MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR
Wayne Swann
I am pleased to report that FY 2024 was another successful year for the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT). We were able to meet or exceed our record goals relating to intellectual property and licensing, and we established the Office as a strategic partner with other administrative units in helping Morgan attain R1 research university designation.
As we embarked on the third year of “Phase II: Growth Pillar of our Strategic Goals”, we have continued to grow at a moderate rate. We maintained our numbers in new IP Disclosures (innovations), New U.S. Patent Applications, Startup Companies and Tech Transfer Agreements. Our record achievement this FY was in issued U.S. Patents, a record 14 were issued in FY24. This accomplishment solidified us as the #1 HBCU in issued U.S. Utility Patents in 2023 and enabled us to be included on the nation’s Top U S 100 Universities in awarded U.S Utility patents, as noted by the National Academy of Inventors. Also, continuing a trend established in FY 2021, MSU has remained steadfast in new IP Disclosures with one new innovation being received every 12 days!
OTT’s proactive in-reach programs, led by our Innovation Works (I-Works) Initiative, has continued to make a difference throughout the university, with 20 Awards to faculty/staff across 13 departments and seven Schools, Colleges, and Divisions.
In FY 2024, OTT published the fourth issue of its Innovation Works Newsletter; and recognized the 2023 Innovation of the Year awardees, continuing its tradition of recognizing and rewarding innovation at Morgan. OTT also hosted the Black Founders in I-Corps event, in partnership with the Maryland Innovation Extension and Partner Universities. The office also hosted a three-part Innovation Insights virtual seminar series supported by the Office of Naval Research.
As the University continues its work in attaining R1 designation by 2030, the OTT Team has led a number of initiatives in achieving this goal. We partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Science magazine on an awareness campaign highlighting Morgan research centers and shaping the narrative of Morgan as a well-rounded, well-recognized and wellrespected institution. We’ve also begun tracking Morgan’s Science and Technology Capabilities and Skills (SATCAS) among faculty and students with the development of our SATCAS database, and have categorized all of Morgan’s innovations.
The progress made by the University in the technology transfer arena would not be possible without the strong support of Morgan’s leadership, university-wide engagement at the department level, experienced OTT staff, and of course, our many innovators. Continued progress in Morgan’s innovation ecosystem will benefit the City and State and lend gravitas to Morgan’s designation as "Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University."
FY 2024 ACCOLADES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
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The Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) identified and documented 31 new Morgan Intellectual Property Disclosures (IPDs) (Innovations) in FY 2024.
Supported by the Office of Naval Research, OTT hosted a three-part virtual seminar series, Innovation Insights. The topics included: Innovation, Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer & Economic
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14
OTT funded 13 Innovation Development Faculty I-GAP Seed Grants and 7 IWorks grants in FY 2024.
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9 Development. The near 100 attendees represented students, faculty, and staff from various schools/colleges, & departments.
The OTT team filed 32 new U.S. Patent Applications with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during FY 24.
32
U.S. Patents awarded to Morgan Innovators. This accolade solidifies MSU as the #1 HBCU in issued patents and earns the University a spot on the list of Top 100 Universities awarded U.S. Utility Patents in 2023.
OTT hosted the Sixth Annual Innovation of the Year (IOY) Awards honoring 29 award winners.
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The Technology Transfer team executed 9 Tech Transfer agreements with businesses during FY 2024.
INNOVATIONPORTFOLIO
231 Innovations (Intellectual Property Disclosures)
One New IPD every 12 days
34% Include Student Innovators
>90% Minority Inventor
33 Different Department/Units
Fiscal Year 2024 Innovation Metrics
The chart below provides the FY 2024 end of year Morgan numerical data and updated comparative performance metrics per $10 million of university research expenditures based on the most recent Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) statistics. Morgan continues to surpass U.S. research universities when indexed to research and development expenditures.
*FY 2024 Morgan Performance Data. Most Recent data/$10 million of R&D Expenditures. Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
Morgan finished the FY as the #1 HBCU in issued U.S. Patents
Spearheaded by the Office of Technology Transfer, Morgan achieved a tremendous accolade in fiscal year 2024, becoming the #1 Historically Black Institution awarded U.S. Utility patents in 2023 and with the most ever per year, being awarded to an HBCU. This achievement was powered by the innovation taking place throughout the University from a diverse range of disciplines, representing multiple schools and colleges. This feat also aligns with the Office’s objective of fostering innovation university-wide and helping the faculty and staff translate their research into intellectual property developed to benefit the University and the public at large.
