Dr. Markin honored for innovative solutions

October 2, 2009 Comments Off on Dr. Markin honored for innovative solutions Innovation Week, News

OMAHA, Neb. (Oct. 2, 2009)—It fit perfectly with the family philosophy: We don’t buy it; we build it. Even as a child, Rod Markin, M.D., PhD, loved to problem-solve.

Together, he and his younger brother spent hours building walkie-talkies, oscilloscopes, furniture, car engines — even a garage.

Later, he took that innovative streak into the clinical laboratory, where he problem solved to automate processes to reduce turnaround time of medical testing and fill gaps created by workforce shortages.

Dr. Markin honored for innovative spirit

On Thursday, Dr. Markin — one of the most prolific inventors at UNMC — received the Lifetime Achievement Award from UNeMed Corporation for his innovations that have transformed the clinical laboratory.

“Dr. Markin adds a fourth leg to the proverbial triad of teaching, research and service,” said James Linder, M.D., chief executive officer of UNeMed Corporation. “He has shown tremendous leadership as an academic entrepreneur. This is an important role that our faculty can play in economic development for Nebraska.”

Major companies buy into Dr. Markin’s inventions

Dr. Markin’s patents are licensed to major corporations, including Abbott Laboratories, and they form the basis of modern clinical laboratory automation, Dr. Linder said.

As chairman and president of UNMC Physicians, Dr. Markin thrives on tackling difficult problems.

“If you can define the problem, there are 100 smart people who can find the solution,” he said. “Finding and framing the appropriate problem is often the hardest part.”

Dr. Markin’s professional and academic research interests have focused on solid organ transplantation, informatics and clinical laboratory automation, which includes:

  • Robotics;
  • Information systems;
  • Medical utilization management; and
  • Outcomes optimization.

During his career, Dr. Markin has:

  • Secured 16 U.S. patents;
  • Written more than 300 publications; and
  • Published nearly 200 abstracts and chapters in books.

Solution for lab problems leads to business endeavor

In 1993, he founded LAB-InterLink, a spinoff of UNMC that provided products for hospital-based laboratory automation systems.

He also developed an automated microbiology platform for U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command for use in the clinical laboratory.

“My goal was simply to solve problems for our clinical laboratory, not to build a product,” he said.

UNeMed assists with the patent process

But with the help of UNeMed officials, he learned how to protect and patent his ideas.

Obtaining a patent “means you’ve solved a problem no one else has solved,” Dr. Markin said. “The time and effort involved is similar to being published in a significant scientific journal.”

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Spotlight on innovation – Meet Kathleen Healey, PhD

September 17, 2009 Comments Off on Spotlight on innovation – Meet Kathleen Healey, PhD Innovation Week, News

As part of Innovation Week (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2), UNeMed Corporation will spotlight the research of several UNMC inventors. Here, researchers discuss their passion for innovation and share their thoughts on the process.

OMAHA, Neb. (Sept. 17, 2009)—Obesity has been referred to as a national epidemic; nearly 55 percent of all Americans are either overweight or obese.

Obesity leads to several diseases and health issues including diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Estimated costs attributed to obesity alone in the United States are approximately $99 billion annually.

Kathleen Healey, PhD, said the key to changing these statistics is education and behavioral modifications. Dr. Healey and her team, which includes a dietician, nurses and behavioral experts, developed the A-Wrist-A-Trac system.

The novel invention — a collection of color-coded bracelets — helps modify many types of behaviors, especially dietary intake. The bracelets track behavior and actions as they occur.

The method is simple. The bracelets are moved from one wrist to the other as an action is performed. Each bracelet color designates specific foods groups, as based on the USDA food pyramid.

“The idea of A-Wrist-A-Trac came to me as I reviewed the USDA Food Pyramid,” said Dr. Healey, who is an instructor in neurological sciences and a clinical associate with the College of Nursing.

Working in the field of multiple sclerosis, Dr. Healey sees patients on a daily basis. Prior to this, she worked with life style changes and risk factor modification in cardiovascular disease.

“Overall health influences disease state,” she said.

Dr. Healey’s team continues to study other uses for the A-Wrist-A-Trac system including medication guidance and monitoring of COPD, diabetes or other complex disease management regiments.

“It is important that future applications are scientifically-based,” she said. “There is value in all types of research especially behavioral studies in health care.”

Dr. Healey’s team has received national recognition for their innovation and have submitted their research results for publication.

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Dr. Dixon selected to Leadership Omaha class

September 15, 2009 Comments Off on Dr. Dixon selected to Leadership Omaha class News

OMAHA, Neb. (Sept. 15, 2009)—Michael Dixon, PhD, president of UNeMed, has been named to Leadership Omaha’s 32nd class.

The community leadership-training program, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber Foundation, is designed to motivate individuals to develop a sense of community trusteeship.

The 10-month program, which includes monthly full-day seminars on various topics, encourages participants to assume leadership roles in community affairs and develop awareness of the Omaha community.

Dr. Dixon, who has been UNeMed president since April and served as the corporation’s director of intellectual property, continues UNMC’s representation in the Leadership Omaha program.

