Eleven UNSW researchers have been named as finalists for the 2009 NSi Inventor of the Year.

The finalists were selected from a strong field of inventors who made submissions in one of four award categories:

Biomedicine Levon Khachigian: a super drug to combat heart disease, cancer and inflammatory disease
Philip Hogg: cancer therapy and diagnostics

Environment Brett Neilan: genetic testing of blue-green algae toxins Stuart Wenham: solar cell technology
Obada Kayali: converting fly ash into building products

Information and communication technology David Taubman: image and video compression software
Ori Allon: a new search engine algorithm
Sameer Allam: intelligent air traffic control simulator

Science and engineering Ly Mai: solar cell technology
Maria Skyllas-Kazacos: rechargeable high-energy storage systems
Veena Sahajwalla: recycling rubber and plastic into steel

The NSi awards recognise and reward innovative technologies that could benefit the community and the environment, and carry a total prize pool of $20,000. A winner will be announced in each award category, together with an overall Inventor of the Year.

The awards will be presented during a gala event at UNSW's John Niland Scientia Building on April 23, 2009.

NSi provides technology transfer services for UNSW. The company is a recognised leader in the commercialisation of research-based technologies.

Read the full story on the NSi website.

Media Contact: Dan Gaffney | 0411 156 015 | d.gaffney@unsw.edu.au