Technology Transfer Professional Rookie of the Year

The structure and function of the Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) require new Licensing and patenting managers to be involved in all aspects of technology transfer, specifically technology valuation, patent prosecution, license negotiation, marketing of technologies, and the review of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs). 

The Mid-Atlantic Region State and Local Economic Development Award recognizes successful initiatives that involve partnership between state or local economic development groups and federal laboratories for economic benefit in the region. 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, typically resulting in muscle weakness, problems with vision and coordination, pain, and, in some patients, cognitive impairments. The disorder affects approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. and more than 2.5 million people worldwide. Patients with relapsing forms of MS are currently treated with one of three FDA-approved interferon-beta agents or with glatiramer acetate.

The transferred technology is a non-invasive, intensive, swallowing retraining device that combines sensory stimulation with motor retraining to rehabilitate swallow function, initially targeted for dysphagia patients. Dysphagia is a common disorder that creates difficulty swallowing. Patients at risk of choking on fluid or food face a risk of life-threatening aspiration pneumonia and may need to be fed through a tube.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, typically resulting in muscle weakness, problems with vision and coordination, pain, and in some patients, cognitive impairments. The disorder affects approximately 400,000 people in the U.S. and more than 2.5 million people worldwide. Patients with relapsing forms of MS are currently treated with one of three FDA-approved interferon beta agents or with glatiramer acetate.

The emergence of bioinformatics tools, which integrate molecular biology and genomics with computer based information technology, is bringing about a revolution in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying normal and dysfunctional biological processes. The microarray is one such tool that caused a paradigm shift in the manner in which researchers collect and analyze genetic data.

In the Mid-Atlantic Region, Maryland is in an enviable position with regard to biotechnology-related resources that encourage and support entrepreneurial efforts. Academic institutions, a federal laboratory, a committed county department of economic development, and a unique small business have developed an effective consortium to leverage these resources. The potential for human capital to support this entrepreneurial growth is further augmented by the number of graduate and post-doctoral programs available in the region.

As Director of the Division of Technology Development and Transfer (DTDT) in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), Richard Rodriguez has provided a high degree of leadership and vision instrumental to enhancing the transfer of innovative technologies developed by NIH and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientists to industrial partners. His efforts have enabled new biomedical products to reach the consumer, as well as unique biological materials to be made available for use as research tools by the private sector.

Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies for Niemann-Pick disease type-C1 (NPC). NPC is a rare lethal genetic lysosomal storage disorder that results in an accumulation of cholesterol in the liver and spleen and eventually leads to neurodegeneration. 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) is a cyclodextrin typically used by the pharmaceutical industry as an excipient. Studies of NPC in animal models have shown that HPβCD can reduce the biochemical burden associated with NPC, improving neurological pathology, decreasing neurological dysfunction, and increasing lifespan. 

High sound levels in work settings can have negative effects on worker concentration and productivity. Even offices separated by walls and doors transmit sound between them. As office buildings optimize space, the allotment for each person, office, or work area often decreases. With more office workers in a given area, localized noise levels are increasing beyond optimal levels for worker productivity.