CU-Boulder Technology of the Month:

CU2189B - Efficient, Low-cost Microchannel Polymer Heat Exchanger

UC Denver Technology of the Month:

CU1946H - Synergistic Combination of HDAC Inhibitors for Treatment of Cancer

CU Licensee Company of the Month:

CU licensee Sierra Neuropharmaceuticals, based in Aurora, CO, is a biopharmaceutical company that develops drugs and provides products for the treatment of severe central nervous system diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and major depression. Sierra is focused on reformulating drugs for neurologic and psychiatric disorders for use in an implantable infusion pump, a method of administration that is potentially highly effective for refractory patients. The company has a candidate ready to enter clinical trials in late 2009 or early 2010.

Founded in 2005, Sierra completed a $21.5M Series A financing in summer 2008; the company has also received roughly $230,000 in grants from the State of Colorado, the University of Colorado, and the Coleman Institute. In December 2008 the company was named one of Business Week's Hottest Startups for 2008. Its founders include Dr. Dan Abrams of the University of Colorado Denver, who serves as the company's Chief Science and Medical Officer and is currently acting CEO.

BioAMPS International to Commercialize CU Antimicrobial Technology
BioAMPS International, LLC and the University of Colorado today announced that BioAMPS has secured an exclusive license for a family of antimicrobial peptides created by two University of Colorado Denver researchers in collaboration with researchers at the University of British Columbia. The Colorado-based company will use these peptides to develop improved treatments for common, potentially lethal drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Septodont Commercializing CU Nanogel Materials for Dental Applications
TTO recently executed an option agreement with Septodont - Confi-Dental Division for novel nanogel materials developed by Jeffrey Stansbury, professor of craniofacial biology at UC Denver. Confi-Dental plans to utilize these novel materials for new dental composite restorative materials, dental cement materials and dental impression materials. Established in 1976 and located in Louisville, CO, Septodont is the world-leading producer of injectable dental anesthetic; Confi-Dental ,a division of Septodont, manufactures a wide range of dental products such as composites, cement and whitening gels. Confi-Dental is also developing products based upon two other novel materials developed at the University of Colorado, both with the advantages of lower shrinkage and lower shrinkage stress  compared to other dental materials used today. One of these technologies, developed by Jeffrey Stansbury, is the basis of a product now available on the market called N'Durance. The other technology, invented by Christopher Bowman, professor of chemical and biological engineering at CU-Boulder, is entering clinical trials with a product launch expected during 2010.

National Data Places CU Technology Transfer among Top Performers
The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) recently released data (PDF) for 161 US universities for the 2007 fiscal year.  The University of Colorado research investigators and Technology Transfer Office (TTO) continue to perform among the top 10% of all universities. CU is tied for 7^th place for the number of start-up companies created, 12^th place for 2005- 2007 inventions reported to TTO, and 13^th place for 2005 - 2007 cumulative income. "These data are gratifying and support CU claims about the high levels of faculty inventive performance and Tech Transfer Office productivity," commented David Allen, CU's Associate Vice President for Technology Transfer. "With licensing staff size is tied for 13^th and 2005-2007 cumulative research expenditures tied for 15^th, it's clear that tech transfer's resource efficiency is similar to that of the university at large."  More recent and comprehensive CU technology transfer performance metrics can be found on the TTO website (PPT).

CU-Boulder Investigators: Pre-proposal Deadline Extended for Renewable Energy Proof of Concept Grants
The TTO and the Energy Initiative at CU-Boulder will soon announce the spring 2009 solicitation for Proof of Concept proposals of up to $50,000 in all areas related to the development of renewable and sustainable energy sources as well as efficient utilization of energy. In order to be eligible, CU-Boulder investigators must complete an invention submission and a one-page pre-proposal by Friday, March 13, 2009 and attend at least one meeting with representatives from the TTO, EI and the Boulder Innovation Center prior to submitting a full proposal in April. The one-page pre-proposal should be a preliminary description of the research project and an explanation of how the project would enhance the commercial potential of the invention. More information is available at https://www.cu.edu/techtransfer/proof/pocg_renew_en.html

