Wichita State University is asking the state for a $31 million, five-year grant to invent and build new medical industries.

The goal is to create medical devices from composites lightweight, pliable and strong similar to those that have revolutionized the aircraft industry.

David McDonald, a biologist and associate provost for research and graduate school dean at Wichita State, is the primary author of a 100-page business plan submitted to the Kansas Bioscience Authority on Friday. He said the authority has told him they hope to meet with researchers again in Wichita in early September to discuss the proposal.

McDonald said the new industries he and his colleagues hope to create would make such innovations as a new generation of artificial hips and instant battlefield bone splints.