The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a leader in transferring technology and ideas into the marketplace. Technology transfer successes are augmented by world-class programs, including the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF), University Research Park, the Office of Corporate Relations, the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as strong school/college engagement in technology transfer activity.
UW-Madison has leveraged its strengths to greatly increase its economic impact through creation of successful new companies and licensing deals, thereby benefiting the University and the State of Wisconsin. For the period 1998 to 2008 acquisitions or IPOs of UW-Madison life science startups produced $3.4 billion of shareholder value. Companies having Madison operations associated with acquisition of a UW-Madison-related startup include Monsanto, Roche, SAFC, Hologic, Accuray, GE Healthcare, Danisco, Catalent, Cardinal Health, Life Technologies and Microsoft.
UW-Madison is one of the most comprehensive universities in the nation, providing the advantage of being able to bring together experts in a variety of disciplines to create innovative solutions. UW-Madison researchers have strength in many areas that have potential for commercializable ideas including medical devices, physical sciences and engineering, pharmaceuticals, clean technology, agriculture, computer science and information technology.
In addition to the partners noted above, several UW-Madison programs have a significant role in technology transfer and commercialzation including::
• MERLIN Mentors
• WARF Accelerator Program
• Entrepreneurs’ Resource Clinic
• Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic
• Wiscontrepreneur Programs
• First Look Investor Forums
• Grad School: gap funding focused on near term commercialzation (Draper TIF and I&EDR grants to faculty)
• Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
• Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research
Most university technology transfer offices operate as part of the administration of the university. The management of intellectual property on UW’s campus is fundamentally different. University policy on the ownership of intellectual property begins with a presumption that faculty, staff and students own their own intellectual property. WARF, is a legally separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to support research at UW-Madison. UW-Madison has designated WARF as its patent management organization. WARF automatically takes ownership of any IP where federal funds are involved but faculty make their own decisions abut assignment of IP rights to WARF. Because WARF is a separate entity no University budget is allocated to this activity – WARF has never in its history accepted a payment from the University for its services. In fact over its 87 year history WARF has gifted more than $1 billion to the university as unrestricted funds to support research.
Today's seminar will introduce three technologies that are illustrative of the breadth of UW-Madison research; each having its own commercial potential.
QuickChip – Commercializing a Point-of-Care Diagnostic Device that Nobody Needs Speaker: Adam C. Siegel, Ph.D. Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UW Madison Co-Founder, Honeycomb Diagnostics
Abstract: Adam will discuss how he conducted a needs assessment to identify a market for QuickChip, a portable diagnostic device for farmers developed in the laboratory of Dr. Doug Weibel in the Department of Biochemistry. QuickChip uses isothermal DNA amplification and an iPhone to detect bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens in under 20 min. While the initial goal of the project was to improve medical care in hospitals, interviews with physicians and diagnostic lab directors led the team to shift focus first to veterinary medicine, and then again to agriculture. Adam will also discuss common pitfalls in commercializing academic research and the role of an EIR to help professors identify large markets undergoing rapid growth or change prior to conducting research.
Technology for automatically measuring repetitive motion in the workplace Speaker: Robert G. Radwin, PhD Professor of Biomedical engineering and Industrial Systems Engineering University of Wisconsin
Abstract: Upper extremity injuries are common in repetitive hand intensive work yet there is currently no practical instrument for objectively, unobtrusively, and efficiently measuring repetitive motion exposure. We are developing automated digital video processing algorithms for quantifying hand activity level in real-time. This technology could make a direct reading exposure assessment instrument for evaluating upper limb work-related occupational hazards more accessible to general industry, with broad applications for occupational health and safety.
Abstract: Apartia is developing anti-infective agents to prevent and control bacterial infections while slowing the evolution of drug resistant bacteria. Our compounds are engineered to control bacterial virulence by manipulating bacterial communication. Certain bacteria “talk” to each other by emitting small molecules that are unique to each bacterium that bind to a specific receptor in the bacteria. This is called quorum sensing (QS). QS causes bacterial cells of that strain to “know” the density of that strain’s population. At certain cell densities, this binding event triggers bacteria to change from individual cells to a coordinated population that turn on a range of pathogenic functions, such as biofilm formation and the production of virulence factors. By manipulating the QS system, one can change the behavior of bacteria without inducing resistance.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:
Adam C. Siegel, Ph.D. Entrepreneur-in-Residence at UW Madison Co-Founder, Honeycomb Diagnostics
Adam recently quit his full-time job as a healthcare management consultant in New York City to join the University of Wisconsin as an embedded Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR), assisting research professors one-on-one match specific industry needs with technological discoveries. Adam received his Ph.D. from Harvard in 2009 under the direction of George M. Whitesides, and his B.S. from the University of Michigan in 2001.
