Akron Magazine - Summer 2009 - (Page 3)

( feATure sTory ) Tops In Tech Transfer The University of Akron produced more revenue in technology licensing in 2007 than any other year in its history, bringing in $6.33 million—more than any other Ohio public university, according to a newly released survey by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM). Ohio University was second with $4.41 million, followed by Ohio State University with $1.25 million. Among public and private U.S. universities without medical schools, this licensing revenue places UA seventh in the nation, just behind such notables as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology and the University of Texas. When normalized with respect to research expenditures, UA ranks No. 1 in the country. This is the first time UA has achieved a top national standing in licensing efficiency. A 2007 report supported by the National Science Foundation identified UA as one of 10 exemplars for technology transfer, commercialization and industry partnership. “Our faculty should be commended for this extraordinary national recognition in technology transfer,” says UA President Dr. Luis Proenza. “Our researchers are constantly developing new knowledge and applying it in the market environment, thereby creating new opportunities for employment and capital formation—key anchors for urban revitalization and regional economic development.” Technologies such as a polymer coating for cardiovascular stents developed by distinguished professor of polymer science and chemistry Dr. Joseph Kennedy and his research team, and a specialized polyimide invented by Dr. Stephen Cheng, dean of the UA College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, and Dr. Frank Harris, emeritus distinguished professor of polymer science, represent the top revenue generators for 2007. These technologies were licensed to Boston Scientific and Nitto Denko, respectively. Dr. Wiley Youngs, at work on the design of silver-based pharmaceutical candidates. www.uakron.edu “Our researchers are constantly developing new knowledge and applying it in the market environment, thereby creating new opportunities for employment and capital formation—key anchors for urban revitalization and regional economic development.” — DR. LUIS PROENZA President, The University of Akron Advances in Pharmaceuticals Dr. George Newkome, UA vice president for research and president of the University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF), anticipates that the University and UARF will see continued technology transfer success in coming years with the promise of licensing such technologies as silverbased pharmaceutical candidates to treat infections and cancer, developed by UA’s Dr. Wiley Youngs, professor of chemistry and biosciences. Newkome notes that this particular research was highlighted in AUTM’s newly released licensing activity survey report for fiscal year 2007. “Emerging technologies such as Dr. Youngs’ silver compounds and the artificial pancreas developed by Drs. Joseph Kennedy and Mukerrem Cakmak gives us strong indication that we will continue to be successful with our technology licensing efforts,” Newkome says. |3| A MAgAzine for AluMni & friends of The universiT y of Akron > http://www.uakron.edu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Akron Magazine - Summer 2009

Akron Magazine - Summer 2009

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