July 25, 2008

Purdue Research Foundation announces 10 new companies formed from Purdue University discoveries

The Office of Technology Commercialization reported that the companies were launched in the fiscal year running from July 2007 to June 2008. The office's technology transfer managers work with Purdue researchers in moving their discoveries into development and delivery through viable commercial enterprises. Most of the companies are in the fields of medical devices, life sciences, information technology, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, telecommunication and engineering design.

"The continued success of moving discoveries from the laboratory to the public through our Office of Technology Commercialization can be attributed to several factors, including the interdisciplinary approach of the Purdue University researchers and the collaborations among the Purdue Research Foundation and the university research hubs, such as Discovery Park," said Joseph B. Hornett, Purdue Research Foundation's senior vice president, treasurer and COO. "In addition, the assistance with the licensing and patenting process that our Office of Technology Commercialization provides for researchers and new business developers is invaluable."

In the last fiscal year, the Office of Technology Commercialization executed 96 licenses, issued 31 patents and filed 237 regular and provisional patent applications. The office also reported more than $4.1 million in royalty revenue.

Purdue Research Park is ranked as one of the nation's best university research parks. Within the West Lafayette research park, 150 businesses, of which more than 90 are high-tech, employ more than 3,000 people.

Discovery Park has grown into a $350 million interdisciplinary research complex where researchers are working in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing, cancer treatment, alternative energy, nanotechnology, life sciences and the environment.

"We now have 11 fully staffed centers and four facilities designed to provide an optimum research environment where researchers can work in an interdisciplinary manner to find solutions to society's 'grand challenges,' " said Alan Rebar, executive director of Discovery Park and senior associate vice president for research. "Moving their discoveries through the commercialization process offered by the Purdue Research Foundation is a key component."

Of the 10 companies formed, all have locations in Indiana, and four of these have headquarters at Purdue Research Park. The companies in the Purdue Research Park are:

* GreenTech America Inc., founded by Purdue chemical engineering research professor Nancy Ho, develops and commercializes a yeast-based cellulosic ethanol technology.

* Intelliphage Inc. is based on the research of Purdue food science associate professor Bruce Applegate. The company develops food pathogen detection devices.

* Nutrabiotix LLC is based on the technology developed by Purdue food science professor Bruce Hamaker and is a joint venture between Purdue and Rush Medical Center in Chicago. The technology develops dietary, fiber-based delivery systems specifically in the area of colonic health.

* Imaginestics LLC uses a technology developed by Purdue mechanical engineering professor Karthik Ramani that helps manufacturers find suppliers for parts and products. The company was founded by Purdue alumnus Nainesh Rathod has been in operation at the Purdue Research Park since 2002.

Other newly formed companies are:

* McCullouch Consulting, based in Lafayette, Ind., is a software and consulting services company for the civil engineering and construction fields. The company was established by Purdue civil engineering research scientist Bobby McCullouch.

* Knight Mechanical Testing, based in Fort Wayne, Ind., is an independent contract test laboratory for automotive, heavy truck and defense industries. The technology is based on research by Purdue biomedical engineering associate professor Eric Nauman.

* Dynamic Polyol Co., based in Mercer Island, Wash., is a producer of low-cost artificial sweeteners and other food ingredients.

* D-Helix, based in San Francisco, Calif., is a developer of plant genetics for salt and drought tolerant and disease resistance plants. Technology was development by Purdue horticulture and landscaping architecture professor Ray Bressan.

* NanoG LLC, based in Old Greenwich, Conn., is a developer of nano-based products used in the development of electronic nanomaterials. Technology was discovered by Purdue chemical engineering associate professor Hugh Hillhouse.

* Apex Therapeutics, based in Indianapolis, is a joint startup with Indiana University School of Medicine professor Mark Kelley and Purdue pharmaceutical professor and director of the Purdue Cancer Center Richard Borch. The company is developing small molecule anti-cancer therapeutics.

"The 2007-2008 fiscal year experienced exceptional growth in moving Purdue faculty inventions to the market," said Simran Trana, director of Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization. "The diversity in the different types of technologies from these various companies will have an important impact on our mission to move discoveries from the laboratory to the public where they can best benefit people."

 About the Office of Technology Commercialization

The Office of Technology Commercialization is a Purdue Research Foundation division that operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the United States. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities by protecting, marketing and licensing Purdue's intellectual property.

 About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

 About Purdue Research Park

The 725-acre Purdue Research Park (https://www.purdueresearchpark.com) has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is home to more than 140 companies. About 90 of these firms are technology-related and another 39 are incubator businesses. The park was ranked No. 1 in 2004 for university- affiliated research parks and received the 2005 Outstanding Commercialization Award, both from the Association of University Research Parks. The park's companies also have received numerous recognitions, including a 2006 MIRA Award: Innovation of the Year for Purdue Research Park/Quadraspec Inc. and a 2005 CoreNet Global Innovators Award finalist. The Purdue Research Park is part of the Purdue Research Foundation, a private, nonprofit foundation created to assist Purdue University in the area of economic development. In addition to the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, the foundation has established or is currently constructing technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Merrillville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

To the Purdue Research Park, https://www.purdueresearchpark.com

Sources: Joseph B. Hornett, (765) 494-6072, jbhornett@prf.org

Alan H. Rebar, (765) 496-6625, rebar@purdue.edu

Simran Trana, (765) 494-6725, strana@prf.org

Contact: Cynthia Sequin, media relations, Purdue University/Purdue Research Foundation, (765) 494-4192, (765) 413-6031 (mobile), casequin@prf.org