University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office

Introducing CU TTO Talk Radio
The CU TTO presents its new internet radio channel, featuring news and interviews with CU inventors, entrepreneurs, and other members of the local tech transfer community. Hosted by w3w3.com, “Colorado’s voice of the technology community,” the CU TTO channel will provide the ‘inside scoop’ on CU technologies and startups.  Recently, W3W3 interviewed the winners of TTO’s 2006 Annual Awards – find these and other interviews at http://www.w3w3.com/cutto.htm. Check back often -- new content is added frequently.  Do you know someone in the tech transfer community who would make a great interview?  Send your suggestions to TTONews@cu.edu.

CU Executes Exclusive License Agreement with OZ BioSciences
The TTO recently executed an exclusive license agreement with OZ BioSciences for a magnetic-based cell transfection technology termed “magnetobiolistics.”  The core technology was developed by Dr. Dan Chan, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Denver and Health Sciences Center.  Dr. Chan’s technology employs a pulsed magnetic field which results in less trauma and higher transfection frequency than biolistic methods commonly used today.  The initial focus of commercial development will be for the use of magnetobiolistics in the research environment.  Clinical applications may ultimately develop given this technology’s unique ability to more efficiently transfect sensitive cells.

Exclusive Option Agreement Executed with MaxCure Pharmaceutical
The University of Colorado announced that it has entered into an exclusive option agreement with MaxCure Pharmaceutical, Inc., a startup biotechnology company based in Colorado that will be developing novel drugs for the treatment of viral diseases.  The optioned technology covers a new method for blocking viral infections developed by Dr. Leland Shapiro at CU’s Health Sciences Center.  MaxCure will also be sponsoring follow-on research in Dr. Shapiro’s lab focused on positioning this technology for clinical trials.

CU Innovations Featured in AUTM Better World Project
The Better World Project, created by the Associate for University Technology Managers (AUTM), shares the stories behind innovations that have changed the way we live. Two CU-based startup companies, Phiar Corporation and CDM Optics , are featured in Building a Stronger Economy: Profiles of 25 Companies Rooted in Academic Research. The companion publication, Technology Transfer Works: 100 Innovations from Academic Research to Real-World Application, features the Intelligent Essay Assessor developed at CU and now managed by Pearson Knowledge Technologies. Both booklets were published in March 2007.

CU Places Nineteen Graduate Schools and Programs Among Nation's Best
Nineteen schools and programs at the University of Colorado were named in the 2008 edition of U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Graduate Schools. Highlights: the CU-Boulder physical chemistry program ranked 10th, and the UCDHSC’s School of Medicine ranked 23rd overall, up from 26th in last year’s report; SOM faculty also rank fourth out of 75 public medical schools in the country for NIH research expenditures. In business school rankings, CU-Boulder’s Leeds School of Business ranked 13th in Entrepreneurship, up from 17th last year.

It's Official: VA to Build Hospital at Fitzsimons
After years of fits and starts, and on-again, off-again deals, work on a new hospital for Colorado's veterans is finally set to begin. U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson - joined by an array of Colorado elected officials - announced April 4 that the VA will build the hospital on 31 acres north of East Colfax Avenue on the site of the former Fitzsimons Army hospital.

SB 97 Will Provide Funds for CU Med School
University of Colorado Regent Michael Carrigan smiled March 22 as a bill that will help funding for the university's medical school was signed into law. While the medical school currently ranks 23rd nationally for medical research, it comes in 48th nationally in terms of state support. Senate Bill 97 restores nearly $25 million in funds for the school and key health care programs statewide that were cut during Colorado's recession.

Legislative Update: Matters of Interest to the Technology Transfer Community
HB 1060 – Bioscience Research Grants has been changed due to demands for funding other legislation.  The biofuels portion of the original bill has been deleted.  The SBIR oriented portion has been revised downward to $1.1M and the maximum for any one university licensee company is $50,000.  The revised bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee April 20th.  TTO Director of New Business Development Tom Smerdon testified in support of the original bill: “We believe that HB 1060 will provide an important stimulus for the commercial development in Colorado of bioscience technologies --including company and job creation -- that are important to the economic future of the state.” (Read full testimony here.)

SB 182 – Higher Education Competitive Federally Funded Research introduced to Senate Appropriations April 16th.

