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From Campus to Commerce
THE UMASS OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND ENGAGEMENT
The Office of Research and Engagement administers the campus’s research enterprise. It works in conjunction with academic, government, and private partners to translate new knowledge and scientific discoveries into technical innovations and scholarly works that benefit society and create opportunities for students, faculty, and the public. Its major functions encompass two broad areas: research administration and compliance, and research development and engagement. Research and Engagement also oversees large, multi-college centers, institutes, and affiliated core facilities.
Technology Transfer Office
BY THE NUMBERS
FISCAL YEAR 2020
The Technology Transfer Office (TTO), under the Office of Research and Engagement, is a faculty-service organization that lends its specialized expertise in “intellectual property”—patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets—to faculty, students, and staff across campus. It helps people recognize when they may have made an invention, evaluate patentability and commercial potential, and file and pursue patent applications. The TTO works with inventors to find companies interested in selling the patented products or to create startup companies for this purpose. It also provides advice to faculty, students, staff, and university leadership on a wide variety of matters that touch on intellectual property.
One of the TTO’s most valuable functions is seeking patents on inventions that result from UMass Amherst research, and then entering contracts, called “licenses,” that give companies the right to make and sell the patented products. The patent rights give companies an incentive to invest money and effort in developing and marketing the new products because the patents prevent other companies from selling the same products for a period of time. In some cases, the TTO licenses patent rights to already-existing companies, both large and small. In other cases, the TTO collaborates with other campus organizations, such as the Office of Research Compliance, IALS Venture Development, and Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship, to support faculty, students, and others as they consider forming a company to commercialize inventions. The startup route is sometimes the only avenue for commercializing promising and highly advanced university inventions because existing companies consider them too risky.
In addition, the TTO actively supports the UMass Amherst National Science Foundation Innovation Corps Site (see page 23). The TTO director, Burnley Jaklevic, is co-principal investigator on the I-Corps Site grant. The TTO licensing professionals serve as instructors or coaches for I-Corps Site program participants.
$605,200
Total revenue
14
New patent applications filed 51
If you have intellectual property questions or are considering forming a venture, please call us at 413-545-3606, email us at tto@umass.edu, or consult our website (umass.edu/tto).
Invention disclosures
31
Patents issued
8
License and option agreements executed
2
New startups formed
UMass Amherst–Based Startups
The following university-affiliated ventures have formed commercial entities within the past decade; some are in the process of raising funds from government grants and investments, and others are developing projects.
Automated Controversy Detection, LLC (AuCoDe)
Shiri Dori-Hacohen, CICS Automated computer system for detecting the presence of controversies on the internet. Applications in automated stock trading, artificial intelligence.
Cyta Therapeutics, Inc. Thai Thayumanavan, Chemistry Nanogel-based drug delivery system that is capable of stably encapsulating a drug of choice, targeting the nanogel to a desired tissue, and releasing the drug upon entering the target tissue cells.
Ernest Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Nele Van Dessel/Neil Forbes, Chemical Engineering Salmonella has long been known to target cancer cells, but use as a drug delivery vehicle has failed. Novel gene construct that causes bacteria to burst inside target cells now makes this possible.
HasenTech, LLC Barbara Osborne, VASCI Using purified exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Bacillus subtilis to provide protection against inflammation associated with inflammatory disease.
Intrata, Inc. Greg Tew, PSE Synthetic protein-transduction-domain mimics that are capable of intracellular delivery of antigens, antibodies, and other biomolecules for vaccine development and therapeutic applications.
Kyttarinic Technologies, LLC Kenneth Carter, PSE Commercializing new technologies based on cellulose and nanocellulose materials to address modern problems.
Latde Diagnostics, LLC Sloan Siegrist, Microbiology Diagnostic for blood-borne infections; technology could be adapted to detect bacterial growth in humans, animals, food, and manufacturing contexts.
Marvel Diagnostics, Inc. Jonathan Rothstein, MIE Marvel Diagnostics innovative BlowFISH technology offers the potential for a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive, massively-deployable, rapid diagnostic or sentinel system for detecting respiratory illness and airborne viral threats.
Optical Waters, LLC
Mariana Lopes,Civil & Environmental Engineering Germicidal, ultraviolet side-emitting optical fibers to disinfect the inside of tight channels in medical equipment and air/water treatment applications.