Legislative Update: Clean Tech Research Grant Program
Senator Heath and Representative Riesberg have introduced Senate Bill 09-031 (PDF) in support of cleantech-related research and development, and largely modeled after HB 08-1001, the biosciences development bill. If enacted, one quarter of the funds would be directed to university cleantech proof of concept funding up to $50,000 per project matched by university funds, one quarter for matching grants to Colorado cleantech companies up to $150,000 matched by company funds, and half the funds directed to university/industry infrastructure to expand the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaboratory. The bill passed out of Select Committee Joint Select Committee on Job Creation and Economic Growth and the Senate Committee on Local Government and Energy.

ARCA, Nuvelo Complete Reverse Merger
In late January, CU licenseeARCA biopharma, Inc.completed its reverse merger with Nuvelo Inc. The combined company, focused on cardiovascular disease treatments and known as ARCA biopharma, will be based in Broomfield, CO with a small research and development facility in San Carlos, CA.

Archemix Announces Initiation of Phase 2b Trial for Lead Aptamer Product Candidate
CU licensee  Archemix Corp. announced in late January that it has initiated a Phase 2b clinical trial of its novel anti-von Willebrand Factor (vWF) aptamer, ARC1779. ARC1779 is a potential first-in-class anti-platelet agent for patients suffering from a group of rare, life-threatening blood disorders known as thrombotic microangiopathies, or TMA, a condition for which there is currently no specifically approved drug treatment.

Displaytech Imager Used in 3M's New Industry-Leading Mobile Projection Engine
Displaytech, Inc., a company formed based on CU IP, is enabling the integration of ultra small image projectors in mobile consumer products by providing high switching speed FLCOS microdisplays. The company's FLCOS imager is a key element of 3M's new MM200 Mobile Projection Engine, a highly integrated module about the size of a small matchbox that includes the light source, imager, and optics. The MM200 was debuted at the January 2009 Consumer Electronics Show.

CU-Boulder Online Science Simulation Project Gets $1.1M Grant
CU-Boulder's Interactive Simulations Project, also known as the Physics Education Technology Project (PhET), a series of science simulations created to allow students to see complex reactions and models from a simple, easy to navigate website, was awarded $1.1M by the Hewlett Foundation to continue development of the free, research-based, interactive simulations.

Interview Series: Fitzsimons Life Science District

Fitzsimons Life Science District
Jill Farnham, Executive Director for the Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA), spoke with w3w3.com about the FRA's upcoming projects in 2009.

Fitzsimons Life Science District and the Anschutz Medical Campus
The series continued with Jay Gershen, Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, University of Colorado Denver, who provided an update on the Anschutz Medical Campus and the Fitzsimons Life Sciences District.

CU Chancellor Finalist for Georgia Tech Presidency
In early February University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson was named the sole finalist for the presidency of the Georgia Institute of Technology. CU President Bruce Benson said he'll wait for Georgia Tech to make a decision before considering who might succeed Peterson in the chancellor's position. 

TEAM Associate Director Position Open
TEAM, the business outreach arm of the CU-Boulder Energy INitiative (EI), is seeking a new Director to  develop and implement the overall strategic business outreach plan between the private sector and the Energy Initiative. The position closes on Monday, February 23; applications must be submitted through www.jobsatcu.com.

Christine Shapard Named Executive Director of Colorado Cleantech Industry Association
Christine Shapard has been named the first Executive Director of the currently forming Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA), a trade association that aims to serve members within the state's cleantech industry.

BaroFold Appoints J. William Freytag as President, CEO
CU licensee BaroFold, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing commercially attractive protein therapeutics for immunology indications, announced in late January the appointment of J. William Freytag, Ph.D. as President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Dr. Freytag served as Chairman and CEO of Myogen, Inc. from July 1998 until it was acquired by Gilead Sciences, Inc. in November 2006.