CU Technology and Licensee Companies in the News

ARCA Founder Featured in Biotech Interview
Dr. Michael Bristow, founder of CU-based companies Myogen Inc. and ARCA Discovery, was interviewed in the March 26 issue of Biotech Transfer Week. About tech transfer and entrepreneurship at CU, Dr. Bristow says, “It’s easy to do this here. The culture is ‘go, go, go, let’s help you out.’”

CU-Boulder To Play Lead Role In Colorado Center For Biorefining And Biofuels
The University of Colorado at Boulder is joining with Colorado State University, the Colorado School of Mines, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the business sector to establish a Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels. Known as C2B2, the center's mission is to become the world's leading center for research, education and innovation on integration of renewable energy sources into the chemical and fuels industry. Coming soon: a w3w3 interview with Dr. Ryan Gill, C2B2’s managing director.

UCDHSC Researchers Identify Gene Connected to Vitiligo and Other Autoimmune Diseases
In a study appearing in the March 22 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at UCDHSC and the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, along with the University of London, have discovered a connection between a gene and the chronic skin condition vitiligo, as well as a possible link to an array of other autoimmune diseases.

Q&A with Larry Gold
Larry Gold is one of a handful of people immediately associated with the beginnings of biotechnology in Boulder and at the University of Colorado. Gold headed CU-Boulder’s MCDB department and went on to co-found the first local biotech company, Synergen, and followed it by founding NeXstar — bought by Gilead Sciences for $550 million — and, most recently, SomaLogic. The Daily Camera talked with Gold about the state of biotech and what keeps him busy. (See also: transcript of the live chat that followed.)

Loss of Partner, Funding No Deterrent to Replidyne
When the FDA pulled the rug out from under the feet of Replidyne Inc. last October, the principals didn't let it get them down. When the company's partner and primary funder, Forest Laboratories Inc., ended a yearlong collaboration in February, Replidyne's executives brushed off the dust and got back on the horse. That's just the way it goes in the biopharmaceutical business, said Replidyne President and CEO Ken Collins and CSO Nebojsa Janjic.

Gilead’s Ambrisentan Clears European Marketing Hurdle
Gilead Sciences Inc. announced March 23 that a marketing authorization application for ambrisentan in Europe was validated by the European Medicines Agency. Ambrisentan is designed for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Gilead acquired the drug in its 2006 acquisition of CU-based startup Myogen.

New Research Sheds Light on Cancer Tumor Survival During Radiation Therapy
Researchers at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center have found that nitric oxide plays an important role in tumor cell survival following treatment with radiation therapy. The research was published in the April 13 edition of Molecular Cell.

Replidyne Study Shows Faropenem Effective in Treating Common Ear Infection in Children
CU-based startup Replidyne Inc. said March 6 that a midstage clinical trial showed its medication for a common ear infection in children was effective. The Phase II clinical trial enrolled more than 300 children and tested four different doses of the company's drug faropenem. Early results of the trial showed that faropenem was effective in eliminating a middle ear infection called acute otitis media, allowing for the company to select a dose for a late-stage clinical trial.

Collaboration and $2 Million Lead to a Nano Winner
With patent rights out of the University of Colorado, with an exclusive license, and full access to the future developments that rely on those base patents, ALD NanoSolutions is breaking new ground. Karen Buechler, founder, president and CTO, is interviewed on Colorado’s tech internet radio station w3w3.com

Myogen: The $2.5 Billion Colorado Success Story
Myogen Inc., which recently merged with Gilead, was built by a team that understands a key strategy of ‘spreading the risk’ while capitalizing on its assets. Myogen co-founder and CU faculty member Dr. Michael Bristow shares the details in this interview with w3w3.com.

Revolutionary Science Fights Brain Diseases
Melissa Mahoney, assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at CU-Boulder, and her team are developing techniques for growing patches of healthy brain tissue that could be transplanted into patients suffering from such nervous system diseases as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Her work is featured in the March 2007 Coloradan.

CU-Boulder Instruments To Launch On High Altitude Cloud Mission
A satellite carrying two University of Colorado at Boulder instruments to study silvery-blue clouds that mysteriously form 50 miles above Earth's polar regions every year is slated to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on April 25. The spectacular clouds, known as noctilucent clouds, will be probed by NASA's Aeronomy of Ice in the Mesosphere mission, or AIM, to determine why they form and how they change.

