Trends, facts and frivolity. The List keeps you in-the-know.

Get Ready for the Biggest, Baddest AUTM Annual Meeting EVER
Volume 2, Issue 2 — January 15, 2020

It's a big deal. No doubt about it. 2,000+ tech transfer pros from around the globe will be at AUTM's 2020 Annual Meeting to network, make deals and harvest knowledge from world-class speakers and panels. To help you get ready, The List imparts a dozen ways for you to be prepared like a good scout. 

1. Register in advance and save $100
Impress your boss by registering for the meeting in advance. You’ll save $100 off the cost of onsite registration. That’ll pay for a lot of fish tacos in San Diego. This is a no-brainer.

2. Download AUTM Connect 
Have the tools you need to partner your brains out and receive the latest news before, during and after the meeting by downloading the AUTM Connect meeting app. You can create a profile, share docs and arrange meetings with prospects (or tech transfer crushes). Remember, scheduling meetings provides a chance to sit down!

3. Watch the FREE webinar
Plan to watch this new webinar on making the most of partnering opportunities at the meeting. It even includes tips on what NOT to do. And who doesn’t love something for free?

4. Make a schedule of sessions and events
Some sessions fill up quickly, and you can’t be everywhere at once. So review the meeting schedule and create a list of sessions, presenters and networking opps that you definitely don’t want to miss. 

5. Craft social media posts to share
Leave no doubt that you’re a tech transfer influencer by using social media effectively before, during and after the meeting. Tag people you’ve met, or hope to meet, and share positive comments about the sessions and panels you’ve attended. Remember to post thanks to anyone you’ve met for the time they spent with you, and be sure to include #AUTM2020 in your posts! Need some help? AUTM created a Social Media Toolkit to help you get started.

6. Brush up on small talk conversation starters
For many folks, engaging in small talk (business or otherwise) is a source of anxiety. It doesn’t need to be. Be prepared with a go to list of subjects that you're comfortable with to help build conversation. Google it. Don’t just talk about the weather. On the flip side, you may also end up in a conversation you wish you’d never started. Be prepared for that too with a graceful (and polite) exit strategy in your pocket. Be creative! 

7. Create a target list of people to meet 
Getting out from behind your desk is a good first step. Take it to the next level by identifying the people you’d most like to engage at the meeting. Connect with them on social media, read their posts, and search for the latest news on their company or institution. You’ll be glad you did. And don’t forget to reach out to your favorite cronies to arrange a meet-up for a drink, meal or sightseeing. Better yet, all of the above! 

8. Sharpen your scavenger hunt skills
That’s all we’re saying. Really.

9. Have a whale of a time in an official t-shirt 
Make the crowd say, "Who's that?"  by striking a pose in the exhibit hall, sessions or networking events in an official 2020 Annual Meeting t-shirt. The shirt tells the world know that you are a serious tech transfer player. Very. Very. Serious. And more than ready to make waves!

10. Pack a swimsuit, posh frock and essential accessories
Conferences are generally long, all day, sometimes well into the evening events. Forgetting your breath mints, eye drops, comb, hand sanitizer or charging cord could be a deal-killer. Make a list. Pack accordingly. P.S. Don’t forget your business cards!

11. Keep working it
If working out regularly is how you roll, note the hours and location of the hotel fitness center (a great place to meet other attendees). And why not unwind with a spa session too? You deserve it, tech transfer road warrior (we won’t tell)!

12. Choose reading material for your flights
If you’re a frequent traveler, you may already have this locked down. But if not, don’t be left with only whatever the previous person in your seat has left behind (ewww). Take a few minutes now to procure reading fodder for your trip. Perhaps a book on how to effectively network at a professional conference. 

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We've Got What You've Been Waiting For
Volume 2, Issue 4 — February 12, 2020

AUTM's 2018 Licensing Survey was just released (not exaggerating, it was published just a few minutes ago)! The new Survey is chock full of information to inform your work, presented in a new cover-to-cover design that reads like eye candy. The List offers these tasty morsels to get the ball rolling. Enjoy! 

• US research institutions posted a record number of patents in 2018.
• 1,080 start-ups were formed in 2018, directly impacting local economies, with more than 69% of the new businesses remaining in their institution’s home state.
• 828 new consumer products were born from academic research that entered the market.
• 7,625 US patents were issued in 2018, the most-ever reported in the Survey.
• The new benchmarking section helps you compare your TTO’s performance against peer groups. 
• New field reporting delivers the “how” and “why” behind this year’s key trends.
• This handy infographic will help tell your story, or plug in your own numbers with this fillable infographic.

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Spring Cleaning Your Work Life
Volume 2, Issue 8 — April 8, 2020

Often anticipated with dread, the ritual of spring-cleaning is actually practical, cathartic and rewarding. With many of us currently working or sheltering at home and looking for ways to stay occupied, cleaning up one’s work life takes on “sure, might as well” status. Dust bunnies (virtual and otherwise), be on notice as The List offers tips for spring-cleaning work lives.

