Innovation Index 2013

Babies born early or at low birth weights (less than 5.5 pounds) often face a lifetime of mental or physical challenges. The Babies Born Healthy network, organized by the United Way, includes a range of projects and partners such as the March of Dimes and the Department of Public Health. One of its efforts is the Strong Start Initiative, launched this spring by Grady Health System and the United Way to help at-risk expectant mothers. Grady, along with New Millennium Obstetrics and Gynecology and Providence Women’s Healthcare, runs a program called Centering Pregnancy that provides prenatal programs in a group setting. In a pilot, 97 percent of participating moms delivered normal-weight babies.

Georgia Tech researchers developed BrailleTouch, which lets people use a six-key Braille typing system on touchscreens.

Yu-Ping Chen, an assistant professor of physical therapy at Georgia State University, and Georgia Tech robotics professor Ayanna Howard are creating a robot that will help children with cerebral palsy improve their muscle control and motor skills.

Interventional radiologist Dr. Henry Krebs III and Dr. Peter Rossi, medical director of radiation oncology at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, are the first in Georgia to offer the newly FDA-approved Xofigo (RA 223) to help patients with prostate cancer.

The flu shot is kind of a crapshoot. Scientists create vaccines based on the flu strains they know exist, but there’s always a chance something newer will mutate. Georgia State University researcher Sang-Moo Kang is testing a universal flu vaccine so new shots won’t have to be developed all the time. The goal: protect against unexpected strains.

Grants to Green, a partnership of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, the Kendeda Fund, and Southface, funds energy assessments and implementation awards that can help nonprofits make operational changes that save water, energy, and—vitally—cash.

Georgia Power’s Advanced Solar Initiative lets homeowners and businesses sell solar-generated energy back to the company to offset the initial investment.

At the Ubiquitous Computing Research Group at Georgia Tech, professor Gregory Abowd and his team figure out cool ways computers can help in everyday life.

Cooleaf is a concierge employee wellness service that lets users pick and choose classes (kettlebell! circus arts!) and activities (healthy cooking classes, for instance).

More than 120 properties in Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead are enrolled in the Better Buildings Challenge.