CU-Boulder Professor Margaret Murnane Wins $3M Fellowship from Department of Defense
University of Colorado at Boulder physics Distinguished Professor Margaret Murnane has been named a National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellow by the U.S. Department of Defense. Murnane was one of eight fellows selected in the inaugural round of the program, which provides up to $3M in total direct research support for up to five years. Murnane's research group will develop high-power ultrafast lasers in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. Murnane is a co-founder of CU licensee KMLabs.

UC Denver Researcher Wins $100K for Lung Cancer Work
Rachel M.A. Linger, a postdoctoral cancer researcher at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, will receive a $100,000 grant for her novel work on two receptor tyrosine kinases in lung cancer from Joan's Legacy: Uniting Against Lung Cancer. Linger also received a career development award from the UCCC Lung Cancer Special Program of Research Excellence, which is supporting her research in a competitive funding environment.

CU-Boulder Professor Elected to National Academy of Engineering
Kristi Anseth, CU-Boulder Distinguished Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, has been elected to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional distinctions accorded an engineer. Anseth was among 65 new members and nine foreign associates of the academy announced in early February.

Internationally Recognized Drug Development Expert Joins Viral Genetics Advisors
Dr. Leslie Z. Benet, an internationally recognized drug development expert and one of the most highly cited pharmacologists in the world, has joined the advisory team of CU licensee Viral Genetics, Inc. to help guide the company as it develops unique therapies for HIV and other diseases of the immune system. Dr. Benet's appointment comes on the heels of the December 2008 Advisory Board appointment of Dr. Luc Montagnier, co-winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine and the co-discoverer of the HIV virus.

Renewable Energy IP Analyst
Peter Popp, a first-year MBA student at the CU-Boulder Leeds School of Business, joined the TTO team in February as Intellectual Property Analyst for Renewable Energy. In this position, Peter will assess new CU energy-related inventions for their commercial potential and patentability, and may also work with the Boulder Innovation Center, which recruits senior entrepreneurs and inventors to act as advisors and ultimately works to launch new ventures. Peter has a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Denver and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Trent University in Canada. Prior to attending Leeds, he worked as a research scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder. He plans to work in the renewable energy industry after completing his MBA.

CU-Boulder and SpaceDev Inc. Announce Launch of eSpace: The Center for Space Entrepreneurship
In late January CU-Boulder announced that it has partnered with SpaceDev Inc., a leading entrepreneurial space company located in Louisville, to create eSpace: The Center for Space Entrepreneurship. eSpace is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating new entrepreneurial space companies, commercializing aerospace technologies created within these companies and developing the aerospace workforce to support them.

Located only 10 minutes from CU, SpaceDev will provide the physical space for the startup companies, allowing them to benefit from the process control systems, quality systems, clean rooms and test equipment already on its site. In addition, co-location with SpaceDev enables new entrepreneurs to "rub shoulders" with one of the nation's premier entrepreneurial space companies. In its first year, eSpace will provide five $20,000 grants to promising entrepreneurs to help support new entrepreneurial space companies.

CO-LABS Conference: Showcasing Colorado Research Labs

February 18, Sheraton Denver West, Lakewood

CO-LABS, the Colorado nonprofit organization that advocates for Colorado's twenty-four federal research labs, will host this conference showcasing the scientific research conducted at these labs. In conjunction with this event, Governor Ritter will present awards for research conducted at the labs that has had an impact on a global challenge.

CBSA BioBreakfast: How-to's of PR

February 18, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora

Hosted by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA), this breakfast seminar is designed for bioscience companies who want to learn to market themselves effectively to the media.

