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2 Tuesday, March 19, 2002 Campus Research Patented; Benefits All Oriel Therapeutics Inc. and other similar companies were formed from research conducted by UNC affiliates. By Addie Sluder Staff Writer Former doctoral student Timm Crowder and Professor Anthony Hickey have just settled into anew home in Research Triangle Park for Oriel Therapeutics Inc., the company they incorporated last March. But Oriel isn’t just any RTP corpora tion - it’s one of 21 for-profit spinoff companies spawned from recent research conducted at UNC by faculty, staff or students. Chancellor James Moeser said in his Sept. 5 State of the University address he is glad to see spinoff companies emerging and providing a direct impact on the state economy. “If knowledge is the capital of our new economy, research universities are the source of that capital and will be at the center of thriving economies,” Moeser said. i —s —i TODAY Carolina Baseball vs. Princeton 3pm at Boshamer Stadium Harriert sports shorts Students & Faculty Admitted FREE w/ID! ? ... a Request for Nominations The Class of 2002, The General Alumni Association and The Division of Student Affairs present the Edward Kidder Graham Awards In 1917, Graham called for a structure to enhance student life on campus. Now, it’s your turn to recognize the individuals who embody that spirit Graham envisioned. Nominate an outstanding: • Senior of an officially recognized student organization • Professors, TA or instructor for work both inside and outside the classroom • Advisor of an officially recognized student organization Nominations are due by spm, 11111 March 29, Room 201, Carolina Union lUJI .' ( /'{ ) ’’ Questions? Email seniorweek@unc.edu FREE CD FROM THE TECH COACH " Starting a technology company and looking to minimize legal fees? BIOTECH i DRUG DEVELOPMENT | GENOMICS I MEDICAL DEVICES OPTICS | PHOTONICS I SEMICONDUCTORS | SOFTWARE ! TELECOM You need the Tech Coach 5 ". The Tech Coach “ gives you a free CD containing examples of legal documents and information most new companies need, including: • business plan information • corporate organization • stock option plan and agreements • venture capital contacts list • nondisclosure agreements • employee agreements Call the Tech Coach " 1 for advice about adapting these documents to your company's needs. Jim Verdonik, the Tech Coach""', is listed in Best Lawyers in America. lim has been advising young technology companies for more than 20 years. He is the author of The ABCs of Growth Companies and writes a monthly, nationally syndicated column for the American City Business /ournals (www.bizjournals.com) about business and legal issues of interest to growth companies. 919.420.1777 sectecl @bellsouth.net. Crowder and Hickey exemplify the path Moeser described. After they met at a speech by a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, the two decided to work together on research that formed the foundation for their company. Oriel will develop and commercial ize a “smart” powder inhaler that uses drug delivery technology to decrease variability of dosage. “The one really exciting feature about the device is we look at how pow der flows, and the inhaler actually incor porates powder-flow physics,” Crowder said. “We’re working hard to collect some data to essentially show that this is better than what’s out there.” Crowder and Hickey worked with UNC’s Office of Technology Development to file a patent for their technology. “Ours was one of the technologies they decided to patent a couple of years ago,” Crowder said. UNC students, faculty or staff who make a discovery or develop an invention must report their invention to the office. If the idea is determined to be patentable and marketable, the office helps the inventors with appropriate proceedings. “We work with UNC researchers who may have an invention from the very early stages,” said Mark Crowell, associate vice chancellor for and direc tor of the Office of Technology Development. Last year the office received 115 invention reports and filed 98 patents, although multiple patents were filed for many of the inventions. If a patent is obtained, the discovery will either be licensed to an established company or can be the basis for the for mation of anew company. Patents nor mally take one to three years to obtain, and Crowell said they usually cost between $12,000 and $20,000 to file. Crowell estimated that 90 percent of UNC inventions are licensed to existing companies and said starting a company is a much more involved process. “These startup companies are created around an intellectual idea,” said Tony Waldrop, vice chancellor for research and graduate studies. “The motivation for us is not the money but making sure we get these ideas out.” In the 2001 fiscal year, the University made $1,214,980 from inventions. Forty percent of income from inven tions goes to the inventor, 40 percent goes to the department where the inven tion was developed and 20 percent goes to the Invention Management Fund, which pays for patents. Chemistry Professor Holden Thorp’s spinoff company, Xanthon Inc., has suc cessfully built a company off the first patent he worked with the Office of k® I Stop by between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m 3% 19. '' M Representatives on hand from many i jff T University departments to assist with your M yjggPk M graduation plans. www.unc.edu/commencement UNC-Chapel Hill Morgan Writer-in-Residence Program Tobias Wolff author Life (subject of the 1993 film starring Robert DeNiro, Ellen Barkin and Leonardo DeCaprio), and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, v O. Henry Award, and VHjH Los Angeles Times Book Award His works include: Memoirs - This Boys Life and In Pharaoh's Army Short story collections - In the Garden of the North American Martyrs, Back in the World, and The Night in Question If Free Public Reading Tuesday • March 19 • 7:30 pm • Hill Hall Auditorium UNC-Chapel Hill campus • Cameron Avenue Tel 962-4283 • college.unc.edu College or Arts && Sciences The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , Tobias Wolff has achieved “the ancient art of a master storyteller.”