Date: Jun 13, 2013 Source: (
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Olfactor Laboratories, Inc. (OLI), an ieCrowd company, recently signed an agreement with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) for the use of OLI's groundbreaking technologies in various U.S. military facilities around the world. The agreement represents a two-year collaborative effort between OLI and the world-renowned research institute that will test various OLI technologies in Thailand, Central America, and in other locations.
The testing and utilization of OLI's patent-pending materials are part of the U.S. Army's efforts to prevent contact between mosquitoes and U.S. military personnel deployed overseas in regions affected by deadly mosquito-borne diseases. This test of OLI's technology is an important step toward ultimately providing individual military personnel and military installations with new, non-toxic, lightweight, and easily deployable solutions for defending humans from mosquitoes.
OLI's technology platform -- comprised of various novel compounds and applications for the trapping, luring, repelling and killing of mosquitoes -- has been heralded by the media as a worldwide breakthrough against mosquito-borne diseases.
"This new collaboration with the U.S. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research will give us yet another opportunity to evaluate the powerful and flexible nature of OLI's technology applications. It will enable testing that is vital to the further development of efficient, effective, real-world solutions capable of deployment in the full range of military operations around the world and provide a level of protection not previously available," said Dr. Michelle Brown, OLI's Vice President and Chief Scientist.
The U.S. military currently utilizes a range of products to protect military personnel, bases and operations abroad from mosquitos and mosquito-borne diseases. However, few options on the market today afford safe, non-toxic, and easily deployable products in remote or austere environments -- including in forward-operating bases and deployments. OLI's technology platform affords a number of new options that will be tested by WRAIR as a part of this agreement.
"Walter Reed Army Institute of Research -- named after the late pathologist and military officer Walter Reed -- remains today one of the world's premiere centers for discovering and creating solutions to tropical and insect-borne diseases. The use of our materials in their testing overseas not only has the potential of benefiting our brave men and women in uniform, but will further assist in our efforts at OLI to build new tools for defending humans from deadly mosquito-borne diseases," said Brown.
WRAIR has a long history of successful discoveries relating to mosquito-borne diseases and public health advancements. Its work is primarily focused on developing and advancing life-saving knowledge, technology, and medical material for sustaining the American warfighter. However, its work has broad implications in the public health arena. The institute was founded in 1893 and is widely recognized as the oldest school of public health and preventive medicine in the United States.
The actual results of the Army's testing during this two-year agreement will remain confidential, but the large amount of testing being conducted with OLI's materials worldwide will provide OLI staff with valuable data that will be utilized for the further development of new products available to the world. OLI is currently collaborating with a range of organizations, all of whom are providing real-world data, experiences, and information being used in the real-time development of new solutions to deter, repel, trap, or kill mosquitoes before they engage with humans.
About Olfactor Laboratories, Inc. (OLI): OLI is developing a range of non-toxic, non-insecticidal compounds that manipulate mosquitoes' ability to detect humans and other animals. OLI is using its own patent-pending compounds derived from research it acquired from the University of California and that was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). OLI has filed four patent applications in the last 12 months, and is currently working with a range of collaborators, including governments, international companies, and non-profits, to further develop products capable of reducing or eliminating contact between mosquitoes and humans -- and creating significant advances in the war against mosquito-borne diseases. OLI is located in Riverside, CA, and is a subsidiary of ieCrowd.
About Innovation Economy Crowd (ieCrowd): ieCrowd, located in Riverside, California, is a crowd-powered platform designed to build powerful, purpose-driven, high-growth startups capable of solving global challenges. With a philosophy of "Doing Good and Doing Well," ieCrowd's mission is to acquire innovative assets and transform them into high-growth businesses powered by passionate entrepreneurs -- all with the goal of harnessing the social and economic benefits of building innovative companies capable of enhancing the lives of people around the world.
