Eastern Kentucky University innovator Dr. Jamie Fredericks attended the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI) in San Antonio, TX with support from Kentucky Commercialization Venture’s GOAL Fund. Fredericks attended the conference to conduct market research and gather feedback for his technology that lowers costs and speeds up the process of DNA collection and analysis.
The GOAL Fund supports faculty, staff and students from KCV partner institutions in attending conferences and events that promote innovation and commercialization. Participants can apply for funds to cover related expenses, with the expectation that they will gain valuable knowledge, establish networks and enhance their commercialization skills.
Dr. Fredericks shared more about his experience attending ISHI, thanks to KCV's GOAL Fund.
Was this your first experiences at ISHI? Why did you want to attend?
Yes, this was my first time attending. I wanted to attend because it is the largest conference in forensic DNA analysis, bring together analysis from all over the world. It provided a fantastic opportunity to network and gain valuable customer discoveries regarding my technology.
What is one takeaway from ISHI that has helped you with your invention?
I received positive and supportive feedback, which gave me confidence knowing there is a market for the tool I have developed.
Was there anything that about ISHI that surprised you?
The diverse range of participants, from venders to practitioners and researchers, I was able to gain a real sense of the unmet needs, market suitability and potential challenges.
Why is it important for you to participate in conferences and professional opportunities such as ISHI?
Conferences are a great way to network and to undercover information from individuals that you may not get the chance to meet. It is a great way to gauge where your invention is positioned within the market you intend to compete in.
Is there anything else you want to share about your experience?
A huge thank you to KCV and the GOAL-funded program. The experience has potentially opened avenues to further progress my invention.