| dc.description.abstract | Research performed in tertiary educational
institutions has historically concentrated on
the improvement of knowledge. This has been
gradually changing over recent years where
there is a movement for “translational research”.
Lately the research-funding environment has
also been encouraging the enhancement of
entrepreneurship with strong connections with the
commercial sector. Universities have been setting
up mechanisms to enable this change to become
enterprising. This has led to the establishment of
commercialisation and technology transfer offices
that assist in protecting intellectual property
arising from research and finding industry
partners to commercialise this knowledge.
Another function of these offices is to educate
the academics as to the needs of the industry,
identify and establish relationships with relavent
industry partners, assist in securing traditional
and non-traditional research funding, and finally
support the pathway to commercialisation. In
commercialisation, research discoveries are
converted into products and services, generally
via licensing or start-up ventures.
The Research and Enterprise Office at the
University of Otagosupports and assists
researchers in the identification of funding
opportunities, partnering with business, grant
applications, and the establishment of research
contracts.Otago Innovation established in 2002,
is a University of Otago company responsible for
developing and commercialising the University’s
intellectual property. They offer advice and
provide a platform from which researchers can
get their research or invention investor ready.
Other Australasian examples include UNSW
Innovations at University of New South Wales
(Sydney, Australia) which is involved with
technology transfer and an innovation office that
collaborates with business, research organisations
and the community to achieve positive outcomes
from research.Innovation ANU at the Australian
National University (Canberra, Australia)
connects ideas, research, government and business
to create value for the community. They support
Innovation and entrepreneurship through a range
of education, licensing, consultancies, advice and
funding opportunities for startups.
The author will speak about his own personal
experiences in translational research and
commercialisation for a variety of biomaterial
types in relation to the above organisations. The
following examples will be used as case studies
from the author’s own experience in translational
research:
1. Keratin-based bone substitutes (International
patent: Orthopaedic materials derived from
keratin WO 2003103737 A1 [application PCT/
NZ2003/000116]; US patent: Orthopaedic
materials derived from keratin US7,297,342)
2. Bovine bone Xenograft (International patent:
A medical preparation WO 2008069686 A1
[application PCT/NZ2007/000354)
3. Keratin derived protein (US provisional patent
Application No. 62/330,376; PCT application
number PCT/NZ2017/050052) | en_US |