Many UNMC employees have participated in the program in the past including:

  • Bob Bartee, vice chancellor for external affairs;
  • Kyle Meyer, PhD, associate dean for the School of Allied Health Professions;
  • John Adams, PhD, assistant vice chancellor for budget and strategic planning;
  • Keith Swarts, director of business services; and
  • Renee Fry, J.D., director of UNMC Public Relations.

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Spotlight on innovation – Meet Paul Dunman, PhD

September 3, 2009 Comments Off on Spotlight on innovation – Meet Paul Dunman, PhD Innovation Week, News

As part of Innovation Week (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2), UNeMed Corporation will spotlight the research of several UNMC inventors. Here researchers discuss their passion for innovation and share their thoughts on the process of invention.

OMAHA, Neb. (Sept. 3, 2009)—Paul Dunman, PhD, and his staph team have identified a novel enzyme that may lead to new ways to treat the deadly MRSA bacteria.

Dr. Dunman, assistant professor in the department of pathology and microbiology, found that this enzyme starves the bacteria to death. The discovery paves the way for vaccine development.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is one of the most resistant strains of staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus), a common bacteria that lives on skin and in noses of healthy individuals. It also is the leading cause of most common skin infections in the United States.

MRSA has become more prominent in recent years and is responsible for more deaths in the United States each year than HIV/AIDS. In addition, staph is the leading cause of infectious heart disease, the No. 1 cause of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections and one of four leading causes of food-borne illnesses.

Dr. Dunman has great insight into what it takes to develop a compound that will have a positive impact on public health, said Steve Schreiner, PhD, senior licensing specialist for UNeMed.

“His expertise adds a great deal of credibility to the antimicrobial work underway at UNMC,” Dr. Schreiner said.

The staph team has collaborated on the technology with researchers from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

“The work is a phenomenal merger of several cutting-edge technologies, which collectively allow an unprecedented view of the host-pathogen interface,” Dr. Dunman said.

Earlier this year, Dr. Dunman was the recipient of the Gilmore Award for his research into ways to combat MRSA. The annual award recognizes outstanding research contributions by young UNMC faculty members.

To read more about Dr. Dunman’s research go to www.dunmanlab.com.

Since his 2004 arrival at UNMC, Dr. Dunman has secured several grants, including an RO1 award from the National Institutes of Health, published nearly 25 articles and designed his staph-killing antibiotic.

On Oct. 1, Dr. Dunman will join his fellow researchers in the Durham Research Center Auditorium for UNeMed’s 2009 Research Innovation Awards. The 4 p.m. ceremony will recognize inventors for their new inventions, patents and licensed technologies.

When asked how he chose this field, Dr. Dunman describes a time in graduate school when an antibiotic he was working on cured a patient who otherwise would have died.

“It was then I decided antibiotic drug development was what trips my trigger,” he said. “Today we are well on our way to developing a novel class of antibiotics that may be used to treat other related bacteria pathogens.”

Dr. Dunman credits his success to having a good mentor who listens to his ideas, provides suggestions and encourages him to test those ideas.

Dr. Dunman’s ultimate research goal is the advancement of patient care.

“I won’t rest until at least one of my inventions makes it to market and is used in patient care,” he said.

He works closely with the UNeMed team to achieve this goal.

“The folks at UNeMed are among the best that I’ve ever worked with,” Dr. Dunman said. “They are here, in part, to protect your ideas and promote them to others. I anticipate that they’ll be a major component of our future.”

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Spotlight on innovation – Meet Thomas Heuke, D.D.S.

August 27, 2009 Comments Off on Spotlight on innovation – Meet Thomas Heuke, D.D.S. Innovation Week, News

Leading up to Innovation Week (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2), UNeMed Corporation will spotlight the research of several UNMC inventors. Here, researchers discuss their passion for innovation and share their thoughts on the process of invention.

OMAHA, Neb. (Aug. 27, 2009)—If new ideas never reach the public domain, has anything really been discovered?

Thomas Heuke, D.D.S., clinical associate professor for the UNMC College of Dentistry (COD), asks himself that question everyday.

“Nearly everything I work on at the COD translates into patient care in some way to solve a certain problem,” Dr. Heuke said. “I assume that if I think something could be improved; I’m sure there are other dentists who could benefit from the innovation and improve patient care.”

On Oct. 1, Dr. Heuke will join other UNMC inventors in the Durham Research Center Auditorium for UNeMed’s 2009 Research Innovation Awards. The ceremony, which will recognize inventors for their new inventions, patents and licensed technologies, begins at 4 p.m. A reception will follow in the atrium.

Dr. Heuke has developed a novel tool for dental and oral surgery that could change the standard for dental impressions, an essential step in a variety of procedures. Current systems that aid in dowel pin placement require expensive and complex equipment.

Dr. Heuke’s Impression Orientation Guide (I.O.G.), is a simple, yet extremely useful system that allows dentists and their assistants to accurately place dowel pins into the impressions. The system consumes less time and is easier than other methods.

“Dr. Heuke is living proof that innovation comes from finding new solutions to everyday problems,” said Joe Runge, licensing specialist for UNeMed.

