TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

NO. 8 MAY 2008

Welcome to the Spring 2008 edition of Isis E-News.

The preliminary results for the Isis year ending March 2008 show sales turnover up 30% to £4.7m, with Isis returning £2.5m to the University for distribution to its Researchers, Departments and centrally.  The value of the University's spin-out share portfolio has also increased significantly. 

We concluded 74 licensing and option deals, 102 consulting deals, created 4 new spin-outs and filed 68 new priority patent applications.  This is a tremendous performance for which all at Isis and those we work with are to be congratulated.  The 2008 Isis Annual Report will be published later in the year.

Isis is to receive increased support from the University from this year, as the University increases its annual subvention for investing in Oxfords intellectual property portfolio.  Last year's impressive performance provides a strong platform from which we can grow Isis into its third decade.

This E-news features Isis articles, technologies, news and events. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours

Tom Hockaday
Managing Director

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Articles

A Killer Microbe: The Challenge of the Meningococcus
The meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis), is a bacterium that causes septicaemia (blood-poisoning) and meningitis (devasting infection of the lings of the brain). Professor Richard Moxon addresses the Oxford Innovation Society about his long-standing interest in this bacterium.

Impacts
There has been increased interest in the impact of publicly funded research since the publication in July 2006 of a report on “Increasing the economic impact of the Research Councils”, known as the Warry Report. Tom Hockaday makes some observations.

Open Innovation
The full potential of Open Innovation is enormous for any organisation.  The challenge is how to capture new business ideas to ensure the growth and transformation of your organisation.  Two questions emerge immediately – where do you look for ideas and how do you engage with the owners? Read David Baghurst's article.

How, as an SME, can I best monitor and validate my royalties?
Link through to a piece by Tom Hockaday on the UKIPO website.

First In Class
Read about Isis Investing in Emerging Technologies; an article by Renate Krelle in a Guardian Supplement.

New Oxford Technology & Research

Isis commercialises technology and research opportunities from Oxford; these are some current examples:

Marine Renewables
Oxford researchers have developed a novel scalable tidal turbine, named THAWT, that could help deliver up to 15% of the UK's energy requirements by extracting green energy from tidal currents.

Oxford Method for more efficient solar cells
Oxford researchers have developed a method for treating multicrystalline silicon that counteracts the most important problem with this material.

International Finance Index
A comprehensive and reliable quantitative macro-financial tool that measures the development of global financial activities.

Anti-Thrombotic Treatment
A potential new anti-thrombotic drug target and therapeutic.

Prognostic Test for Breast Cancer
Quantification of a single microRNA can be used as a reliable prognostic marker in breast cancer ensuring patients receive the most effective treatment.

Low Water Bioreactor
Oxford researchers have developed a more efficient platform technology to produce esters and peptides in a controlled, environmentally sensitive & economic manner.

Stay on top of the latest University of Oxford innovations by registering for the Isis Technology Update email.  

Meet Isis One of the strengths of Isis project groups is that the staff have experience of both the worlds of academia and industry. Learn more at Who's Who at Isis, for example: Rakesh Roshan, Project Manager, Technology Transfer Group. Rakesh - former Felix scholar - obtained a DPhil in Physics from the University of Oxford in 2001.  His thesis entitled “optical spectroscopy of semiconductor v-groove quantum wires” incorporated development and implementation of a novel near-field optical microscope.  After graduating from Oxford, Rakesh moved on to work for a leading Japanese electronics manufacturer, in their research and development wing.    As a supervisor in the advanced optoelectronics department he was involved in developing several cutting edge technologies, at different levels of the value chain, including development of semiconductor lasers, optical communication systems for automotive applications, display technologies and solid-state lig
hting.  He was also involved in a variety of strategic rolesfocussing on the development of corporate technology road maps, market analysi s and competitors’ IP analysis for mutual licensing agreements. Rakesh joined Isis as a project manager in August 2007.

Isis on the web

Signal boost for mobile phones
Isis is commercialising new three plane antennas

High hopes for TB vaccine
Isis is working closely with Oxford Researchers on getting the Oxford experimental vaccine candidate MVA85A to the market and patients

Jobs at Isis - we are recruiting

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