D I S COV E R
20 23
WHERE DISCOVERY AND OPPORTUNITY CONNECT. UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 MISSION OF UTRF
05 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
06 WELCOME NEW STAFF
08 FEATURE STORIES
14 UTRF BY THE NUMBERS
16 UT STARTUPS
19 INVENTOR SPOTLIGHT
20 UTRF INTERNS
22 MARKETING OUTREACH
25 PATENTS ISSUED
24 MATURATION GRANT WINNERS
26 FEATURED INNOVATORS
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UTRF MISSION UTRF promotes the commercialization of UT intellectual property, encourages an entrepreneurial culture, contributes to state and regional economic development, and promotes research and education to benefit the people of Tennessee and beyond.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMMERCIALIZATION
RESEARCH GROWTH ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT I am pleased and proud to share some exciting developments and accomplishments within our organization. The University of Tennessee Research Foundation (UTRF) has been steadfastly working towards its mission of advancing innovation, technology commercialization, and economic development in the region. I am delighted to provide an update on our progress and significant wins.
UTRF’s impact extends beyond our core operations, as evidenced by the significant developments in our subsidiaries. The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) became the first Manufacturing USA institute to achieve DOE renewal. This achievement underscores IACMI’s role in leading advanced manufacturing research. Additionally, UT Research Park has broken ground on Innovation South, an initiative with tremendous promise for public-private partnership leading to economic development and job creation in our region.
The UTRF team has diligently worked to drive innovation and technology transfer across our campuses. We have achieved a remarkable milestone with 160 disclosures systemwide and have negotiated 40 commercialization Thank you for your agreements, facilitating the transition of cutting-edge research unwavering support into real-world applications and and dedication to UTRF. products. For example, Oncternal Together, we will continue Therapeutics, a UTRF startup, initiated the phase-1 clinical trial to drive innovation and in early October and has since create opportunities for received fast-track designation growth and prosperity. by the FDA for prostate cancer treatment. Over the past five years, we have fostered the growth of over 20 startup companies, each with the potential to significantly impact their respective fields. These startups testify to our commitment to supporting and nurturing entrepreneurial endeavors from UT’s research. For instance, one of the UTRF startups, Vitriform3D, is part of the sixth cohort of the Innovation Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The startup recently won the Judges’ Choice Award at Startup Day 2023, hosted by the Innov865 Alliance. In our continuous efforts to empower early-stage companies, thanks to the support from President Randy Boyd and the UT System, we launched an evergreen $5 million pre-seed and seed Venture Fund named “Accelerate Fund.” We have also initiated the Venture Launch Program, which provides crucial mentorship and support for startups. This program has appointed seasoned Executives in Residence who will guide and mentor these early-stage companies as they embark on their entrepreneurial journey. These programs signify a collective commitment to fostering an ecosystem where great ideas thrive, successful companies emerge, and entrepreneurial aspirations are realized. Together, we continue to invest in tomorrow’s innovations.
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These accomplishments demonstrate our commitment to UTRF’s mission: innovation commercialization, growing UT’s research, growing an entrepreneurial culture at UT’s campuses, and economic development in the communities we serve. We are dedicated to furthering our mission and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the coming years. This year, we welcomed back Dr. Kusum Rathore, who now serves as the Vice President of UTRF’s Multi-Campus Office, and brought on several new team members across both offices. The new leadership at the Health Sciences Center Office in Memphis and the Multi-Campus Office in Knoxville are bringing fresh perspectives, energy, and experience, and they are poised to take UTRF to new heights.
Maha Krishnamurthy President, UTRF
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WELCOME NEW STAFF KUSUM RATHORE In May, UTRF welcomed Kusum Rathore as the new Vice President of the Multi-Campus Office. Before becoming VP, Rathore spent several years at UTRF as a Licensing Assistant and Technology Manager. “I’m so pleased to name Kusum as the newest VP of UTRF,” said UTRF President Maha Krishnamurthy. “She spent years learning the ins and outs of UT’s vast portfolio and working with inventors. Her experience and vision for the organization make her the perfect fit for this role. I look forward to seeing the great things this UTRF office will do in the next few years.” Rathore described the transition into her new position as “smooth” and “seamless.” In addition to advancing UT technology and advising inventors, she looks forward to mentoring and supporting the UTRF staff. Rathore holds a doctorate in Oncology and Cancer Biology from UT Knoxville, a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Delhi University, and a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Rajasthan. “As a child, I was fascinated with human health and wanted to be a doctor. But as I got into my graduate studies, my focus changed,” said Rathore. “My dad used to joke and tell me I should go into medicine, but I remember telling him, ‘I don’t want to write prescriptions; I want to discover new medications.’ While I am not discovering new medications, I am helping to successfully commercialize various technologies discovered and developed at UT.” Rathore aims to bring attention to how UTRF can help faculty, staff and students advance their research. She believes her experience as a doctorate student and post-graduate researcher at UTK and scientist at a startup leveraging university technology makes her uniquely suited to accomplish this goal.
RAVEN EDWARDS UTRF was pleased to welcome Raven Edwards as its Marketing Manager in June. With over 20 years of experience in marketing, client relations, and design, Edwards brings a wealth of knowledge to the UTRF team. In her role, Edwards leads the design and implementation of UTRF’s marketing initiatives, ensures communication efforts reach a broad audience, and consults with the licensing team to develop and implement marketing strategies for UTRF technologies. Before arriving at UTRF, Edwards was a transcriber and digital marketing manager for UT Knoxville’s Student Disability Services. Previously, she was as a senior client services director for a wealth management company. Edwards received her Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology from UTK. She loves engaging with others through effective communication strategies and designing compelling content. At UTRF, Edwards has enjoyed being able to do what she loves – communication and design – in an entirely unfamiliar environment. “I’m happy to be here and excited about the future. I’m part of an incredible team and love our strong female leadership at UTRF. I love being surrounded by brilliant women.”