The I.O.G. is a classic example of a simple and elegant solution to a not-so-simple problem, said Bill Hadley, a Crieghton University law student and UNeMed intern who helps evaluate, market and license inventions made at UNMC.

Dr. Heuke knows a great idea doesn’t mean instant commercialization.

“I’m pleased that UNeMed offers assistance to researchers to market their inventions,” he said. “Association with UNeMed gives instant credibility to my idea when companies inquire about it.”

Other projects

In addition to the I.O.G., Dr. Heuke has:

  • Researches systems to confine dental debris;
  • Designed new instruments; and
  • Created hand cream and ointment compounds.

He has even invented gadgets for his other passion: fishing. He has eight patents on tackle alone.

“I know how hard it is to bring a product to market, no matter how great the idea may be. UNeMed has taken my very simple idea to a level closer to marketing reality, much closer that I ever could have on my own.”

Dr. Heuke encouraged fellow researchers to consult with UNeMed on their inventions.

“Anytime you make something you can’t buy or no one else has or uses, that’s innovation,” he said.

The ultimate goal, Dr. Heuke said, is to pass on his inventions and share his knowledge with the dental profession or any field that may benefit.

“I hope to make technological contributions that help future researchers, so they can pick up where I left off,” he said. “I didn’t travel very far in life, but some people say I traveled a lot further than I should have traveled.”

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Spotlight on innovation – Meet Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., PhD

August 27, 2009 Comments Off on Spotlight on innovation – Meet Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., PhD Innovation Week, News

As part of Innovation Week (Sept. 28 – Oct. 2), UNeMed Corporation will spotlight the research of several UNMC inventors. Here researchers discuss their passion for innovation and share their thoughts on the process of invention.

OMAHA, Neb. (Aug. 27, 2009)—Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., PhD, knows the sobering statistics: 5.3 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease.Those numbers are expected to quadruple by 2050.

Meanwhile, someone develops Alzheimer’s — the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States — every 70 seconds.

“These numbers are simply too high,” said Dr. Ikezu, professor and vice chairman for research, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience and director for the Center of Neurodegenerative Disorders at UNMC.

Dr. Ikezu’s research focuses on the molecular characterization of brain disorders and the effectiveness of new therapies to treat them.

“I study Alzheimer’s because it is the most common brain disorder among the elderly,” he said. “The disease is inevitable for any aging human.”

It’s also costly. Alzheimer’s and dementia triple health care costs for Americans age 65 and older, he said.

On Oct. 1, Dr. Ikezu will join his fellow researchers in the Durham Research Center auditorium for UNeMed’s 2009 Research Innovation Awards. The 4 p.m. ceremony will recognize inventors for their new inventions, patents and licensed technologies.

Earlier this year, Dr. Ikezu’s discovery of an enzyme with promising implications in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders led to the largest acquisition of venture capital for UNeMed Corporation and UNMC. An Australian venture capital group invested about $2 million in Dr. Ikezu’s research.

The money will further his research through drug discovery over the next four years. Dr. Ikezu remains optimistic that a compound may be identified to begin clinical trials.

“Innovation is one of the most beautiful expressions of human intelligence and creativity — including arts and science,” he said. “Not everything we do results in a patent, but we can enhance the efficiency and productivity of an experimental design, or invent something useful that will benefit research.”

In addition to his studies with Alzheimer’s, Dr. Ikezu’s research may provide greater insight into the brain disorders of patient’s with Parkinson’s disease and AIDS.

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Trade Commission to Investigate ‘knock-offs’ of UNMC creatine product

August 11, 2009 Comments Off on Trade Commission to Investigate ‘knock-offs’ of UNMC creatine product News

OMAHA, Neb. (Aug. 11, 2009)—An investigation into nutraceutical products falsely advertised as containing raw creatine ethyl ester, a creatine pronutrient with increased solubility, was initiated earlier this summer in an effort to protect a UNMC invention and consumer confidence in a dietary supplement.

UNMC is the owner and UNeMed Corporation is the exclusive sublicensee of a patent portfolio directed generally to creatine ethyl ester (CEE) as a nutritional supplement. UNeMed is UNMC’s technology transfer company. The United States International Trade Commission began the investigation June 17 based on a complaint filed by UNeMed.

The centerpiece of this portfolio was the recognition by the named inventors – Jonathan Vennerstrom, PhD, of UNMC’s College of Pharmacy, and Donald Miller, PhD, of the University of Manitoba and a former UNMC faculty member – that an esterified, or changed, form of creatine is more readily absorbed into the human body. The result is that, to gain the same benefits of creatine, one need ingest less of the esterified form.

The commission’s investigation, instituted pursuant to section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, will seek to determine whether the raw materials contained in CEE products sold by certain companies should be barred from importation into the United States.

Companies under investigation are:

  • Bodyonics, Ltd. of Hicksville, N.Y.;
  • Engineered Sports Technology, Inc. of Orlando, Fla.;
  • NRG-X Labs of Bentonville, Ark.; and
  • Proviant Technologies, Inc. of Champaign, Ill.

