TRAILBLAZER NATION: Letter from the President of DSU

As the entire world has a heightened awareness of the importance of health and wellness during the ongoing pandemic, several entrepreneurs working with Dixie State University’s Atwood Innovation Plaza are helping people all across the nation stay healthy and safe.

With the help of the business and incubation resources available at Innovation Plaza, Steribin developed the first UV disinfection device for airport security trays in 2018 to help eliminate the spread of contaminants through airport security bins. While working to gain approval from the Transportation Security Administration, Steribin has used its technology in other applications, such as food processing and laboratories.

In January, Steribin announced its merger with Vioguard, a leading provider of hospital-grade UV disinfection solutions. Together as UV360, the two companies will offer a wide range of UV disinfection solutions and bring new jobs to Washington County.

Another medical technology company incubated in Innovation Plaza is MedLite ID, which has created technology that illuminates a patient’s main infusion line to help medical professionals quickly identify the correct IV line. Often, patients in ICUs, operating rooms, and COVID-19 units can have four to twenty IV lines. By lighting the “safe line” through which life-saving medications can be administered, medical professionals can easily identify the right line to use, especially during a medical emergency. MedLite ID helps prevent complications caused by adverse drug events and helps care providers work quickly and effectively.

Housed in Innovation Plaza on the DSU campus, Soft Cell Laboratories has partnered with the Utah Department of Health to offer the entire southern Utah community free COVID-19 testing that does not require a doctor’s order. By hosting a much-needed COVID testing site in a centrally located area of St. George, Soft Cell and DSU are helping remove barriers to accessing testing.

It really is great to see how local entrepreneurs are making a difference throughout the entire nation with help from Dixie State University’s Atwood Innovation Plaza. As southern Utah’s premier business development pipeline, Innovation Plaza offers no-cost consultations and incubator workspace through the Business Resource Center; resources to create prototypes and perform small-run manufacturing though the Makerspace; assistance with research, patents, trademarks, and copyrights through Innovation Guidance & Solutions; and help getting businesses up and running through the Startup Incubator.

Learn how you can innovate, launch, and grow at innovation. dixie.edu.