|
|
|
INNOVATION AWARDS
Nov. 9 ceremony salutes faculty innovators
In keeping with UC Irvine’s anniversary theme, 40 Years of Innovation, the campus community honored 16 faculty members at an Innovation Awards ceremony in November.
The event, held at the Beckman Center, was hosted by the 40th Anniversary Committee and the UCI Office of Technology Alliances, which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Faculty from six schools received awards for their work in areas such as new sources of electric power, catalysts for making high-performance plastics, stem cell therapies for spinal cord injuries and even educational software. Awards were based on the significance, novelty and creativity of the inventors’ technologies.
“These products do much to enhance our lives, and in many cases, save lives,” said Chancellor Michael Drake, addressing the honorees. “You bring great distinction to the university through your intellectual achievements.”
All award winners developed technology patented or copyrighted and owned by UCI. Novelty of the idea, commercial potential and high-quality science were other award criteria. Special awards were given for faculty entrepreneurship, start-up company innovation and industry partnerships that generated the most revenue for research and from technology licensing.
“UCI attracts people who think outside the box,” said Richard Lathrop, who received the Start-Up Company Innovation Award with G. Wesley Hatfield. “The administration provides a very supportive environment for innovators.”
Presenting awards were William Parker, vice chancellor of research and graduate studies, and David Schetter, assistant vice chancellor of research and technology alliances.
“We wanted to honor those faculty members whose patents and copyrights have resulted in new products, services and start-up companies that have the greatest potential to benefit the public, along with those that have had the greatest commercial success,” Schetter said.
Award recipients:
- Jean-Claude Falmagne, professor emeritus of cognitive sciences, School of Social Sciences: “Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces” (educational software); ALEKS Inc. and McGraw-Hill
- Zhibin Guan, chemistry professor, School of Physical Sciences: “Macrocyclic Metal Complexes and their Uses as Polymerization Catalysts;” multiple chemical companies
- Hans Keirstead, associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology, Reeve-Irvine Research Center, and Dr. Gabriel Nistor, lab manager/staff research associate, Reeve-Irvine Research Center: “Oligodendrocytes Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells for Remyelination and Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury;” Geron Corp.
- Richard Lathrop, computer science professor, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, and G. Wesley Hatfield, microbiology and molecular genetics professor, School of Medicine: Start-Up Company Innovation Award; CODA Genomics
- Frank LaFerla, professor of neurobiology and behavior, School of Biological Sciences: “Triple Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease;” multiple pharmaceutical companies
- Gary Lynch, professor of psychiatry and human behavior, School of Medicine: Faculty Entrepreneurship Award; Synaptics Inc., Cortex Pharmaceuticals, Thuris Corp., Tensor Biosciences and Izalex
- Dr. J. Stuart Nelson, professor of surgery, dermatology and biomedical engineering and associate director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, School of Medicine: Greatest Commercial Success Award, “Dynamic Cooling Device;” Candela Corp.
- Norman Rostoker, research professor of physics and astronomy, School of Physical Sciences: “Plasma Electric Generator”
- Dr. Michael Selsted, professor and chair of pathology, School of Medicine: Largest Industry Research Award, “Antimicrobial Peptides;” Biosource Technologies
- Eric Stanbridge, professor of microbiology and molecular genetics, School of Medicine: “Detection of Mycoplasma by DNA Hybridization;” Abbott Molecular Inc.
- Keyue Smedley, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering: “One Cycle Controlled Switching Circuit;” OCC Inc.
- Fan-Gang Zeng, associate professor of otolaryngology, School of Medicine; G.P. Li, professor of chemical engineering and materials science, and Mark Bachman, associate director of the Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility, Samueli School of Engineering: “Cochlear Implants and Apparatus/Methods for Improving Audio Signals by Use of Frequency-Amplitude-Modulation-Encoding (FAME) Strategies”
Honorees were chosen by an advisory committee that included James McGaugh, research professor of neurobiology and behavior, School of Biological Sciences; Ramesh Jain, Donald Bren Professor of Information and Computer Science, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences; F. Sherwood Rowland, Nobel laureate and Donald Bren Research Professor of Chemistry and Earth System Science, School of Physical Sciences; Scott Samuelsen, director of the Advanced Power and Energy Program, Samueli School of Engineering; and Douglas Wallace, Donald Bren Professor of Molecular Genetics, schools of Biological Sciences and Medicine.
Back to 40th Anniversary Events
Back to 40th Anniversary Index
|
|
Chancellor Michael Drake, center, with Innovation Award presenters David Schetter, left, and William Parker
Innovation Award winners G.P. Li, Mark Bachman and Fan-Gang Zeng
Related Links
Event Invitation (PDF)
Office of Technology Alliances
|
|
)
Chancellor Michael Drake, center, with Innovation Award presenters David Schetter, left, and William Parker
)
Innovation Award winners G.P. Li, Mark Bachman and Fan-Gang Zeng