People

ARCA Discovery, Inc. Announces Appointment of J. William Freytag, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors
ARCA Discovery Inc.., a privately held, CU-based biopharmaceutical company developing genetically targeted therapies for heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases, announced on March 9 the addition of J. William Freytag, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Freytag brings over 25 years of research, product development and commercialization experience to the Board, most recently as Chairman and CEO of Myogen where he built a focused cardiovascular biotechnology company with preclinical, clinical and sales and marketing capabilities.

CU TTO Head Visits Aussie Tech Transfer Groups
David Allen, CU Associate Vice President for Technology Transfer, recently went down under, where he was hosted by and gave presentations on technology transfer to the following groups: in Perth at the University of Western Australia; in Sydney at the meeting of a national university technology transfer group called Knowledge Commercialisation Australia; and in the national capital, Canberra, to the Research Systems Branch of the Department of Education, Science and Training and to the Innovation Policy Branch of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.

CU Professor and Inventor Featured in Emerging Technologies 2007
CU Adjunct Professor Arthur Nozik, also of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is included in MIT Technology Review’s Emerging Technologies 2007, an annual list of ten cutting-edge technologies poised to change research fields and industries. The report features Dr. Nozik’s quantum-dot solar power technology, developed at NREL.

CU-Boulder Vice Chancellor For Research Candidates Announced
Five candidates for the position of vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate school have been announced by the University of Colorado at Boulder to fill the position currently held by Interim Vice Chancellor for Research Susan Avery. Avery is a candidate for the permanent position and a second internal candidate, engineering Professor Stein Sture, also is in the running for the post.

Finalists Announced for UCDHSC Vice Chancellor for Research
Four finalists have been named for the UCDHSC vice chancellor for research position. Meetings, tours and open forums for the candidates are scheduled during March and April. The forums will include each candidate presenting a vision for future research at the UCDHSC, followed by questions and comments.

New UCDHSC Vice Chancellor for University Initiatives
Roderick Nairn, Ph.D., has accepted the position of UCDHSC Vice Chancellor for University Initiatives. Responsibilities for the position include overseeing the move of the Health Sciences Center's academic and research programs from Ninth and Colorado to Fitzsimons; leading the UCDHSC's imaging and identity project; participating as a key member of the executive leadership team in preparation for the 2011 accreditation visit by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; coordination of institution and facilities planning; and serving as the university's liaison in the planning and implementation of the UCDHSC's new school of public health.

ATLAS Director Heads to Indiana University, Informatics Job
Robert Schnabel, currently vice provost/associate chancellor for Academic and Campus Technology at CU-Boulder, will take over as dean of Indiana University’s School of Informatics. He will replace Michael Dunn, who founded the IU informatics school and who plans to retire from the position at the end of June. Dr. Schabel also currently serves as CU-Boulder’s chief information officer and as director of the Alliance for Technology, Learning and Society Institute (ATLAS).

Do you know of a recent award, new position or transition of interest to the CU tech community? Please send information to TTOnews@cu.edu.

TTO's Learning Laboratory: The Student Connection

TTO Intern and Team Excel in Venture Capital Competition
The Leeds Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) team (Rich Barone, Christine Brandt, Franco Valdes, Dagan White and TTO intern Charlie Kelly) were selected as the Entrepreneurs' Choice at the 10th annual VCIC international competition April 14-15 at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.  The Entrepreneurs' Choice award is selected by the presenting companies to the team they would most want to be their VC company; the CU team beat the likes of  Chicago, Harvard and USC. This was the 3rd consecutive year a Leeds team advanced to the international finals and finished among the top four.

TTO Internship Positions Open:

• Launching a Technology-Based Startup: TTO's Summer MBA Internship Program
  The Technology Transfer Office offers MBA students a different kind of experience than they would get with a traditional internship at a front range business. MBA interns are immediately given much more responsibility, autonomy and structured mentoring on projects through the Technology Transfer Office. Each intern is assigned to 2-3 technologies that have "startup potential;” interns take a lead role in advisory board meetings, and are responsible for driving the concept forward. By the end of the summer, a TTO intern may be able to point to a new startup and their key role in launching that business. For more information or to submit your resume and cover letter, contact TTO Assistant Director Kate Tallman.