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WELCOME NEW STAFF TYLER NEWTON UTRF’s Knoxville office welcomed Tyler Newton as an assistant technology manager. In this role, Newton will support inventors and inventions created in the UT Institute of Agriculture and other STEM-based departments at UTK. He has an undergraduate degree in plant biotechnology from UTK and is completing his master’s degree in the same. Newton wanted to work for UTRF to help researchers turn their ideas into products and services that benefit people and organizations. Newton considers applied science, like his plant biotechnology research, to be critically important. “For me, one of the best things about science is when you can take good ideas and commercialize them to improve the world,” said Newton. “We want to find innovators here in Tennessee and give them the resources they need to keep them here. Researchers, scientists and principal investigators are doing incredible work. We want to take that and translate it into the market.”
TULIKA RASTOGI Tulika Rastogi was welcomed to the Memphis office as an assistant technology manager in 2023. Rastogi supports technology commercialization at UT Health Science Center (UTHSC), UT Martin, and UT Southern campuses. She completed her master’s degree in plant science, specializing in virology, and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Lucknow, India. “I love the team here. They have given me all sorts of mentoring and training,” said Rastogi. “It’s a very active campus. The team is doing a great job at helping inventors at UTHSC and other campuses.” Before joining UTRF, Rastogi spent many years working on design and life science patent matters and trademarks for universities and startups. She is also a self-taught freelance science writer; her work has been published in Think Global Health, IPWatchDog and World IP Review. She believes in the importance of tech transfer work, particularly by universities.
REBECCA LATURA UTRF welcomed Rebecca Latura as its new Patent Coordinator in the fourth quarter. In the role, Latura coordinates activities to execute current intellectual property operational processes and future strategic initiatives. Originally from Florida, Latura received her bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Central Florida. During a year-long study abroad, she completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration focused on international business from ICN Business School in Nancy, France. She received her Paralegal Certificate from the University of California, Santa Cruz. “I don’t think I could have started with a more supportive team or in a more supportive environment,” Latura said. “Everyone has been willing to show me the ropes. There’s been a lot to do, but it’s a great feeling knowing that I have this whole team to back me up as I learn.”
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INNOVATION IS EVERYWHERE. “UTRF is proud to support innovators across all colleges and departments to bring their innovations to the marketplace. The measure of technology transfer is the number of lives impacted. We strive to enable every innovation to reach the public.” Maha Krishnamurthy UTRF President
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Accelerate Fund and Venture Launch Program: Empowering Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship In our continuous efforts to empower early-stage companies, thanks to the support from President Randy Boyd and the UT System, UTRF launched an evergreen $5 million pre-seed and seed Venture Fund named “Accelerate Fund.” We have also initiated the Venture Launch Program, which provides crucial mentorship and support for startups.
the seven-member Investment Advisory Committee, comprising seasoned investors and successful entrepreneurs, meticulously evaluates each opportunity. The timeline for investment decisions varies case by case to ensure a comprehensive assessment and due diligence process. The Committee convenes at least biannually to deliberate and decide on
Their mentorship aids in robust opportunity assessment and strategic direction. Entrepreneurial Fellows: This program focuses on retaining local talent by pairing them with Executives-inResidence. By working collaboratively on tech startups, these individuals gain invaluable hands-on experience while contributing to the growth of innovative enterprises. Mentors: Our mentorship network consists of seasoned experts who offer invaluable guidance, advice, and insights across various facets of entrepreneurship. Their contributions serve as a compass for emerging entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of business development.
With the Accelerate Fund’s focus on pre-seed and seed investments, the fund serves as a pivotal catalyst for turning visionary ideas into thriving businesses. The fund strategically invests in early-stage companies with a vision for growth. Our investment spectrum ranges from $20,000 to $150,000, primarily in the form of convertible notes or Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFE).
potential investments and provides detailed feedback to companies.
While a UTRF license is a prerequisite, our investments are not limited to UT-based founders, opening doors for talent globally. This approach allows us to support companies aiming to commercialize UT’s intellectual property, irrespective of geographical constraints.
Another key initiative this year has been the establishment of the Venture Launch Program, a multi-faceted endeavor aimed at nurturing and empowering budding entrepreneurs.
Understanding the critical nature of each investment decision,
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The fund is now taking applications, along with the application form, applicants must upload their pitch presentation, business plan, executive summary, and a 2-minute video. All information is provided to the committee at least two weeks before the pitch.
Executives-in-Residence: These seasoned professionals lend their expertise and industry-specific knowledge to founders and innovators in the nascent stages of their ventures.
“UT already changes lives through the research and ideas its innovators produce,” said Randy Boyd. “Now, through the Venture Launch Program and the Accelerator Fund, we’ll help our researchers and innovators move more ideas into the world. I’m truly excited to see ideas come to fruition that will help make this the greatest decade and beyond for UT and Tennessee.” “The Accelerate Fund and the Venture Launch Program reaffirm UTRF’s commitment to driving innovation and fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurial growth,” said Krishnamurthy. “By continuing to invest in groundbreaking ideas, nurturing talent, and fostering collaborations, we aim to amplify our impact on the tech ecosystem while solidifying UT and UTRF’s reputation as catalysts for transformative innovation.”
INVESTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Brendan Boyd, Chair Marty Brown Kayla Rodriguez Graff Luke Lybrand (Ex Officio) Bill Malkes Chad Seaver Ken Woody
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Collaboration is Key in Neuromorphic Computing Research TENNLab Research Group Issued Seven Patents, Four Patents Pending The University of Tennessee Research Foundation is proud to support researchers in emerging and developing research fields, including neuromorphic computing, a computing system design modeled after the human brain. The TENNLab Neuromorphic Computing Research Group comprises faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates who are developing hardware and software to aid in developing revolutionary computing paradigms. Together, they bring expertise in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, neuroscience, material science, and physics. Four faculty members from UTK’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science lead the research group: Professor and Associate Department Head Garrett Rose, Professor James Plank, Assistant Professor Catherine Schuman, and Assistant Professor Ahmedullah Aziz. Professors Emeriti and original TENNLab founders also include Mark Dean and Doug Birdwell. “What’s great about neuromorphic computing is the field’s interdisciplinary nature. It’s basically impossible to do research in this field in isolation,” said Schuman. “There also aren’t a lot of people in the field, so with almost everything we’re doing, we’re first people to try and see what will work. Exploring new ground is really exciting.” Since its foundation in 2014, the group has worked with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation to file
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numerous invention disclosures, resulting in seven issued patents and four pending patent applications. TENNLab is one step closer to building intelligent, extremely low-powered systems that can be leveraged in realworld applications.