Morgan State University was named to the List of Top 100 U.S. Utility Patents Awarded to U.S. Universities by the National Academy of Inventors. This list is generated annually from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Database.
OFFICEOFTECHNOLOGYTRANSFER
University In-Reach Programs
Through OTT’s strategic In-Reach Programs, the office engages individuals, departments and colleges/schools to identify and document university innovations; provide informational presentations to departments/units; and assist with the development of technology transfer plans for campus units.
The Office of Technology Transfer hosted the Black Founders in I-Corps in partnership with the Maryland Innovation Extension, which includes other institutions in the University System of Maryland and TEDCO. The event was a celebration of entrepreneurship featuring a panel discussion, I-Corps information, networking and refreshments for attendees.
In partnership with the Office of Naval Research under a five-year grant to move Morgan from R2 to R1, OTT also hosted a 3-part virtual seminar series entitled Innovation Insights. This three part series introduced attendees to the fundamentals of innovation, intellectual property, technology transfer and economic development. In addition, the office released their newsletter, Innovation Works, thematically centered around Cybersecurity innovations, and the feature story highlighted Dr. Kevin Kornegay of the School of Engineering and Director of the Cybersecurity and Assurance Policy Center (CAP).
Innovation of the Year (IOY) Awards
The Sixth Annual Innovation of the Year awards were held on November 15, 2023 in the University Student Center. The annual celebration recognized Morgan innovation that continues to lead to noteworthy accolades in intellectual property disclosures, start-up companies, published patent applications and issued patents.
Fiscal Year 24 Award Recipients
Intellectual Property Innovation Awards
Information Science Awardee
Machine Learning Method for Quantitative
Cyber Risk Management
Dr Wondimu Zegeye, Dr Richard Dean, Dr. Farzad Moazzami
Life Science Awardee
Anticancer Rhenium Complexes Against Breast, Colon and Pancreatic Cancers
Dr Santosh Mandal
Physical Science Awardee
Quantum Sensing Device
Dr. Birol Ozturk, Dr. Peker Milas, Sheikh Mahtab
Community Innovator Awards
Instructional Innovator of the Year
Dr. Gonzalo Baptista College of Liberal Arts World Languages and International Studies
Staff Innovator of the Year
Tarrin Morgan, II Office of Residence Life & Housing Director of Marketing & Digital Engagement
Student Innovator of the Year
Shelaniece Clash
Computer & Electrical Engineering
Patent Awardees
The List below includes Patent Awardees from the 2023 IOY celebration and the FY24 Patent recipients.
IOY Patent Awardees
U.S. Patent #11,687,717
System and Method for Monitoring and Routing of Computer Traffic for Cyber Threat Risk Embedded in Electronic Documents
Dr. Garfield Jones
U.S. Patent #11,655,446
Method for Using Bivalve Waste as Media for Micro-Algal Production
Dr. Thomas Ihde, Rebekah Borgert
U.S. Patent #11,595,434
Method and System for Intrusion Detection
Dr. Wondimu Zegeye, Dr. Richard Dean, Dr. Farzad Moazzami
U.S. Patent #11,583,470
Pulmonary Vest for Electro-sonic Stimulation Treatment
Dr. Timothy Akers, Dr. Kofi Nyarko, Dr. Gregory Ramsey, Cassandra Dickerson
U.S. Patent #11,565,711
System and Method for Generating Vehicle Speed Alerts
Dr. Mansoureh Jeihani, Dr. Samira Ahangari, Zohreh Rashidi Moghaddam
U.S. Patent #11,543,429
Nanoscale Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy Electrode Method
Dr. Birol Ozturk, Dr. Alperen Guver, Dr. Peker Milas
U.S. Patent #11,538,577
System and Method for Automated Diagnosis of Skin Cancer Types from Dermoscopic Images
Dr. Md Mahmudur Rahman, Oyebisi Layode, Tasmeer Alam
FY 2024 Patent Awardees
U.S. Patent #11,705,017
Supply Chain Management Instructional Board Game
Dr. Ziping Wang
U.S. Patent #11,716,236
Systems and Methods for OFDM Performance Enhancement of Frequency
Selective Fading Channels
Dr. Richard Dean, Tasmeer Alam
U.S. Patent #11,756,138
System and Method for Stormwater Utility Management
Dr. James Hunter, Dr. Dong Hee Kang, Hye Jeong Lee
U S Patent #11,766,031
System and Method for Promoting Attachment and Growth of Bivalve Organisms on Coastal Structures
Dr Thomas Ihde, Richard Lacouture, Amber DeMarr
U.S. Patent #11,782,011
Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Biosensors
Dr. Yongchao Zhang, Aeshah Alsheri
U.S. Patent #11,810, 215
System and Method for Public Housing Evaluation
Dr. Jacqueline Holland
U.S. Patent #11,824,700
