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| Spotlight On: | |
Biotechnology of the Month:
Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancers Using MircoRNA
Physical Sciences Tech of the Month:
Advanced Lyotropic Liquid Crystal (LLC) Nanofiltration Membranes
*To view more CU technologies available for licensing and partnering, go to Tech Explorer.
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Recently at TTO
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Ultracold Matter Technology from CU and SRI International Licensed to Boulder's ColdQuanta
ColdQuanta Inc. (Boulder) and the University of Colorado have finalized an agreement allowing ColdQuanta to commercialize cutting-edge physics research developed by CU-Boulder and SRI International. The licensed technology centers on Bose-Einstein Condensate, or BEC, a new form of matter created just above absolute zero. Ultracold matter such as BEC can be used to dramatically increase the performance of devices such as gyroscopes, accelerometers, gravimeters and magnetometers because of its strong interaction with gravity and magnetic fields, as compared with laser-based devices. BEC also has potential applications in a wide range of research and commercial settings, ranging from atomic clocks to improved navigation of submarines and spacecraft, and even quantum computing. Initially theorized by Satyendra Bose and Albert Einstein in the 1920s, BEC was achieved for the first time at JILA - a joint institute of CU-Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology - by Eric Cornell and Carl Wieman, who received a Nobel Prize in 2001 for their work. ColdQuanta was founded in 2007 to commercialize work by CU-Boulder physics professor and JILA Fellow Dana Anderson to develop streamlined devices for BEC experiments. (Read the full press release.)
Double Helix to Develop CU 3D Super-Resolution Imaging Technology
Double Helix, LLC (Boulder, CO) and the University of Colorado recently completed an exclusive option agreement to allow Double Helix to develop a novel technique for 3D super-resolution imaging. The technology was developed by Rafael Piestun, a professor in the CU-Boulder department of electrical and computer engineering. Super-resolution - techniques to enhance the resolution of an imaging system beyond the limitations set by the diffraction of light - is key to the development of next-generation microscopes and other optical instruments. The Double Helix optical technology combines 3D optics and a unique signal post-processing technique used for quality improvement in image processing. (Read the full press release.)
More on TTO's "Deep Dive" Performance Metrics
Following our January "Inside The Black Box" event, we posted slides from the event designed to provide a glimpse of TTO's inputs (inventions and patent applications, as well as the quality and quantity of outputs (mature patent portfolios, licensing deals and investment in startup companies). After these interesting metrics (captured in waterfall charts comparing new and mature IP cohorts) were featured in the Fuentek IP Management blog, we expanded on our approach in a new blog post, laying out how and why we use cohort analysis (measuring the viability and progression of invention disclosures) in addition to more standard tech transfer metrics.
CU Graduate Programs Earn High Marks
Graduate programs across the University of Colorado system continue to earn national prominence based on the latest annual rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Schools and programs at the four CU campuses notch 28 mentions in the 2013 edition of Best Graduate Schools, including 10 ranked in the top 10 of their fields. CU-Boulder retains top honors for its atomic/molecular/optical physics program, tied with MIT. Other CU-Boulder programs ranking in the top 10 nationally are environmental sciences, quantum physics and physical chemistry. The CU School of Medicine ranks fifth nationally for pediatrics, with several other specialties also ranking high. The School of Medicine ranks 35th overall for research.
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CU Technology and Licensee Companies in the News
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GE and InDevR Developing Breakthrough Device to Improve Flu Diagnosis at Point-of-Care
Scientists at GE Global Research have been awarded a program through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop a breakthrough medical device that can diagnose the flu and other infectious diseases such as malaria, E. coli and salmonella at the point-of-care. In addition to making an accurate diagnosis, another key goal of the device is to be readily adapted for new strains of diseases so that new diagnostic tests can be rapidly developed. GE scientists will be partnering with InDevR, a CU licensee developing new tools to assist in disease diagnosis such as the flu.
HepQuant to Begin Clinical Study of Liver Function Measurement Tests
CU licensee HepQuant, LLC, a liver diagnostics company focused on delivering a non-invasive alternative to liver function testing, has announced it will begin its first sponsored clinical study of its liver function tests. The prospective, single-center study will establish the performance and reproducibility of HepQuant tests in healthy persons and patients with chronic hepatitis C and fatty liver disease.
Viral Genetics Submits Pre-IND Document for Lyme Disease Drug Candidate
Viral Genetics announced that it has submitted a pre-IND briefing document to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Lyme Disease drug candidate, VGV-L, the second candidate developed from the company's Targeted Peptide Technology (TPT) platform licensed from CU.
Record-breaking Supersonic UAV Jet in the Works
University of Colorado aerospace engineer Ryan Starkey is currently designing what he claims will be fastest, most fuel-efficient aircraft in its class. Starkey has been developing the aircraft and engine with the help of a team of students from CU-Boulder. In order to commercialize the technology, he has also recently started up his own spin-off company, Starkey Aerospace Corp., through the non-profit business incubator eSpace. (See also: CU team's efficient unmanned aircraft jetting toward commercialization.)