Refresh your inbox – OK, it’s a given. But how often do you have the time to scroll down (keep scrolling) (now scroll some more) to the days of yesteryear in your inbox? Spot check if it makes you feel better, but it’s almost certain that you’re not going to find anything that you need to keep from way down there. Purge, baby, purge!  

Update and organize your digital files – Even if you pride yourself at staying well organized, cleaning out and updating your digital files is a worthwhile exercise. And when you’re done with that, oil up your shredder and turn your attention to those paper files that have been gathering dust and taking up space.

Review and hone your boilerplate materials – Your “go to” materials are your first stop when reaching out to partner and collaborate, but are often the last docs to be reviewed and updated with a fresh eye. Get to it!

Refresh your online presence – Pour yourself something delicious, get comfortable, and take an honest look at your organization’s online presence. Chances are good that you’ll find broken links, outdated materials and functionality that could stand improvement. Don’t overlook banner ads that need updating or freshening your social media channels with new hashtags, graphics or success stories.

Stay sharp via webinars, online courses and productivity platforms – If you’re like us, you’re inbox is flooded with email about professional development opportunities. With schedules somewhat eased up, now is an ideal time to learn more about what’s available to help you stay on top of your game. And schedule some time to check out productivity platforms, apps and programs that can give you a leg up on your competition. Oh, BTW, did you see AUTM’s 40% discount on recorded webinars? Hmm? Did you?

Refresh your 2020 timeline and budget – None of us anticipated the twists and turns this year has taken. Many best-laid plans have fallen to the side. Now is a good time to review that completely realistic 2020 budget and timeline that you toiled over and adjust it to reflect the new (we’re hopeful it’s temporary) normal.

Update and purge your contact list – People change jobs and move between organizations frequently. Refresh your contact list by updating numbers, email and mailing addresses, birthdays, milestones and other special reminders. And while you’re at it, touch base with contacts that you’ve been too busy to stay in touch with. Chances are they’re also working from home and would welcome catching up!

Review and update your work wardrobe – Donate, toss, or consign items that you haven’t worn in a few years, and create a list of basic wardrobe components needed to step up your work look. Online shopping from the comfort of home is a convenient way to hunt down style ideas and efficiently source the best values.

Find or become a tech transfer mentor – Ask any colleague that’s done it and they’ll tell you that working with, or as a mentor is a rewarding experience. And as it happens, AUTM has a program for tech transfer mentoring. See what we did there?

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High Fiving (safely and with tons of hand sanitizer) Nurses Everywhere
Volume 2, Issue 10 — May 6, 2020

They check our pulse, draw our blood, advocate and care for us when we’re sick. Often the first healthcare professional that we encounter, nurses work on the frontlines of administering treatment. They recognize red flag symptoms, understand illness complexities, and provide counsel on everything from chronic conditions to coping with death and dying. Nurses truly are with us throughout the continuum of life. Today (May 6) is National Nurses Day, nestled comfortably in the middle of National Nurses Week. In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we humbly offer our sincere thanks and appreciation for members of the largest and most trusted healthcare profession.

Nurse Numbers
There are 3.2 million professionally active registered nurses (RNs) in the US. The government projects more than 200,000 new registered nurse positions will be created each year. 
 
Nurse Ninjas
The nursing industry reports the second highest number of non-fatal work-related injuries in the country and the highest incidence of musculoskeletal injuries. Which means nurses are more likely than construction workers to suffer a back injury while performing their work.
 
Nurse Trivia

• One of the first recorded references to the nursing profession is on a pillar in India that was built around 250 BC.
• When asked to rate the honesty and ethical standards of people in various professions in a 2016 Gallup poll, nurses ranked as the most trustworthy.
• A century ago the majority of nurses in the US were men. Around this time, the American Nurses Association (ANA) moved to prevent men from legally being able to become nurses. Men were eventually re-welcomed to nursing, but the industry continues to be dominated by women. Men make up only 9.1% of the entire nursing workforce.

Nurse Superstars

• Florence Nightingale was an English nurse remembered as a pioneer of professional nursing and hospital sanitation methods. Using statistical analysis during the Crimean War, she developed the "polar-area diagram" to spotlight needless deaths caused by unsanitary conditions.
• Clara Barton was a teacher, and a recording clerk at the US Patent Office (the first woman appointed to this post). When the Civil War began in 1861, Barton quit her job and made it her mission to care for and bring supplies to Union soldiers in need. Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” Barton went on to become founder of the American Red Cross.
• Rachel Walker is a UMass Amherst nursing professor well-known for her many innovations, including special glasses that measure fatigue in cancer patients, a machine that can generate IV fluids from water in disaster zones, and a device that can measure toxicity in the blood after chemotherapy. She's been named an invention ambassador by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Nurse Innovators
In their roles, nurses see medical practices and procedures from unique perspectives, resulting in many revolutionary inventions that save lives and make living more pleasant. The List thanks nurses for not only what they do, but what they’ve done for the medical field, too. Check out:

• Crash Cart - If your heart stops, the defibrillator and resuscitation equipment in a Crash Cart could save your life. The wheeled set of drawers stocked with equipment was invented by Anita Dorr, RN in 1968, after years of watching precious time slip away as doctors and nurses selected the proper tools. She created the prototype in her basement, and Crash Carts are now used all over the world. Dorr went on to co-found the Emergency Nurses Association.
• Color Coded IV Line - IV lines were made of clear plastic until sisters Terri Barton-Salinas, RN, and Gail Barton-Hay, RN, were granted a patent in 2003 for their color-coded lines to help reduce medical errors. The nurses got their idea when while working as labor delivery nurses.
• Neonatal Phototherapy - Jaundice makes infants appear yellow due to high bilirubin levels in their blood. Usually the liver helps break bilirubin down, but not always efficiently. In the 1950s, nurse Sister Jean Ward discovered that fresh air and warm sunlight helped the babies she cared for. Today medical professionals everywhere use phototherapy to treat jaundiced babies.
• Bili-Bonnet - In the 1990s, Sharon Rogone, RN created glasses especially designed for the teeny patients undergoing bilirubin treatment for jaundice. She held the eye protection in place with a little bonnet and called the whole thing the Bili-Bonnet. Rogone started her own company, Small Beginnings, and has since created other inventions for preemies.
• Baby Bottle Disposable Liner - In the 1940s, nurse Adda May Allen created a collapsible, disposable baby bottle liner. The device made it easier for babies to suck their formula with less spitting up and gastric upset. The bottles were tested on infants at George Washington University Hospital and were later mass-produced by Playtex.
• Feeding Tube for Paralyzed Veterans – In the aftermath of World War II, nurse Bessie Blount Griffin invented a tube to help paralyzed veterans feed themselves. Patients could bite down on the tube to receive a mouthful of liquefied food. Griffin later went into forensic science and was the first African-American woman to work at Scotland Yard.
• Ostomy Bag - In 1954, Danish nurse Elise Sorensen created a plastic pouch for her younger sister to wear following colon cancer surgery. Previous devices often leaked and were extremely inconvenient to use. Today, her invention helps those who’ve had ostomy surgery live normal lives.
• Hand Sanitizer - Did a Bakersfield nursing student invent hand sanitizer in the 1960s? COVID-19 reignites the Lupe Hernandez debate.

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Promoting Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Volume 2, Issue 12 — June 4, 2020
Education is important, and during these times we don’t always know the right thing to say or do. AUTM’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee encourages you to read the literature highlighted here, along with many other sources, to help with understanding and awareness. If you have articles, books or recordings you’d like added to this list, which will remain accessible on autm.net, please share it with us. 

• How To Combat Racism At Work (Forbes)
• Dear CEOs: Your Silence Is Deafening
• Diversity and Inclusion Efforts That Really Work (Harvard Business Review)
• 75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
• How Microaggressions Can Affect Wellbeing in the Workplace (Forbes)
• US Businesses Must Take Meaningful Action Against Racism (Harvard Business Review)
• Harvard Implicit Bias: Take a Test
• Lost Einsteins: The US May Have Missed Out on Millions of Inventors
• Who Becomes an Inventor in America? The Importance of Exposure to Innovation (Quarterly Journal of Economics)

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It's Howard Bremer Scholarship Time!
Volume 2, Issue 14 — July 1, 2020

Launched in 2002, AUTM’s Howard Bremer Scholarship supports students and those new to the tech transfer profession. Named to honor Bremer, a pioneer in the field and past AUTM President, the scholarship recognizes creativity, innovation and passion. What are you waiting for, future tech transfer superstar? Apply today!

By the Numbers

• 17 – years the scholarship has been awarded
• 80 – total scholarship recipients to date
• 44% – scholarships granted to people of color
• 26% – recipients that became active AUTM volunteers
• 3 – recipients that also received AUTM Volunteer Service Awards
• 28 – recipients went on to serve on AUTM committees or task forces
• Aug. 14 – application deadline for the 2021 Howard Bremer Scholarship

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Staycation All I Ever Wanted, Staycation Have to Get Away…
Volume 2, Issue 16 — July 29, 2020

Trust us, we understand. Physical distancing and staying close to home for months has intensified the yearning for travel to exciting, exotic places. But mid-pandemic (wishful thinking) sensibility dictates that this year a “staycation” is the best option. While maybe not a dream destination, there are real positives to staying close to home. Staycations are (usually) more affordable than other getaways, and much more likely to deliver highly valued “if I only had the time” time. So, sit back and relax as The List serves up suggestions for staycation activities to savor.
 
Learn a new skill or hobby online
Been waiting for the perfect opportunity to learn a new language, brush up on professional training, or get in touch with your inner artist? Well, now’s the time! Choose from the plethora of online learning opportunities. Get learning!
 
Initiate an all-family home improvement DIY project
What’s more rewarding than working together toward a common goal? If you’re staycationing with the family, group-agree to a project (indoors or out) and assign everyone a task. DIY projects encourage self-expression, foster creativity and demonstrate the importance of working within a budget. Plus, something that needed doing gets done. Oh, the togetherness!
 
