News and Events > Newsletters > Monthly Newsletter: May 2006

Today at the TTO

Biotechnology Proof of Concept Program Passes State Legislature
In May the Colorado Legislature passed and the Governor is expected to sign HB06-1360, a bill that provides $2M for technology development funding to universities. Funds will be directed to the State Office of Economic Development and International Trade for bioscience technology development project grants up to $150K (with an equal university match) based on competitively reviewed proposals submitted by university inventors to their institutions' technology transfer offices. Individuals from the Colorado bioscience community will evaluate the proposals.

CU is well positioned among Colorado universities to compete for these funds. In FY 2004-05 research investigators across the CU System received approximately $350M in competitive discovery-oriented bioscience federal sponsored research funding, the vast percentage from the National Institutes of Health. Virtually all of this grant money that investigators receive goes to directed purposes of discovery-oriented research - advancing understanding of biological processes and disease - essentially pushing the envelope of biological science. These basic science funds cannot be used in a discretionary manner for technology or pre-clinical development. Often a few relatively low-cost experiments can be conducted to prove the scientific concept works, thereby significantly increasing the market attractiveness of the IP and improving chances to obtain development funding from bioscience industry sources. Unfortunately, funds are seldom available for such research, but the HB06-1360 opportunity changes that equation.

TTO has identified a pipeline of projects that can readily benefit from significantly greater POC type funding. TTO will engage external bioscience development expertise to assist investigators in their preparation of proposals that can win in this merit-based competition. Efforts are underway to seek development advisors and sources for the University match portion of the funds.

Spring 2006 POC grant Recipients Announced
The TTO completed its Spring 2006 Proof of Concept grant solicitation and 15 projects are set to begin work. The POCg program provides grants that enable advanced development and validation of promising CU technologies that are, or will become, suitable for commercialization. POCg awards are budgeted for $10,000 or $25,000, and the technologies are selected by an internal competitive application process.

The campuses generated a strong response to the TTO request for proposals. Thirty-four proposals were received, which included six from new inventors, and fourteen associated with new invention disclosures. Of the qualified proposals, i.e. those associated with a new or on-file invention disclosure, seven requested $10k and twenty-six requested $25k funding. TTO case managers chose five $10k proposals and twenty-four $25k proposals as finalists. From those finalists, TTO found that five of the $10k and five of the $25k proposals were truly outstanding and worthy of support. In addition, because of the high quality of the proposals, TTO chose five additional proposals to fund, re-budgeted at $20k.

Spring 2006 Proof of Concept Investment Program Recipients Announced
Two start-up companies that are emerging from CU research have been awarded $100,000 Proof of Concept investments after a competitive spring 2006 round. The Proof of Concept investment (POCi) program provides early stage "seed" investments to enable the further development and validation of promising CU technologies that are the platform for a start-up company. The POCi recipients were selected by a panel of venture capitalists after oral presentations by the finalists.

MedShape Solutions, Inc. is developing a new class of orthopedic fixation devices using novel shape memory polymer materials. These materials have the ability to be deformed into a temporary shape and then recover the original shape when exposed to an environmental stimulus such as temperature change. The initial product focus will be on fixation devices for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. This technology was developed by researchers from the University of Colorado's Boulder and Health Sciences Center campuses.

ApopLogic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutic products that target unique apoptotic cell death pathways found in tumor cells and proliferating immune cells (lymphocytes). The ApopLogic technology, developed by researchers at CU's Health Sciences Center, represents a new and promising approach for treating cancers that are resistant to conventional therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy.

Applications for the fall 2006 POCi round will be due by October 6, 2006. For more information about the POCi program, contact Tom Smerdon, Director, New Business Development, at tom.smerdon@cu.edu or 303-735-0621.

New, Streamlined Invention Disclosure Forms
TTO continues to refine and streamline our processes and practices to be more efficient, user-friendly and relevant.

To that end, we have shortened the Invention Disclosure Form (IDF), such that it now takes only a few minutes to gather and attach the minimum crucial information necessary to establish a record of invention internally, and list the contributors to the invention, and comply with NIH reporting guidelines. The TTO will work with inventors over the life cycle of an invention to gather and compile other crucial, but less urgent information through the diligence and feasibility analysis process. The Copyrighted Materials Disclosure Form (CDF) is a very simple form for authors to complete when they need to consult with the TTO on the protection and commercialization of a new work, such as software, data, survey instruments or commercially oriented training materials. Last fall TTO announced a streamlined and automated Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) process to keep faculty and companies apprised of agreement progress.

