According to an article in the Houston Business Journal, OrthoAccel Technologies Inc has received the 2007 Michael E. DeBakey Life Science Award, which recognizes the Texas life science companies with the potential to commercialize a product.

The award was presented at the annual Texas Life Science Conference, cosponsored by BioHouston and the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute. OrthoAccel received $25,000 in cash and a free provisional patent filing by Baker & McKenzie LLP.

The company was selected for the award by a panel of national and local venture capitalists from among the companies presenting at the conference held in Houston earlier this month.

OrthoAccel’s proprietary technology accelerates the changes in bone structure that result from orthodontic treatment. OrthoAccel said its device cuts in half the treatment time required for braces, and can be used with all existing orthodontic bracket technologies.

The company expects to begin human clinical studies at the University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston in late spring 2008.