Take a day trip
Whether it's to a town a couple hours away that you've never visited, or a local park, botanical garden or zoo, day trips offer learning, adventure and fodder for your happy memories bank. You may even discover a favorite new go-to place. Don’t forget your camera!
 
Be a tourist in your own community
Explore your town and visit attractions, parks and local businesses that you’ve never been to. Everyone in your tribe can take turns picking where to go and what to do. Remember to don a mask and practice physical distancing.
 
Visit a farmers market
Head out to a farmers market and behold the plentiful bounty! Or take things a staycation step further and visit a pick-your-own field and bring home a taste of summer deliciousness. Call us when the blueberry peach cobbler is ready
 
Designate theme days
Are your days blending together into a big unidentifiable blob? Theme days may be the answer. Go with beach party, ren fair, 50s school hop, gaming. Whatever! Encourage costumes, décor, or adopt a special lingo for the day. Arrange a time to meet for theme-related cocktails or nibbles, or create a theme meal to remember. Add a Zoom component (don’t forget a background!) and share themes with other family members, friends and neighbors. Prizes to the most creative!
 
Backyard family campout
Air out your sleeping bags and get the tents ready, because this year backyard campouts are all the rage. Ratchet things up by transforming the ordinary campout into a learning event, by showing the kids how to choose the best site, or how to set up a tent. And no camping trip is complete without a cookout, treats, decorations and plenty of scary stories. So be prepared. Best of all, there’s a clean washroom just steps away!
 
Spa Days
Who doesn’t enjoy being pampered? Create an at-home spa experience with fresh linens, a hot bath or shower, calming music and flattering lighting. Give yourself the perfect manicure, pedicure and facial, and scrub anything that needs scrubbed.  
 
Get creative in the kitchen
Whether perfecting outdoor grilling, trying a new cuisine, or simply breathing new life into your weekday dinner repertoire, make some time in your staycation to nurture your culinary prowess. Try that new kitchen gadget that you bought, shelved and never used. Or cook, portion and freeze a mess-o-meals for coming weeks. Yum!
 
Read a Book
For many of us, reading is synonymous with vacationing. Staycations offer the same opportunity. Up your reading game by creating a super-comfortable environment and surround yourself with a variety of formats and genres. Nodding off mid-chapter? Welcome the nap with open arms. This is a staycation, after all!

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The Not Back to School List
Volume 2, Issue 18 — August 26, 2020


 If it feels like this back-to-school season seems worse than others, you’re not alone.
"It’s the most challenging time in history for back to school," said Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director of Strategic Resource Group, a consumer consulting firm in New York City.

In our AUTM Member poll, most of you reported that you and your children (or area school districts) will be work- and school-from-home for the foreseeable future.

At least there's no need to worry about matching your mask to your outfit. Our advice? Invest in a great router for the overloaded home wifi.
 
Interesting back-to-school stats for these COVID times:
 
AUTM Members’ Back-to-School & Work Picture
Our AUTM Member poll revealed:

• 74% said you and your children or school district will work from home
• 12% said you and your children or school district will return to in-person work and studies
• 8% said you will work in-person, while your children or school district is virtual
• 4% said you will work virtual, while your children or school district does a hybrid mix (a few days in-person, a few days virtual)
• 2% said you'll work virtual while your children or school district is back in-person

 
The State of Back-to-College Nationwide
For a peek at how colleges and universities around the US plan to reopen, check out Davidson College’s up-to-date dashboard. According to this list, just 2.5% are going fully in-person, but just 6% are going fully online. 27% reported being primarily online, 20% reported being primarily in person. 15% will be hybrid, and 24% still haven’t determined their plans as of August 25.
 
Back to School State-by-State
Distance learning. Alternating in-person with remote instruction. One child to a bus seat. Canceled field trips. Symptom checks. Plans, frameworks, and delays. The back-to-school landscape is being determined state-by-state, and while it looks different for each one, one factor unites them all: they seem to change by the minute. USA Today gathered a list of reopening plans for each state as of August 3.
 
Photos of Schools Reopening around the World
For a glimpse at what Back to School 2020 looks like globally, check out this USA Today photo story.
 
We’re Going to Spend a Lot Less on Back-to-School Clothes
And a lot more on technology. According to Deloitte’s annual back-to-school survey, taken this June:

• 40% of parents expect to buy fewer traditional school supplies as technology is more prevalent (vs. 30% in 2019).
• Technology spending up 28%, offsetting a reduction in apparel (down 17% YoY) and traditional back-to-school items (down 18% YoY).
• Concern over students falling behind caused 51% of parents to increase spending on virtual learning tools.

All that Tech is Adding up to a Potentially Record Year for Spending
Parents reported that they’re planning to spend $92.79 more this year on school supplies, topping last year’s record spending, according to the National Retail Federation. This would bring total spending up to $33.9 billion, breaking the 2012 record of $30.3 billion. Add that to back-to-college shopping, and you get a project $101.6 billion.
 