Exclusive License Agreement with Apro Bio Pharma
The University of Colorado announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with Apro Bio Pharmaceutical, a startup biotechnology company, to develop novel drugs that may be effective against bioweapon attacks and other bacterial infections.

TTO Announces Two New Staff
Kimberly Merryman will be TTO's Patent Administrator starting May 18. Kimberly is a recent graduate from the University of Colorado, having just graduated this May 2006, obtaining a degree in English and Classics. During her tenure at the University, she was a member of the English honors society, Sigma Tau Delta, where she variously served as Co-President, Treasurer and Philanthropy Chair, and for the last three years, she has worked as a student assistant in the TTO System Office, a position for which she was nominated for Student Employee of the Year for the last two years in a row. As the student assistant, she supported the efforts of the administrative staff, particularly the patent administrator, as well as contributing her writing skills to many different projects in the office, including editing and proof reading the annual report and monthly newsletter and the Annual Awards Event materials. In her new position she'll take up where the former Patent Administrator, Annalissa Philbin, left off. Annalissa is now employed in the University Counsel's Office. Kimberly starts her new fulltime position on May 18. You may contact her at Kimberly.merryman@cu.edu or 303-735-0219.

Ted Weverka will join the Technology Transfer Office on May 22. In January, Ted completed his PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. During his time at CU, Ted studied optical implementations of Neural Networks, photorefractive materials and applications, optical switching systems, and acousto-optic devices. Prior to returning to CU for his PhD, Ted was the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Network Photonics, Inc., where he had a key role in raising $136 million in funding. As CTO, Ted invented Network Photonics' wavelength switch technology and was responsible for managing the company's patent portfolio. Prior to Network Photonics, he worked on the technical staff of various small and medium sized businesses. As an inventor, Ted has successfully navigated through numerous commercial minefields. His experience in research, development, IP portfolio management and business planning will be an asset to CU's research community. At the TTO, his primary responsibility will be to serve the College of Engineering at CU Boulder and CU Colorado Springs. Ted holds a B.S. in Applied Physics from California Institute Technology.

Karen Gifford is a 2001 graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a BA in Humanities. Upon graduation Karen began half-time as the Systems Administration archivist where she processes all materials from previous presidents of the university. In addition, she works directly with the President's Office staff researching queries from CU's historic past. Karen's position in the Technology Transfer office is also half-time, and she is the assistant patent administrator working directly with Kimberly Merryman. Prior to CU, Karen worked as pastry chef in both Colorado and Hawaii.

CU Technology and Licensee Companies in the News

CU's Larry Gold Named 2006 European Inventor of the Year 2006
An international jury has selected the first-ever winners of the European Inventor of the Year award based on outstanding technical inventions for which the European Patent Office granted a patent between 1991 and 2000. Eighteen scientists were nominated in six categories. Dr. Gold and Craig Tuerk won in the "Non-European Inventors" category for their SELEX process, the discovery that nucleic acids can bind to any protein to potentially intercept proteins that cause disease. Sixteen years after its discovery, the SELEX process yielded FDA-approved MacugenT, a treatment for macular degeneration that is marketed in the US and Europe. Craig Tuerk currently teaches biochemistry and genetics in Kentucky at Morehead State University. Larry Gold founded SomaLogic, a Boulder-based company that employs its proprietary PhotoSELEX process in aptamer and bioinformatics research. Dr. Gold is a member of the American Academy of Arts and the National Academy of Sciences.

ImmuRx Built from CU Research
Manipulating the body's immune system may help it battle tumors and infectious disease. That's the early result from the laboratory of Ross Kedl, assistant professor at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Kedl has joined forces with professors from Dartmouth Medical School to form ImmunRx LLC, with the help of CU's technology transfer office.

New vaccine could block HPV
Dr. Rrobert Garcea with University of Colorado Health Sciences Center has been awarded a $3-million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to create a cheaper vaccine for use in third-world countries.