The investigation also will determine if these companies should be enjoined from selling products containing such raw material already imported into the United States.

Two of the original respondents named in the complaint, San Corporation of Oxnard, Calif., and Controlled Labs of New Rochelle, N.Y., have amicably resolved their dispute with UNeMed.

UNMC’s patent pending composition of CEE as a dietary supplement has been licensed to Vireo Systems, Inc., of Madison, Tenn., which makes raw CEE for creams and powders to manufacture products for retail distribution and sale.

“This investigation is about more than protecting the integrity of the research of Drs. Vennerstrom and Miller,” said UNeMed President Michael Dixon, PhD “It is to help provide some degree of accountability in an industry that appears to be woefully under-regulated.  We are talking about products that are marketed for human ingestion, and, for the most part, there is nothing or no one regulating what goes into these products.  This investigation is about more than protecting the integrity of the research of Drs. Vennerstrom and Miller. It is to help provide some degree of accountability in an industry that appears to be woefully under-regulated.”

An initial obstacle facing UNeMed in the investigation has been locating the current whereabouts of the remaining four respondents.

“It seems as if the four remaining respondents have disappeared into thin air. They continue to operate Web sites and their products continue to be sold online, but several attempts to reach them at their respective last-known addresses have proven futile,” said George Summerfield, counsel for UNeMed. “Their complete lack of participation in the investigation has necessitated UNeMed’s seeking a default determination against them from the commission.”

This, of course, exacerbates the problem of regulation in an industry where companies can so freely change names and locations, he said. Nonetheless, Summerfield said, “We are confident that we will ultimately prevail in this investigation, either through contested proceedings or by default on the part of the remaining respondents.”

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UNeMed to again give $10,000 research award

July 16, 2009 Comments Off on UNeMed to again give $10,000 research award Innovation Week, News

OMAHA, Neb. (July 16, 2009)—UNeMed Corporation is gearing up for their annual Innovation Week.

This year’s festivities will take place Sept. 28 through Oct. 2, with various special events each day.

UNeMed once again will award $10,000 in unrestricted research funds to the inventor or group of inventors who submit the most promising invention.

New inventions with potential benefits to the public good as well as the patent and market potentials will all be considered. All UNMC faculty, students and staff are eligible.

The award was introduced in 2008 to promote the disclosure of new inventions to UNeMed.

“There are many good ideas floating around campus and it’s our goal to help faculty, students and staff develop those ideas into products that reach the marketplace,” said Michael Dixon, PhD, president of UNeMed.

Two awards where given in 2008. They went to:

  • Janina Baranowska-Kortylewicz, PhD, professor of radiation oncology; and
  • Guangshun Wang, PhD, assistant professor in the Eppley Institute.

Each received $10,000 in research funds.

Dr. Baranowska-Kortylewicz — whose molecular imaging research develops labels that can image growing or developing cancer — was excited that her research generated such enthusiasm.

“The most expensive aspect of our research involves animal studies,” Dr. Baranowska-Kortylewicz said. “Funding from UNeMed permitted us to plan several new experiments that otherwise would have been significantly delayed.”

Dr. Baranowska-Kortylewicz understands the importance of research protection and the benefit of working with UNeMed and she urges others to take advantage of UNeMed’s expertise.

“The rapid transfer of technology from the lab to commerce may prove to be a decisive driving force for new discoveries,” she said. “This pathway is available only if the technology has the appropriate intellectual protection.”

Dr. Wang — whose research focuses on novel anti-HIV peptides — was very happy to have received the award.

“The award enabled us to move forward with the project,” he said. “Additional results obtained are useful for grant applications and also allowed us to complete an in-press collaborative paper.”

The award is one way UNeMed hopes to help good ideas move from bench to bedside, Dr. Dixon said.

“We realize that there are many expensive steps between conception of a good idea and having a new drug on the market,” he said. “UNeMed is very excited to have the opportunity to offer this award and allow the inventors to further develop a unique discovery.”

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Seminar to focus on NIBIB opportunities

July 15, 2009 Comments Off on Seminar to focus on NIBIB opportunities News

OMAHA, Neb. (July 15, 2009)—Belinda Seto, PhD, deputy director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), will present “Funding Opportunities” on Monday, July 27 at noon in the Durham Research Center Auditorium.

UNeMed, the technology transfer leader for UNMC, will sponsor the event.

NIBIB is the principal institute at the National Institute of Health with the primary mission of funding and conducting research and training that bridge the physical and life sciences.

Its research portfolio is broadly inclusive of the development of medical technologies and their applications in clinical settings. With a budget of $308 million in fiscal year 2009, the NIBIB has invested strategically in technologies to improve early diagnosis of diseases, treatment at the point of care when patients are diagnosed and molecular imaging to monitor treatment efficacy.

Technologies include:

* Nanotechnology;

* Regenerative medicine/tissue engineering;

* Imaging modalities (such as MRI, PET, US, CT, and combined modalities); and

* medical informatics.

With the recent infusion of funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the NIBIB has successfully developed special funding priorities to meet President Obama’s economy stimulation goals.