The Transition to Tech-Focused Learning has Exponentially Increased in a Few Short Years
Just five years ago, only 30 percent of principals reported their students were assigned a mobile device such as a laptop or tablet. In 2017, that number had doubled. Today, it’s become essential to the remote learning process.
 
Where Schools Close the Most Due to Snow
Just for fun, we looked up the stats on the original school-closer: snow. While this is an informal survey, Louisville, KY, topped this chart in The Atlantic.
 
Oh, the Irony: NYTimes Investigates Snow Closure Rates over Time …
… 17 days before Coronavirus shut down most schools in the country. Speaking of snow, this story is informative, particularly for all those whose parents told them they walked uphill both ways in the snow.
 
With So Many Unknowns, We Find it Helpful to Laugh
Here’s a joke courtesy of, yes, the US Census Bureau’s “Fun Facts: Back to School” handout:

• “Who is the king of school supplies?
• The ruler.”  

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Top 10 Reasons YOU Should Run for the Board
Volume 2, Issue 20 — September 23, 2020

There are many benefits to throwing your hat in the ring.

A stint as a Director on AUTM's Board is personally and professionally fulfilling, and also fun! Read on to learn the top 10 reasons to run, then head over to our application page to start yours. Be sure to submit by Oct. 15!

Need more convincing? Read columns by AUTM Board Chair-Elect Laura Savatski and previous Board Member, current EDI Committee Member Gayatri Varma on the importance of running.

Drumroll, please:

1.    You’ll Make a Difference
Share your skills and expertise and have a positive, lasting impact on technology transfer by serving on AUTM’s Board. If you’re passionate about AUTM’s mission – supporting and advancing technology transfer worldwide – serving is an outstanding way to give back by helping chart the future of our profession.
 
2.   You’ll Stay Current
Engage in high-level discussions tackling the day’s key issues – from diversity and equity to making it easier to license PPE and treatments for a global pandemic.
 
3.   You’ll Shape the Future of Tech Transfer
Directors on AUTM’s Boards are key players engaged in shaping the Association’s strategic goals, and the future of tech transfer.
 
4.    You’ll Sharpen Your Skills
Grow beyond the skills of your day job with nonprofit leadership experience. As a Director, you’ll contribute to the governance of the Association and engage with AUTM staff and Cabinet members who drive Association operations.
 
5.   You’ll Practice Diplomacy and Negotiation
Make no mistake, there will be conflict, lively debates and fascinating discussions. Working with others and considering multiple points of view will sharpen your diplomacy and negotiating skills and broaden your horizon.
 
6.     You’ll Expand Your Network
As a Director, you'll expand and diversify your network of influencers, contacts, and future friends.
 
7.    You’ll Advance Your Career
One of the key attributes senior leaders look for when considering hiring or promoting people is experience serving the community. Businesses and universities want to be good corporate citizens through the activities of their employees, and they understand the value of skills learned by professionals who serve on nonprofit boards. Advance professionally by serving in a leadership position with AUTM.
 
8.     You’ll Have A Manageable Commitment
The AUTM Board meets in person four times a year (including once at the AUTM Annual Meeting location, which can be anywhere in the US). Except for the Annual Meeting, the in-person Board meetings last two days. There are additional 2-hour video calls scheduled monthly throughout the year (less time than your pre-COVID commute?) Directors are expected to attend all meetings and prepare in advance. You may get involved in specific task groups as the need arises. 
 
9.     You’ll Have a Fantastic Experience
“Serving on the AUTM Board has been a fantastic experience. It has allowed me to use my expertise to make a meaningful contribution to the profession that I care so much about. In return, it has enriched both the personal and professional aspects of my life. If you’re a team player and strategic thinker who wants to make  a difference, running for a position on the Board is well worth considering.” — Alison Campbell, OBE, PhD, RTTP, former AUTM  Board Chair. 

10. And? You’ll Have Fun!
Lively debate, growing and challenging your skills, travel, speaking opportunities, charting the future course of your profession, and connecting with new people: the AUTM Board has fun together.
See for yourself!    Apply Now

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Better World Project Story #Inspo
Volume 2, Issue 22 — October 21, 2020
Look, we don’t want to Information Overload you. (No, we’re not being sarcastic! Though it is Sarcasm Awareness Month.) We know it’s been a lot, trying to adjust to a 2020 that included working at home more than this month’s National Work From Home Week. (Is now a good time to remind you there are 10 days left in “Positive Attitude Month”?)

To draw attention to the fact that you have nine more days to submit your tech transfer success stories for 2021 Better World Project Award consideration, and provide a little inspo, we’re combining them with some of this month’s Commemorative Days. That’s right: there’s a lot more to October than Halloween! (Sorry, Monster Mash.)