“TENNLab is one step closer to building intelligent, extremely low-powered systems that can be leveraged in real-world applications.” TENNLab has a broad portfolio of technologies that are paving the way for future discoveries in neuromorphic computing,” said UTRF Vice President Kusum Rathore. “With an increasing need for alternative approaches to
traditional computing architecture, TENNLab is at the forefront of computing innovation.” A unique challenge of neuromorphic computing is understanding how to leverage the unique capabilities of these systems. TENNLab has created three novel frameworks, NIDA, DANNA, and mrDANNA, for dynamic, spiking neural networks – the basis of work for the group’s seven issued patents and the foundation of Schuman’s dissertation work and inspiration for creating TENNLab. Further inventions from TENNLab are related to memristive non-volatile memory, spiking neural network hardware, spiking neural network communication class optimization, and cryogenic neuromorphic hardware. The innovations developed by TENNLab are more than just patents and encompass nearly all facets of neuromorphic computing. Examples of these innovations include software and know-how related to hardware implementation, theoretical
UTRF, Cal Tech Secure Patent for Pancreatic Cancer Drug Licensed to Anviron models, programming techniques and applications, makers kits, software frameworks and much more. One of TENNLab’s strengths is its collaborative approach, which Schuman calls “co-design.” Even with their different projects and specializations, they must constantly communicate to ensure their work aligns with the larger picture.
“You might solve one issue at the device level, but then that creates software or algorithm-level challenges,” said Aziz. “Working together makes it easier for us to iterate and find better solutions.” With increased industry interest and investment in artificial intelligence lately, Rose believes the research community is more interested in pushing the envelope and exploring new possibilities with neuromorphic computing and other bioinspired systems. Rose, Plank, Schuman, and Aziz are thankful for UTRF’s support and the many collaborators, postdocs, and students they have partnered with that make their current success possible – from students developing applications for autonomous video game playing to funding opportunities from the U.S. Air Force. Everyone wants to build a brain. It is the easiest recruiting tool because people are fascinated by the brain. I can tell you when I researched storage systems, I did not have students flocking to me like we do now,” joked Plank.
Over half a million people die from cancer every year, according to current statistics. For those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the current five-year survival rate is 12%, but for those diagnosed in metastatic stages, survival is less than 3%. In March 2023, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent to UTRF and the California Institute of Technology for ANV221, an anti-cancer compound. ANV221 is a DPAGT-1 inhibitor with orphan drug designation by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In 2020, UTRF licensed the technology to Anviron. “There are so many good technologies out there sitting on a shelf. They could be so helpful with some entrepreneurial elbow grease,” said Morrison, co-founder of Anviron. “We were evaluating patents and came across this technology at UTHSC. It was a good fit for Anviron with an entrepreneur who was passionate and excited about developing it.” Michio Kurosu, a professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at UTHSC College of Pharmacy, invented the technology. Evan Glazer, professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology at UTHSC College of Medicine, provides clinical advice. “If you don’t have support from the patent, inventors, and inventing organization, the licensing process is a sinking ship,” said Morrison. “We appreciate Dr. Kurosu and the UTRF team. They understand the tech transfer process better than anyone we have worked with. This partnership is critical in driving the technology forward.” Helping the cancer community is a deeply personal project for Morrison. He lost both of his grandmothers to cancer, his father is a cancer survivor, and one of his other family members is battling the disease. He is grateful to work with UTRF, particularly their grasp of and appreciation for what is involved in translating biomedical discoveries to the clinic. “Cancer affects so many people,” said Todd Ponzio, UTRF Vice President. “UTHSC has world-class pharmaceutical researchers and surgeons, such as Drs. Kurosu and Glazer. As with any top academic group, you still need partners like Anviron to take innovations to the next level. I’m thrilled about this partnership and patent announcement.” Anviron is currently competing for more than $6 million in cancer research funding this spring and will be announcing a stock offering later this summer to prepare ANV221 for a phase 1 clinical trial. “Securing a patent for ANV221 is an important step toward de-risking the business,” Mr. Morrison added, “that allows our team to secure the key investors, partners, and resources we need to advance our exciting candidate.”
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UTRF involved in licensing discussions for several technologies created by UTHSC College of Pharmacy innovators According to a report by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the UTHSC College of Pharmacy now ranks No. 6 on the list of 140 member institutions – up from No. 12 the previous year. UTRF is proud to partner with innovators from the College of Pharmacy. Over the past few months, it has been involved in licensing discussions for technologies created by several researchers, including Wei Li, Michio Kurosu, Chao-Yie Yang and Jianxiong Jiang. Li, Distinguished Professor and Director of the UTHSC College of Pharmacy Drug Discovery Center, focuses on small molecule drug discovery and development for cancer, neurological, and neurological diseases areas. His innovations led to the creation of his startup, SEAK Therapeutics, and the compound sabizabulin. The latter compound, co-created with UTHSC College of Pharmacy Emeritus Professor Duane Miller, is in a Phase 3 Clinical Trial with UTRF licensee Veru for hospitalized adult patients with viral Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Developing a drug, regardless of the disease indication, is a risky and expensive process,” said Li. “It is more practical to transition our preclinical research out of the academic lab into a commercial setting and let the industry partners who have much more experience in drug development and financial resources carry it forward.” Li is thankful for the support he receives from UTHSC and UTRF, along with funding from the federal government on his projects. “I plan to work with UTRF to de-risk
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these technologies for increased value to attract future development partners,” said Li. “I am optimistic that I may achieve my dream goal of facilitating the development of an FDA-approved drug.” Kurosu, a Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences professor, is passionate about discovering new biochemical phenomena with innovative molecules. His research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of action of N-glycan biosynthesis inhibitors and anticancer/ antimetastatic drug discovery. He also serves as the research and science advisor for Anviron, a biotech therapeutics startup in preclinical development for his novel DPAGT1 inhibitor, ANV221. “An ultimate goal of biochemical research is to improve human health or to cure human diseases,” said Kurosu. “I always design basic research with the goal of real-world application, including drug discovery.” Associate Professor Chao-Yie Yang’s lab seeks to develop chemical probes and small molecules for treating cancer, inflammatory disease, and immune-
mediated disorders. These compounds can potentially be used as leads for future therapeutics development. Right now, his lab is focused on several projects, including identifying several classes of compounds that preferentially target soluble ST2 (sST2), an Interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1) protein, and developing two series of chemical probes that target a class of splicing factors. These splicing factors regulate RNA splicing in cells. “A partnership with commercial enterprises will be necessary to help move the projects forward,” said Yang. “The success of the study will, in turn, benefit the academic labs and the company financially and the health of the patients.” Jiang is an associate professor in the Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Anatomy and Neurobiology. His lab studies neuroinflammatory signaling pathways triggered by acute excitotoxic insults, which contribute to the development of epileptic seizures. He is also interested in developing new pharmacotherapies for inflammationassociated conditions.