Systems and Methods for Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) Reduction in OFDM Signals
Dr. Richard Dean
U.S. Patent #11,861,275
Digital Signal Processing Using Recursive Hierarchical Particle Swarm Optimization
Dr. Kofi Nyarko, Benjamin Hall
U.S. Patent #11,867,457
Hybrid Mobile Shellfish Cooling System
Dr. Seong Lee, Dr. Xuejun Qian, Yulai Yang
U.S. Patent #11,864,868
Modular, Portable, and Rapidly Deployable System for Health Assessment
Dr. Timothy Akers
U.S. Patent #11,953,334
System and Method for Vehicle Routing
Dr. Young-Jae Lee, Amirreza Nickkar
U.S Patent #11,967,064
Rapid Sensing of Biological and Environmental Analytes
Dr. Kadir Aslan, Edward Constance, Enock Bonyi
U.S. Patent #11,982,442
System and Method for Biomass Combustion
Dr. Seong Lee, Dr. Xuejun Qian, Dr. Yulai Yang, Raghul Kumar Chandrasekaran, Oludayo Alamu, Blaise Kalmia
U.S. Patent #11,990,851
Manufacturing of a Flexible Piezoelectric Film-based Power Source
Dr. Birol Ozturk, Dr. Peker Milas
INNOVATIONWORKS
Translating Innovation Into Jobs
Innovation Works, the Office of Technology Transfer’s signature initiative, consists of four innovation, technology transfer, and economic development programs for university faculty, staff, students and the Morgan community. The overarching goal is translating innovation into local economic development opportunities and jobs. Throughout the year, OTT has partnered with a number of students, faculty, staff and community members to manifest projects and ideas, facilitate start-up businesses, and strengthen relationships within the Morgan community.
FY24 I•GAP STATS
The awarding of I-GAP grants to MSU innovators helps to facilitate transitioning results of laboratory research to the public, to generate societal value through new and improved products and services. The grants were awarded to faculty and staff members representing a diverse group of University departments and divisions looking to advance the University and greater Baltimore community and the region.
INNOVATIONWORKS(I-WORKS)INITIATIVEPROGRAMS
I-GAP • The Innovation Grant Assistance Program provides early stage grants (e.g. pre-TEDCO MII) to MSU inventors to further develop MSU innovations.
I-Works ISO • Reaches out to both new and seasoned entrepreneurs, in-searchof innovations for new technology-based businesses. The program also works to connect and match Morgan students, graduating college seniors and advanced degree candidates with new and early stage companies in search of interns and employees.
I-Works Community • Engages the Morgan Community Mile, the PEARL Aquaculture community and other regional and business communities to promote and enhance innovation.
I-Start • Developing Pre-Incubator and Start-Up spaces for entrepreneurs and start-up companies, as well as students and I-Start Centers.
OTT AS AN R1 STRATEGY PARTNER
Morgan’s ascension towards R1 designation
The Office of Technology Transfer serves as a strategic partner with other University administrative units in Morgan’s ascension to a R1 research university designation, on behalf of the Division of Research and Economic Development. In alignment with President Wilson’s strategic vision of Morgan attaining R1 designation by 2030, OTT has developed metric projection models that track our status against Carnegie R1 criteria. OTT reports MSU’s progress to senior leadership and administrators, while ensuring Morgan stays true to its roots and maintains its soul, catering to the needs of students and the greater Baltimore community and state.
As Morgan makes strides to attain R1 designation, the University must also tell the Morgan story to audiences beyond the Greater Baltimore area. To reach new audiences and new markets, OTT partnered with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Science magazine to launch the Well-3R Awareness campaign, which features six articles on Science print and digital entities. This campaign will position Morgan as a Well-Recognized, Well-Respected, and Well-Rounded research institution, highlighting a variety of university centers, their leadership, and sharing how the efforts of these centers contribute to Morgan’s ascension to R1 designation and maintain our mission of “Growing the Future, Leading the World.”
In tandem with the Well-3R Campaign, The Office of Technology Transfer, through R2 to R1 grant funding from Office of Naval Research, has also created the Science and Technology Capabilities and Skills (SATCAS) Database. The database categorizes the knowledge base of Morgan faculty, staff and research students, innovations and intellectual property, and will soon become a searchable cloud-based system.
Two examples of the Morgan features in Science magazine.