the university receives thousands of awards to conduct research from an ever-expanding base of sponsors. Researchers pursue new discoveries in agriculture, biotechnology, information and communication technology, human health, transportation, energy management (including leadership in fuel-cell technology and power electronics), security, sustainability, and a wide range of other engineering, scientific, social science, and creative fields. This research led to 36 patents and 17 license and option agreements in fiscal year 2013.
=== Fralin Life Science Institute ===
The Fralin Life Science Institute is an expansion of the Fralin Biotechnology Center, which was established in 1991, and is one of four investment institutes at the university. The expansion was established in 2008. Research at the institute is focused on the areas of vector-borne disease; infectious disease and microbial sciences; plant sciences; obesity; cancer biology; and ecology and organismal biology.
Their research strategic priority areas …