Soliyarn, LLC Trisha Andrew, Chemistry Conductive cloth for heated garments made using vapor deposition at high pressures. Thin and flexible, low power consumption.
Sperm Capacitation Technologies, Inc. (SCT, Inc.)
Pablo Visconti, VASCI Kit for increasing the fertilization rate and embryo quality achieved in artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization. Applications in hard-to-breed gene-deficient research mice, breeding cattle and horses, improving human fertility enhancement.
TetraMem, Inc. Qiangfei Xia, ECE Developing next generation computing devices for AI and IoT applications.
Two Trees, LLC Ginny Chandler, Nursing Deploying proprietary strengths-based learning model to activate resilience, increase thriving to boost adaptive success.
Anellotech, Inc. Chemical Engineering Sustainable technology company commercializing technology for the production of cost-competitive renewable chemicals and fuels.
In Market
These seven teams have products or services available.
Aclarity, LLC Dave Reckhow/Julie Bliss, Civil & Environmental Engineering Point of use water purification device that uses a small electric current to generate chlorine and peroxide, avoiding need for expensive cartridges.
Felsuma, LLC Al Crosby & Duncan Irschick, PSE/Biology Geckskin® products, based on revolutionary adhesive technologies, developed at UMass Amherst and provide easily releasable and reusable adhesive materials.
Genoverde Biosciences, Inc. Sam Hazen, Biology Agri-biotech company developing plant-based solutions to address economic, social, and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
Lumme, Inc. Deepak Ganesan, CICS Developing a behavior change platform that combines machine learning, wearable devices, and behavioral psychology.
MedZu, Inc.
Nationwide surveillance of arthropod vectors of human disease that provides actionable data to individuals, care providers, and communities.
PearlPod, LLC Carlos Gradil, VASCI Intra-uterine device that limits erratic behavior of mares during breeding season.
Tumult Labs, Inc. Gerome Miklau, CICS Information privacy technology that allows data to be used effectively while respecting and maintaining the privacy of contributing individuals.
The UMass Innovation Institute
Designed to foster industry-sponsored basic and applied research, gain collaborations with industry partners, and apply technology transition to industry, the mission of the UMass Innovation Institute (UMII) is to increase opportunities for companies to work with university researchers in order to elevate projects from concept to commercialization. The goal is to have an impact on regional and national economic growth by ensuring that knowledge and technology developed at UMass Amherst are rapidly and broadly disseminated to advance the nation’s social and economic interests. On average, 20 percent of university-wide research projects (200 per year) are affiliated with industry partners. UMII is the central office for coordinating projects across campus for companies seeking expert research. UMII is committed to real-time responsiveness with agility and flexibility, understanding that companies have a short window of opportunity and recognizing that any delay can impact projects. A one-stop shop, UMII coordinates all aspects of proposal development for industry projects, reaching internally across multiple offices in order to process a grant. Its work is tightly coordinated with the university’s Technology Transfer Office regarding intellectual property in order to achieve equitable deals for both the company and UMass Amherst researchers. The institute conducts meetings across campus to assist researchers (of which there are more than 700) with various types of contracts, as well as helping prepare the scope of work, budget, timeline, and milestones for each project.
MOUNT IDA INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION SPACE
The Mount Ida Innovation and Collaboration Space, located on UMass Amherst’s Mount Ida Campus in Newton, is home to a community of entrepreneurs, comprising more than 25,000 square feet of co-working space. There are offices—both dedicated and shared—in addition to conference rooms, auditoriums, laboratories, a makerspace, and event spaces. The space serves as a hub for innovation by connecting UMass Amherst with the area’s most forward-thinking companies and individuals.
Memberships start at $350/month. Full-time, part-time and virtual options are available. Consistent with the mission and strategic plan of the Mount Ida Campus, Innovation and Collaboration Space members are expected to provide professional development opportunities for UMass Amherst students, including informational interviews, internships, and networking opportunities.
The space is located within the Newton-Needham Innovation District and adjacent to the Wells Avenue Commercial District. The area has become a hotbed for revolutionary technology, booming startups, and enterprising corporations. Located less than 10 miles from downtown Boston, the Mount Ida Campus offers free parking, on-site dining, and outdoor recreational facilities.