Without further ado, we offer nearly 50 game-changing Better World Project stories that align with an October Commemorative Day, Week, or Month:
 

1. Apple Month: No, we’re not talking about the latest iPhone launch. Enjoy fall and taste the crispy deliciousness of new apple types, thanks to the power of tech transfer:
   • Honeycrisp: The Apple of Minnesota’s Eye
   • Researchers Create the Succulent SunCrisp® Apple

 

2. World Blindness Awareness Month and Meet the Blind Month: The World Health Organization estimates the number of visually impaired is 285 million globally; of those, 39 million are blind. They name visual impairment as a major global health issue. These Better World Projects help the blind and visually impaired:
   • Researchers Realize a Vision to Help the Blind
   • Staggered Banknote Identification Card Aids the Blind
   • Electronic Glasses Bring Sight to Low Vision and Legally Blind
   • Giving a Hand to Vision Tests
   • Surgical Tool Reduces the Effects of Glaucoma

 

3. National Audiology/Protect Your Hearing Month: This month helps raise awareness about the different types of hearing loss. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “about 40 million U.S. adults ages 20 to 69 have noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and a quarter of U.S. adults who report having good to excellent hearing already have hearing damage in one or both ears. Children are also at risk for NIHL.” These Better World Project innovations help address hearing issues:
   • Cochlear Implant Brings Sound and Language to Thousands
   • Desired Sensation Level Software Gives Infants, Children Gift of Hearing, Again
   • Seeing More Means Hearing More
   • Innovative Computer Tool Helps Hearing Impaired "Train" at Home
   • Protecting Hearing: Spinout Advances Innovative Noise-Filtering Device
   • Jolene Delivers a Message Kids Can Hear

 

4. Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10: The effects of fire can be devastating, and cooking is the #1 cause of home fires and home fire injuries. The first Presidential proclamation of Fire Prevention Week was made in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge; it’s observed to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire and is the longest-running public health observance in the U.S. Here are four Better World Project stories to help mark this almost 100-year-old commemorative week:
   • Protecting Firefighters from Deadly Cancers
   • As Fire Seasons Stretch Longer and Hotter, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln Start-up is Using Drones to Fight Fire With Fire
   • BullEx Digital Safety Makes Hot Product Out of Fire Extinguisher Training
   • Website Provides Instant Access to Available Emergency Housing

 

5. Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week, Oct. 12-20: Back pain. Arthritis. Osteoporosis. More than half of American adults have bone and joint conditions. According to the U.S. Bone & Joint Initiative, these conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability worldwide.
   • Synthetic Vitamin D Protects Bone Strength in Kidney Failure Patients
   • 3-D Bone Implants Developed to Improve Skull Repair
   • Shoulder Prosthesis Providing Full Range of Motion
   • Groundbreaking Cell-binding Technology Helps Patients Grow New Bone
   • Early Detection and Improved Protection Against Osteoporosis
   • Surgically Implanted Plate Ideal for Challenging Fractures
   • Etanercept Helps Those Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis
   • Industry and Academic Research in Regenerative Medicine Leads to Biological Treatment for Damaged Joints
   • Cytokine Intervention Shows Promise for Fighting the Painful Inflammation of Rheumatoid Arthritis

 

6. Rodent Awareness Week, Oct. 18-24: While no one likes to see a rodent they weren't expecting, the Professional Pest Management Alliance (PPMA), raises awareness about the dangers and health threats associated with rats and mice.  Researchers at the University of Arizona developed a humane, non-lethal rodent infertility to help control the problem at its root.
   • Reducing Rat Populations Through Non-lethal Pest Control

 

7. National Respiratory Care Week, Oct. 25-31: brings awareness to lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, and the role of Respiratory Therapists who care for patients with these conditions. This issue has become more important than ever in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
   • Artificial Lung Helps Patients Avoid Mechanical Ventilator
   • Helping Newborns and Their Parents Breathe Easier
   • Discovery of a Fundamental Lung Function Leads to Higher Survival Rates for Premature Infants
   • Measuring pH of Exhaled Breath Helps Identify Airway Diseases
   • Breathe In, Breathe Out
   • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Tackles Universal Pneumonia Candidates

 

8. World Psoriasis Day, Oct. 29: 125 million people worldwide have psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis. This day is dedicated to them, as are these innovations:
   • A Breakthrough Treatment for Sufferers of Psoriasis
   • Etanercept Helps Those Suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis
   • Synthetic Vitamin D Protects Bone Strength in Kidney Failure Patients

 

9. World Stroke Day, Oct. 29: One in four adults will have a stroke. It is a leading cause of death or disability, but is preventable. More than 80 million people have survived a stroke, leaving them with a physical disability, communication difficulties, and more. World Stroke Day works to raise international awareness about prevention, treatment, and recovery. Here are some of the Better World Project innovations dedicated to helping:
   • Abilex Device Restores Patients’ Ability to Speak, Swallow
   • Ultrasound, Microbubbles, Acoustic Pattern Recognition and Wireless Technology
   • Armed with Robo Rehab, Stroke Patients Gain Mobility and Hope
   • Concentric Medical, Inc.: Saving Stroke Victims
   • Super Vision: MRI Scanners Replace the Need for Riskier Surgical Procedures
   • Robotic Technology Helps Patients with Neurological Injuries Walk Again
   • 3-D Bone Implants Developed to Improve Skull Repair
   • Cogmed Working Memory Training Improves Memory, Reasoning  
   • University of Buffalo Pill Crusher Makes Medicine Easier to Swallow