• Marketing Assistant
  Working out of TTO’s Boulder office, the intern will assist the Marketing Associate in conducting market research, drafting documents, and researching companies. Organizational and computer skills are vital; experience with Illustrator, Publisher a plus. This 10-15 hour/week paid position is available starting May 2007 with possibility of continuing long-term. Applicants must be continuing CU students. To apply, email resume and cover letter to Lindsay Polak.

• Biotech Patent Intern
  The TTO is seeking a qualified student to assist our staff in performing prior art, freedom to operate and patentability searches for biotechnology inventions. Applicants should have either an undergraduate or graduate degree in one of the biological sciences, or previous experience in IP law, particularly the areas outlined above. Applicant must be a CU student, and willing to work at the UCDHSC campus in Aurora. For more information or to submit your resume and cover letter, contact David Poticha.

 

Spotlight On:

CU-Boulder Technology of the Month:
CU1144B – A Cleavable Tag for High-Throughput Affinity Chromatographic Purification of Native RNA

UCDHSC Technology of the Month:
CU1535H – A Novel Bacterial Protein as a Therapeutic Angiogenesis Inhibitor

CU Company of the Month:
Archemix Corp. is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company founded in 2001 based on CU’s SELEX technology and incorporating a dominant patent portfolio. The company's mission is to develop aptamers (single-stranded nucleic acids that form well-defined three dimensional shapes) as a class of directed therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of human disease. Because of their unique properties and proven efficacy, aptamers offer an alternative to biologics and small molecules in numerous applications and offer the potential to be a major class of drugs for the treatment of unmet medical needs. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company has formed strategic alliances with multiple other companies formed based on CU technology.

Recently, Archemix was granted two European patents pertaining to the identification and therapeutic use of aptamers. These claims cover the fundamental methods of selecting aptamer therapeutics using the SELEX platform. Dr. Errol de Souza, President and CEO: "We are gratified that the EPO has acknowledged the broad applicability of aptamers as therapeutic agents. The allowance of these new claims in the world's second largest pharmaceutical market further extends the robust and far-reaching position Archemix has established in intellectual property required for the discovery, development and commercialization of aptamer therapeutics."

In December 2006 Archemix entered Phase I trials for ARC1779, an anti-thrombotic aptamer therapeutic, and in January 2007 the company announced collaborations with Merck and Pfizer to discover new aptamer therapeutics.

Upcoming Events

Workshop: Exploring Non-Academic Careers for Research Postdocs
April 17, University Memorial Center, Boulder
The Post-Doctoral Association of Colorado presents this workshop exploring professional development for post-docs interested in careers outside academia. Panelists include Mary Tapolsky of the Technology Transfer Office, as well as Samantha Messier of the Boulder Valley School District and science writer Kendall Powell. Lunch is provided. Please RSVP to gtppd@colorado.edu.

BioBreakfast: Centers for Disease Control Update
April 18, Northfield Stapleton, Denver
Dr. Ben Beard, Chief, Bacterial Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control, will provide an overview of CDC’s activities in Fort Collins, including the history, scope of work, vision, and mission. Hosted by CBSA.

CBSA Annual All-Member Meeting
April 24, GlobeImmune/Replidyne Facility, Louisville
Please attend the CBSA All Member meeting to be brought up to date on 2007 association business including legislation, committee activities and approval of new officers and directors. Hosts GlobeImmune and Replidyne will give reports of their most recent activities, followed by a member reception.

Nanotechnology: Impacting Colorado's Space Industry
April 26, Westin Tabor Center Hotel, Denver
Learn how nanotechnology will impact our future national security and space systems in the 21st century. This business meeting will provide a national, statewide and business perspective discussing the importance of nanotechnology R&D, technology transfer, commercialization, economic and workforce development, and the importance of defense and space on Colorado's economic future.

Invention to Venture: Colorado Springs
April 27, University Center Theatre, Colorado Springs
The Invention to Venture workshop (the first hosted by UCCS) is an introduction to the process and practice of technology entrepreneurship, engaging 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. Attendance is free; for more info contact Susan Hindmarsh (UCCS).

