University of Rhode Island biomedical engineering professor Walt Besio has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to help him commercialize an advancement in brain signal electrodes.

The funds will be used by Besio to take advantage of a Stanford University program designed to help promising research move from the laboratory to market. Known as the Innovation Corps, the eight-week program began in October and requires Besio to attend classes on Stanford’s campus and meet every week with people who could help him develop his business plan.