SFC Fluidics Awarded Federal Funding for Development of Implantable Drug Delivery Device

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $175,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant to SFC Fluidics Inc. for the development of an implantable, wirelessly controlled, rapid-dosing drug delivery system for small animal research.

Launched in 2003, SFC Fluidics is a medical device and diagnostics company headquartered at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park in Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas Technology Development Foundation manages the park.

The trademarked Min-ePump implantable drug delivery pump will allow real-time, remote controlled delivery of drugs and therapeutics to rat models for addiction and behavior research studies. Using the Min-ePump, the effects of drugs on behavior can be studied in rats since they won’t be tethered to a stationary pump. Because the Min-ePump can be wirelessly controlled, the rats will be able to self-administer controlled doses of a drug or dosing could be based on feedback from a sensor.

Key research areas that can benefit from untethered animal behavior models ranging from substance abuse and schizophrenia, to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

“We are excited about broadening the application of our miniaturized patch pump system for research that can potentially help millions of people around the world,” said Forrest Payne, a senior scientist at SFC Fluidics who is the principal investigator on the project.

The Small Business Innovation Research Program allows federal agencies to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening small businesses that meet federal research and development needs. The program also is intended to increase the commercial application of federally supported research results.

SFC Fluidics is a portfolio company of VIC Technology Venture Development, a privately held firm based at the Innovation Center at the Arkansas Research and Technology Park.