Biotech on Quest to Market Gel 'Bandage'
CU licensee Mosaic Biosciences Inc. is developing a tissue-regeneration substance also can be used in bone regeneration and cartilage repair. It can be used on patients with bed sores, or as stem-cell therapy. Marty Stanton, co-founder of Mosaic Biosciences, is on a quest to commercialize the tissue regeneration substance in the next two years.
KMLabs Receives DOE Research Grant
Six companies in the Boulder Valley will receive grants of up to $150,000 each for research under the U.S. Department of Energy's Small Business Innovation Research program, including a grant to CU licensee KMLabs to develop a high power ultrafast Ti:Sapphire amplifier system whose performance is well beyond the capabilities of current state of art technologies. This system will have very wide applicability in both science and industry, including for new science at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory.
CU Denver Study Points to Method to Stop Bladder Cancer Metastasis
The diagnosis of localized bladder cancer carries an 80 percent five-year survival rate, but once the cancer spreads, the survival rate at even three years is only 20 percent. A major study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation not only shows how bladder cancer metastasizes to the lungs but pinpoints a method for stopping this spread. "For a decade, we've known that the major challenge of treating bladder cancer is treating or preventing the metastatic form of the disease. This study represents an advance in the latter - by preventing the spread of bladder cancer to the lungs, we could improve patient survival," says Dan Theodorescu, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center, the paper's senior author.
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| TTO's Learning Laboratory: The Student Connection | |
CU Cleantech Student Internship Program
The CU Cleantech Intern Program is designed to place CU students in internships with local clean tech companies. The roles are strategic in nature and provide students with hands on training and tremendous insight into the clean tech industry. Interns are sourced from all disciplines across campus and from both undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition to providing valuable experiences for students, the long term goal of the program is to create more clean tech jobs in Colorado. The program is made possible in part through grant funding from the State of Colorado as well as corporate contributions. To apply for an internship please email your resume and cover letter to Candace DeWitt Mitchell, Program Coordinator.
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| People | |
TTO Welcomes Joe Davidek, IP Associate
Joe joined the TTO as a temporary intellectual property associate in January, following the retirement of Karen Gifford in December, and has now been hired for this permanent position. Joe assists the patent team with signature documents, invoicing, and governmental compliance. He has been a paralegal for 23 years and has worked primarily in the IP field since 1995; he spent the last 18 years with the firm of Holland & Hart in their Boulder office. Joe received a Bachelor of Music from Coe College in 1980 and continues to perform as a professional musician and composer in the Denver area.
Prestigious SPECS Grant Promises Targeted Treatments for Squamous Cell Lung Cancer
Fred R. Hirsch of the CU Cancer Center has received a multi-year, multimillion dollar award from the National Cancer Institute that aims to make progress against squamous cell lung cancer - about 85,000 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year - by creating a multi-center program to find targets and treatments for this tumor type.
Two CU Researchers Elected American Academy of Microbiology Fellows
Kenneth L. Tyler, an endowed profession and chairman of the neurology department at the CU School of Medicine, and Robert L. Garcea, a professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CU-Boulder, were recently elected to Fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. Fellows of the Academy are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology.
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.
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| Upcoming Events | |
Sustainable Opportunities Summit
March 21, Colorado Convention Center, Denver
If you haven't made sustainability a key driver in your business strategy, the 2012 Sustainable Opportunities Summit is your chance to learn best practices and success strategies from the top sustainable business leaders in the Rocky Mountain Region. If you've already begun integrating sustainable practices, the Summit also offers valuable tools to expand your efforts and realize greater benefits going forward.
Angel Capital Summit
March 21-23, University of Denver
Hosted by the Rockies Venture Club, the Angel Capital Summit is a three day event designed to connect investors with entrepreneurs while providing valuable workshops, speakers and networking events. Features Investor Bootcamp and Entrepreneur Bootcamp, and more.
Mile High Tech Entrepreneurship Conference: Angel Financing
March 22, CU-Boulder
Learn about angel investors, and the role of angel financing in Colorado's tech environment. Hosted by CU's Silicon Flatirons center, this year's confirmed participants include include Jeff Clavier of SoftTech VC, Jason Mendelson of Foundry Group , and Anthony Chan of JP Morgan.
CBSA Biotech Pharma Symposium
March 23, Westin Hotel, Westminster
This event hosted by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA) will feature speakers James McCarthy (Head of Corporate Development, Asklepion Pharmaceuticals) and Patty Fontneau (Executive Director, Colorado Health Benefits Exchange), as well as a panel discussion with industry leaders and a networking reception.
Save the Date: RETool: Developing Business & Careers in the New Energy Economy
Focused on a clean-energy future? Get ahead of the curve and take RETool: a 4-day executive education certificate program hosted by the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship and the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) at CU-Boulder. RETool provides a deep-dive short course for individuals seeking to "retool" their skills to enter the clean energy field, as well as for businesses seeking new opportunities in cleantech. 2012 Spring sessions (may be attended individually):
Friday, March 23: The Business of Clean Energy
Friday, April 13: Clean Energy Integration & the Future
Boulder/Denver New Technology Meetup
April 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.
