April 4, 2006 Source: :
http://www.usask.ca/events/news/articles/20060404-1.html Three U of S Researchers Nominated for Innovation Awards Organization: University of Saskatchewan Communications
Email: communications@usask.ca
Released: Apr. 4, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Tuesday, April 4, 2006
2006-04-02-OTHER Three U of S Researchers Nominated for Innovation Awards Three University of Saskatchewan researchers whose innovations range from a
treatment for deadly lung inflammation, to a way of protecting newborn
calves against disease, to a novel gene that shortens the time required for
plants to mature, have been nominated for the Innovation Place-Industry
Liaison Office's "Award of Innovation." The nominations were announced today at the "Celebrate Success" finalists'
reception at TCU Place. The winner of the $5,000 award will be named May 9th
at TCU Place at the "Celebrate Success!" gala, an event sponsored by the
Saskatoon and District Chamber of Commerce and Women Entrepreneurs of
Saskatchewan Inc. "The technologies developed by this year's nominees have great potential to
improve our lives through improvements in animal and human health, and
agriculture. We will benefit as well with the promise of increased
investment and more high-quality jobs in our province," said Doug Gill,
managing director of the U of S Industry Liaison Office (ILO). The Award of Innovation honours U of S researchers who have brought new and
commercially viable technology to the ILO for development into marketable
products. "Universities play a key role as incubators for new innovations," says
Innovation Place director of client services Rob Trimble. "Many of the
enterprises at Innovation Place are built on ideas that began at the
university, and many of the highly-qualified people that work here are U of
S grads. We're proud to celebrate these successes that help bring novel
products and processes to the marketplace." The finalists are: - Western College of Veterinary Medicine immunologist John Gordon developed
a treatment that has the potential to treat a wide range of inflammatory
diseases, including arthritis, colitis, psoriasis and asthma. The heart of
the treatment technology is a protein, G31P, which targets inflammation
associated with neutrophilic white blood cells (neutrophils). IL
Therapeutics, based at Innovation Place, was launched in 2004 to
commercialize this innovation. The company is currently in the process of
setting up clinical trials. - Plant sciences professor Lawrence Gusta leads the research team that
discovered Rob-5, a novel gene that confers tolerance to environmental
stress, increases plant vigor and seed yield, and shortens the time needed
for plants to mature. It's a valuable innovation in regions of short growing
season such as that found in Saskatchewan. A U of S international patent is
pending for this technology and one of the world's leading agricultural
products companies is interested in developing it. The licensing agreement
is expected to bring immediate financial reward to the university, as well
as substantial royalty income for many years into the future. - Veterinary microbiology professor Deborah Haines developed a method of
processing liquid colostrum for new born calves into a spray-dried powder
that is stable for up to three years. Colostrum, or "first milk" contains
antibodies from the cow that are critical to protect calves from disease in
the first few weeks of life. Without it, they are very susceptible to
infection, illness and death. Haines' leadership in technology transfer and
commitment to applied research led to the launch of Saskatoon Colostrum
Company Ltd. in 1994. Along with her colleague, Brian Chelack, she developed
a high quality bovine colostrum supplement superior to anything else on the
market. The annual Award of Innovation is open to U of S employees and students.
Selection criteria include the novelty of the innovation and its potential
commercial impact. The selection committee includes representatives from
Innovation Place and the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to the cash prize, the winner will be recognized with a photo on
the "Award of Innovation" wall at the Industry Liaison Office and a personal
trophy. Innovation Place (www.innovationplace.com) is one of North America's most
successful research parks. The Industry Liaison Office
(http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo/) works with inventors to help
commercialize innovations developed at the U of S. -30- For more information, contact: Doug Gill
Managing Director
Industry Liaison Office (ILO)
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-7335
doug.gill@usask.ca
http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo/ Austin Beggs
Director of Corporate Relations
Innovation Place
(306) 933-7464
austin@innovationplace.com
www.innovationplace.com Michael Robin
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
michael.robin@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research
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