Innovative Bio Devices (IBD) Completes Option Agreement on Wireless Power Management Technology
Dr. Zoya Popovic, Professor, and Dr. Regan Zane, Assistant Professor, both employed at UCB's College of Engineering in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in collaboration with Dr. Diego Restrepo, Associate Professor, and Dr. Andrew Sharp, Instructor, both employed on the UCDHSC campus in the Cellular and Structural Biology Department, have formed Innovative Bio Devices (IBD), Inc. The company recently signed an option to an exclusive license with CU with plans to develop and commercialize chip level modules that will supply power for a variety of sensors and electrodes. IBD was granted a $100k POC award which will be used to develop early prototypes of this promising platform technology.

IBD will develop a miniaturized, wireless, battery-free device that can be used for acquiring and transmitting data from electrodes or other biosensors for indefinite periods of time. A sophisticated power management scheme may enable devices to more efficiently gather, process, and transmit data. For biomedical applications, this efficiency correlates to an ability to perform more advanced functions while generating lower residual heat.

TTO's Learning Laboratory: The Student Connection

New Student Employees at TTO
The TTO recently hired new undergraduate student assistants.

Nicholas Rising is a Colorado native, born in Denver and raised in Centennial. He's scheduled to graduate from the University of Colorado at Boulder in May, 2007 with a B.A. in physical geography, a hydrology certificate, and a minor in economics. Nick enjoys playing soccer and spending time in the mountains of Colorado hiking, climbing and backpacking.

Branwynne Bennion is an English major who will graduate from CU-Boulder in December, 2006. Her interests include photography, writing and editing, and Colorado outdoors activities. Branwynne will be assisting TTO's new Patent Administrator, Kimberly Merryman.

Ashley Fandel is an accounting major with a minor in Italian. She will graduate from CU Boulder in May 2008. Ashley enjoys playing sports, photography, and reading. She will be assisting TTO's Chief Finance Officer, Donna Sichko.

Spotlight On:

CU Boulder Technology of the Month:
CU1555B - A Novel Spatial Multiplexing Architecture with Finite Rate Feedback for MIMO Systems

CU HSC Technology of the Month:
Method and Apparatus Using Electrostatic Atomization to Form Liquid Vesicles

Upcoming Events

Invitation to TTO Summer Program Orientation
May 22-23, 2006, Boulder, CO- The Technology Transfer Office will be holding an orientation session for Summer MBA students and others interested in learning more about university technology transfer. This two-day session will be held at the TTO office in Conference Rooms A and B, 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder. The orientation will include a general session about the role of the technology transfer office in the university, the resources of the TTO, and how university culture and tradition affects tech transfer. Additionally, there will be specific sessions on CU IP policy, technology licensing, IP protection, patentability analysis, market research, and the process of going from an invention disclosure all the way to a license. Attention will also be directed to the issue of start-up companies created from University IP. Members of the business community are welcome to come for the whole orientation, or for topics of interest to them. If you have any questions, contact Sheri Aajul at 303-492-5647 or sheri.aajul@cu.edu.

TTO Invites Attendees for a Special Session Following AUTM Meeting
July 16-18, Boulder, CO at St. Julien Hotel - The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), which is the professional association for TTOs, is holding its summer regional meeting in Boulder this year, and the TTO will offer a special post-AUTM session on the University of Colorado's Community-Based Approach to University Spin-Out Companies. Note that St. Julien is offering a discounted group lodging rate to AUTM attendees on a limited first-come, first-served basis.

Invention to Venture workshop by NCIIA
September 22, 2006, Auraria Campus - Coming to Denver: The National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance's acclaimed technology entrepreneurship workshops for faculty, students, and others involved in bringing ideas to market. This is the first Invention to Venture workshop hosted by the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. The workshop is an introduction to the process and practice of technology entrepreneurship. As with all I2V events, the goal is to engage a wide range of participants from the university community, including science and technology students and faculty as well as members of the surrounding business community.

CU Resources

CU Technology Transfer and New Venture Creation Course
This fall 2006 course examines the process of technology transfer in the academic, government laboratory and corporate setting. The focus of the course will be on the process of creating innovation from inventions, protecting the innovation and intellectual property and deciding whether to proceed with commercialization. The course will be taught by faculty from academia and the private sector and will involve both lectures and case studies.

