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Danville, VA – Today Luna Innovations announces the formation of its sixth company, Luna nanoWorks a business focused on manufacturing revolutionary products based on recently discovered carbonaceous nanomaterials. |
Dr. Stephen Wilson, a world-renowned fullerene scientist, will lead the company as President. Wilson was founder and Chief Scientific Officer of C Sixty, Inc, a Houston biopharmaceutical company based on fullerene technology. He is a recognized expert and innovator with over 250 patents and publications in organic chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. He is currently setting the vision for Luna nanoWorks and assembling the technical and management team to lead the new enterprise.
Charles Gause, who previously directed Luna's nanomaterial research and development group, will be Vice President. Gause has been leading the development of Luna's unique nanomaterial production process. He has extensive manufacturing and operations background and has been instrumental, along with Luna Vice President Ben Plowman, in raising significant funds to support this project. At the Danville facility, Gause will continue leading the operations and business development efforts.
 Luna nanoWorks located in historic warehouse in Danville, VA. |
The Danville site was selected over other competing locations due to the City's pro-business, flexible and responsive government, manufacturing heritage, quality workforce, and diverse building inventory. Danville's technology initiative, excellent educational programs, quality of life, and overall vision integrated easily into Luna's current and future direction. The initial investment has been allocated for the renovation of a 19th century tobacco warehouse. From this historic location, material manufacturing and product development with carbon nanotubes and TRIMETASPHERE™ carbon nanomaterials, a discovery made at Virginia Tech, is expected by first quarter FY05. |
“This ground-breaking project was made possible by the vision and
commitment of Senator John Warner, Congressman Virgil Goode, Governor Mark
Warner, Secretary of Commerce Michael Schewel, Secretary of Technology
Eugene Huang, CIT President Pete Jobse, Senator Charles Hawkins and the
Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission, and Virginia
Research and Technology Advisory Commission Co-chair Dr. John Noftsinger,” said
Dr. Kent Murphy, Chairman of Luna nanoWorks.
Luna Innovations is a leader in nanotechnology commercialization resulting
in state-of-the-art nanomaterials manufacturing and product development. Currently,
there are limited carbonaceous nanomaterial quantities to supply the ever-increasing
demand by end-users. Luna nanoWorks will utilize nanotechnology to provide
products for cancer therapy, faster electronics, better lubricants, stronger
textiles, and chemical and biological warfare testing and disposal for homeland
security.
ABOUT LUNA INNOVATIONS:
Luna Innovations is inventing, building and commercializing innovative ideas
that are improving life through practical applications of technologies. Luna
identifies market opportunities, develops unique technologies and provides
the creative environment to fully develop their potential.
Luna Innovations has created six new companies since
2000 while opening additional branches in Charlottesville, Danville, Baltimore,
and Hampton Roads. The company focus areas include manufacturing process
control, next-generation cancer drug development, analytical instrumentation,
novel nanomaterials, advanced petroleum monitoring systems and wireless remote
asset management. For more information see www.lunainnovations.com or
email
Contact:
Karin Clark, Director of Marketing and Communications
Email:
Phone: 1.540.552.5128