Entrepreneurship – Exploring the Options
April 28, ATLAS Institute, Boulder
How do you take a brilliant idea you have and turn it into a profitable enterprise? This joint IEEE Member and Student Professional Development Program will introduce the opportunities that exist for entrepreneurs. Come hear the insights of experienced entrepreneurs, including TTO’s Ted Weverka, expand your knowledge of issues and opportunities, and network. Details online.

BioBusiness Seminar: Regulatory, Quality Control and Validation Issues
May 1, Fitzsimons Bioscience Park, Aurora
Bioscience companies are invited to this free seminar: Regulatory, Quality Control and Validation Issues. Sponsored by the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority and the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA).

Rocky Mountain SBIR Conference
May 9-10, Renaissance Hotel, Denver
The Rocky Mountain SBIR Conference provides 2 full days of SBIR/STTR courses & information. Learn critical IP and marketing strategies, meet one-on-one with program managers, network with large corporate sponsors, and collaborate with industry clusters and neighboring state technologists. Get the latest details by emailing info@sbircolorado.org.

Summer Program Orientation
May 14-15, Technology Transfer Office, TBA
TTO will hold its yearly orientation session for Summer MBA students and others interested in learning more about university technology transfer. This two-day session 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. For more information contact Lindsay Polak at 303-735-5518 or lindsay.polak@cu.edu.

19th Annual Colorado Capital Conference
May 22, Marriott City Center, Denver
The Colorado Capital Conference, hosted by the Rockies Venture Club, is focused on connecting companies to funds. The event has two tracks: one designed to educate entrepreneurs and one designed as an investor forum where prescreened, rehearsed deals are presented to a panel of funding sources - angels and venture capitalists - and receive real-time, professional and audience feedback. More information available online. Companies seeking financing who would like to present at the Conference, view the Call for Presenters (PDF).

2007 CSIA Annual Apex Awards
June 5, location TBA
The event showcases Colorado’s advanced technology industry and serves to promote Colorado as a center for advanced technology development - highlighting Colorado companies and entrepreneurs, collaboration, innovation, and market-based success. More info and nomination forms available online (nominations due April 30).

Colorado Renewable Energy: Leading by Example
June 7-10, Grand Hotel, Steamboat Springs
The conference, hosted by the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES), will include technical, economy and action & policy tracks, as well as featuring workshops and a mini job fair. Keynote Speakers include Chuck Kutscher (NREL) and Patricia Limerick (Center for the American West).  Details and registration online.

Nanomaterials Symposium 2007
June 25-27, Brown Palace Hotel, Denver
Nanomaterials conference focusing on the latest end use developments and commercial applications. The program and pre-conference workshop will promote cross industry knowledge transfer and will be the ideal platform to gain industry allies throughout the nanomaterial supply chain.

BioBootcamp 2007: Building Life Science Businesses
June 28-29, Holland & Hart, Denver
Attendees will learn valuable information from experienced practitioners about how to build a company designed to commercialize bioscience technologies while avoiding dangerous pitfalls that are typically encountered along the way. This CBSA-sponsored program is free and open to investors, professionals and entrepreneurs in the bioscience industry. Information and application available online.

2007 Southwest Renewable Energy Conference
July 31-Aug 2, University of Colorado, Boulder
The Southwest Renewable Energy Conference provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and information about renewable energy. With both policy and technical tracks, the Conference Program will present a wide range of information to encourage thoughtful evaluation and discussion regarding the development of wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy on tribal, federal, state and private lands.

BioBreakfast and Medical Device Symposium
August 22, location TBA
Immediately after the CBSA BioBreakfast held August 22, the TTO will continue the medical device focus of the day by conduction a symposium on the topic.  The symposium will highlight medical device technologies from CU and other Colorado universities, as well as the capacity of universities and local companies to commercialize medical device technologies.  TTO is currently seeking volunteers for the Program Committee for this event – please email techtransfer@cu.edu.

To have your event featured here, please send an email to TTOnews@cu.edu.

CU Resources

Current UCDHSC Core Lab Capabilities
The University of Colorado at Denver and health Sciences Center has a variety or core facilities to support research from biomolecular characterization to first- in-human studies, including:

• Bioinstrumentation: design and construction of one-of-a-kind / custom instrumentation such as special sensors, amplifiers, stimulators, or interfaces.