Concentrated Solar Power and Thermal Storage Conference

February 18, Westin Hotel, Westminster

Featuring a presentation from New Energy Finance, a recognized world leader in renewable transactions. Learn what has happened to liquidity, players and transactions, find out how deals are and will be done in the future, and learn how to finance your renewable project in today's turbulent financial markets.

CORE Sustainability Lunch

February 18, Sheraton Four Points, Denver

Join CORE Colorado for a lunch meeting that will explore some of the uncertainties for cleantech companies created by cheap oil, a collapsing economy, a new government that promises billions to grow the industry, and a low cost labor world in China and India. Featuring speakers from RES Americas and Access Venture Partners.

Entrepreneurs Unplugged

February 18, CU- Boulder

Ongoing networking event hosted by CU's Silicon Flatirons Center, providing faculty, students and community members with technical backgrounds the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship through the experiences of a successful local entrepreneur.

TiE Rockies MentorFest

February 18, PPA Event Center, Denver

TiE-Rockies MentorFest is a unique opportunity for our Charter Members, successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, to share their knowledge and experience with next generation entrepreneurs and professionals. Whether you are working on a business concept, building your operations, taking a product or service to market or expanding markets, considering a partnership, or seeking money, you can't miss MentorFest.

CU New Venture Challenge Crash Course: Raising Venture Capital
February 24, CU-Boulder
As part of its initiative to further information technology related-innovation and galvanize entrepreneurship in the region, the Silicon Flatirons Center is offering a Crash Course Series for Entrepreneurs to the outside community and students and faculty. This series provides focused discussion on legal and business topics that entrepreneurs will confront when launching new ventures (part of the CU New Venture Challenge.)

Invention to Venture: Colorado Springs

February 27, CU-Colorado Springs

Hosted by the El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization (EPIIC), this a one-day biomedical technology entrepreneurship workshop will help participants gain insight into the processes necessary for taking medical technology from design to implementation and commercialization.

Boulder/Denver New Technology Meetup Group
March 3, CU- Boulder
This ongoing event provides a forum for technologists and entrepreneurs to showcase the new (especially web-based) technology developing in Boulder/Denver tech community. Five companies have five minutes each to demonstrate their new technology, followed by five minutes for Q&A from the audience.

Venture Capital in the Rockies: Winter 2009 Conference

March 3-5, Park Hyatt, Beaver Creek

VCIR Winter showcases the rocky mountain region's most promising emerging growth companies for an audience of over 300 venture investors, CEOs, entrepreneurs and service professionals. With significant networking time built into the conference schedule, VCIR Winter isn't just about finding new companies - it's also about connecting with the co-investors, entrepreneurs and service providers who together make the rocky mountain region an excellent location for investing and running companies.

C-Level @ A Mile High

March 5, Invesco Field, Denver

Hosted by CSIA, this event brings together high-profile CIOs/CTOs/CEOs with technology companies and professionals here in Colorado. For C-Level tech executives, C-Level @ A Mile High is the perfect opportunity to meet and build relationships with your peers as well as be introduced to new technology companies and professionals.

Colorado IT Live!

March 10, Marriott City Center, Denver

Three innovative Colorado IT companies will present their business and technology strategies to a distinguished group of investors who will provide invaluable business advice. Walk away from this exciting evening with a fresh appreciation for the entrepreneurial nature of Colorado IT and the potential it holds for the future.

Colorado Green Tech Meetup

March 12, CU-Boulder

An ongoing event to support eco-entrepreneurs and others people involved and/or interested in green tech: energy generation, transportation, construction, and efficiency technologies. Businesses and researchers present new technologies, and attendees may announce business news, job openings, fundings, etc.

TTO Faculty Seminar: Patent Decisions and Technology Commercialization (a Case Study

March 11, CU-Boulder

This "Patents 201" seminar will present a case study (based on two patent portfolios from Chris Bowman, Associate Dean for Research in the CU-Boulder College of Engineering) illustrating how patent decisions affect commercial pathways for CU technologies. Find out how decisions made in the patenting process can increase the value of your technology, and how commercialization decisions may influence patent prosecution. Free and open to CU faculty from all campuses - RSVP to Debra Caamano via email or at 303-735-6645.

