Innovation Insider

MARCH 2022

UK INNOVATE LAUNCHES INNOVATION CONNECT, HIRES NEW LEADER FOR INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS

UK Innovate is thrilled to announce the launch of its new Industry Partnerships program, UK Innovation Connect, and that Landon Borders will lead this team as Senior Associate Director, Innovation Economic Development and Industry Partnerships, and Executive Director, UK Innovation Connect. Landon will lead efforts to grow and manage research and innovation-based industry partnerships and economic development objectives for UK Innovate, including focused activities in alignment with Kentucky's priority industries as well as UK's Research Priority areas.

“We are so excited to welcome someone of Landon’s talent and experience to UK Innovate to lead our industry partnering capabilities. Landon has been a champion of the Lexington and Kentucky innovation ecosystem and has two decades of experience working in leadership roles within some of Kentucky’s most innovative technology and product companies," said AVPR Ian McClure. "Landon will help us form a keen understanding of business pace and process as we seek to match their interests with UK’s scientific talent, research expertise and innovation outputs. With Landon’s leadership, UK research will be better equipped to create innovation economic impact in the state, region, and world.”

For over twenty years, Landon has been a leading innovator of new products and technologies that have made a lasting impact on Kentucky industries. Previously, he was the Director of Product Development at Bullard with responsibility for global patent portfolio, technology development and new product introductions leading multi-discipline design and engineering teams across the globe. Prior to Bullard, Landon worked at Big Ass Fans and Lexmark International where he developed and commercialized internet-connected devices, software solutions and imaging systems in various roles. Landon has served on the Advisory Board for Launch Blue, as Board Director for Thread Group, The Connected Lighting Alliance and JSRDF, and is a proud graduate of UK with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. 



"I'm so excited and honored to be joining the UK Innovate team. Having spent the last twenty years serving Kentucky industries through new product and technology innovations, I fully understand and appreciate just how much impact UK researchers can make on our state and region," said Borders. "There is just so much potential for UK researchers to innovate in ways that will benefit our industries and economy; we've really only just scratched the surface. I cannot wait to see how much we will accomplish together."

AVPR IAN MCCLURE NAMED CHAIR OF AUTM

Ian McClure, J.D., LL.M., Associate Vice President for Research (AVPR), Innovation and Economic Impact and Executive Director, UK Innovate, has been named AUTM’s new Chair during their 2022 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. The Chair is the official spokesperson for the AUTM Board and provides strategic leadership in all the Board functions. 

“As Chair, I look forward to seeing how AUTM adeptly handles the spotlight that has illuminated tech transfer in recent years, including specifically as a result of the pandemic’s emphasis on moving science to market with rapid pace,” said McClure. “I see the recognition of AUTM’s role in the innovation economy growing and that’s an awesome thing. I am excited for the research commercialization field to grow, expend, and diversify, with focus on inclusive innovation practices. Global policy leaders are recognizing that technology transfer is an important component to global competitiveness, and that bodes well for new investments in commercialization infrastructure and the resulting potential for moving technologies to market for public benefit. The public deserves that."

UK INNOVATE HOSTS SUCCESSFUL EVENT AT AUTM FEATURING BOURBON RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

UK Innovate partnered with the University of Kentucky (UK) Office of the Vice President for Research and Stites & Harbison PLLC on a Kentucky Bourbon Walk Happy Hour during the AUTM Annual Meeting. The event celebrated Kentucky Bourbon and the UK James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits. Over 300 attendees picked up event passports and walked around to four bourbon tasting stations each featuring a poster and presenter to learn about bourbon research and innovation and answer questions while tasting a different Kentucky Bourbon. Three prizes provided by Stites and Harbison were given out randomly based on correct responses to the poster questions.

Poster Topics and Presenters:

• How the Bourbon Industry Works with UK's Beam Institute and the Economic Impact of Bourbon in Kentucky created and presented by Kim Sayre, College of Engineering
• White Oak Genetics and Tree Improvement Project created by Laura DeWald, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and presented by staff of Stites & Harbison
• The Women in Bourbon Oral History Project: Perspectives from Undergraduate Researchers created and presented by Emily Fay, a graduate student working on a Master's degree in risk and crisis management, and Taylor Davis, an undergraduate student working on a major in management
• Beyond Bourbon: Crafting Spirited Value-added Products & Sustainable Solutions created by Dr. Jagannadh Satyavolu and presented by Greg Tucker both from the University of Louisville

We appreciate everyone who attended the event, our poster creators and presenters, the Office of the Vice President for Research, the James B. Beam Institute and Stites & Harbison for partnering with us to make this event a success.

SERENITY WRIGHT SPEARHEADS NEW SOCIAL INNOVATION SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP (SIG)

Serenity Wright, Associate Director, Social Innovation for the Office of Technology Commercialization collected enough signatures at her first AUTM Annual Meeting to for a new Special Interest Group (SIG) on Social Innovation. Final approval for the SIG formation will be made by the AUTM Cabinet.

PATENTS

JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2022

11,217,811

"Unique redox-active phenothiazine combinations with depressed melting points for increased solubility and method of use in energy storage and in redox flow batteries"

Susan A Odom, Giorgio Baggi, Aman Preet Kaur

College of Arts and Sciences

Chemistry

11,219,623

"Inflammasome inhibition for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis"

Jayakrishna Ambati, Benjamin Fowler, Kameshwari Ambati

College of Medicine

Ophthalmology and Visual Science

11,224,609

"Mithramycin derivatives having increased selectivity and anti-cancer activity"

Jurgen Rohr, Oleg Tsodikov, Markos Leggas, Caixia Hou, Joseph Eckenrode, Prithiba Mitra, Abhisek Mandal

College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

11,230,714

"Gene silencing kills emerald ash borer, an exotic, invasive tree-killing insect"

Lynne Rieske-Kinney, Thais Barros Rodrigues

College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Entomology

LICENSES/OPTIONS

JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2022

Arisu Therapeutics

Kyung Bo Kim

College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Audio Visual Preservation Solutions, Inc

Douglas Boyd

College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Bioptics Technology, LLC

Guoqiang Yu, Yu Lin, Chong Huang, Jeffrey Todd Hastings, Thomas Pittman

College of Engineering

Mining Engineering

PhoenixNMR, LLC

Eric J Munson, Matthew J Nethercott

College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Veterans Health Administration

College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

VivaMed Opioid Solutions, LLC

Chang-Guo Zhan, Fang Zheng

College of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical Sciences

VivaMed STimulant Solutions, LLC

Craig Rush

College of Medicine

Behavioral Science

Join us at the Concordia Lexington Summit April 7-8! Taking place in both a digital and in-person capacity, the inaugural Concordia Lexington Summit will convene a variety of voices across the political spectrum and across sectors to advance civil discourse and understanding between the different socioeconomic worlds present in the U.S. In line with Concordia’s mission, the event will create impactful partnerships that not only address drivers of division and improve economic empowerment for all but also address the future of technology, trade, environmental sustainability, and much more.

The Summit will take place in partnership with the following three academic units of the University of Kentucky: the J. David Rosenberg College of Law, the Gatton College of Business and Economics, and the College of Education. Contact RSVP@Concordia.net citing UK Innovate for your FREE exclusive in-person pass, or sign up through the link below to join virtually.

In-Person passes are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.