November 5, 2009
Purdue Research Foundation recognized 32 faculty and staff entrepreneurs, inventors
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Thirty-two Purdue University faculty and staff were recognized at the Purdue Research Foundation's seventh annual Inventors Recognition Dinner on Thursday (Nov. 5) in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom.The event highlighted the accomplishments of university faculty and staff whose discoveries already have, or may soon, result in commercial applications taken to the marketplace.
The top honor, the 2009 Faculty Commercialization Award, sponsored by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, was given to Karthik Ramani, professor of mechanical engineering.
Ramani was honored for his work as chief scientist with Imaginestics, now called VizSeek, a Purdue Research Park-based company that provides an online shape search engine for businesses.
Ramani and his team at Purdue developed the technology, which allows users to search databases in which most information exists in 3-D visual form, such as images, computer-aided design geometry and drawings. Then, as chief scientist, Ramani worked with a team at Imaginestics to commercialize the technology for a business audience.
In 2007 VizSeek developed VizSpace, an online platform that allows companies to make their parts, catalogs and manufacturing capabilities available to a community of users who are part of their trust networks.
"I am very happy to be recognized for this honor," Ramani said. "Purdue University and the School of Mechanical Engineering have provided an excellent platform to transform discoveries in labs into real-world impact."
Previous recipients of the CICP Outstanding Commercialization Award include R. Graham Cooks, Fred Regnier, Stephen R. Byrn, Alok Chaturvedi, the late Leslie A. Geddes and Phillip Low.
Purdue Research Foundation officials reported 200 invention disclosures and 33 issued patents in the fiscal year July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.
"The process of patenting a discovery and moving it into commercialization is labor-intensive and time-consuming," said Joseph B. Hornett, senior vice president, treasurer and COO of the Purdue Research Foundation. "But the Purdue faculty and the Purdue Research Foundation's technology transfer managers realize the importance of bringing new products and discoveries to the public. This event is in honor of their hard work throughout the year and to recognize those who have successfully patented their discoveries."
Officials also reported that seven new companies were formed from Purdue-licensed technologies during the 2008-09 fiscal year: Advanced BioImaging Systems LLC, West Lafayette, Ind.; Events 180, West Lafayette, Ind.; Fast Forensics LLC, West Lafayette, Ind.; Genomic Guidance LLC, Crawfordsville, Ind.; iCyt Mission Technology Inc., Champaign, Ill.; Karyozen LLC, West Lafayette, Ind.; and Pfeiffer Engineering LLC, Boonville, Mo.
The 31 Purdue faculty and staff researchers who were issued patents during the 2008-09 fiscal year include:
* Mikhail Atallah, associate department head, Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, Department of Computer Science, College of Science
* Arun Bhunia, professor, Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture
* Charles Bouman, Michael J. and Katherine R. Birck Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* James Braun, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* R. Graham Cooks, Henry Bohn Hass Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* James Cooper, Jai N. Gupta Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Mark Cushman, professor, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Sciences
* Timothy Fisher, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Philip Fuchs, R.B. Wetherill Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Suresh Garimella, R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Professor of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering; Birck Nanotechnology Center
* James Garrison, associate professor, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics; associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (by courtesy), College of Engineering
* Arun Ghosh, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Kaliappan Gopalan, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University Calumet
* Eckhard Groll, director, Office of Professional Practice; professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* E. Daniel Hirleman, professor and William E. and Florence E. Perry Head of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Nancy Ho, research professor, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering; senior research scientist and group leader, Molecular Genetics Group, Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering
* Galen King, professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Michael Ladisch, director, Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering; Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering; Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering
* Douglas Lantrip, research associate, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* James Leary, SVM Professor of Nanomedicine; professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine; professor, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
* Scott McLuckey, John A. Leighty Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Saeed Mohammadi, associate professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Nathan Mosier, associate professor, School of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, College of Engineering
* David Nolte, professor, Department of Physics, College of Science
* Kinam Park, Showalter Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering & Professor of Pharmaceutics, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering; professor, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences
* Sunil Prabhakar, professor, Department of Computer Science, College of Science
* Fred Regnier, J. H. Law Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
* Kaushik Roy, Roscoe H. George Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
* Hasan Sharifi, Birck Nanotechnology Center
* Scott Shim, assistant professor, Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Visual and Performing Arts, College of Liberal Arts
* Alexander Wei, professor, Department of Chemistry, College of Science
Business sponsors of the Inventors Recognition Dinner include:
* Gold Level: Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Indianapolis; and Stuart & Branigin LLP, Lafayette, Ind.
* Silver Level: Bahret & Associates Co., LPA, Indianapolis; Bingham McHale LLP, Indianapolis; and Ice Miller LLP, Indianapolis
* Bronze Level: Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis; Bose, McKinney & Evans LLP, Indianapolis; Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione, Indianapolis; Hartman & Hartman P.C., Valparaiso, Ind.; and Maginot, Moore & Beck LLP, Indianapolis
About Purdue Research Foundation
The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. The foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds research, scholarships and grants; acquires property; and negotiates research contracts on behalf of Purdue. In the 1990s, the foundation was charged with helping the university in the realm of economic development. The Purdue Research Foundation oversees the Purdue Research Park, which is the largest university-affiliated business incubator in the country. In addition to the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, the foundation has established technology parks in other locations around Indiana including Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.
Purdue Research Foundation contact:
Steve Martin, (765) 588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
Purdue Media Relations contact:
Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Sources:
Joseph B. Hornett, 765-588-1039, jbhornett@prf.org
Karthik Ramani, 765 494-5725, ramani@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: A multbox will be on site. The media are invited to attend the Inventors Recognition Dinner, which will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 5) in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom. To reserve a seat, contact Steve Martin, (765) 588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org
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