dr. Fuja has served as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Iowa and in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology in the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. Dr. Fuja is a Member of the UI Center on Aging and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa. Dr. Fuja is a former member of The International Society for Stem Cell Research and received his Bachelors of Science degree from Brigham Young University, a certificate in Human Subject Research Ethics from the University of Washington (Seattle) and his Doctorate in Biological Sciences in the Department of Developmental and Cell Biology from the University of California, Irvine.
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