The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) honored UT Health Science Center researchers Friday for their work in developing or commercializing novel compounds, treatments, medical devices and research tools that have the potential to transform the lives of people in Tennessee and throughout the world.
At the annual Innovation Awards ceremony, UTRF presented plaques and certificates to individuals earning patents and licenses. Researchers who started new businesses based on their inventions were also recognized.
“This event is to honor the researchers who have made inventions that are moving into and through commercial development,” Richard Magid, UTRF vice president, said. “UTRF is honored to support these inventors taking their discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace.”
Patents are awarded for unique technologies and to protect inventions that can benefit society. Fewer than 25 percent of the discoveries made at UT are eventually granted patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Being awarded a patent is an important milestone that validates the novelty of an invention.
Inventors awarded patents include:
- Duane Miller, US Patent 8,080,682 “Substituted Acylanilides and Methods of Use Thereof”;
- Duane Miller, and Mitchell Steiner, US Patent 8,008,828 “Treating Benign Prostate Hyperplasia with SARMS”;
- Duane Miller, US Patent 8,110,562 “Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators, Analogs, and Derivatives Thereof and Uses Thereof”
- Edward Chaum, US Patent 8,218,838 “Method and System for Assigning a Confidence Metric for Automated Determination of Opric Disc Location”
- Monica Jablonski, US Patent 8,092,825 “Glycan Binding Protein as Therapeutic Targets for Retinal Disorders and Treatment Methods Based Thereon”;
- Charles R. Yates, Duane Miller, Karin Emmons-Thompson, Kui Zeng, US Patent 8,115,031 “Anti-inflammatory Quinic Acid Derivatives for Oral Administration”;
- Bob Moore, US Patent 8,158,654 “Pyridine Non-Classical Cannabinoid Compounds and Related Methods of Use”;
- Bob Moore, US Patent 8,022,078 “Pyrimidine Classical Cannabinoid Compounds and Related Methods of Use”;
- Bob Moore, US Patent 8,124,771 “Pyridine Classical Cannabinoid Compounds and Related Methods fo Use”;
The ceremony also recognized the inventors who had a technology out-licensed in the past year, and featured short presentations from each of the five startup companies that were launched during fiscal year 2012.
2012 Startups:
- HandMinder Inc., represented by CEO James Bell and founders Yu Liu and Randall J. Nelson
- Raphael Biotech, represented by CEO Ed Roberson and founder Bob Moore
- Entac Medical, represented by CEO Buddy Lyons
- Infusense, represented by founder Edward Chaum
- Nanophthalmics, represented by founder Edward Chaum
The five startups in a single year represent a record for the UT Health Science Center, and account for more than half of the also-record nine startups that were launched from the University of Tennessee in 2012.