 

10. Internet Day, Oct. 29: We can bring all this to you thanks to the game-changing power of the Internet, which gets its own day Oct. 29. Don’t believe us? Google it. That’s right: to help us close out this List, we bring you a key product of tech transfer innovation:
    • Google

 

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An Attitude of Gratitude
Volume 2, Issue 24 — November 18, 2020


2020 has been ... rough. Thanks to much research, we know that gratitude has been shown to have positive health benefits. (The Latin origins of the word include “pleasing.”) One of the top gratitude researchers says simple acts such as listing daily thankful-fors can increase well-being.

It wouldn't be The List if we didn't leave you with some trivia for your dinner tables: George Washington issued the first U.S. federal Thanksgiving proclamation establishing a national day for expressing gratitude. Incidentally, that was also a Thursday, the 26th of November - albeit 231 years ago.

We thought we’d cultivate a little gratitude here by soliciting yours for 2020. Thank you to all who submitted! If you haven't yet, we'd love to have yours. Send it to [email protected] through the end of the year, and we'll add it here.

1. "Even though this year's festivities and happiness are marred by COVID, there are good things happening too. I am thankful to receive my bundle of joy this year, my daughter Ira, and to be recognized in SME Global Business, a global magazine, which is releasing an exclusive edition on 500 Global Women Leaders as part of the Global Women's Business Summit 2020 this November." -Pooja Bhatia, MBA, CLP, RTTP, Chief Manager, Innovation-Technology Transfer Office, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer

2. "I'm most thankful for meaningful work, a supportive VPR and President, a team that complains less than other teams, commute-time-turned-breakfast-with-kids time, the ignorance and naivety of a puppy dog, and science." -Ian McClure, JD, LLM, Executive Director, Office of Technology Commercialization, University of Kentucky

3. "I am thankful that technology allowed our office to quickly move entirely remote without a beat at the beginning of this pandemic. Our metrics have not suffered at all from this overall life changing public health crisis the world is experiencing and I am thankful that my team is as busy as ever while being safe and healthy in the comforts of their home! I could not imagine going through this 20 years ago when I did not know what Wi-Fi even was." -Susannah Wolman, Operations and Business Manager, Office of Technology Commercialization, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital
 

6. "I think I speak for everyone at the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) in being thankful to have AUTM as a cooperative partner, and for all of the insights and inspiration that AUTM provides."  - Paul Zielinski, FLC Executive Director

7. "I    am thankful for an awesome staff at the LSU Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization that steps up and does excellent work regardless of the circumstances and the situations. I appreciate each of you and you make work enjoyable and fun!" - Andrew J. Maas, RTTP, Associate Vice President for Research - Technology Transfer, Director, Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization, Louisiana State University

8. "I’ve learned that I’m more of an extrovert than I previously thought.  Working from a remote environment has been entirely do-able, but I miss real contact with family and friends, and colleagues who are like family and friends. Despite this, I have learned to embrace remoteness. I‘m thankful that I can work remotely from beautiful locations across town, across the state and even from several states away. The remoteness has actually expanded my horizons.  I look up from one new 'office' and see dolphins swimming in the water and eagles soaring in the sky above.  From another 'office' I see deer mingling in the fall foliage of the mountains.  And from yet another 'office' I see and hear the musings of the newest member of the family, just weeks old.  Without remoteness, I would be huddled in the same office I’ve known for years that is filled with clutter and stacks of paper and remnants of former projects.  Instead, I’m filled with light and beauty and promise for what is important in life.  I look forward to reconnecting with humanity through hugs instead of elbow bumps, with the closeness of laughter instead of distance, and with unscripted gatherings that aren’t carefully orchestrated.  But for now, I am grateful to COVID for allowing me to appreciate how remoteness can serve as a connector to a new and wonderful environment." - Anonymous

9. "I am thankful, so thankful for my children, who surprise me with their wit, wisdom and resiliency during this uncharted time, for the COVID puppy that sits on my feet while I struggle to make sense of a work problem, for the cocktails shared with neighbors (from faaaaar across the fence) and for my brilliant, funny colleagues, who buoy me every single day. Gratitude doesn't really cover it. I am blessed." -Anonymous

10. "I am exceedingly grateful for my wonderful husband and family, who bring joy to my life. I am grateful for my health, my friends, for laughter and for meaningful work." -Anonymous

11. "Even though our wedding was postponed due to COVID, and many of life's other fun and meaningful activities have been missed or put off this year, I'm grateful for my family, friends, neighbors, community, and colleagues. It's been amazing to see how people show up for and support one another in particularly heartfelt, heart-warming, and inventive ways. That really sustains me when the going gets tough. (I suppose I should add: puzzles, audiobooks, and other diversions that helped keep us sane as we adjusted!)" - Anonymous