Dr. Seto will be on campus to review some of the summer activities NIBIB co-funds with the National Center for Research Resources. UNMC Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) is a program geared to increase the appreciation for science in schools on six American Indian reservations in Nebraska and South Dakota.

“We are honored to have had a recent visit from Dr. Tony Beck, program officer from the National Center for Research Resources, and now from Dr. Seto who’s institute co-funds our program,” said Maurice Godfrey, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics and principal investigator of the UNMC SEPA program. “Dr. Seto will be able to see the excitement that science generates in these kids from reservation communities.”

Prior to joining the NIBIB, Dr. Seto was the Acting Deputy Director for Extramural Research at the NIH.

Dr. Seto has a wealth of experience in the health policy arena, particularly AIDS policies and has directed minority health programs in the areas of infant mortality and behavioral interventions research.

Lunch will be served on a first come first serve basis beginning at 11:45 a.m. and is open to all faculty, researchers, graduate students and post docs.

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BIO Nebraska, UNMC and UNeMed host BIO president

July 8, 2009 Comments Off on BIO Nebraska, UNMC and UNeMed host BIO president News

BIO president and CEO Jim Greenwood speaks at UNMC in late June.

OMAHA, Neb. (July 8, 2009)—Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association, UNMC and UNeMed — the technology transfer leader for UNMC — hosted a bioscience discussion with James Greenwood, president and CEO of Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) late last month.

The bioscience discussion at UNMC was an opportunity for Bio Nebraska members to meet with Greenwood while he was in Omaha, where he also was a keynote speaker at the National Institute of Health’s 11th Annual National SBIR/STTR Conference.

While at UNMC, Greenwood provided insight into the importance of innovation and current policy discussions on health care reform, patent reform and follow-on biologics.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Greenwood to Nebraska for a discussion on the biosciences,” said Amy Recker, executive director for Bio Nebraska. “As the state’s affiliate to BIO, we recognize what a great opportunity this has been to connect with Mr. Greenwood on current issues that face our industry and discuss how our members are working to address these issues.”

About Bio Nebraska The mission of Bio Nebraska is to be the champion of biotechnology and to advocate for its member organizations promoting academic, industry and government partnerships to foster the growth of life sciences within Nebraska. Nebraska biotechnology researchers expand the boundaries of science to benefit mankind by providing better health care, enhanced agriculture and a cleaner and safer environment, creating opportunities for economic development within the state.

Tom Rosenquist, PhD, vice chancellor for research at UNMC and Bio Nebraska board member welcomed more than 40 people to the event and Paul Dunman, PhD, assistant professor in pathology and microbiology at UNMC, provided an update on how UNMC is answering a health care crisis in antibiotic drug discovery.

“Mr. Greenwood was extremely well prepared, and quite knowledgeable about both UNMC and Nebraska,” Dr. Rosenquist said. “It is exciting that a person of his experience and stature was positive about our strategy for development in biotechnology, our level of expertise, and our potential for growth.”

UNeMed President Michael Dixon, PhD, said it was a pleasure to host this event and show Greenwood the world-class research at UNMC.

“As a member of the biotech community, we were pleased to learn more about the advocacy efforts of Greenwood and the BIO organization as they promote biomedical innovation across the world,” Dr. Dixon said.

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is based in Washington and represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations around the globe.

BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative health care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the annual BIO International Convention, the world’s largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings around the world. Bio Nebraska Life Sciences Association is Nebraska’s state affiliate of BIO.

Prior to his role with BIO, Greenwood represented Pennsylvania’s Eighth District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005, served six years in the Pennsylvania Senate (1986-1993) and six years in the Pennsylvania General Assembly (1980-1986).

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DRC receives new display, researchers honored

June 24, 2009 Comments Off on DRC receives new display, researchers honored News

OMAHA, Neb. (June 24, 2009)—The accomplishments of UNMC researchers are now acknowledged on new plaques displayed on the ground floor of the Durham Research Center.

One part of the display recognizes all UNMC inventors who have been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office since 1981.The joint project — sponsored by UNeMed, the technology transfer leader for UNMC, and the Vice Chancellor for Research offices — honors inventors and Distinguished Scientists at UNMC.

“Receiving a patent is a significant accomplishment, we thought it appropriate that researchers on campus have the opportunity to see the achievement of their peers,” said Jim Linder, M.D., CEO of UNeMed Corporation.

“We also thought that this is a good reminder that patents are recognized by the promotion and tenure committees of each college,” said Michael Dixon, PhD, president of UNeMed.

The wall currently displays 163 patents granted to UNMC from 1981 through 2008 and honors 145 inventors, many who have multiple patents to their credit.

Each year new names and patents will be added. UNeMed honors these inventors with the annual Innovation Awards Ceremony. This year’s ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 1.

In addition to the patent display, those honored as Distinguished Scientists and the Scientist Laureate also are listed.

Tom Rosenquist, PhD, vice chancellor for research at UNMC, is pleased with the public display to recognize the achievements of these medical center investigators.

