By Brian R. Hook
Research discoveries from Washington University in St. Louis benefit the
St. Louis region in many different ways, says Dr. Samuel Stanley, who oversees the university’s Office of Technology Management (OTM) as vice chancellor for research.
Research collaborations with major companies like Pfizer and Monsanto not only lead to new products that could benefit the health and well being of the entire world, start-up companies derived from Washington University faculty and their ideas could lead to new jobs and new opportunities, Stanley says.
The OTM at Washington University, which helped to create nine new companies from university technologies during the past two years, works as a conduit between the commercial needs and the ongoing basic research conducted at the university. The program works to convert inventions created at the university into commercial assets.
Planting Companies
“Our program provides full service for faculty, helping them with industry sponsored research, patenting and trademarks, material transfer agreements, licensing deals, creating start-up companies and even monetary support,” Stanley says.
The OTM at Washington University offers a broad array of commercialization opportunities in the areas of genomics, therapeutics, clinical chemistry, biotechnology research materials, plant sciences, electronics, telecommunications and computing.
Stanley says one of the unique aspects of the office is its leadership model. It has two co-directors who report to Stanley—including Bradley Castanho, a scientist with extensive experience in both large companies and start-up companies, and Michael Marrah, a patent attorney with expertise in intellectual property law and contracts.
“This dual leadership provides us with significant expertise at the top in three critical areas for technology transfer—knowledge of intellectual property law, assessment of intellectual property value, and knowledge of industry and marketing,” Stanley says.
Start-ups Grow
New companies based on Washington University discoveries range from a company focused on reducing the cost of drug discovery; to a company focused on developing nanoscale sensors; to a company developing a technology that allows a person to control a computer using thought alone:
Medros Inc. is focused on drug discovery for both cancer-related and diabetes-related diseases. It employs a novel approach, using the common fruit fly (Drosophila), to test new drugs. This approach reduces the cost of drug discovery, increases its speed, and improves overall outcomes through the clinic.
C2N Diagnostics LLC is using a method for the early detection of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. It measures the levels of proteins and other biomolecules in spinal fluid, which can be early indicators of the onset of the disease. The technology can be used to help measure the effectiveness of new drugs for Alzheimer’s patients.
PixelEXX Systems Inc. has developed sensors on the nanoscale to get a more detailed picture of a cell, its internal structures, and how those parts function. The nanosensors are capable of using light and sound to create extremely accurate images of a living cell’s inner structures, as well as measure the changes in the cell as structures interact.
Vasculox Inc. has technology to extend the survivability of organs used for transplants, and the success rate and lowering the rejection rate for patients receiving these organs.
Cardialen Inc. is developing an implantable device that will deliver a painless, low-energy shock to the heart in cases of atrial arrhymia, similar to a cardiac defibrillator.
Neurolutions Inc. is developing an implantable brain mesh that will allow severely disabled patients to activate prosthetics or mobility devices such as wheelchairs through thought alone, known as a brain-computer interface.
Economic Impact
Stanley says the OTM at Washington University may see a decrease in licensing revenue this year compared to previous years because of the downturn in the economy. Companies might decide to abandon licenses of Washington University technologies because they are cutting back in specific business areas, Stanley says.
“This appears to be happening at a higher rate than in the past,” he says, adding it is also difficult to find venture capital for some of the start-ups created by faculty.
For companies seeking to raise money, it is a challenging economic time, says Ken Janoski, president and CEO of BioGenerator, a non-profit corporation that facilitates the formation of plant and life science companies in the St. Louis region. BioGenerator provides seed funding and other professional resources to turn new technologies into early-stage companies.
“Since the economic downturn, we have seen a noticeable increase in interest from would-be entrepreneurs. Research institutions such as Washington University will continue to make great discoveries, and this is a great opportunity to match entrepreneurs with these technologies. As a result, BioGenerator foresees an increase in investments in new companies.” Janoski says. “We remain optimistic about the opportunities for life science in St. Louis.”
