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Staph infections in dairy cows regularly lead to mastitis in udders, costing Idaho’s multi-billion-dollar dairy industry millions each year in lost production and treatment costs—and can be fatal to cattle. At Boise State University, Professor Juliette Tinker is taking aim at the problem, leading groundbreaking research to develop a vaccine that could stop the disease before it starts. Her work, backed by a Boise State TRANSFORM seed grant through the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Accelerating Research Translation (ART) award, could be a game-changer for farmers and the broader dairy industry.
Boise State is one of 17 institutions nationwide with an NSF ART award, enabling the creation of the TRANSFORM seed grant program that supports faculty innovations with commercialization potential. These internal grants provide crucial early-stage funding for innovative projects that can lead to positive, real-world impact in Idaho and across the country.
Tinker’s project aims to develop a dairy cattle vaccine using her research on disease-causing bacterial toxins. The preliminary data collected as a part of her TRANSFORM seed grant has been vital in proving the vaccine’s potential. This initial funding has allowed her to gather data that will enable her to apply for follow-on funding from the United States Department of Agriculture to continue developing this research.
The project illustrates the wider impact of the TRANSFORM award and related resources on campus that support the translation of Boise State innovations into real-world solutions. As a 20-year Boise State faculty member, Tinker has leveraged the Office of Technology Transfer’s expertise to patent her inventions and identify commercialization opportunities, resulting in several U.S. granted patents related to her work developing vaccines against staph infection in dairy cows. Through these and other services, Boise State is building a vibrant culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among researchers.
“The TRANSFORM grant has helped to stimulate a culture of innovation,” Tinker said. “It has provided research funding to PIs to help them pursue more innovative research.”
The TRANSFORM seed grants offer similar opportunities for other Boise State faculty. Within the TRANSFORM seed grant program, Boise State has established two funding tracks. The market-oriented funding track supports innovations like Tinker’s that are likely to be advanced beyond the lab through commercialization, and the community-engaged track supports projects with the primary objective of advancing knowledge that will create positive change within society. To date, Boise State has awarded TRANSFORM seed grants for six projects in the market-oriented track and four projects in the community-engaged track. The TRANSFORM seed grant application opens in January, and researchers from all disciplines are invited to apply. Researchers are also encouraged to explore resources from the College of Innovation and Design and the Office of Technology Transfer. These offices actively support translating research into innovations, fostering a dynamic environment for technology development and entrepreneurship.
Projects like Tinker’s exemplify the transformative power of the NSF ART award and the TRANSFORM seed grant program—driving breakthroughs that strengthen industries, fuel discovery, and inspire collaboration. Together, they are cementing Boise State’s position as a national leader in innovation, where research doesn’t just advance knowledge—it shapes the future.
For more information about the TRANSFORM grant program, visit the Office of Technology Transfer.