2009 Sustainable Opportunities Summit

March 17-19, Colorado Convention Center, Denver

The 4^th Annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit will showcase the development of Denver, Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West as an emerging center of a new, more sustainable economy. Also featuring Cleantech Venture Challenge 2009.

Protecting Intangible Assets: Strategies for an Ever-Changing Legal and Business Landscape

March 19, Patton Boggs LLP, Denver

This panel discussion will offer conclusions and proactive strategies for building simple yet effective approaches to identifying, evaluating, protecting and - most importantly - exploiting companies' assets (intellectual, intangible and tangible) in today's climate. The panel will touch on several topics including "freedom to operate" vs. "gotcha" on infringement, as well as license in, license out or cross license.

Conference: Evaluating Software Patents

March 19, CU-Boulder

Over the last several years, the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit have taken a number of steps suggesting that the law governing software patents is still very much in flux. This conference, hosted by CU's Silicon Flatirons Center, will evaluate both the premises underlying the call for a fundamental reform software patents as well as some specific suggestions for changing how patents are granted and how patent litigation operates.

Writing Successful SBIR/STTR Grant Applications

March 24-25, Colorado Science + Technology Park, Aurora

This 2-day intensive workshop (presented by BIOTECHNOLOGY Business Consultants and sponsored by the CBSA and Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority) includes modules on strategic planning, proposal development, proposal submission, preparing a commercialization plan, and post-award administration. Seating is limited; priority will be given to bioscience companies and faculty. Please contact Vicki Jenings (FRA) to apply for this workshop.

FDA Approves First Stem Cell Trial
In January federal regulators green-lighted the first U.S. clinical trial of an embryonic stem-cell treatment in humans. The FDA gave the go-ahead for Geron Corp. to start a phase 1 safety trial of its therapy GRNOPC1 for spinal cord injuries. Geron first sought permission for the trial four years ago and spent much of the last year trying to satisfy the FDA's concerns about it.

U. of Missouri Sues a Professor in Dispute Over Royalties
In a lawsuit filed in late January in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., the University of Missouri accused a professor of chemical engineering and his business partner of depriving the university of an undetermined amount of royalty income on inventions that it says they developed in laboratories at the institution's flagship campus in Columbia, Mo.

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

Donor Pledges $100M to Harvard, MIT to Find AIDS Vaccine
An alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his wife have pledged $100M to create an institute for scientists and engineers from MIT, Harvard University, and Massachusetts General Hospital to work on an AIDS vaccine. The pledge, $10M a year for 10 years, will finance the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Institute, which will be housed at the hospital.

Univ. of Wisconsin Acts to Eliminate Commercialization Roadblocks
University of Wisconsin President Kevin Reilly is creating a high-profile group to uncover roadblocks that need to be removed and incentives that need to be put into place to move more university research into the hands of Wisconsin businesses and start-up companies.

Colorado 11^th in Nation in Bioscience VC Investment
Colorado ranked 11^th among US states for bioscience venture capital investment, with $1.3B invested between 2002 and the second quarter of 2008, according to the Colorado Bioscience Roadmap 2008 (PDF), a report produced by Battelle Technology Partnership Practice, and released by the Colorado BioScience Association and Colorado's Office of Economic Development.

Venture Capital - University Interface: Best Practices to Make Maximum Impact
In this recent paper from the University of Southern California, the USC Stevens Institute for Innovation conducted 94 in-depth interviews with geographically and commercially diverse venture capitalists in order to better understand the relationship between the academic and venture capital communities.

Bioentrepreneur: When Times Get Tough
With the major economies around the world in recession, what strategic actions should you be taking? Although many of the factors in a financial downturn are out of your hands, history suggests several simple steps to steel your business against the long economic winter that lies ahead.