Oct. 10, 2017
Story by Erik Potter
Mizzou is a hotbed of research and innovation. In fiscal year 2016, MU spent $248 million on research, 80 percent of which was federally funded. Some of that work served the public directly when researchers transformed it into new products, businesses and jobs. This commitment to economic development is one of Mizzou’s four pillars, along with teaching, research and service. Here are the fruits of that commitment in 2016.
104 Invention disclosures filed
When MU researchers discover or invent something that could be patented, they file a new-invention disclosure form.
77 U.S. patent applications filed
Mizzou reviews the invention disclosures and files patent applications for the most promising ideas.
24 U.S. patents issued to Mizzou
Not all patent applications are approved, and successful ones endure a rigorous process lasting an average of more than two years. Mizzou ranked in the top 12 percent of universities nationwide for utility patents approved in 2016.
New patent granted: Jimi Cook, DVM ’94, PhD ’98, director of the Orthopaedic Research Division at MU, developed a tissue-preservation system that allows human tissue destined for transplant to be preserved at room temperature, and it triples the time it is viable for use.
42 Technologies licensed
Once an idea receives a patent, it is marketed to startups and established businesses. When an agreement is reached, the business pays the university an annual licensing fee to use the patented product or process. Mizzou has 162 active licensing agreements.
$15 Million: Licensing revenue earned
The annual licensing fee that companies pay is distributed to the MU inventors and the university. The five-year average is $9.3 million.
Marilyn Rantz, an MU nursing professor, and Marjorie Skubic, an engineering professor, developed a suite of monitoring technologies for seniors. Wireless sensors monitor changes in heart and respiratory rate, bed restlessness and walking gait, which can be early signs of illness and functional decline. They licensed the technology to Foresite Healthcare in St. Louis.
3 New startup companies
Sometimes, MU researchers would rather create their own businesses to take their innovations to market.
Columbia startup MedSocket grew out of the work of Karl Kochendorfer, former director of clinical informatics in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. MedSocket improves health care decision-making by allowing doctors to quickly locate specialized medical information at the point of care.
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