Fuentek Senior Consultant Participates In Peer Review Panel For Department of Defense

(January 5, 2009)

APEX, N.C. – Dr. Nannette Stangle-Castor, senior consultant for Fuentek, served as a technology transfer reviewer for the Trauma, Treatment, and Rehabilitation panel of the 2008 Deployment Related Medical Research Program (DRMRP) for the Department of Defense (DOD) as a part of its Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The goal of DRMRP is to identify and fund the best medical research projects that protect, support and advance the health and welfare of deployed military personnel. Dr. Stangle-Castor served on the peer review panel, which was held from Dec. 7 – 9 in Reston, Va. As a technology transfer reviewer, she focused on the viability of projects transitioning the technology from the lab, into clinical trials and finally to their deployment in the field.

The 2008 DRMRP, like other CDMRP, are unique in that consumer reviewers participated in the panel. The consumer reviewers, who were currently serving in the military, a veteran, or a family member of a person experiencing trauma or injuries related to deployment, provided a user’s perspective and sense of urgency to the peer review panel.

Dr. Stangle-Castor leads partnership development and is the technical lead for life science efforts at Fuentek. Her key clients include the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Johnson Space Center, NASA Stennis Space Center and the University of Iowa. Dr. Stangle-Castor’s recent efforts include prioritizing portfolios of more than 250 life science technologies each for two major research universities; developing a user’s guide for technology infusion for NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program; and designing, implementing and executing on a streamlined online submission process for the Partnership Seed Fund out of NASA’s Innovative Partnerships Program. A recognized expert in the industry, she addressed the value of open innovation when engaging in collaborative research and development at the 59th International Astronautical Congress at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow, Scotland.

“I am honored that I was invited to participate on the peer review panel for the Deployment Related Medical Research Program,” said Dr. Stangle-Castor. “Including consumers as part of the peer review panel provided a critical customer perspective on the medical research programs we were reviewing. I am hopeful that some of the great research proposed can positively impact our military personnel in the near-term.”