New Hampshire Industrial Research Center At UNH Makes $30,000 Grant To Dover Medical Device Company

Contact: Lori Wright
603-862-0574
UNH Media Relations

April 6, 2005



DURHAM, N.H. – The New Hampshire Industrial Research Center at the University of New Hampshire has provided a grant to a Dover company that has developed an innovative wound healing treatment.

NHIRC is granting $30,426 to The Prometheus Group, a small medical device company in Dover. As part of the grant agreement, the company will provide a cash match of $15,926 and an in-kind match of $14,500.

“The company is very excited about receiving the grant, which will accelerate the work with Dr. Frank Rodgers at the University of New Hampshire and allow the company to become more competitive,” said Richard Poore, CEO of The Prometheus Group.

Acute and chronic wounds that become infected are responsible for more than 88,000 deaths per year. The wound healing market in the United States is estimated at $1.2 billion, and the federal government spends 70 percent of wound care funds on chronic wounds in the homecare setting.

New technology being developed by The Prometheus Group is an antimicrobial barrier to prevent infection and facilitate the healing process for acute and chronic wounds. “It is anticipated that this new device will improve patient outcomes and help reduce long-term health care costs in the United States,” Poore said.

The company is working with Rogers, professor of microbiology, whose expertise is pathogenic microbiology and infectious disease. UNH will provide the microbiology skills, expertise and laboratory to perform tests and conclude the effectiveness of the new device, which will allow the company to obtain proof of concept, and then develop and commercialize the new device.

“This really is an exciting opportunity to make a significant difference in wound therapy. Wounds contaminated with pathogens, especially those that are multi-drug resistant, are of major health as well as economic concern. The technology we are investigating looks promising and hopefully will have the added advantage of adding to the employment base in New Hampshire,” Rodgers said.

The project is expected to add an additional 20 new jobs at the company in the next two years, and a possible additional 28 jobs in the third year. The company projects additional sales revenue between $1 and $3 million in the first year.

Since 1992 the NHIRC has impacted the state's economy with $225 million in new sales and more than 3,170 new jobs.

Created by the New Hampshire Legislature, the center provides the means for improving the competitiveness of New Hampshire industry and the upgrading and development of new and old products through the support and cooperation of the state with industry and business. The supported research, innovation and technology transfer activities preserve and increase the number of jobs in New Hampshire.

For more information on the NH Industrial Research Center, visit http://www.nhirc.unh.edu or call 603-862-0123.