A non-toxic coating developed by researchers at University of Toronto Engineering prevents proteins from sticking to surfaces — potentially offering a new tool in the fight against hospital-acquired infections. Professor Kevin Golovin and his team are experts in designing surface coatings that selectively repel certain substances. Their work has a range of applications, from keeping airplane wings ice-free to designing new types of non-stick cookware. Their latest work, published in Chemical Engineering Journal, focuses on preventing infectious bacteria from gaining a foothold.

The agreement enables collaborative research on the country’s most urgent national security and energy priorities, from water security, critical minerals and advanced manufacturing to AI-driven science and high-performance computing. University of Utah President Taylor Randall and NLR Director Jud Virden signed the MOU on  May 4 at the NLR facility in Golden, Colorado. The following day, DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation Audrey Robertson celebrated the agreement during the laboratory’s annual partner forum, a flagship gathering of energy leaders focused on critical minerals.