Sustainable Logistics: UTRF startup tackles sustainability challenges in transportation supply chain Tracking and reducing Scope 3 carbon emissions across the transportation supply chain is a daunting challenge facing the commercial trucking industry. Alex Scott, associate professor and Gerald T. Niedert professor in the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, spent nearly a decade working in the transportation sector and years researching supply chain policy and sustainability. “At least in the short and medium term, there is no silver bullet for sustainability,” Scott said. “In transportation, there will always be emissions. It’s very difficult to get to zero emissions, but we can meaningfully reduce them.” The UT Research Foundation recently licensed technology to Sustainable Logistics, a data services company providing sustainability insights in the truck transportation space. Scott founded Sustainable Logistics after developing the Fleet Sustainability Index, a data service that provides carbon emissions factors for nearly every trucking fleet.
Alex Scott With Scott’s index, users can estimate past emissions using accessible data and select and score carriers based on their emissions factors. When shippers want to hire a carrier, they consider price and service offerings, but with Scott’s index, they now have the option to factor sustainability into their decision-making process. “If we can provide carrier-level visibility, we can help solve the sustainability problem in transportation,” said Scott. “It enables shippers to select carriers based on sustainability. And if shippers can influence carriers, then carriers will buy cleaner trucks.” While eliminating emissions from the transportation sector is no easy feat, Scott believes his solution can play a vital role in emissions reductions. Over his career, Scott has witnessed the industry’s growing interest in sustainable practices and opportunities. The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, corporate sustainability goals and consumer interest have helped drive this evolution. “Thousands of companies could use this tool,” said Scott. “We hope it becomes an industry standard and will be widely used throughout the industry by everybody with a large supply chain.” Through UTRF, Scott has met with several interested companies and hopes to have several active customers soon. “UTRF has been very supportive and provides great advice,” said Scott. “Starting up a business is not something that college professors do on a regular basis. UTRF has been invaluable in this process. I don’t think I could have done it without them.” UTRF also paired Scott with an Entrepreneur-in-Residence who provides additional advice and connections. “Developing a technology is one thing – knowing how to bring it to market is another beast entirely,” said UTRF Vice President Kusum Rathore. “UTRF is pleased to pair innovators like Scott with knowledgeable entrepreneurs to strategize and expand their work in the long term.” Coming from industry and academia, Scott never thought he would become a startup founder. Navigating entrepreneurship and commercialization of his technology has been challenging but rewarding. “It’s unique and not something I’ll ever get to do again,” he said. “I have to wear so many different hats. I’ve always been the data guy, but now I am also the marketing and sales guy. It could be overwhelming, but it’s fun. It’s been a great journey so far.”
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UTRF BY THE NUMBERS UTRF FACILITATES MOVING INNOVATIONS FROM THE LAB TO THE MARKETPLACE TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC AND AMPLIFY UT SYSTEM’S IMPACT.
$500M+ TOTAL FIVE YEAR IMPACT
204
LICENSES/OPTIONS
42
$6.8M
LICENSE REVENUE
STARTUP LICENSES
$482M
$3.7M
CAPITAL RAISED BY UTRF-AFFILIATED COMPANIES
INVESTMENTS IN PATENT PROTECTION
$1.7M PAID TO UT INVENTORS
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$1.4M
PAID TO UT COLLEGES AND DEPARTMENTS
LICENSE DISCLOSURES
UTK
UTM
UTHSC
NON-UT
5
31
LICENSES AND AGREEMENTS
ACTIVE STARTUP COMPANIES
PATENTS ISSUED
574
PATENTS FILED OVER LAST 5 YEARS
DEAL FLOW
40
UTRF STARTUPS
LICENSING REVENUE
UTC
*UTK disclosure numbers encompass data for UTK, UTIA, and UTSI.
160
PATENTS ISSUED OVER LAST 5 YEARS UTRF DISCOVER 2023 | 17
UTRF celebrates entrepreneurship during Innov865 Week 2023, UTRF startup secures award at pitch competition The University of Tennessee Research Foundation is proud to support a culture of entrepreneurship across the University of Tennessee System. In keeping with its mission, UTRF wants to help move ideas to the marketplace to benefit the people of Tennessee and beyond. UTRF is a Founding Member of the Innov865 Alliance, a coalition dedicated to developing, supporting, and promoting the Knoxville region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Each year, the group hosts Innov865 Week, a week-long celebration of all-thing entrepreneurship. This year featured 20 events related to investing, innovation, higher education, and supporting innovation. “UTRF is a proud supporter of Knoxville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said UTRF President Maha Krishnamurthy. “We have recently launched UTRF’s Venture Launch Program and Accelerate Fund to strengthen our support for UT innovators in bringing their innovation to market. It is exciting to see that two of the six pitches at startup day were UTRF startups!” The main event of Innov865 Week is Startup Day, a pitch competition and networking event where six local startups pitch for cash prizes before a judges’ panel and a live audience. This year, UTRF innovator Alex Stiles, Founder of Vitriform3D, took home the $7,000 Judges’ Choice Award. Vitriform3D harnesses glass waste with a patent-pending method to 3D print synthetic stone from 95% recycled glass.
