August 2008 Newsletter Now Available

Highlights from TTO's August 2008 newsletter:

Hiberna Corp. Licenses Univ. of Colorado Drug Development Technology
Hiberna Corp., a Boulder-based company developing drugs based on natural models of extreme metabolic regulation, has executed an exclusive license agreement with TTO for technology using the python as a model to identify targets and/or potential therapeutics to treat cardiac hypertrophy.

3QMatrix to Commercialize Wound Healing Technology from Univ. of Colorado
TTO executed an exclusive option agreement with 3QMatrix, Inc. for degradable thiol-ene hydrogel technology developed in the laboratories of Christopher Bowman, Associate Dean for Research, and Kristi Anseth, Distinguished Professor and HHMI Investigator, both in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. 3QMatrix is focused on the development and commercialization of novel wound healing and drug delivery products based on the proprietary thiol-ene hydrogel product platform.

CU Reaches Record Level of Research Funding
CU researchers received nearly $661M in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2008, an upward trend that shatters previous records and reaffirms the institution's position as the leading research university in the Rocky Mountain West and one of the top in the nation. UC Denver (including Anschutz Medical Campus) topped the list with a total of $371.5M, up from $363M last year. CU-Boulder saw the largest increase in sponsored research funding, receiving a record $280.1M, compared to $266M in FY2007. CU-Colorado Springs received $9.2M, up from $7.9M last year.

TTO Accepting Proposals for Proof of Concept Investment Fall Round
The application deadline for the fall TTO Proof of Concept investment (POCi) round is Friday, October 10, 2008. The POCi program provides early-stage "seed" investments of $100,000 to enable the further development and validation of promising CU technologies that are, or will become, the platform for a CU start-up company. Information about the POCi program, selection criteria, application requirements, and the application form are available online; for questions about the POCi program, contact Tom Smerdon, Director of Licensing and New Business Development, 303-735-0621.

TTO Announces Deadline for Colorado State Bioscience Research Grants
The deadline to apply for a Colorado Bioscience Research Grant will be Friday, October 17, 2008. This statewide program was signed into law in April 2008, and provides $26.5M over five years to grow Colorado's bioscience industry. University researchers are eligible for awards of $50,000 to $200,000 for commercial proof-of-concept work; eligible fields include therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, platform technologies, and biofuels. Applications and more information are available online - for questions, please contact Rick Silva, 303-724-0222 (UC-Denver) or Kate Tallman, 303-492-5732 (CU-Boulder and CU-Colorado Springs). Important: invention disclosures must be submitted to TTO by Monday, September 22 to qualify. TTO will hold information sessions at all three campuses in early September - see events section below for dates.

TTO Accepting Proposals for Renewable Energy Proof of Concept Grants
The CU TTO, in partnership with the CU Energy Initiative, now has $400,000 for Proof of Concept grants (POCg) of up to $50,000 to support the further development and validation of promising CU-Boulder renewable energy technologies. Proposals are sought in all areas related to the development of renewable and sustainable energy sources as well as efficient utilization of energy. The fall application deadline is Friday, October 24, 2008. Information about the Renewable Energy POCg program, selection criteria, application requirements, and the application form are available online; for questions, contact Kate Tallman, 303-492-5732.

TTO Hires New Biochem Licensing Associate
Paul Tabor joined the TTO as a Licensing Associate in August 2008, and is responsible for evaluating CU invention disclosures, negotiating option and license agreements, and working with inventors and industry professionals to successfully commercialize new technologies impacting human health. Prior to joining the TTO, Paul worked with pharmaceutical and venture capital clients to evaluate the commercial potential of acquisition and in-licensing targets, and also spent several years as a research scientist on the Human Genome Project. Paul earned his MBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Clinical Gerontology from Baylor University, and a BA in Chemistry and Biology from Baylor University.

Read the full newsletter.

Podcast: HB1001 Provides Three Funding Mecahnisms for Colorado Bioscience

HB-08 1001, signed into law in April 2008, gives a five year pipeline of new Colorado bioscience companies, potentially generating hundreds of new jobs in the industry as well as increased private capital invested in Colorado companies. For part 1 of this series on the bill, Larry Nelson of w3w3.com interviewed three key players in this new initiative: David Allen, Associate Vice President Tech Transfer Office at the University of Colorado (CU TTO); Denise Brown, Executive Director of the Colorado BioScience Association (CBSA); and Richard Duke, Chair of CBSA’s Public Policy and Government Relations Committee, as well as President and CEO of Apoplogic Pharmaceuticals.

Listen to the podcast.

Press Release: Hiberna Corp. Licenses Univ. of Colorado Drug Development Technology

(LINK)

BOULDER, Colo. (August 7, 2008) - Hiberna Corporation, a Boulder-based company developing drugs based on natural models of extreme metabolic regulation, has executed an exclusive license agreement with the University of Colorado’s Technology Transfer Office (TTO) for technology using the python as a model to identify targets and/or potential therapeutics to treat cardiac hypertrophy.

The licensed technology is based on the ability of the python to increase the muscle mass of its heart up to 60% (and speed up its metabolism by as much as 40x) after eating a large meal; these dramatic changes are reversed after the python has digested its meal, with no ill effects upon the snake. Inventor Leslie Leinwand, a professor in the department of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at CU-Boulder and Director of the University of Colorado Cardiovascular Institute, believes these changes may point to potential drug targets and therapeutics for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy, a human disorder in which thickened heart muscle causes a decrease in the size of the chambers of the heart. Dr. Leinwand is a co-founding scientist of Hiberna, along with Dr. Sandy Martin at the University of Colorado Denver.

“We are fortunate to have Dr. Leinwand on our team at Hiberna,” says CEO Dr. Tom Marr. “She is a thought leader in the field of molecular cardiology.” Marr founded the company in 2007 after studying and publishing gene expression papers on mammals found in northern Alaska that exhibit extraordinary physiological adaptations relevant to human health.

“We are excited about the commercial prospects for the CU technology,” adds Tom Smerdon, Director of Licensing and New Business Development at TTO. “Hiberna is a visionary company with an opportunity for some breakthrough pharmaceutical products.” In 2007, Hiberna received a $100,000 proof-of-concept investment from TTO, to help support development of the technology. The company is now backed by Boulder Ventures and the Peierls Foundation.

About Hiberna Corp.
Hiberna Corporation, founded in 2007 and located in Boulder, CO, is pursuing drug development efforts based on novel model organisms that exhibit extreme metabolic regulation. Hiberna’s drug development strategy is based on the work of Dr. Leslie Leinwand and colleagues at the University of Colorado. Hiberna Corporation is backed by Boulder Ventures and the Peierls Foundation.

Podcast: Tech Transfer Success Stories

In part 2 of this w3w3.com series about TTO's FY2007-08 performance, a number of success stories are highlighted. Learn more about new companies emerging from CU, including Sierra Neuro, Precision Biopsy, Tissue Genetics, ARCA biopharma, ApopLogic, BaroFold, Copernican Energy and more.

Listen to the podcast.