“Part of the process of recognition of our most successful scientists is our having a daily, tangible reminder about who they are, and what they have accomplished,” Dr. Rosenquist said. “The busy elevator lobby of the DRC is the perfect place for this display.”

Seventy-five researchers have been named Distinguished Scientists or Scientist Laureates since the program’s initiation in 2006.

A portrait and biography of the current Scientist Laureate is prominently displayed, and will be changed each year with the new appointment.

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UNeMed to host researcher technology commercialization course

June 11, 2009 Comments Off on UNeMed to host researcher technology commercialization course News

OMAHA, Neb. (June 11, 2009)—UNeMed Corporation, the technology transfer leader for UNMC, will sponsor a free Webinar series for all researchers, post docs and graduates students beginning on June 18.

The series, hosted by the National Council of Entrepreneurial Tech Transfer (NCET2), is part of an 11-week lecture course.

The course will deal with successfully commercializing various types of research activities and will discuss the practical business and legal issues that researchers need to understand to commercialize their research. Topics are shown below.

As national research funding decreases, alternative sources of revenue will be invaluable to investigators as they compete for the limited number of academic appointments available. Fundamental understanding of the issues that arise in the commercialization process will allow investigators to tailor their research to maximize the potential of transferring their findings to the public sector, which in turn generates significant revenue to help further their research efforts. In addition, information presented will help empower those individuals possessing the desire to form their own companies, increasing their potential for success.

Each lecture is a 90-minute Webinar with live Q&A. There will be expert guest speakers for each session. If you are interested in the free course, but unable to attend in person, you may sign up to view the session from any computer by registering at the Researcher Commercialization Course Web site.

Series Schedule – All sessions are from noon to 1:30 p.m. (check-in time 11:45 a.m.)

June 18 – Lecture 1: Commercialization Methods: Employment, Licensing, Consulting, Joint Venturing and Startup

June 25 – Lecture 2: The Fundamental Essentials: Patents

July 9 – Lecture 3: The Fundamental Essentials: Copyrights, Trademarks, Trade Secrets

July 16 – Lecture 4: The Fundamental Essentials: Employment Agreements

July 23 – Lecture 5: The Fundamental Essentials: Tech Transfer and Licensing Agreements

July 30 – Lecture 6: The Fundamental Essentials: Consulting Agreements

Aug. 6 – Lecture 7: The Advanced Essentials: Business Entities

Aug. 13 – Lecture 8: The Advanced Essentials: Shareholder Agreements; Directors and Executives; Term Sheets; Private Placement Memoranda; Stock Purchase Agreements

Aug. 20 – Lecture 9: The Advanced Essentials: SBIRs/STTRs

Aug. 27 – Lecture 10: The Advanced Essentials: Corporate Strategic Alliances and Joint Venturing

Sept. 3 – Lecture 11: The Advanced Essentials: Angel Investors and Venture Capital

If you go 

The first session on “Commercialization Methods: Employment, Licensing, Consulting, Joint Venturing and Startup” will be Thursday, June 18 in the Durham Research Center auditorium from noon to 1:30 p.m.Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the course by e-mailing the UNeMed office, attention Toni Harris at harrisam@unmc.edu, by June 16. Lunch will be served to all registered participants.

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Dr. Ikezu discovery nets large venture capital investment

May 29, 2009 Comments Off on Dr. Ikezu discovery nets large venture capital investment News

OMAHA, Neb (May 29, 2009)—A recently discovered enzyme with big implications in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders has led to the largest acquisition of venture capital funds obtained to date by UNeMed Corporation and UNMC. NuMedix Health Group, a venture capital firm in Sydney, Australia, has invested about $2 million in the research of Tsuneya Ikezu, M.D., PhD, a professor in the department of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience at UNMC. The money will help further Dr. Ikezu’s work to find a compound to block the newly-discovered enzyme’s function and subsequently prevent the damaging effects of the enzyme’s overactivity – which contributes to the onset of dementia.

“The University of Nebraska Medical Center has an international reputation in producing quality research and Dr. Ikezu has done an impressive amount of research in this particular area,” said Michael Issakidis, NuMedix managing director. “We hope that by our investments, we can assist hundreds of thousands of individuals and their families in achieving a better quality of life.”

UNeMed first filed a patent application on this enzyme when Dr. Ikezu discovered it in 2002 and just received word that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office expects the patent to issue later this summer.

“The reward of UNeMed and Dr. Ikezu’s diligence over the past six years is paying large dividends,” said Michael Dixon, PhD, president of UNeMed. “Everything has come together nicely and we are pleased to be able to attract additional research money to this valuable research as well as additional research money to this valuable research as well as establish a partner to help translate the results of this research into the clinic.”

Enzyme does damage in mouse models

Dr. Ikezu’s lab developed a transgenic mouse model to show that the enzyme — known as tau-tubulin kinase1 (TTBK1) — induces memory impairment. The study in the mouse model was published in the December Journal of Neuroscience and revealed that TTBK1 is a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

“We are all excited about the publication and funding for initiating the drug screening program to regulate this enzyme activity in brain,” Dr. Ikezu said.