Robert G. Radwin, PhD Professor of Biomedical engineering and Industrial Systems Engineering University of Wisconsin
Robert G. Radwin, PhD is a Professor in the department of Biomedical Engineering and Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin College of Engineering, and of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation in the School of Medicine and Public Health. His research focuses on the physiological and biomechanical aspects of work. Dr. Radwin investigates how to better design jobs, equipment, tools, products, and environments in which people play a significant role, so that human capabilities are maximized, physical stress and fatigue are minimized, and workload is optimized. He has received numerous grants and contracts from government agencies, companies and private foundations and he is frequently a consultant to industry and government in ergonomics in manufacturing and product design. Dr. Radwin is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineers, the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (US), and the Institute of Ergonomics (UK). He is a member of the NIOSH Study Section, the Human Factors journal editorial board, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation Human Factors Engineering Committee (ANSI HE75 Standard for Human Factors Design of Medical Devices).
Shawn Guse CEO, Co-founder Apartia
Shawn is an entrepreneur with experience as CEO for multiple high tech companies and 16 years of helping high tech and healthcare companies with strategy, operations, sales, and corporate finance. He has a unique blend of international experience, operational leadership, functional expertise, and commercial skills. Shawn has extensive background in advising, structuring, and serving on boards of directors. He also has a proven track record in product development, operational improvement, and sales and marketing.
Shawn is currently the CEO of Apartia Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a new class of antibiotics based on quorum sensing technology developed at the University of Wisconsin. He is also guiding two start ups, Intuitive Biosciences, which is leveraging its experience in molecular diagnostics to improve animal health testing and biomarker discovery, and oneEvent Technologies , which is developing a cloud-based fire detection system. He also services on the board of Echometrix , an ultrasound software company. Previously he served as CEO and Director of Compact Particle Acceleration Corporation, which developed a revolutionary proton accelerator, and VP of International Operations and General Counsel of TomoTherapy, a radiotherapy equipment manufacturer. Prior to his corporate career, Shawn practiced law focusing on mergers, acquisitions, and securities for technology companies.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR:
Allen J. Dines Assistant Director for new Ventures Office of Corporate Relations University of Wisconsin-Madison
Mr. Dines is Assistant Director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Office of Corporate Relations (OCR). The Office of Corporate Relations assists businesses and entrepreneurs in accessing the diverse resources of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). As Assistant Director, he works principally with new ventures and early stage investors. He serves as Program Manager for OCR’s entrepreneurship programs including its Wiscontrepreneur program (www.wiscontrepreneur.org) funded in part under the Kauffman Campuses Program of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Mr. Dines joined the UW-Madison in 2001 bringing with him more than 25 years of experience in industry and entrepreneurial technology businesses. In his initial position at the university he served as Assistant Director for Business Development, within the Graduate School where his major focus was commercialization of university technology through startup business development and entrepreneurship. In 2002, Mr. Dines co-founded the Midwest Research University Network (MRUN), an alliance of major Midwest research institutions dedicated to regional cooperation in the commercialization of university research through new business creation. He currently serves as president of MRUN. He is co-director of the Brinks Innovation Competition which focuses on promoting visibility of high potential Cleantech companies in association with the Midwest Cleantech Conference. Mr. Dines serves on advisory boards of the Global Midwest Alliance, MERLIN Mentors, UW-Madison Entrepreneurship Association and the UW Student Business Incubator.
Mr. Dines has been involved in three startup ventures, all in the biotechnology sector, two of which he co-founded. All three companies were acquired by leaders in their respective markets. Prior to these ventures, Mr. Dines was an Associate and Staff Manager with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, Inc. in Bethesda, MD.
Mr. Dines holds degrees from the University of Michigan including a B.S in Psychology, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Regional Planning in Natural Resources. In 2004, Mr. Dines was named a Wisconsin Idea Fellow by the UW-System President.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES:
WEBINAR DURATION: Each session is a 90-minute webinar with 60 minutes of presentation and 30 minutes of Q&A.
COST:Free, but registration required by clicking on the Register button above.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE?: This webinar is online. You need a computer with web access for the visual/audio. You may also dial-in using the audio-only telephone number. The call in details and instructions on how to join the webinar will be sent to you via email after you register. Once registered to the webinar you will receive a reminder email 24 hours before the start of the webinar with instructions on how to join.
QUESTIONS TO SPEAKERS: Q&A is conducted by a chat box to the speakers.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE WEBINAR?:Angel investors, venture capitalists, large companies, entrepreneurs, SBIR companies, federal lab researchers, federal agency representatives, and others who want to learn more about technologies highlighted during the webinar.
SLIDES AND VIDEO:The slide presentations and video recording will be available on this page. If you are unable to join the live webinar, you may view the recorded video that will be posted within 24 hours after the scheduled webinar ends.
Webinars
