A Quarter Century of Invention at Baylor College of Medicine

Members of the BCM Licensing Group staff include (from left) Larry Hope, Dr. Terese Rakow, Nellie Villarreal, Dr. Michael Dilling, Lynne Schaefer, Lisa Beveridge and Nakkiah Stubblefield.

A little more than two decades ago, Baylor College of Medicine pathologist Dr. David Yawn, along with former BCM surgery machine shop manager, Lou Feldman, developed an innovative device that improved blood processing during surgeries that involved extreme blood loss, like the aortic aneurysm procedure.

That device—known as the Baylor Rapid Autologous Transfusion System or BRAT—was the basis for the first company formed by Baylor College of Medicine's technology transfer arm, BCM Technologies, Inc.

Technology transfer at BCM is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, and since that first product, many more innovations by BCM doctors and researchers have been licensed and reached the market.

In fact, there are more than 200 diagnostic, clinical and research products on the market based on Baylor technology, said Lynne Schaefer, director of the Baylor Licensing Group (BLG).

Over the last 25 years, BCM technologies have generated over $100 million of gross income. Of that, more than $26 million have gone to inventors, almost $19 million to departments and more than $22 million back to the college to support BCM's research endeavors.

Background and function

The Baylor Licensing Group's function is to transfer research results and discoveries developed by Baylor College of Medicine faculty to the marketplace for the benefit of the public. This technology transfer process also generates a financial return for the faculty and the College. The College uses its portion to support its research mission.

Lou Feldman and Dr. David Yawn with a cell salvage bowl machine – November 1985

"There has been a clear benefit to so many," Schaefer said. "Industry and the public benefit from the creation of new products, whether in the health care field or research market. Individual patients certainly benefit from the new treatments that are developed from Baylor technology. In addition, there is a positive economic impact when new, local companies are formed based on Baylor inventions."

Tech transfer got its start at BCM in the wake of federal legislation that enabled universities—rather than the government—to own inventions stemming from government-funded research. It also allowed them to work directly with companies on commercialization and licensing.

The technology transfer and licensing group was originally part of the academic venture capital firm BCM Technologies, but the two eventually separated. BCMT focuses on early stage investment in the life sciences, and the division of the two groups made sense.

Some faculty members expressed hesitation at first about the idea of an internal group to handle technology transfer, Schaefer noted, but over time they have embraced the concept and the benefits it provides. Now, the services of the Baylor Licensing Group are used as a recruiting tool when hiring new faculty.

The office handles the technology transfer process from the very start, when a faculty member reports development of a new technology that might have commercial potential. A representative from the Baylor Licensing Group evaluates the commercial viability and patentability of the technology. Then that person identifies potential companies that would be interested in licensing the technology, negotiates the license terms, drafts the license agreement and coordinates legal review and approval of the agreement. The office also distributes license income and monitors license compliance.

Staff members in the Baylor Licensing Group respond to inquiries from BCM faculty but they also reach out to them, meeting oneonone with faculty, attending department seminars, talking to chairs and making presentations about their services at faculty meetings.

Dr. Rabih Darouiche, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at BCM

"Faculty members are able to see their ideas move forward and develop into a new technology or venture," Schaefer said.

Dr. Rabih Darouiche, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at BCM, has 13 patents for antimicrobial coated devices that are designed to reduce infection. That gives him considerable experience working with the Baylor Licensing Group.

"I have worked with the office for about two decades, and they have always been extremely supportive," Darouiche said. "Some investigators believe they can undertake this process themselves, but it's much more involved than they may realize. That's why it's so important to have the services of the Baylor Licensing Group."

Financial benefit

Dr. Bert O'Malley, professor of molecular and cellular biology and chair of the department, echoes that sentiment. Faculty in basic sciences do not have the time or the resources to handle technology transfer and licensing themselves. O'Malley is also familiar with the financial benefits of the Baylor Licensing Group.

Faculty members receive 50 percent of the net income derived from an invention. The remaining 50 percent is split between the department in which the faculty member works and the college.

"In our department, that money is used for faculty needs that are not provided for in the yearly budget," O'Malley said. That includes common equipment shared by faculty, funding for service contracts, or to give financial assistant to faculty awaiting grant funds.

Public health impact

But the clear winners are the patients and the public who benefit from the technologies on the market.