—Tim O’Brien News Technology Development to file. Thorp discovered a way to electrical ly detect the presence of a gene. “This provides a tool for pharmaceutical research,” he said. Xanthon currently holds numerous patents and has about 40 employees. Not only are these companies and the research that forms them profitable for the University, officials say they have a distinct economic impact in North Carolina. “We certainly believe there are eco nomic benefits for the community and state as a whole,” Waldrop said. Waldrop cited University research that resulted in the expansion of DuPont’s Bladen County facility and the creation of 100 new jobs. “Ultimately, we want to do even more to get Carolina-created technolo gy into the hands of the public, and our goal is to create our own venture capital fund and incubator space to further stimulate this kind of activity,” Moeser said in his speech. Though officials admitted UNC is fairly new to spinoff companies, they said they are enthusiastic about future development and confident about the resources offered to inventors. Crowder said support from the University was integral in the formation of Oriel. “This obviously didn’t happen in a vacuum.” The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu. Developments in the War on Terrorism 16 Die in Suspected Al-Qaida Convoy ■ Moving against remnant al-Qaida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan, U.S. forces killed 16 fighters in a gun * yi pyj p(l battle and captured 31 others at a military compound, U.S. officials said Monday. No American troops f 1 / 1 / 4 c were wounded in either confrontation. Pentagon Plans to Cut U.S. Sky Patrols ■ The Pentagon is proposing a reduction in the air patrols the military has been flying over major U.S. cities since the Sept. 11 attacks. New York's senators questioned one version of the plan, which had flights reduced over New York while patrols would continue over Washington, D.C. Franks Calls Anaconda a 'Success' ■The commander of U.S forces in Afghanistan declared Monday that the operation to destroy Taliban and al-Qaida in the eastern mountains was 'an unqualified and absolute success' despite claims by Afghan allies that most of the enemy fighters got away. Research Universities See Increase in Patents By Dara Gould Staff Writer The amount of patent applications and small business startups at research universities around the nation has increased dramatically over the past few years, according to a recent study. Research universities are being more assertive by filing for more technology patents and fostering more small-busi ness relationships, according to a study released by the Association of University Technology Managers. The AUTM is a nonprofit organiza- ihp Saily (Ear MM tion that manages intellectual property by representing 142 universities around the nation. In 2000, American colleges and uni versities filed for 8,534 patents and col lected more than $1 billion in generat ed royalties from previous patents, a 40 percent increase from the previous year. Local universities also have experi enced growth in their licensed patents and small business startups. In 2001, UNC-Chapel Hill filed for 98 patents, and 32 were issued. At N.C. State University, 100 patents were filed, and 45 were issued in 2000. According to Mark Crowell, associ ate vice chancellor for and director of UNC-CH’s Office of Technology Development, revenue from patents and licensed technology generated around $1.2 million dollars for the University. But Crowell said UNC-CH’s rev enue from patents is low in comparison to some other research universities. “I think it would be fair to say that we are lagging,” Crowell said. Although the universities surveyed by the AUTM earned more than $1 bil lion dollars, revenue from research patents is not a significant source of income for universities. Tony Waldrop, UNC’s vice chancel lor for research and graduate studies, said patent royalties are not substantial and sometimes barely cover the costs associated with researching. Waldrop said the University has interests in protecting its research and marketing useful products and technol ogy for the benefit of society. “We are pushing for the opportunity for faculty, not for an immediate rev enue stream.” Waldrop said. University research also develops into the creation of small businesses. In 2000, 12 new companies started from research done at UNC-CH, most of which are biotechnology businesses, such as Micell Technologies, Oriel Therapeutics Inc. and DarPharma. Tim Lucas, director of news services at N.C. State, said the university is ranked fourth nationally based on num bers of startup companies, most of which originate from the university’s Centennial Campus. Lucas stressed that while revenue from patents is appreciated by universi ty administrations, university funds are not being diverted away from other research programs that might be less profitable economically. He said the focus of academic research will continue to be improvement in the classroom, laboratory and consumer market. Lucas said, “Technology transfer is a huge part of what we do.” The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu. Campus Calendar Today 5 p.m. - Come to Masala’s general meeting, co-sponsored by Sangam. The meeting will be held in the Frank Porter Graham Lounge in the Student Union. 6 p.m. - The Carolina Association of Black Journalists will be meeting in 11 Carroll Hall. The guest speaker will be Stick Williams, vice president of busi ness and community relations for Duke Power Cos. Come find out more about a career in public relations, including tips on how to break into the field. 7 p.m. - Choice USA and NARAL present “The ABC’s of Choice: EC & RU-486.” Come learn about the differ ence between Emergency Contraception and RU-486, where to get EC and how you can spread the word to your friends. The event will be in 431 Hamilton Hall. Point of Interest Pick up an application at the Union Desk or 116 Steele Hall to become a peer academic adviser. Applicants must have junior standing by fall 2002. Deadline is March 29. ffiljr Baihi dar Urrl RO. Box 3257, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 Katie Hunter. Editor, 962-4086 Advertising & Business. 962-1163 News, Features, Sports, 962-0245 One copy per person; additional copies may be purchased at The Daily Tar Heel for $.25 each. © 2002 DTH Publishing Corp. All rights reserved
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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March 19, 2002, edition 1
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