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Winners of the First Annual CU Patton Boggs Technology Transfer Awards Announced

Awards Celebrate Fruitful Partnerships Between University of Colorado Academic Inventors and Innovators in Colorado's Business Community

DENVER - November 14, 2002 - On the evening of November 13, the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office held its first annual awards ceremony to celebrate collaborations between academic inventors and innovative companies who together are changing the world in positive ways. The Technology Transfer Office facilitates these collaborations by coordinating licensing arrangements that allow commercial enterprises to build on intellectual property created from CU research. These technology transfer licensing agreements benefit both the University and innovative companies, and play a key role in driving economic growth in Colorado.

Winners were selected based upon the significance of the innovation, particularly the extent to which it results in or has the potential to make an important commercial or societal impact. Winners were also selected based upon the extent to which the innovators embody the guiding principles behind a robust technology transfer process between the academic world and business.

"The awards and the celebration of them mark a new day for technology transfer at CU," said David Allen, CU's Assistant Vice President for Technology Transfer. "We are developing a reputation for service to University inventors and contributions to the Colorado economy. The Technology Transfer Office staff looks forward to working with more of CU's accomplished researchers and Colorado's innovative companies."

The awards ceremony was sponsored by Patton Boggs, a highly-respected law firm with specialized expertise in intellectual property law. The Patton Boggs Technology Transfer Awards were given in four categories. The winners are:

• Life Science Faculty Inventor Award - Drs. Bristow, Perryman and Leinwand
  Drs. Mike Bristow, Ben Perryman and Leslie Leinwand are conducting groundbreaking research for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure and related cardiovascular diseases. Their findings are the basis for numerous licensing agreements with companies in the private sector that are developing treatments for this leading cause of death in the United States
  
  
• Life Science Company Award - Myogen
  Westminster-based Myogen develops therapeutic drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases using technology licensed from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Myogen's collaboration with academic researchers provides a blueprint for productive partnerships between the University and the private sector.
  
  
• Physical Science/Engineering Faculty Inventor - Dr. Garrett Moddel
  Dr. Moddel's research focuses on optical technologies that range in application from medical diagnostics to solar cells. His optical interconnect technology has been licensed to Phiar Corporation, a development stage company formed by Dr. Moddel, an attorney and a former graduate student.
  
  
• Physical Science/Engineering Company Award - CDM Optics
  Boulder-based CDM Optics markets is developing technology that solves critical imaging challenges in microscopy, medical endoscopy, scanners and camera lenses. CDM Optics' technology is based on research conducted at the University of Colorado, and the company proudly embraces opportunities to partner with University researchers.
  

The TTO also awarded "Pinnacles of Inventorship" Lifetime Achievement Awards to the following individuals, who have distinguished themselves through sustained inventive activity. The winners of these awards included:

• Drs. Robert Allen, Sally Stabler and Paul Seligman, whose research focuses on vitamin metabolism and deficiencies.
  
• Dr. Carlos Paz de Araujo, whose research focuses on ferroelectrical materials, device physics and microelectronics.
  
• Dr. William Arend, whose research is leading to a clinically approved treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
  
• Dr. Marvin Caruthers, whose research laid the foundation for automated gene synthesizers used for chromosome mapping.
  
• Dr. Thomas Cech, whose discovery of the first RNA enzyme, the ribozyme, was recognized with the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1989.
  
• Dr. Larry Gold, whose research on the systematic evolution of ligands has enabled developments in the proteomics and bioinformatics.
  

Additional article:
Rocky Mountain News