Innovation in the News

Knowledge Filter and Economic Growth: The Role of Scientist Entrepreneurship
This study examines the prevalence and determinants of the commercialization of research by the top 20 percent of university scientists funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute. The study also includes two additional measures obtained from detailed scientist interviews: licensing of intellectual property and starting a new firm. The study "highlights the extent to which additional commercialization of research takes place, suggesting that the contribution of universities to U.S. innovation and ultimately economic growth may be greater than had previously been believed."

NSF: Drop in Industrial Support for Academic R&D Continued into 2004
For the third consecutive year, industrial support of U.S. academic research dropped, according to an April 2006 InfoBrief by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The 2.6 percent decrease in fiscal year 2004 from the previous year is the sharpest yet in the three-year trend, following a 1.1 percent reduction in FY 2003 and 1.6 percent in FY 2002. Author Ronda Britt notes "the industrial sector is the first source of academic R&D funding to show a multiyear decline" since the survey inception in 1953. At only 4.9 percent of the total academic R&D in FY 04, the industrial share now parallels its FY 83 levels.

While the recession and dot-com crash may explain some of the drop, NSF does not offer any conclusions regarding potential causes for the drop. Others have offered globalization as a potential explanation. They see industry R&D migrating toward the markedly improved capabilities within the international academic community.

For example, basing their findings on a survey of more than 200 multinational companies, Drs. Marie and Jerry Thursby discovered more than half of the corporate respondents who identified the U.S. as their home country report that they have either recently expanded or planned to locate R&D facilities in China and India vs. other developed countries. Among the study's more surprising findings, according to the researchers, was the role university collaboration plays in the decision-making process for locating R&D facilities. In fact, collaboration with universities was particularly prevalent as a factor for expanding to emerging countries, even though these countries provide lesser degrees of IP protection.

State support for programs encouraging university-industry research partnerships has varied over the years. Much of the recent surge in state TBED investments, for instance, has focused predominantly on overall university research infrastructure capacity building, faculty recruitment, and centers of excellence in a few targeted sectors driven by a pursuit of federal R&D investments, such as the life sciences and nanotechnology. Whether these strategic investments will be enough to woo industrial R&D spending back to the academic fold remains to be seen.

The Power of Star Scientists
A new National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper examines the role of star scientists and engineers as instigators of high technology entrepreneurship and company formation. UCLA researchers Lynn G. Zucker and Michael R. Darby followed the careers of more than 1,800 "star" (determined by publications and patent activity) scientists and engineers between 1981 and 2004. They found a very close connection between the movement of these individuals and rates of new technology company formation. In other words, it's the person who builds the business, not the technology or the patent. Their other finding is that "stars" tend to cluster over time. They concentrate in a few communities where they have regular access to peers with skills in the same technologies or disciplines.

To view a summary of the April 2006 National Bureau of Economic Research paper, "Movement of Star Scientists and Engineers and High-Tech Firm Entry," (No. 12172) by Lynn G. Zucker and Michael R. Darby, visit http://papers.nber.org/papers/w12172. The full paper is available for purchase from NBER.

External Resources

Patent Search Resources
The TTO asked our CU Law School intern, Elizabeth Lewis, to review a handful of free or inexpensive patent search websites. Her favorite is http://www.freepatentsonline.com. This site purports to have the most powerful patent search capabilities available on the Web, using Boolean logic and extensions of standard USPTO search features including proximity searching, search term weighting, and word stemming. Search results include full text (linked to PDF), cited patents, and related patents (patents citing the searched patent). Patent Logistics LLC's free patent fetcher is a free way to get complete U.S. Patent and published Patent Application PDF files after you have performed a patent search. Additionally, Patent Logistics provides access to all foreign patents and applications for which there are images at the European Patent Office Web site, as a single PDF file. Foreign patents/applications can be downloaded for $0.65 per publication. Citation BridgeT is a free search utility that lets you look up forward and backward U.S. Patent Citations (also called U.S. Patent References) on an individual patent and search back and forth through citation generations. Find out who's citing your patents and whom your patents are citing.

Parting Quotes

"If you're not failing every now and then, it's a sign you are not doing anything very innovative." Woody Allen