• Biomolecular Structure Research Facilities: Peptide Synthesis, X-ray crystallography, NMR, Biophysics

• Biostatistics and Bioinformatics: clinical trials, survival analysis, longitudinal and missing data analysis, psychometrics, power and sample size analysis, protocol development and review; database design, development and management; gene expression analysis; trajectory clustering; proteomics data quality control; and identification of transcription control modules.

• Center for Computational Pharmacology: creating novel algorithms and knowledge-based tools for the analysis and interpretation of high-throughput molecular biology data.

• Cytogenetics Laboratory: classic and molecular cytogenetics (fluorescence in situ hybridization - FISH) services.

• DNA Sequencing and Analysis: five types of DNA sequencing services, mutation detection, authentication of cell lines by DNA profiling, extensive troubleshooting skills, and project consulting.

• Flow Cytometry: flow cytometry analysis, cell sorting, Luminex multiplex bead assays, ViCell cell viability counter, Wallac VICTOR multilabel counter, cytospin microscope slide centrifuge.

• Laboratory Animal, Tumor Testing and Intervention: GLP, rodent studies.

• Laser Capture: reveal accurate, cell-type specific expression profiles that otherwise might be obscured in mixed cell samples.

• PCR: Quantitative PCR.

• Metabolic: tissue procurement/preparation and processing for analysis of phosphorylation and expression of key post-receptor insulin signaling proteins that regulate insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism at the cellular level.

• Microarray: Affymetrix human and mouse, array fabrication.

• Molecular Resources: DNA sequencing, mouse model identification, fragment analysis, speed congenics, real-time PCR

• Pathology: histological services, tissue processing and storage facilities to smaller repositories and to individual investigators with COMIRB approved sample collection protocols.

• Pharmacology: HPLC, GC/MS, ELISA and LC/MS/MS assays, platinum analysis, pharmacokinetic modeling.

• Proteomics: protein and peptide isolation, separations, quantification, identification and bioinformatics analysis.

• Tissue Culture: baculovirus expression, monoclonal antibodies, small to large scale culture of a wide range of cell lines.

• Tissue Procurement: provides well-characterized human tumors and materials derived from human tumors to funded investigators for research in human cancer.

• Transgenics: transgene or targeting vector design and construction, screening protocols for ES cells or mouse genomic DNA, web-based ES cell gene-trap resources, mouse phenotype analysis.

• X-Ray Crystallography: biomolecular crystallization, crystal screening, data collection, data processing, structure-determination and model building.

Core Facilities in Development:

• Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry: quantitative metabolic analysis on body fluids, tissue biopsies and cell extracts.

• Radiation Sciences: assistance in the experimental design, dosimetry, and delivery of various forms of ionizing radiation.

• Small Animal Imaging: joint animal imaging research resource created by CU and CSU collaboration.

Innovation in the News

Patently Wrong: Technology Transfer and the ‘Home-run’ Mentality
A new study unveiled April 12 at the Innovation Policy and Economy Summit in Washington, contends that universities’ “home run mentality” creates a focus on technologies that offer the “biggest, fastest payback,” but keeps much intellectual property buried on campus and away from the marketplace.

• To our readers:  Since the beginning of the newsletter, we have included stories discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly in university technology transfer. The field is a mix of success stories, controversy, self-interest, misunderstanding and thoughtful analysis. In regard to this article, we at CU technology transfer have a working ethic that getting the technology into the marketplace is the primary objective. As much as we work hard not to miss a significant opportunity, we do not focus our attention exclusively on “home run” technology. Given the early stage of the technology disclosed to us by CU investigators, we treat all technology with respect and work to give it an opportunity to create impact in society and commerce.  (Dave Allen, CU TTO) 

Boulder Valley Hotbed of Medical Device Innovation
The Boulder Valley has a worldwide reputation, and it isn't for its lure of outdoor enthusiasts who like to hike, bike, climb and run. It's a reputation for developing devices that can enhance the health and well-being of those enthusiasts along with their less active counterparts. About 200 of Colorado's 380 bioscience businesses are medical device companies, says Denise Brown, executive director of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), and 90 percent of them are along the Front Range. She said most are "small, innovative companies, which is what is so exciting about what's happening in Boulder. It's a hotbed of device innovation."

