Researchers Showcase Innovations at Texas Capitol

The University of Texas at Dallas transformed the Legislative Conference Center at the Texas Capitol into an innovation hub on March 5 to demonstrate how the University’s research is helping to reshape the future.

More than 130 attendees experienced firsthand the cutting-edge research in rapid sensor technology, biomedical devices, artificial intelligence and virtual reality being conducted by UTD’s leading innovators.

Fighting the Fentanyl Crisis

Dr. Shalini Prasad, professor and department head of bioengineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, and her team are developing an easy-to-use device to detect fentanyl in saliva in less than 30 seconds by utilizing an ultra-sensitive test.

Last year, they created a handheld electrochemical sensor that can detect even trace amounts of the drug in urine with 98% accuracy within seconds.

“Meeting with state legislators and their aides allowed us to put a human face behind our work and demonstrate how UTD’s ecosystem has enabled us to develop this transformational test. Their collaboration will be crucial in accelerating the public impact this technology can have on all our lives,” said Prasad, who also is a Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in Systems Biology Science.

Treatment for PTSD

At the Texas Biomedical Device Center station, Dr. Robert Rennaker, professor of neuroscience in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Texas Instruments Distinguished Chair in Bioengineering, showcased a 3D model displaying the vagus nerve networks in the human neck.

His team is pioneering targeted plasticity therapy for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“This therapy involves a tiny, implanted device that stimulates the vagus nerve, releasing chemicals that enhance the brain’s learning capacity,” Rennaker said. “The implications extend far beyond PTSD to conditions like depression, stroke recovery and chronic pain management.”

Materials Science and Minecraft

Dr. Walter Voit BS’05, MS’06, associate professor of materials science and engineering and of mechanical engineering, has turned Minecraft’s 170 million-player universe into an advanced virtual training ground for students and a foundation to develop smarter artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

His team’s Polycraft World uses gameplay to cover topics ranging from synthetic organic chemistry to nuclear plants and semiconductor facilities.

“Instead of waiting for students to come to us, we decided to go where all 100 million of them already are,” Voit said.

This convergence of gaming, education and AI demonstrates how innovative thinking can transform traditional approaches to learning and research.

“Presenting at the Texas Capitol allowed us to showcase transformative education to staffers and political leaders of tomorrow. This will pay dividends for years to come for UTD’s research and innovation priorities,” Voit said.

“We’re not just creating entertainment; we’re building tools that transform how we learn, work and interact,” said Price, who is also director of the Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Simulation Technology (VAST) Lab.

The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded the VAST Lab a contract to enhance aerospace maintenance using extended reality technologies. The research will address critical human factors that impact maintenance workflows, including training effectiveness, human performance and operational safety.

The University’s Office of Government and Community Relations and Office of Research and Innovation teamed up to present the Texas Capitol event. UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson, the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership; Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, vice president for research and innovation and professor of bioengineering; Amanda Rockow MA’12, vice president for government and community relations; and University mascot Temoc also attended.