Company takes notice of Dr. Ikezu’s work

Nearly a year ago, UNeMed was approached by Neumedix in regards to Dr. Ikezu’s work. Due to the complex nature of the project, negotiations and plans took nearly several months to complete and work began April 1. The research will take place over the next four years at which time, it is anticipated that it will be ready for clinical trials. Dr. Ikezu is optimistic a compound can be identified through the drug discovery endeavor.

“I really appreciate all the lab members contributing to this project, support from department of pharmacology and experimental neuroscience, and UNeMed for identifying the sponsorship,” Dr. Ikezu said.

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UNeMed Welcomes New Licensing Specialist

May 11, 2009 Comments Off on UNeMed Welcomes New Licensing Specialist News

OMAHA, Neb. (May 11, 2009)—UNeMed, the technology transfer arm for UNMC, welcomes licensing specialist Jason Nickla, JD, LL.M, to its staff. Nickla will focus on new technologies developed at UNMC.

“We are very pleased to have Jason join our team. His extensive knowledge of technology transfer and patent law will be a tremendous asset to UNeMed and UNMC”, said Michael Dixon, VP and Chief Operating Officer of UNeMed.

Nickla, a registered patent attorney, will work with faculty to receive, evaluate, protect, market and license their new discoveries. In addition, Nickla’s focus will be to increase the visibility of UNeMed by, Nickla, a registered patent attorney, will work with faculty to receive, evaluate, protect, market and license new inventions. In addition, Nickla will be a resource for entrepreneurial faculty who are interested in forming a new company for commercialization of their research activities.

Dixon adds, “Jason will play a key role in our office as a liaison with both UNMC faculty and industry to help oversee the transition of research discoveries into commercial products”.

Nickla will be the faculty members’ primary contact for the College of Nursing, College of Dentistry, School of Allied Health and the following departments in the College of Medicine: Cardiology, Pulmonary & Critical Care, Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery & Rehab, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Anesthesiology, Geriatrics, Nephrology, Pediatrics, and Continuing Education. In addition, Jason will assist our Lincoln campus with their inventions.

UNeMed receives 60 to 70 New Invention Notifications (NINs) annually and licenses many of these inventions to companies worldwide for commercial development. In addition to commercializing new technologies, UNeMed offers assistance to entrepreneurial faculty interested in starting new companies.

Nickla earned his J.D. and his B.S. in Biology from Creighton University and his LL.M. in International Intellectual Property Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has over six years of experience in technology transfer, patent prosecution, patentability searches and patent litigation matters.

Originally from Nebraska, Nickla earned his J.D., a B.S. in Biology from Creighton University and his LL.M. in International Intellectual Property Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in the state of Illinois.

While in Chicago, Nickla worked for Beem Patent Law Firm, drafting patent applications and advising clients on patentability, licensing, and patent litigation matters. Nickla later joined Cardinal Intellectual Property, an Illinois patent search start-up company, to help develop their services for conducting patentability, invalidity, and freedom-to-operate searches for corporate and law firm clients. In addition, he conducted searches and drafted patentability opinions on behalf of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Nickla is an active member of many organizations including American Bar Association (ABA), American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), the Licensing Executives Society (LES) and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI).

Nickla lives in Omaha with his wife Mindy. They welcomed their first child on June 8 2009. Jason Nickla can be reached at 559-8983 or jnickla@unmc.edu

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UNeMed celebrates sale of license, creates new jobs for Nebraska

May 8, 2009 Comments Off on UNeMed celebrates sale of license, creates new jobs for Nebraska News, Success Stories

The creation of new jobs in these difficult times was cause for a celebration at a recent ceremonial ribbon-cutting in Plattsmouth that involved UNMC.

Vireo Resources, which began operations in January, will process and package human nutritional products and  animal health care products.  Technology for the products was developed at UNMC.

UNeMed, the marketing and licensing arm for UNMC, issued a license to Vireo, which commercialized the medical center technology and established Vireo Resources in Plattsmouth.

“I’m delighted the work of UNMC faculty has led to products being manufactured in Nebraska by Nebraskans,” said James Linder, M.D., CEO of UNeMed and associate vice chancellor for research at UNMC.  “The university can make important contributions to economic development through the commercialization of new inventions and technology.”

UNeMed licensed the technology for the product — StayActiv – in 2007 to Vireo Systems, Inc., of Madison, Tenn., Vireo Resources’ parent company, which makes raw materials for creams and powders to manufacture products for retail distribution and sale.

The technology behind StayActiv was invented in the late 1990s by a UNMC research team led by Jonathan Vennerstrom, PhD, and Donald Miller, PhD  The team included Sam Augustine, Pharm.D., Tom McDonald, PhD, Jon Wagner, Pharm.D., and Dennis Robinson, PhD

StayActiv, sold as a capsule or cream, is advertised as a product that provides fast pain relief and also promotes repair of muscles, joints and tissue.

“It is the only product on the market that targets inflammation and lactic acid — the two main sources of pain,” said Mark Faulkner, owner of Vireo Systems, Inc. “It promotes relief from the release of prostaglandins and supports a reduction in the buildup of lactic acid.