Startups Competing for Boulder TechStars Bootcamp
Four well-known entrepreneurs have created an innovative program designed to bring fledgling high-tech companies to Boulder. The new venture will select 10 early-stage firms for a summer-long immersion program that culminates in an "investor day." Participants will have the opportunity to make their case for funding before an audience of more than 100 angel investors and venture capitalists.

Labs Alliance Signature Away from $150,000 in State Funds
As soon as Gov. Bill Ritter signs the contract, the CO-LABS Alliance will receive $150,000 from the state to support the state's federal labs. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) tentatively approved a proposal presented by the Boulder Economic Council on March 8 that would grant $150,000 over the course of three years to fund the Colorado Leveraging Assets to Better Science Alliance. The alliance, better known as CO-LABS, is a 501 c (6) nonprofit connecting the business community, University of Colorado, federally funded labs and economic development organizations.

Colorado BioScience Association Launches Colorado Springs Chapter
The first meeting of the Colorado Springs Chapter of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) occurred March 28 at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS). According to Denise Brown, CBSA Executive Director: "Colorado Springs is definitely a growing medical device cluster, especially as it relates to component manufacturing. The new group will focus on opportunities to support existing companies, recruit new ones and to assist UCCS in strategies to commercialize their promising technologies."

Shortage of Scientists Threatens Biotech Boom
Biotechnology companies, including Genentech Inc. and Gilead Sciences Inc., can't find enough scientists to hire, threatening to slow one of the industries bolstering U.S. job growth. The biotech business, which generated $51 billion in U.S. sales in 2005, is one of the fastest-growing U.S. industries, creating 40,000 jobs from 2001 to 2004, according to Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio. Genentech says the lack of qualified applicants means the company is "scrambling" to grow. A drop over the past decade in the percentage of U.S. college graduates pursuing science is making the task harder.

Lemelson-MIT Innovation Prize Awarded
Professor Timothy Swager, the John D. MacArthur Professor and Head of the Department of Chemistry at MIT has received the $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize, the "most-prestigious cash prize for invention in the United States." Professor Swager was awarded the prize for his body of inventive work, including an amplified chemical sensor that uses molecular wires to detect the presence of vapors from explosives, which can also be used in healthcare and environmental applications.

NIH Investigation Into Academic-Industry Ventures Raises Concern
Currently, extramural scientists are not subject to the same restrictions as are intramural scientists when it comes to NIH grants. The Office of the Inspector General has undertaken a study "to determine the extent to which the NIH oversees grantee institutions' financial conflict-of-interest issues." Some scientists and other experts are concerned that restrictions on collaborations could inhibit turning research into results.

Project to Streamline Patent Reviews Nearing Launch
An Internet-based peer-review project aimed at streamlining the U.S. patent system began testing April 2. The Peer to Patent initiative, which is touted as a social-networking first for the federal government, is scheduled to debut publicly in June. This communal approach will let the public submit existing inventions known as "prior art" and comment on their relevance to patent applications; reviewers will rank submissions so PTO examiners can review the prior art deemed most relevant by the community.

Lawmakers Eye Incentives for Kids' Therapies
Patent extensions for drug companies that test their medicines for use in children should be continued, U.S. lawmakers heard on Tuesday at a hearing that also considered incentives for devicemakers. The provision, set to expire in September, allows pharmaceutical companies to receive a six-month patent extension in exchange for conducting clinical trials of their therapies for younger patients.

Anemia Drug Collaboration Faces Additional Hurdles
A floundering collaboration between a Boston hospital and a Florida biotech is illustrating the challenges that can be encountered when an academic research institution teams up with a drug company to turn its discoveries into actual products. The licensing deal between Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and DNAPrint Genomics is in danger because the biotech may be going out of business; in addition, erythropoietin products are facing safety issues.

Roundup: University, Community, State, National and International Initiatives

• UC Berkeley Faculty to Join Talks on Big BP Biofuels Deal
  UC Berkeley's administration has invited faculty members to join the contract talks on the $500 million BP biofuels deal amid pressure to ensure that campus traditions and values are safeguarded in the partnership.

• IU Promises 100 Faculty Hires With Life Sciences Funding
  Indiana University would hire 100 new science faculty members and attract millions of dollars in research funding over the next two years if the Indiana General Assembly includes IU's $80 million funding request in the biennial budget.