12. "On behalf of AUTM, we want to express our gratitude for each and every one of the Members, Volunteers, and Staff that make up this organization. Connecting with you this year has been essential. Supporting the world-changing innovations of technology transfer is the most rewarding kind of work we can think of, particuarly at this time. Thank you for doing what you do, and your many contributions. Our deepest gratitudes to each of you." - The List editors and AUTM

 

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Celebrating Bayh-Dole 40!
Volume 2, Issue 26 — December 16, 2020

The Bayh-Dole Act, which passed in 1980, has profoundly, positively impacted American life. It provides ownership and title to any invention made in whole or in part with federal funds to universities and small businesses. It represented a fundamental shift in U.S. government innovation policy.

With thousands of vital innovations created since 1980 contributing trillions to the U.S. economy, and the creation of tech transfer offices in nearly every research-intensive institution, this is an important Act for AUTM and its Members to celebrate and work to preserve - today and beyond.

To celebrate and honor the 40th Anniversary of the Act, we've compiled a List of its positive impacts, complete with special statements from key players!

Special Messages for AUTM Members
The Impact
Since the Bayh-Dole Act was enacted in 1980: 

• Tens of thousands of consumer products have hit the market
• 13,000+ university-based startups formed
  • In 2018, that added up to more than 1,000 new companies alone! 
• More than 4 million jobs have been created 
• 200+ drugs and vaccines have been developed in the U.S. through public-private partnerships 
  • By 2010, 60% of all new drugs globally were introduced in the U.S. first!
• More than 100 innovations featured in AUTM's Better World Project have been made possible thanks to the Bayh-Dole Act's enactment. Read the stories here.

A message on the importance of this vital Act from AUTM CEO Stephen J. Susalka: 
The Bayh-Dole Act has had a profound impact on American health, security and prosperity. From firefighting drones that saved homes as fires ravaged Arizona and Colorado, to the FluMist doses that a pediatrician administers to your children in lieu of a shot, and even that high-definition TV you watch while you’re stuck at home during quarantine – the Bayh-Dole Act helped make it all possible.

It’s AUTM’s mission to support the commercialization of academic research through technology transfer – the collaborative, creative endeavor that translates knowledge and research into impact in society and the economy. It is because of this that our Members see firsthand the value and benefit of having a uniform mechanism to support federally funded inventions. So, it should be no surprise that AUTM has supported and promoted Bayh-Dole from its inception.

The data on the positive impact of the Bayh-Dole Act has been irrefutable. Prior to Bayh-Dole, there were fewer than twenty U.S. universities with a technology transfer office to support the commercialization of academic research. But with the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act, now virtually every research-intensive institution has a tech transfer office – all of which are advancing the next generation of life-changing products and services.

Bayh-Dole unleashed American ingenuity to catalyze economic development both locally and nationally. For example, some of the early-stage inventions developed across the university ecosystem might be too unproven for a large company, but visionaries and entrepreneurs in the local community often see the value and develop start-up companies with the singular focus to develop that idea into a product.

This does not happen just once, or a dozen, or hundred times a year – but three times every single day in the U.S.! Over 1,000 new companies based on academic inventions were started in 2018 – providing both a route to market for future products and employment opportunities.

Forty years after the Bayh-Dole Act, the U.S. is now the undisputed leader in life sciences innovation with more drugs developed in the U.S. than in the next five countries – combined! The U.S. develops more drugs than in Switzerland, Japan, the UK, France and Germany together, and by 2010, 60% of all new drugs globally were introduced in the U.S. first.

In a way, you can think about technology transfer – catalyzed by the Bayh-Dole Act – as infrastructure for a growing country. It provides critical support for the commercialization of the next generation of society-improving products, enhances everything around it, and provides robust job opportunities and a growing economy. This has been clearly demonstrated by the laser-focus on addressing the COVID pandemic by technology transfer offices across the country. Whether it was the creation of 3D printed face-shields at Columbia University or Emory or Georgia Tech to the intubation shields developed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center that went from concept to production in a week to keep our healthcare providers safe, technology transfer is making an uncertain world a safer place thanks to the infrastructure accelerated by the Bayh-Dole Act. 

It is no surprise that the Bayh-Dole Act is now being replicated around the world to harness the innovative brain power of countries across the globe for societal and economic impact – just as Senators Birch Bayh and Bob Dole anticipated forty years ago.

The last four decades have brought us products and services that have radically changed how we live, work, and play. So, next time you have a day outside without allergies due to taking Allegra (thank you Georgetown University) or turn to Google for answers (courtesy Stanford) – think about what amazing innovations the next 40 years will provide. My crystal ball is a little hazy that far out, but I can tell you this: whether it is artificial intelligence, enhanced spaceflight, alternative energy sources, or cures for those diseases currently thought of as incurable, I am positive that academic technology transfer, catalyzed through the Bayh-Dole Act, will lead the way. And for this we are so very grateful.

Stephen J. Susalka
CEO
AUTM