Crossroads program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to bringing back glass recycling to Knoxville, UTRF could not be prouder of Vitriform3D’s accomplishments.” During the weeklong celebration, UTRF also hosted a virtual lunch and learn about its Entrepreneurin-Residence (EIR) Program. Alex Stiles Rathore discussed the purpose, responsibilities, and benefits of UTRF’s EIR Program and chatted with veteran entrepreneurs and newly appointed EIRs Bob Vanderhoff and Ryan Ginder. In the program, Vanderhoff and Ginder work with UTRF startups by offering consulting services, helping with due diligence on potential investments and assisting with strategic thinking and networking. “It’s a new program for UTRF,” said Vanderhoff. “Becoming an EIR was an opportunity to make a difference. When you think about your career, you always know there were people along the way who were very helpful in helping you be successful, so I looked at this program as an opportunity for me to give back.” During audience Q&A, Ginder offered advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs, emphasizing that “no one is born knowing how to create a business” and explaining how he joined the EIR program to help other entrepreneurs after going through the same process himself.
“We’re always glad to see UT inventors on stage at Startup Day – even better when they take home the coveted Judges’ Choice Award like Stiles did this year,” said Vice President of UTRF Kusum Rathore. “From being accepted into the Innovation
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“Being in the academic environment, I would – many times – see good ideas die in the lab. It takes a lot to take an idea out of that lab environment and translate it into a real product with real-world impact,” said Ginder. “I wanted to help other folks as they go through that journey.”
UTRF startup develops next-generation RNA medicines using a novel drug delivery system Orion Therapeutics is a biotechnology startup company developing nextgeneration RNA medicines using a novel drug delivery system. Deidra Mountain, PhD, is Orion’s Director of Vascular Therapeutics Pipeline and an Associate Professor in the Division of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, Vascular Research Laboratory at UTHSC – Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville. Mountain’s former mentee, Trey Fisher, PhD, is the President and CEO of Orion. Even though Orion is a very new startup company, this venture is something we discussed years ago,” said Mountain. “We thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be crazy if we started our own company centered around this drug technology?’” Orion is developing a targeted lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery platform that packages and protects nucleic acid drug payloads for safe and effective use in human patients. The delivery platform, first discovered by Fisher as a doctoral student for Mountain, has the
Dr. Deidra Mountain potential for nearly limitless utility in the RNA therapeutics and vaccine market. There is enormous potential for the
technology to be impactful in a broad spectrum of clinical areas,” said Fisher. “We are interested in how we can translate this to clinical application for vascular patients and other patient populations.” Mountain believes neither she nor Fisher would have felt comfortable starting a company independent of the other. My career has been defined by academia and translational research, so starting a company alone was not practical,” said Mountain. “After Trey finished his PhD and began his career in industry, he started to Dr. Trey Fisher and Dr. Deidra Mountain understand what it would take to start a biotech community,” said Fisher. “UTRF has business. Once he had those first few been crucial in helping us network years of industry experience under his and create a basic strategy for moving belt I knew we could be successful in a forward. They are helping us grow here.” partnership.” The National Science Foundation Orion recently executed recently awarded Orion Therapeutics an license agreement and UTGSM an STTR Phase 1 grant for with the UTRF to their project to validate the technology advance the technology. further. The company is currently in In addition to their the middle of the customer discovery laboratory space at process and amassing a suite of data UTGSM, Orion also to share with potential clients and signed a lease for lab investors. space at UT Research Park and is part of the “UTRF is thrilled to sign this license Spark Business Incubator agreement with Orion Therapeutics and program. support them in commercializing their technology,” said UTRF President Maha “It’s important for this Krishnamurthy. “Trey and Deidra are company to be successful in Knoxville. paving the way for next-generation RNA We don’t want to grow the technology, medicines with their innovative drug flip the company, and move away. delivery system. We’re ready to see what We want to stay here. We love this they’ll do next.”
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UTRF startup BASEwise Solutions advances quantitative genotyping and metagenome profiling Bode Olukolu is an assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who co-founded a startup, BASEwise Solutions, to bring to market his technology, OmeSeq-qRRS, a nextgeneration sequencing (NGS)-based reduced representation sequencing (RRS) platform for genotyping and metagenome profiling.
instance, if you have 20,000 microbes, you will need to sequence the complete genomes of those 20,000 microbes, which is expensive and computationally time-consuming to analyze,” said Olukolu. “Sequencing technology is getting cheaper, but it’s still costly for some applications.” “We might not be able to tell you how genes or microbes affect specific attributes, but we can use genomic data and computational algorithms to predict the outcomes of physical attributes,” said Olukolu. “Inexpensive quantitative sequencing of informative regions of genomes is making this easier to achieve. Quantitative in that we’re not just sequencing to see what’s there but to know how many copies of the genes and/or microbes are there. Essentially, you’re doing less and still getting the same information.” Dr. Bode Olukolu
Unlike other approaches, Olukolu’s technology only sequences a small fraction of the genome, making it costeffective, scalable and robust. Initially developed for genotyping sweet potato plants’ complex and polyploid genomes, Olukolu has been able to apply it to other organisms and metagenome sequencing.
Currently, Olukolu is focused on the ends and outs of the commercialization process, including improving existing workflows and processes. In addition to the intellectual property collaboration between UTRF, NCSU, and BASEwise Solutions, the startup is collaborating with NCSU’s Genomic Sciences Laboratory and seeking other partnership opportunities.
Olukolu began working on the technology as a research assistant professor at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and in collaboration with Dr. Craig Yencho. After arriving at the UT Institute of Agriculture in 2018, the platform took off, leading to a collaboration between the UT Research Foundation, NCSU’s Office of Research Commercialization and BASEwise Solutions. BASEwise Solutions recently licensed the technology to work toward commercialization. “It came to a point where I felt like I needed to push this technology to the market,” said Olukolu. “I felt this was something the community needed.” His novel library preparation approach seeks to alleviate the challenges and shortcomings of current NGS-based RRS methods, including high cost, lengthy turnaround times and material requirements. Metagenomic sequencing is effective but expensive. For
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“UTRF is proud to partner with other universities and license technology to startups to get innovative platforms like OmeSeq-qRRS out into the world to those who can harness its applications and benefits,” said UTRF Vice President Kusum Rathore. “Strategic collaboration between universities and private-sector partners is vital in advancing innovations out of labs and into the market, to solve unique industrial problems.”