“It has been shown to be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving inflammation.” A similar product made by Vireo, called RejuvenatePlus, also is a technology developed by UNMC. It is marketed for animals and provides joint and muscle relief in aging pets.

UNeMed licensed the technology under its new initiative that waives and/or defers licensing fees and other upfront costs for new or expanding Nebraska businesses.

Businesses must demonstrate committed management, a sound business plan that increases the payroll in Nebraska, and sufficient capital to execute the business plan. The initiative, called AdvanceNebraska is designed to promote economic growth in Nebraska and create new jobs.

Participants in the ceremony included Dr. Linder, Faulkner, Gov. Dave Heineman, Plattsmouth Mayor Paul Lambert and Richard Baier, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

“The state’s biomedical industry is taking a significant step forward with (this) groundbreaking,” Heineman said. “We are positioned to attract even more biomedical companies, with the added bonus of being able to offer development-ready technologies formulated right here at our exceptional university medical center.”

Faulkner said he’s particularly grateful to the Department of Economic Development for working with him for more than two years to find the right place.

“Without their assistance, locating this plant in Nebraska wouldn’t have happened,” he said. “This has been a great cooperative effort between UNMC, the state’s department of economic development and the city of Plattsmouth.”

UNMC researchers and Vireo have worked together for more than seven years on various projects, some of which have been marketed and patents are pending for several new products. Since 2002, Vireo has worked with UNMC and major universities to develop, study and prove the safety and effectiveness of StayActiv and other products, Faulkner said.

Vireo Resources also offers manufacturing and packaging services to other companies.

UNeMed, which was incorporated in 1991 to commercialize new technology developed at UNMC, is wholly-owned by the University of Nebraska.

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Dr. Dixon named president of UNeMed

April 28, 2009 Comments Off on Dr. Dixon named president of UNeMed News

OMAHA, Neb. (April 28, 2009)—UNeMed Corporation, the for-profit technology transfer arm for UNMC, will have a new president as of May 1. Michael Dixon, PhD, director of the intellectual property office, was named last week to the position by the UNeMed Board, chaired by Don Leuenberger, vice chancellor of business and finance. James Linder, M.D., current president and CEO of UNeMed, was then named CEO.

“Michael brings to the position a unique understanding of both science and intellectual property,” Dr. Linder said. “He’s become nationally recognized in key groups, such as the Association for University Technology Managers and the Licensing Executive Society.”

Dr. Dixon, 33, has successfully mixed science and business since he received his doctorate degree in molecular biology from the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center in 2003. At that time, he became the faculty liaison/technology transfer associate in the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), becoming director in 2006.

In that year, IPO and UNeMed merged and Dr. Dixon remained director of the office until he was named vice president and chief operating officer of UNeMed in January 2008.

“In the past few years he has earned the respect of faculty at UNMC and has established strong internship and postdoctoral programs at UNeMed,” Dr. Linder said. “He has built educational relationships with Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has developed a close working relationship with the Office of Technology Development at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.”

As CEO, Dr. Linder will be involved in, business development outreach to external partners and venture capital development. Dr. Dixon said he is proud of the significant increase in technology transfer activity on campus.

“In the past three years, we’ve seen more than a 50 percent increase in licenses and inventions going through UNeMed,” he said. “Our staff has been able to keep up with the pace and increase our efficiency to become a valuable resource for the campus.”

Moving UNMC technologies from the bench to the marketplace to help people is rewarding for Dr. Dixon.

“I want to continue to build on the successes of Dr. Linder, who developed the commercial side to UNeMed, and Tom McDonald, PhD, who led UNeMed before him as one of first entrepreneurs on campus,” he said.

One of his long-term goals is to bring in as much research money to UNMC as the tobacco settlement provides — $5 million to$6 million a year.

UNeMed now generates more than $1 million in revenues — the bulk of which is from the Leveen probe, a non-surgical tumor ablation device that was invented in the early 1990s and licensed in the late ’90s. It has become the gold standard for nonsurgical tumor ablation treatment.

Dr. Dixon points to other technologies that will help build the research revenue stream:

  • StayActiv, sold as a capsule or cream, provides fast pain relief and also promotes repair of muscles, joints and tissue. It is the only product on the market that targets inflammation and lactic acid — the two main sources of pain. It was licensed to Vireo Systems, Inc., and has subsequently spawned the birth of a new company in Plattsmouth, Neb., Vireo Resources, which processes and packages nutritional products. The technology behind StayActiv was invented in the late 1990s by a UNMC research team led by Jonathan Vennerstrom, PhD, and Donald Miller, PhD The team included Sam Augustine, Pharm.D., Tom McDonald, PhD, Jon Wagner, Pharm.D., and Dennis Robinson, PhD
  • Addrenex contracted with UNeMed to rapidly acquire new drug candidates by tapping into UNMC’s considerable scientific expertise and its pre-existing library of alpha-2 adrenergic compounds. The library and associated intellectual property was gifted to UNMC by Proctor and Gamble in 2002. Two of the compounds have been tested in clinical trials involving 700 patients with either nasal congestion or migraine headache. If successful, the value of potential sales from these products could exceed $2 billion.

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