OTTBD News Items

5/9/12
National Institutes of Health unveils NCATS – National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
The NIH has launched a novel initiative titled “Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules” to help match researchers with a selection of compounds from pharmaceutical industry partners including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Eli Lilly and Company. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) will direct researchers’ attention to a pool of more than 20 valuable compounds that have already cleared several key steps in the development process, including safety testing in humans but are no longer actively pursued by the pharmaceutical company.

For the initial pilot phase NCATS will provide up to $20 million to fund two- and three-year staged, cooperative agreement research grants for pre-clinical and clinical feasibility studies. The academic research partners will own any intellectual property they discover through the research project with the right to publish the results of their work.

For more details about this program visit "Discovering New Therapeutic Uses for Existing Molecules" or contact The UMDNJ Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development at OTTBD@umdnj.edu.

02/29/12
Biosearch Technologies Acquires Worldwide Rights to Non-FRET Probes Patents: Biosearch Technologies, Inc. (Biosearch), a leading supplier of sophisticated oligonucleotide components to the rapidly growing molecular diagnostics industry, today announced that the company has acquired worldwide rights from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) to United States Patent 6,150,097, titled "Nucleic Acid Detection Probes Having Non-FRET Fluorescence Quenching and Kits and Assays Including Such Probes," as well as counterpart patents in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Japan, that disclose and claim, inter alia, probes having quenchers and fluorophores that are not FRET pairs, as well as their use. In addition, Biosearch has acquired rights to sublicense the non-FRET probes patents to companies that may wish to commercialize current and future non-FRET probe-based products. See FULL PRESS RELEASE

12/13/11
Foundation Venture Capital Group a Model for Other Universities
Foundation Venture Capital Group (FVCG), an affiliate of the Foundation of UMDNJ/New Jersey Health Foundation, is the focus of the lead article in the most recent edition of the newsletter Technology Transfer Tactics/. The article describes how administrators at the University of Michigan decided to use money from their $7.8 billion endowment to fund start-up companies and turned to FVCG for advice. FVCG, which has become a model for other universities, works closely with Vince Smeraglia, director of UMDNJ's Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development, to invest exclusively in research at UMDNJ by funding new life science companies. The article quotes Smeraglia and FVCG president James Golubieski. The two explain the wisdom behind creating a venture capital fund using endowments and describe the risks and rewards of investing in early-stage technologies.

Intellectual Property Protection & Licensing at UMDNJ

General Introduction
This manual has been prepared as a general guideline to assist the faculty, staff, students and employees of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in the steps taken to protect the intellectual property of the University and those faculty, staff, students and employees who create such intellectual property. This manual is to serve as a general overview of University policy and procedures, and is not intended to be a comprehensive tutorial for all situations involving intellectual property development and protection. Further questions should be directed to the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development.

Mission Statement
It is the Mission of the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development at UMDNJ is to provide a simple and effective means of protecting the valuable Intellectual Property of the University and to develop that property commercially by forming appropriate relationships between the University, its faculty/inventors, and the private sector.

Contact Information

Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
1 World's Fair Drive, Suite 2100
Somerset, NJ 08873
732-235-9350
OTTBD@umdnj.edu

Director, Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
Vince Smeraglia, Esq.
(732) 235-9356
smeragva@umdnj.edu

Vince is the Director of the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development. He oversees all patent and licensing matters for UMDNJ. This includes protecting, marketing and commercializing all intellectual property developed at UMDNJ. Previously, Mr. Smeraglia served as Associate Director of Intellectual Property in the Office of Corporate Liaison & Technology Transfer at Rutgers University. A graduate of Rutgers University and Franklin Pierce Law Center, he has also conducted biomedical research for the Cytogen Corporation.

Director, Finance and Administration/Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
Laura Schepps
(732) 235-5670
schepplm@umdnj.edu

Laura leads the financial and license administration functions for the department including financial analysis, budgeting and planning, accounting, management reporting, and compliance. Previously, Laura was the VP, Global Information Technology Division Financial Officer for ACE Limited where she strengthened and oversaw the finance and vendor management functions for the corporate IT division. Prior to ACE, Laura held financial leadership roles for other companies, including Radian Group, Inc., CIGNA Corporation, GE Capital, and Bankers Trust. Laura holds a M.B.A. in Finance and Management from New York University, Stern School of Business, and a B.A. in Marketing from Rutgers University.