INVENTOR SPOTLIGHT Each month, UTRF highlights the work of an outstanding UT inventor to encourage and support the faculty members who commercialize their innovations.
TODD REYNOLDS & JORDAN CANNON Todd Reynolds is a professor in UT Knoxville’s Department of Microbiology. Jordan Cannon is a doctoral student in microbiology who joined Reynolds’ lab as a graduate research assistant. Cannon and Reynolds are genetically modifying naturally occurring bacterial enzymes to break down commercial-grade biodegradable plastics into their original chemical precursors. Ultimately, this enzyme technology will help plastics degrade faster in industrial compost conditions and, eventually, real-world conditions.
LAWRENCE PFEFFER & DUANE MILLER
TAO WU
Lawrence Pfeffer is a professor in the Department of Pathology and the vice-chair of Experimental Pathology; Duane Miller is a professor emeritus in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded them $2.56 million over five years to continue researching what Pfeffer coined “Therapeutic Enhancing Drugs” (TEDs) for glioblastoma.
Erkan Kaplanoglu is an Associate Professor in the Engineering Management & Technology Department, Mechatronics at UTC. In 2019, he founded the Biomechatronics & Assistive Technology Lab (BioAstLab), where he and his students develop assisted technology and prosthetic devices. His research’s primary goal is to eliminate treatment barriers for people with disabilities or other healthrelated concerns.
Tao Wu is an associate professor in the Department of Food Science at the UT Institute of Agriculture at UTK. For the past seven years, he has studied nature-inspired biomaterials to fight freeze-induced damage to ice cream and other foods. Wu is thankful for funding support for his work from the Tennessee Corn Promotion Board, and the United States Department of Agriculture. He is also grateful for the UT Research Foundation’s support, particularly connecting him with representatives from ice cream manufacturers about his innovation.
AMAN BAJWA
CALEB RUCKER
ERKAN KAPLANOGLU
Aman Bajwa, associate professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, and group leader of James Eason Transplant Research Institute at UTHSC, seeks to use membrane-bound cell organelles as therapeutics through her work in mitochondria therapy as it relates to acute kidney injury. Caleb Rucker is an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering at UTK, and director of the REACH Lab, dedicated to making surgical procedures less invasive, safer, and more effective. He co-founded EndoTheia, a Nashville-based medical device company, and serves as Chief Science Officer.
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UTRF STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES UTRF offers a variety of opportunities for students to learn about the world of technology transfer within their chosen career field. In 2023, in addition to the traditional commercialization analyst internship offered by UTRF, the team introduced three additional opportunities for students: a legal externship, a marketing and communications internship, and an Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience. The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and UTRF partnered to provide legal externships, allowing students to obtain law school credit while learning about practical intellectual property issues. UTRF also partnered with the UT Health Science Center’s College of Pharmacy to teach pharmacy students about academic pharmaceutical development at UTHSC. Students learn the process behind drug discovery and approval, and assist with technology transfer at UTRF.
COMMERCIALIZATION ANALYSTS “Working at UTRF has been an extremely valuable experience in helping me contextualize the entirety of the patent landscape. As a law student who hopes to practice Intellectual Property law in the future, working as a Commercialization Analyst at UTRF has helped me to greater understand the pathway from invention to IP rights, especially in the university context. That holistic view of IP is invaluable for my career development and I am extremely thankful for UTRF for providing me this learning opportunity! I hope to have repaid that in some small way through helping realize the fascinating potential of staff and student inventions in the UT System.”
JACOB HALE Candidate for Juris Doctor, College of Law, UTK “UTRF has given me the opportunity to get hands-on experience at the intersection of law, business development, and scientific innovation. I have learned skills and concepts that I am able to discuss in the classroom as it relates to the topics we are covering--intellectual property law, market and industry analyses, and licensing methods and techniques. Further, it has given me a topic for a paper for independent research where I have been able to work closely with a professor on campus and delve into a field I had not considered, let alone knew existed, for future works.”
DANIEL MENDOZA Candidate for Juris Doctor, College of Law, UTK “Working at UTRF exposed me to a multitude of different technologies and inventors within the UT system. I was able to gain hands-on experience with various intellectual property and commercialization concepts. I would highly recommend the program to anyone interested in exploring the intersection of intellectual property and law.”
BRIANA ZIMMERMAN Candidate for Juris Doctor, College of Law, UTK
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LEGAL EXTERNS “It’s exciting to collaborate on strategies that take University of Tennessee technologies from their conception to commercialization. The work done throughout the UT System directly translates to the betterment of Tennesseans’ health, and it’s humbling to contribute to such a noble cause.”
MAXWELL SCHWAM Candidate for Juris Doctor, Cecil C. Humpreys School of Law, University of Memphis
“Working with UTRF allowed me to gain experience in aspects of intellectual property that I had never encountered, like know-how, copyright, and licensing. It also allowed me the opportunity to meet the brilliant inventors behind the amazing projects I worked on. UTRF gave me the tools I needed to get a jump-start towards an exciting career in intellectual property.”
JACK PITCOCK Candidate for Juris Doctor, Cecil C. Humpreys School of Law, University of Memphis
“Working with UTRF provided a unique opportunity to apply legal concepts to drug discovery and tech transfer. The UTRF team are incredible mentors who are passionate about their work and the work of UT’s inventors. This experience has deepened my interest in intellectual property and commercial licensing, and I am confident UTRF provided me with a practical foundation for my legal career.”
HALEY RAINWATER
Candidate for Juris Doctor, Cecil C. Humpreys School of Law, University of Memphis
ADVANCED PHARMACY PRACTICE EXPERIENCE “This rotation gave me a wealth of knowledge on developing intellectual property and performing prior art searches. I also gained valuable insights into the drug discovery process while observing discussions by UT faculty members about inventions. I am grateful for this opportunity and will use these transferrable skills in my career.”
