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= Overview =
Xavier University of Louisiana is a private, Catholic historically black university founded in 1925 by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Xavier has the College of Pharmacy and the College of Arts and Sciences which offers Masters Programs in some liberal arts fields. It was built in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana with a goal to improve advancement of Native Americans and African Americans. President Dr. Norman C. Francis is noted for being the longest tenured running president in the nation. His efforts to not only promote the education of minorities but invest in the potential of research and science education have gained the university positive recognition among HBCUs. Xavier University remains a leader in producing the most African Americans to obtain degree in science and get admission into medical, pharmacy, and graduate schools.
= Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship =
Recently, Xavier has begun to implement more innovation and entrepreneurial organizations and activities on campus. With the help of Professor Mark L. Quinn, the Conrad N. Hilton Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship and Assistant professor in Entrepreneurship, the Business department has been able to form X-ncubator, Enactus, and the Entrepreneurship Institute. In the Fall semester, students prepare a business plan for a social enterprise and present it to corporate executives. In the Spring, students participate in the Opportunity Finance Company Venture Challenge, a business plan competition. Xavier is a part of the Google Community Leaders Program, in which students learn the Google products and train local businesses in how to expand their online presence. Students learn essentially how to consult to small businesses.
== X-ncubator<br/> ==
= Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship =
Within the last 10 years, Xavier’s involvement in research has greatly increased. Many faculty members participate in research that varies in topic from astrophysics and freak waves to drug discovery and delivery for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Xavier ranks number 1 in receiving funds from the Health and Human Services on a per capita basis. It also ranks in the top 30 percent nationwide in funding from the National Science Foundation and third in Louisiana from the National Institutes of Health. Xavier is a member of the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium (LCRC), allowing cancer research programs to progressively further their research. The LCRC awards faculty approximately $900,000 each fiscal year to those that have written approved budget and research plans. This sponsors travel expenses, start-up packages, materials, etc. The Center of Undergraduate Research (CUR) sponsors undergraduate students to get involved in paid research opportunities with faculty members. They are funded by the Andrew F. Mellon grant which awards $2,500 to $10,000 to several professors involved in research. CUR is not restricted to STEM majors and sponsors students with a research interest in any discipline provided they are supervised by a professor.
In January 2014, Xavier University received a US patent for a novel formulation to treat pain and heroin addiction (Dr. Tarun Mandal, a professor in the College of Pharmacy). In last few years, several other applications have also been submitted for US patent. These include (1) Automated Control Release Multiple Layer Coating (Dr. Tarun Mandal), (2) Inhibiting Hepatitis C Viral Replication with siRNA Combinations (Dr. Tarun Mandal), (3) a novel peptide drug for the treatment of herpes (Dr. Partha Bhattacharjee, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology), (4) a novel daidzein analogs as treatment for cancer (Dr. Guangdi Wang, a professor in the Department of Chemistry), (5) Bisbenzamidines and bisbenzamidoximes for the treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis (Dr. Tien Huang, a professor in the College of Pharmacy).
= Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function =
= Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration =
Xavier University has active collaboration with pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. Dr. Tarun Mandal (College of Pharmacy) and his research team have developed an inhalable formulation of a proprietary (Tulane University and Autoimmune Technology; Flufirvite-3®) peptide for the treatment of influenza. The project is a $3.2 M NIH/NIAID grant and Dr. Mandal is the PI of the formulation core. He has successfully transferred the technology to Cirrus Pharmaceuticals for further development. He has co-authored the CMC documents supporting the IND (#101759) application. The Phase I first-in-human clinical trial of the API has been completed (#NCT01313962) last year and the Phase I clinical trial of the newly developed powder formulation will initiate soon.
= Engaging with Regional and Local Development Efforts =
= Landscape Canvas =
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mzJIvuwHF4N4ikjwUfEDhkWPcK6V8C000NUVbQfsfeo/edit Click to view Xavier's landscape canvas will be coming soon].
= Related Links =