Assistant Director, Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak, Ph.D.
(732) 235-9355
litvinta@umdnj.edu

Tania joined the office in 2009 as the Assistant Director of the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development. She is involved with all matters related to commercialization of intellectual property at UMDNJ. This includes reviewing and marketing UMDNJ inventions, and negotiating license agreements for all intellectual property developed at UMDNJ. Prior to joining the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development, Dr. Litvin-Vechnyak worked as an internal liaison and licensing associate for the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Office of Technology and Business Development. Dr. Litvin-Vechnyak received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Weill Cornell Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and completed her postdoctoral research in oncology at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Licensing Consultant
Norell Hadzimichalis, Ph.D.
(732) 235-5319
Norell.Hadzimichalis@umdnj.edu

Norell works directly with Tatiana Litvin-Vechnyak and Vincent Smeraglia on licensing matters for UMDNJ. Prior to joining the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development, Dr. Hadzimichalis received her Ph.D. from Rutgers University/UMDNJ in Molecular Biosciences with a concentration in Cardiovascular Physiology. She continued her postdoctoral work at Rutgers University in Neuroscience.

Senior Contract Assistant
Lillian M. Cohen
(732) 235-9350
cohenlm@umdnj.edu

Lilly is the Executive Assistant to the Director of Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development, Mr. Smeraglia. Lilly is responsible for review and negotiation of Material Transfer Agreements, and provides overall management support to OTTBD. Lilly holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration and Planning.

Business Manager
Tejal Talati
(732) 235-9354
talatite@umdnj.edu

Tejal is responsible for all financial activities related to Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development including payment of office expenses, distribution of license royalties, and management of grant finances. Tejal also assists in patent license agreement administration. She previously worked at the University's Controllers Office before joining the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development. Tejal holds a M.A. in Accounting.

Intellectual Property Manager
Susan Dolci
(732) 235-3521
dolcisu@umdnj.edu

Susan supports the office in the management of intellectual property issues within the University. She comes to UMDNJ with more than 25 years of business and legal experience and has previously worked at Avaya Inc. and Ranbaxy Inc. Susan holds a B.S. in Business Administration and M.S. in Management from The College of Saint Elizabeth.

License Administrator
Susan Rae
(973) 972-3369
raesu@umdnj.edu

Susan provides management support for OTTBD's licensing initiatives. She is responsible for managing licensing files and handling original agreements and documentation. She participates in record keeping, data entry and monitoring of royalty payments, including invoicing, billing and preparing reports. She also assists with the maintenance of the Molecular Beacons technology website. Susan came to The Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development from the PHRI Center at UMDNJ where she provided administrative support and office management to the Office of Technology Transfer and its patenting and licensing of Molecular Beacons technology. She came to UMDNJ with a background in human services and program management, she holds a M.A. from New York University.

Patent Legal Secretary
Mona Daniels-Riley
(732) 235-5027
danielml@umdnj.edu

Mona is responsible for docket administration. Her additional responsibilities include management of legal documents and assisting Beth and Sue in managing the University's intellectual property. Mona is currently pursuing her B.S. in Business Administration Healthcare Management and anticipates graduation in 2011. Mona comes to the OTTBD with 16 years of experience in the healthcare field.

General Contact Information Post Office/Express Mail:
Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
UMDNJ
1 World's Fair Drive
Suite 2100
Somerset, N.J 08873

Campus Mail:
Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
UMDNJ
1 World's Fair Drive
Suite 2100
Somerset
Telephone: 732-235-9350 Fax: 732-235-9358

Newark Office:
Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development
UMDNJ
65 Bergen Street, 5th Floor, Room 516
Newark, NJ 07107
Telephone: 973-972-3369

Why Interact with the Office of Technology Transfer and Business Development ?

Do you have research results that you believe might have commercial significance?
Have you written a manuscript or computer program that you would like to protect with a copyright?
Do you have a logo or distinctive message that deserves trademark protection?
Are you thinking about seeking research support from a commercial firm?
Are you planning to develop outside business interactions or possibly form your own business?
Are you planning on bringing materials to, or transferring materials from, the University?

You need to talk to us!