“Learning about tech transfer, the commercialization of products, drug discovery, and much more, allowed me to merge my business and my pharmaceutical backgrounds. This experience showed me an intriguing non-traditional career path for pharmacists. I truly appreciate the UTRF team for taking me under their wing and teaching me throughout my rotation and am forever grateful!”
JONATHAN LARYEA
ERIC DESROCHES
PharmD Cadidate, College of Pharmacy, UTHSC
PharmD Cadidate, College of Pharmacy, UTHSC
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2023 MATURATION GRANT WINNERS The University of Tennessee Research Foundation’s annual Maturation Grant Funding program helps UT innovators advance new technologies on their path to market. Open to all researchers, faculty, staff and students across UT campuses and institutes, the Maturation Grant program provides up to $15,000 to winning proposals. In 2023, UTRF maturation grants funded 11 innovations, including an award to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and its first-ever award to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s School of Music.
Mohamed Moustafa & Ibrahim Moustafa Development of Subconjunctival Depot Delivery System for Glaucoma Therapy
L.D. Quarles, Wei Li, Jeremy Smith, Zhousheng Xiao, Micholas Smith, H.X. Li Optimizing Small Molecule Mechanomimetics to Treat Age-Related Osteoporosis
Jordan Cannon & Todd Reynolds Engineered Subtilisin for Enhanced Polylactic Acid Depolymerization
Erkan Kaplanoglu Wearable Device for Upper Extremity Essential Tremor
Marko Radic Regulated Expression of Chimeric Antigen Receptors
Scott Strome, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Santosh Kumar, Jillian Smith, Sophie Strome Use of Immunoglobulin Treatment for Immune Mediated Disease in Canines
Kimberly D. Gwinn, Zachariah Hansen, & Tong Wang Terpene Nanoemulsion as Biopesticides, Novel Use of Hemp Byproducts
Ryan Spencer Monitoring of thermal expansion for intrinsic material properties and defect detection
Jian Liu Method and Apparatus for Continuous 3D Facial Reconstruction Through Lightweight Single-ear Biosensors
Jake Dvorak Low-Cost Model-Part-Machine Alignment for Hybrid Manufacturing Development
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Wesley Baldwin, Jon Hamar & Hillary Herndon Mosaic: Music Written by Latino and Black Composers First Level
PATENTS ISSUED
7/01/2022-6/30/2023
11,375,929
Method and Device for Detection of Bioavailable Drug Concentration in a Fluid Sample
11,512,173
Method of Producing Carbon Fibers and Carbon Fiber Composites from Plant Derived Lignin and its Blends
11,384,219
Carbon Supports for Oxygen Reduction Catalysts
11,515,702
11,404,960
Charge Pump Gate Drive Circuit for Reduction in Turn-On Switching Loss for Mosfets
Methods, Systems, and Computer Readable Media for Protecting and Controlling a Microgrid with a Dynamic Boundary
11,517,248
Ambulatory Seizure Monitoring System and Method
11,537,086
Pulsar Based Timing Synchronization Method and System
11,544,522
Methods, Systems, and Computer Readable Mediums for Determining a System State of a Power System Using a Convolutional Neural Network
11,549,121
Episomal DNA vectors for Plant Genetic Engineering
11,560,515
Lutetium Based Oxyorthosilicate Scintillators Codoped with Transition Metals
11,584,885
Codoping Method for Modifying the Scintillation and Optical Properties of Garnet-Type Scintillators
11,591,290
Selective Androgen Receptor Degrader (SARD) Ligands and Methods of Use Thereof
11,597,743
Glycosyltransferase Inhibitors for Treatment of Solid Tumors
11,608,546
Aluminum-Cerium-Manganese Alloy Embodiments for Metal Additive Manufacturing
D960,114
Tampering Detection Enclosure
D960,115
Tampering Detection Enclosure
USD961,761
Nose and Mouth Face Mask
11,421,914
Thermal Storage System with Coupled Tanks
11,435,486
Fiber and Bundle Orientations, Matrix Rich Regions, and Mechanial Properties of Fiber Reinforced Composites Using Thermal Digital Image Correlation
11,441,001
Process to Manufacture Carbon Fiber Intermediate Products In-Line with Carbon Fiber Production
11,455,755
Methods and Apparatus for Neural Network Based Image Reconstruction
11,465,987
Compounds for Treatment of Cancer
11,466,296
Genetically-Modified Bacteria for Conversion of Organic Compounds to Butanol and Methods of Use
11,466,296
Genetically-Modified Bacteria for Conversion of Organic Compounds to Butanol and Methods of Use
11,467,551
Power Electronics Convertor Based Transformer Emulator
11,469,618
Multilevel Switched-Capacitor AC-DC Recitifier for Wireless Charging with Power Regulation
11,608,546
Aluminum-Cerium-Manganese Alloy Embodiments for Metal Additive Manufacturing
11,474,264
Self-Assembled Directionally Solidified Eutectics for Thermal Neutron Detection
11,646,872
Management of Access Authorization Using an Immutable Ledger
11,504,259
Controlled Tension Device Fastening Devices, Systems, and Methods
11,648,234
Selective Androgen Receptor Degrader (SARD) Ligands and Methods of Use
11,511,375
Multi Component Solid Solution HighEntropy Alloys
11,661,741
Non-Corroding Stripping Lifting Inserts for Precast Insulated Panels
UTRF DISCOVER 2023 | 25
FEATURED INNOVATORS
UT Researchers who submitted innovation disclosures 07/01/2022-06/30-2023
