University of Georgia

Tag: Technology Commercialization

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Announcements Technology Commercialization

Georgia BIO invites submission of abstracts from Georgia-based scientists for the poster session at this year’s Innovation Summit to be held November 2, 2015, in Atlanta.

The Innovation Summit provides a forum for Georgia’s bioscience community from industry, academia and government to discuss major trends and issues, including topics related to scientific research, product development, financing, business development and public policy. UGA and other Georgia universities are among the sponsors.

The Poster Session is open to representatives from Georgia-based academia, research institutes and industry. Students and post-doctoral fellows are encouraged to participate. Abstracts will be subject to the same scientific review as for any national or regional meeting.

Categories are: Agricultural Biotechnology, Bioenergy, Cell Therapy & Tissue Engineering, Drug Discovery and Development, Food and Nutrition, Healthcare IT, Industrial Production, Medical Technology and Devices, Molecular and Biological Research, and Nanotechnology

For student, post-doctoral or non-profit organization abstracts selected, the corresponding author of each poster will receive complimentary registration to the Summit. In addition, posters submitted by students will be eligible for a limited number of poster awards.

UPDATE: Deadline for poster abstracts has been extended to midnight, Friday, Sept. 11.

More information.

Categories
Announcements Technology Commercialization

Master licensing agreements between UGA and Kerafast,  a company that sells rare and unique academic research tools to life science laboratories worldwide, is allowing UGA investigators to efficiently move research tools, from chemicals to biologic materials, from their labs to other universities, as well as non-profit and for-profit research institutions and organizations.

More than 50 products developed by UGA researchers have been made available to the scientific community through Kerafast, while many other materials are being considered for licensing by the company. Five UGA principal investigators are currently using Kerafast’s program:  Michelle Momany,  plant genetics; Michael W.W. Adams, biochemistry and molecular biology; Richard B. Meager, genetics; Duncan C. Ferguson, physiology, pharmacology and small-animal medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine; and  Michael P. Doyle, Department of Food Science & Technology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

These agreements considerably reduce the need for transfer of materials to be preceded by Material Transfer Agreements. As part of these agreements, the company cites publications by UGA researchers that are pertinent to each UGA material the company distributes and also links those products to the researchers’ web pages, enhancing the visibility of UGA research programs.

Kerafast generates an additional funding source for laboratories and research programs by utilizing an online platform to license research materials and tools originating from research institutions. Proceeds from the sales of these materials are then shared between the investigators and the University of Georgia Research Foundation. Kerafast’s interests range from unique chemicals to complex biologic materials (including cells), including hard-to-make organic molecules, metal complexes with unusual properties and structures, antibodies, and GM cells, to name a few.

Nearly 30 UGA faculty, researchers, and scientists, and representatives of UGA’s BioBusiness Center resident companies, recently attended a presentation and luncheon hosted by the UGA Technology Commercialization Office and Kerafast. Access the presentation and learn more: Contact Gene Gama, Senior Licensing Manager, at GJG@uga.edu or 706-583-8088.

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Announcements

Derek Eberhart was named director of UGA’s Technology Commercialization Office (TCO), Office of the Vice President for Research, in January. He has served as interim director since July.

Through intellectual property licensing and other efforts, TCO serves the UGA community by connecting industry with university expertise and inventions for the public good, promoting economic development, and increasing research visibility. TCO evaluates inventions for patentability and commercial potential, protects IP rights, negotiates all IP-related agreements, and facilitates strategic partnerships with universities, industry, and government. In pursuing these goals, TCO works closely with UGA’s business incubator, the Georgia BioBusiness Center.

Eberhart received his B.S.A. and M.S. from the University of Georgia.  He earned his Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology at Emory University, where he studied the molecular basis of a common form of mental retardation known as Fragile X syndrome. As an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellow at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, his research focused on the generation and analysis of mouse cancer models.

Prior to joining UGA in 2008, Derek served as Director of Alliance and Portfolio Management at Lexicon Pharmaceuticals in Texas where he was involved in alliance management, technology licensing and business development activities. He managed several of Lexicon’s drug discovery partnerships, including alliances with multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as collaborations with federal and non-profit entities.

UGA Vice President for Research  David Lee said, “Since joining TCO, Derek has held a series of positions of increasing responsibility, including Senior Technology Manager, Associate Director of TCO, and Interim Director of TCO. His performance in each capacity has been outstanding and as Interim Director he has rapidly gained the trust and confidence of faculty inventors, external clients and the TCO staff.

“I am convinced Derek will bring the necessary energy, rigor and goal-setting to the director position, and that he will play a key role in helping to achieve President Morehead’s vision of an enhanced university impact on economic development. I look forward to working closely with him in this regard.”