• Purdue Accepts $100M  Endowment from Mann Foundation
  Purdue will be the first public university in the US to sign a deal with the Mann Foundation for Biomedical Engineering. But the deal raises questions about whether the university will lose control of its most valuable asset: its intellectual property.

• Arkansas Enacts $140M TBED Package
  With all of the recent activity from its state legislature, Arkansas will soon possess one of the nation's most comprehensive portfolios of state-supported TBED initiatives.

• North Carolina Considers $25M for Biofuels
  State lawmakers are being asked to spend more than $25 million to help fuel the growth of a biofuels industry in North Carolina. The funding is part of a nine-point strategic plan titled "Fueling North Carolina's Future: North Carolina's Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership.”

• Mississippi Rolls Out Five New Capital-attracting Funds
  The Mississippi state legislature recently approved a package authorizing five new state funds to support early-stage high-tech companies and to build an in-state market for private equity investment.

 

External Resources

Entrepreneurship in Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley’s economic success has long been attributed to entrepreneurship. The region has long had a reputation as a good place to start a business. But, does the data really support this claim? A new study sponsored by the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy finds that Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurship rates (measured by start-up activity) are only slightly higher than national averages, and actually fall below those of other major metro areas. See study for details.

OnBioVC 1Q 2007 Activity Report
OnBioVC is an effort to examine how venture dollars have been allocated in the most previous quarter to biopharmaceutical and medical devices entities. On the blog data is aggregated in the form of a searchable pseudo data base; data may be searched by round, region, or sector. The first quarter 2007 report logged 92 deals nationally and internationally with a total of $2,179.6 billon invested. For a detailed analysis, see the report (PDF).

Getting the Most Bang for Your Buck: An Analysis of States' Relative Efficiencies in Promoting the Birth of Small Firms
This Small Business Administration report examines the role state policies and programs play in the rate of business births. The authors conclude that states can be quite influential in this area, and that states with larger populations tend to be more efficient in providing this kind of support. Access the report at: http://www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs290tot.pdf.

2004 Federal R&D Obligations to Universities and Colleges
The federal government distributed $23.8 billion in R&D obligations to universities and colleges in fiscal year 2004, ­a 4.4% increase from the FY 2003 total of $22.8 billion, according to new National Science Foundation (NSF) data. In its report, Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions: Fiscal Year 2004, NSF details all categories of direct federal science and engineering support to institutions of higher education in the U.S. Overall, Colorado ranked 12th with about $570M in federal R&D obligations. In per capita rankings, Colorado was 7th, with $123.77 per capita in federal research money.

Angel Market Grows 10 Percent in 2006
The angel investor market experienced steady growth in 2006, with total investments of $25.6 billion, an increase of 10.8 percent over 2005, according to the 2006 Angel Market Analysis (PDF) released March 20 by the Center for Venture Research at the University of New Hampshire. As in 2005, healthcare services, and medical devices and equipment accounted for the largest share of angel investments, with 21 percent of total angel investments in 2006, followed by software (18 percent) and biotech (18 percent).

Venture-backed Companies Make Formidable Impact on Economy
A little money has gone a long way, when you consider the initial size of venture capital investments each year, the $2.1 trillion in revenues captured in 2005, and the nearly 23,000 venture-backed companies that have received investments. In fact, 16.6 percent of the 2005 U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) was directly attributable to the $2.1 trillion in revenues received by venture-backed U.S. companies, while the $23 billion of VC invested in 2005 only equaled 0.2 percent of GDP. Those figures are reported in Venture Impact: The Economic Importance of Venture Capital Backed Companies to the U.S. (PDF),prepared by Global Insight and the National Venture Capital Association. In fact, the third edition of the Venture Impact report concludes that venture-backed companies outperform other firms in job creation, revenue growth and overall contribution to state economies.

Cities Pursue Innovative Strategies to Grow Clean Technology Businesses
As renewable energy and environmental technologies emerge as some of the promising industries for high-tech economic development, more cities are seeking new ways to boost clean technology research and businesses. Austin, San Jose, Berkeley, Pasadena and Boston have been singled out for their efforts to promote cleantech industries by SustainLane Government, a nonprofit Internet-based organization that provides current practices and news about municipal sustainability.

Parting Quotes