Douglas Aaron Heba Abdelgaffar Ammaar Abidi Ragini Acharya Fisher Adkisson Shamiul Alam Sk Alam Abdullah Almsaeed Ramajaru Andhavaram Corinne Augelli-Szafran Ahmedullah Aziz Sudarsanam Babu Kevin Bai Amandeep Bajwa Elizabeth Barker Francisco Barrera Olivares Berna Batu Graham Edgar Bell Ahmed Bettaieb Rajiib Bhuniya Nitish Bibhanshu Brad Binder Patrick Blackburn Lyndsey Bouve David Brand Eric Brenya Amelia Brown Noah Caldwell Shawn Campagna Jordan Cannon James Carpenter Livia Casali Devin Casenhiser Vinit Chaudhary Hao Chen Ramanathan Chidambaram
Mace Coday Brett Compton Daniel Costinett Emma Counce Dustin Crouch Helen Cui Mustafa Dabbous Samuel Dagogo-Jack James Dale Paul Dalhaimer Shimul Dam Elijah Davis Robert Davis Amitkumar Degada Karen Derefinko Denis DiAngelo Lei Ding Vahid Disfani
Zhou Dong Jake Dvorak James Eason Ramez Elgammal Reece Emery Scott Emrich Andrew Eubanks Juntian Fan Tao Fei Richard Fisher Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Robert Foehring Adam Foshie James Foster Logan Galloway Wesley Giles Dustin Gilmer Ryan Ginder Maria Gomes-Solecki Beau Groom Dongxu Guan Li Guan Fatma Gunturkun Kimberly Gwinn Maxwell Gyamfi Zachariah Hansen Austin Harris Kelsie Hartley Neil Hayes Yali He Susan Hebert Mark Hedrick Kirk Hevener Bill Hicks Eddie Hogan Ruida Hou Anming Hu George Huang Jian Huang Dong-Jin Hwang Md Islam Monica Jablonski Joseph Jackson David Jenkins Xinlan Jia Jianxiong Jiang Karen Johnson Juan Jurat-Fuentes Modar Kassan Dayton Kizzire Suman Kundu Michio Kurosu Young In Kwon Jud Laughter
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Sue Chin Lee Scott Lenaghan Fangxing Li Wei Li Yu Liang Jiawang Liu Yilu Liu Ziming Liu Daniel Loveless Eric Lukosi Zhongguo Ma Connor Mackey Mousumi Mandal Misagh Mansouri Boroujeni
Alexandra Martin Amal Masri Logan Mcghee Tammy McKinley Bernd Meibohm William Meier Charles Melcher Matthew Mench Duane Miller Katsuhiko Mitachi Deidra Mountain Mohamed Moustafa Dibyendu Mukherjee Undral Munkhsaikhan Janice Musfeldt Arwa Nada Ramesh Narayanan Amit Naskar Max Neveau Kate Nowicki Alessandro Occhialini Johnna O’Connell Abdul Ofoli Eun Paek Katharine Page Sreya Paladugu Manikandan Palanisamy Andrew Patchen Collin Pekol Dayakar Penumadu Trevor Peyton Lawrence Pfeffer Alexander Pfotenhauer Conrad Plaut Thamarai Ponnusamy Jared Porter Ponkeshe Pranav Ryan Preiss Hong Qin L. Darryl Quarles
Philip Rack Marko Radic Art Ragauskas Mitch Raith Sree Rajeev Ahmed Rakib Radhakrishna Rao Daniel Rasmussen Manu Rathore Deborah Reed Shalaunda Reeves Donald Reising Lawrence Reiter Todd Reynolds Amin Riazi Phyllis Richey Orlando Rios Rick Robinson Sargun Rohewal Garrett Rose Daniel Rutstrom Mina Sartipi Ashley Schilling Tony Schmitz Jennifer Schuster LeRoy Selvidge Hyeongmin Seo Ioannis Sgouralis Nadeem Shafi Bhavya Sharma Hang Shuai Addeel Siddiqui Zachary Sims Udai Singh Madison Sluter Hannah Smith Jeremy Smith Warren Smith Meg Staton Andrew Steen C. Neal Stewart Alexander Stiles Luis Stand Stracuzzi Scott Strome Mst Sultana Yue Sun Virginia Sykes Chalet Tan Himanshu Thapliyal Michael Thompson Xingyue Tian Gabor Tigyi Leon Tolbert Cong Trinh
Emily Turner Joshua Tyler Md Udoy Tena Ursini Uday Vaidya Kaitlyn Victor Jonathan Wall Fei Wang Toni Wang Weitian Wang Yinan Wang Yun-Yan Wang Sanjita Wasti Phillip West Brian Whitlock Billy Williams Dalton Winchester Avery Wood Tao Wu Zhongzhi Wu Zhousheng Xiao Yang Xie Zhiqiang Xie Chao-Yie Yang Ching-Hsiang Yang Chuan Yang Sungwoo Yang Wu Yang Zhenzhen Yang Pritesh Yeole Stephen Young Wenpeng Yu Ying Yu Xinrui Yuan Junming Yue Chengwen Zhang Feng Yuan Zhang Lingyue Zhang Qiwei Zhang Wenjing Zhang Jin Zhao Peng Zhao Xiaobei Zhao Xiaopeng Zhao Yi Zhao Hongyu Zhou Liyan Zhu Mariya Zhuravleva
UTRF STAFF
Maha Krishnamurthy
Todd Ponzio
Kusum Rathore
James Parrett
Samantha Jeffers
Raven Edwards
Rebecca Latura
Tinieka Thrailkill
Tulika Rastogi
Gregory Sechrist
Connor Perryman
Tyler Newton
Teresa Cooper
Kayleen Darrow
Shelby Miller
PRESIDENT
STAFF ATTORNEY PATENT COORDINATOR ASSOCIATE TECHNOLOGY MANAGER ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
VICE PRESIDENT, HSC OFFICE BUDGET DIRECTOR PARALEGAL
ASSISTANT TECHNOLOGY MANAGER ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT
VICE PRESIDENT, MCO OFFICE MARKETING MANAGER ASSISTANT TECHNOLOGY MANAGER ASSISTANT TECHNOLOGY MANAGER OFFICE MANAGER
Darleen Weigel
BUSINESS INCUBATOR COORDINATOR
UTRF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Paulus, PhD | Board Chair, UT-Battelle Representative Lang Wiseman, Esq. | UT Board of Trustees Representative Chris Glover | External Representative, Chattanooga Deborah Crawford, PhD | Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Wesley Byerly, PharmD | Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, UT Health Science Center, Memphis Tracy Thompson | External Representative, Knoxville Ted Townsend | External Representative, Memphis
UTRF DISCOVER 2023 | 27
UT RESEARCH FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF UT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, ENCOURAGES AN ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE, CONTRIBUTES TO STATE AND REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND PROMOTES RESEARCH AND EDUCATION TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF TENNESSEE AND BEYOND.
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