Transcript Staff Writer

A drug that treats kidney disease, a drug that prevents blindness and nanotechnology that makes fabric repel water.

What do these three products have in common? Each was assigned this spring to an intern team with the University of Oklahoma's Center for Creation of Economic Wealth.

The groups of four or five interns spent the past semester developing the products, which were each invented by an OU faculty member. The student interns submitted a grant proposal, located other funding, visited a fabric mill and talked to major industry leaders.

The students got real-world experience as they helped move a new technology forward.

The interns outlined what they did this semester and their recommendations for the future of the product Tuesday evening at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

The Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth was established almost two years ago. Student intern teams are selected each semester to create new start-up companies from new OU technologies. The interns work with mentors in the industry and the inventor to move the product forward.

Daniel Pullin, associate vice president and CCEW executive director, said the program is selective -- there are usually three times the number of applicants to the program than are spots available. He praised the interns' work.

"They're very bright in the classroom but they have street smarts, horse sense," he said.

They're doing jobs in the real world, "very uncommon experiences for most 18-24 year olds," Pullin said.

He said this round of interns is one of CCEW's most remarkable.

"Just the amount of creativity that runs through these 13 individuals is something I'll never forget," he said.

After Pullin opened the event Tuesday evening, the three intern teams presented their semester work through PowerPoint presentations. The 13 student interns, from all parts of the country and nearly every discipline, dressed professionally. As they spoke about their projects, one almost forgot they weren't professional entrepreneurs -- but then their excitement betrayed them.

"We are proud of our work, we're excited to have shared it with you tonight," intern Kristin Weed said.

Weed's team focused this semester on Nantiox, a drug that could prevent age-related blindness. The technology, invented by James McGinnis, professor in the Departments of Cell Biology and Ophthalmology at OU Health Sciences Center, proposes the use of cerium oxide nanoparticles that would protect retinal cells from being damaged by reactive oxygen species.