Kardiothor, Inc., representatives present a check to BCM

Check presentation from Kardiothor, Inc., to BCM for royalties on the BRAT. (l-r) Dr. Stanley Crawford, Lou Feldman, Dr. David Mueller, Don Spyrison and Dr. David Yawn – February 1988

Yawn's BRAT device is certainly an example of that. It was developed with Dr. Stanley Crawford, a BCM surgeon who pioneered surgical procedures for complex aortic diseases.

The BRAT recycles a patient's washed red blood cells during surgery, reducing the amount of blood and blood products needed during aortic aneurysm and other arterial surgeries. Because of this technology, patients spend less time in the operating room.

The antimicrobial coating for catheters and other devices developed by Darouiche and his colleague at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center cuts down on hospital-acquired infections associated with those devices. According to the trade journal Infection Control Today, the average cost of each infection related to invasive medical devices varies from $34,000 to $56,000. In total, these infection cost the U.S. health care system $2.3 billion each year.

"Often people forget about the research side, but we have licensed many technologies in this area as well," Schaefer said. "For example, we have licensed many different animal models for use in research in prostate and other cancers, neurologic disease and other diseases."

Research components such as cell lines grown in the laboratory and antibodies against certain proteins have also been licensed. The Baylor Licensing Group has even helped develop educational tools that include videos on smoking cessation, diabetes management and other important health topics.

"There are so many tangible and intangible benefits of what we do," Schaefer said. "I think one clear thing is the personal satisfaction and reward faculty get in knowing they were able to develop something that has helped people and benefits the public. It's certainly a good thing for the college to be associated with these new inventions and discoveries that have such an impact on public health."