CU New Venture Challenge: Finals
April 5, CU-Boulder
The CU New Venture Challenge is a cross-campus business plan competition that offers CU students, faculty and staff the chance to learn about entrepreneurshipl, form teams to deveop business ideas, and collaborate with others from across CU's departments and schools.
Global New Energy Summit 2012
April 9-11, Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs
The Global New Energy Summit is designed as an annual retreat of new energy leadership with over 500 attendees from across the key disciplines of science, industry, policy and finance. Global thought leaders will discuss emerging innovation across the new energy spectrum, updates on smart grid, international public policy and finance leadership, and impacts of large energy users on market pull for new technology.
Apply Now: BioBoot Camp 2012
April 19-20, Dorsey & Whitney, Denver
Attendees will learn valuable information from experienced entrepreneurs about how to build a company designed to commercialize bioscience technologies while avoiding dangerous pitfalls that are typically encountered along the way. There is no fee for this program, which is hosted by the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA). However, applicants must apply for admittance.
To have your event featured here, please send an email to TTOnews@cu.edu.
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| CU Resources | |
Call for Internships: CU Cleantech
Spring is coming, which means summer is coming, and that means that an outstanding crop of business, engineering, law and arts & science students are seeking internships. Across campus there is strong interest in opportunities with clean/green companies, best demonstrated by the size of the student energy club - 1,500 students and growing! Gaining experience in the industry through internships is invaluable to the students. CU Cleantech runs an internship program providing active recruiting and matching for companies seeking the perfect candidate for their needs, whether it's marketing, turbine engineering, policy analysis or any other function. For more information, please contact CU Cleantech director Trent Yang.
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| Innovation in the News | |
Boulder Innovation Center Becomes Innovation Center of the Rockies
The Boulder Innovation Center (BIC), a longtime TTO partner, has changed its name to the Innovation Center of the Rockies. "The new name reflects our expanding, statewide mission," Executive Director Tim Bour said in a news release announcing the change. "The Innovation Center of the Rockies will continue to export Boulder's entrepreneurial spirit and experience in commercializing new technologies developed within Colorado's university system." The organization supports start-up companies in the areas of bioscience, clean technology, general engineering, aerospace, software and natural and organic foods.
Call for Applications: Life Science Ventures Summit
This first-time conference hosted by the Kauffman Foundation will answer the critical questions that founders must address to start and grow viable life science companies. Up to 200 life science entrepreneurs will be selected across four industry sectors: therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health. Applicants will be accepted based on two factors: (1) how much they will benefit from the experience based on where they are in their early-stage entrepreneurial journey, and (2) the commercial viability of their plan. The application deadline is April 2, 2012.
Stop Pushing Universities to License More Inventions
Policymakers often believe that if something is good, they should provide incentives for more of it. This philosophy is apparent in policies to encourage the commercialization of university technology; local, state, and federal governments are all working to spur universities to bring more inventions to market. But incentives aren't the answer to everything. Pushing universities to commercialize ever more inventions is unproductive because incentives alone don't make people better at producing valuable inventions.
The Diversity of University Tech Transfer Strategy
Just when you think you've got a key piece of university tech transfer strategy figured out - like peeling the proverbial onion - you unearth another layer you haven't even considered. That's why formal "one size fits all" tech transfer education and policy aren't always productive once you get beyond the outer layers of the onion.
Denmark Tops First-of-its-kind Global Cleantech Innovation Index
Denmark, followed by Israel, Sweden, Finland and the US provide the best conditions today for clean technology start-up creation, with companies in the Asia Pacific region following closely behind when it comes to commercial success, the first Global Cleantech Innovation Index shows. In Coming Clean: The Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2012, Cleantech Group and WWF look at where entrepreneurial cleantech companies are growing today, reasons as to where they will spring-up over the coming years, and which countries are falling above and below the curve for fostering cleantech innovation.
VC Investments in Colorado Life Science Industry Up in 2011
Venture capitalists invested $66.1M in six Colorado companies working in the fields of biofuels, medical devices and biopharma last year, according to a report (PDF) released in February by OnBioVC. Boulder-based OnBioVC, which tracks investments in the life science industry, said four Colorado companies received $45.6M in VC funds during 2010. The Colorado companies that received VC funding last year are CU licensees Mosaic Biosciences ($1M), OPX Biotechnologies ($36.5M) and Precision Biopsy ($2.5M), as well as PanTheryx, Surefire Medical and ZeaChem. (See also: Biotech firms experiencing upswing in investments.)
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| Parting Quote | "The principal goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done-men who are creative, inventive, and discovers. The second goal of education is to form minds which can be critical, can verify, and not accept everything they are offered."
Jean Piaget, Swiss developmental psychologist.
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