By Victoria Vaughan

GETTING research translated into products for sale is a challenge, but nine inventions have received funding to do just that.

Singapore's five polytechnics will each get a slice of $3.57 million from the National Research Foundation's $25 million Translational Research and Development Grant Scheme to develop nine inventions from the universities to produce devices for the market.

One of the nine projects is the Gap Clearing Wheelchair which will help the disabled to cross the space between platforms and trains, or across drains, safely.

It was invented by Associate Professor Kok Hui John Gerard from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Polytechnic lecturer Soon Yew Boon has received a grant to take the work forward.

'We are still in the conceptual stage and looking at how we can adapt the prototype for the market,' said Mr Soon. 'We're not sure if we will build a new wheelchair or make a device that fits to existing wheelchairs, or both.'

Mr Soon will work with three others and is already in talks with a wheelchair manufacturer about getting the finished product to the market. The project will take about 18 months.

By 2012, there will be an estimated 4.2 million wheelchair users worldwide.

Dr Ong Fook Rhu, also a lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic, will look to develop the Finger Function Rehabilitation Device. Invented by Associate Professor Teo Chee Leong from the National University of Singapore's engineering department, it is designed to help restore the ability of a stroke patient to grab and pinch.

Stroke is the leading cause of adult neurological disability in Singapore, with more than half of the surviving patients requiring specific rehab.

'The device has five rings for the fingers and thumb and a system moves the hand to help retrain the patient's brain to remember the lost functions,' said Dr Ong, who specialises in biochemistry of the hand and foot.

The project is predicted to take about two years and to cost $295,000.

Dr Sun Ling Ling, a lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic, will be developing a portable biosensor stem for early screening of the dengue virus.

'There are some methods for detecting dengue but they are lab-based, require skilled manpower and expensive equipment and take one to three days. Our sensor will take just a couple of hours,' said Dr Sun. The biosensor was invented by Prof Tan Ooi Kiang of NTU.

Dr Sun said it was a very exciting opportunity for the polytechnics to be involved in such translational research. 'This is the first time there has been such a scheme in Singapore,' she said.

The grant comes under the National Framework for Innovation and Enterprise, announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in March 2008. It aims to fund around 19 projects each year and the next call for applicants will be in April.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.