Background and function

Financial benefit

Public health impact

Features

News

Spotlight

Briefs

Development/Alumni

Development Briefs

Volume 6, Issue 1, Summer 2010


	A Quarter Century of Invention at Baylor College of Medicine by Dana Benson Members of the BCM Licensing Group staff include (from left) Larry Hope, Dr. Terese Rakow, Nellie Villarreal, Dr. Michael Dilling, Lynne Schaefer, Lisa Beveridge and Nakkiah Stubblefield. A little more than two decades ago, Baylor College of Medicine pathologist Dr. David Yawn, along with former BCM surgery machine shop manager, Lou Feldman, developed an innovative device that improved blood processing during surgeries that involved extreme blood loss, like the aortic aneurysm procedure. That device—known as the Baylor Rapid Autologous Transfusion System or BRAT—was the basis for the first company formed by Baylor College of Medicine's technology transfer arm, BCM Technologies, Inc. Technology transfer at BCM is now celebrating its 25th anniversary, and since that first product, many more innovations by BCM doctors and researchers have been licensed and reached the market. In fact, there are more than 200 diagnostic, clinical and research products on the market based on Baylor technology, said Lynne Schaefer, director of the Baylor Licensing Group (BLG). Over the last 25 years, BCM technologies have generated over $100 million of gross income. Of that, more than $26 million have gone to inventors, almost $19 million to departments and more than $22 million back to the college to support BCM's research endeavors. Background and function The Baylor Licensing Group's function is to transfer research results and discoveries developed by Baylor College of Medicine faculty to the marketplace for the benefit of the public. This technology transfer process also generates a financial return for the faculty and the College. The College uses its portion to support its research mission. Lou Feldman and Dr. David Yawn with a cell salvage bowl machine – November 1985 "There has been a clear benefit to so many," Schaefer said. "Industry and the public benefit from the creation of new products, whether in the health care field or research market. Individual patients certainly benefit from the new treatments that are developed from Baylor technology. In addition, there is a positive economic impact when new, local companies are formed based on Baylor inventions." Tech transfer got its start at BCM in the wake of federal legislation that enabled universities—rather than the government—to own inventions stemming from government-funded research. It also allowed them to work directly with companies on commercialization and licensing. The technology transfer and licensing group was originally part of the academic venture capital firm BCM Technologies, but the two eventually separated. BCMT focuses on early stage investment in the life sciences, and the division of the two groups made sense. Some faculty members expressed hesitation at first about the idea of an internal group to handle technology transfer, Schaefer noted, but over time they have embraced the concept and the benefits it provides. Now, the services of the Baylor Licensing Group are used as a recruiting tool when hiring new faculty. The office handles the technology transfer process from the very start, when a faculty member reports development of a new technology that might have commercial potential. A representative from the Baylor Licensing Group evaluates the commercial viability and patentability of the technology. Then that person identifies potential companies that would be interested in licensing the technology, negotiates the license terms, drafts the license agreement and coordinates legal review and approval of the agreement. The office also distributes license income and monitors license compliance. Staff members in the Baylor Licensing Group respond to inquiries from BCM faculty but they also reach out to them, meeting oneonone with faculty, attending department seminars, talking to chairs and making presentations about their services at faculty meetings. Dr. Rabih Darouiche, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at BCM "Faculty members are able to see their ideas move forward and develop into a new technology or venture," Schaefer said. Dr. Rabih Darouiche, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at BCM, has 13 patents for antimicrobial coated devices that are designed to reduce infection. That gives him considerable experience working with the Baylor Licensing Group. "I have worked with the office for about two decades, and they have always been extremely supportive," Darouiche said. "Some investigators believe they can undertake this process themselves, but it's much more involved than they may realize. That's why it's so important to have the services of the Baylor Licensing Group." Financial benefit Dr. Bert O'Malley, professor of molecular and cellular biology and chair of the department, echoes that sentiment. Faculty in basic sciences do not have the time or the resources to handle technology transfer and licensing themselves. O'Malley is also familiar with the financial benefits of the Baylor Licensing Group. Faculty members receive 50 percent of the net income derived from an invention. The remaining 50 percent is split between the department in which the faculty member works and the college. "In our department, that money is used for faculty needs that are not provided for in the yearly budget," O'Malley said. That includes common equipment shared by faculty, funding for service contracts, or to give financial assistant to faculty awaiting grant funds. Public health impact But the clear winners are the patients and the public who benefit from the technologies on the market. Check presentation from Kardiothor, Inc., to BCM for royalties on the BRAT. (l-r) Dr. Stanley Crawford, Lou Feldman, Dr. David Mueller, Don Spyrison and Dr. David Yawn – February 1988 Yawn's BRAT device is certainly an example of that. It was developed with Dr. Stanley Crawford, a BCM surgeon who pioneered surgical procedures for complex aortic diseases. The BRAT recycles a patient's washed red blood cells during surgery, reducing the amount of blood and blood products needed during aortic aneurysm and other arterial surgeries. Because of this technology, patients spend less time in the operating room. The antimicrobial coating for catheters and other devices developed by Darouiche and his colleague at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center cuts down on hospital-acquired infections associated with those devices. According to the trade journal Infection Control Today, the average cost of each infection related to invasive medical devices varies from $34,000 to $56,000. In total, these infection cost the U.S. health care system $2.3 billion each year. "Often people forget about the research side, but we have licensed many technologies in this area as well," Schaefer said. "For example, we have licensed many different animal models for use in research in prostate and other cancers, neurologic disease and other diseases." Research components such as cell lines grown in the laboratory and antibodies against certain proteins have also been licensed. The Baylor Licensing Group has even helped develop educational tools that include videos on smoking cessation, diabetes management and other important health topics. "There are so many tangible and intangible benefits of what we do," Schaefer said. "I think one clear thing is the personal satisfaction and reward faculty get in knowing they were able to develop something that has helped people and benefits the public. It's certainly a good thing for the college to be associated with these new inventions and discoveries that have such an impact on public health."		Search all issues: Features The Future of Health Care Starts at Med High Emergency Medicine: The Art of Juggling A Quarter Century of Invention at Baylor College of Medicine "Passport" Gives Childhood Cancer Survivors Entry into Adult Healthcare Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center Educates Through Entertainment Getting to the Roots of Cancer News Dr. Paul Klotman: BCM's New Top Man Dan Duncan Leaves Solid Foundation for BCM's Research Future DeBakey Library & Museum Showcases Innovations of Pioneering Heart Surgeon Spotlight 1,000 Chances for New Life BIPAI Doctor Seeks to Serve in Africa Space Medicine Takes Medical Education Across New Frontiers Quest for a Gene Opens New Door in Personalized Medicine Briefs Out of This World Science Experiment Generates International Interest Out of Africa Predicting the Progression of Alzheimer's Disease Pool to Receive Academic Clinical Professionalism Award The Pea Aphid and the Wasp Genome Development/Alumni Dr. Wheeler Donates Royalties Believe in BCM Campaign Engages Campus Development Briefs National Osteoporosis Foundation Honors Lawrences DeBakey Heart Center of BCM Benefits from Partnership Event Pink Ribbon House Project Celebrates Success Awards and Honor Wall Highlight Alumni Reunion 2010 The Road Ahead Promises Continued Success

	Volume 6, Issue 1, Summer 2010



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