Invented at Brown
Here are discoveries made by faculty members that have resulted in 17 current
licenses to companies that pay Brown for the exclusive right to use work
discovered at Brown. These license agreements are as of June 30, 2000.
Harvey Silverman, Michael Brandstein
Acoustic Magic
Microphone technology for improving the input to speech recognition systems on
personal computers. Developed by engineering Professor Harvey Silverman with
former student Michael Brandstein, Ph.D., electrical engineering 1995, now a
Harvard faculty member. Acoustic Magic is a startup firm in Massachusetts.
Harvey Silverman, Mike Brandstein
Polycom
Microphone technology for locating a sound source in a room. Used to steer a
videoconference camera to focus on the person speaking. Polycom is a world
leader in videoconferencing systems located in California.
Elaine Bearer, M.D.
Berkeley Antibody Co.
Elaine Bearer, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, developed a cell line and an antibody that are used as tools for research. Berkeley Antibody will sell them.
Moses Goddard, M.D.
Neurotech USA
Moses Goddard, M.D., associate professor (research) of surgery, conducts
research involving cell encapsulation for Neurotech USA in Lincoln, R.I. a
subsidiary of Neurotech SA, a French company. Living cells are packaged and
implanted into patients to treat neurogenerative diseases and progressive
blinding disorders.
Diane Lipscombe
Discovery Research Technologies
Diane Lipscombe, associate professor of neuroscience, and several students have
discovered differences between peripheral and central nervous system cells.
Discovery Research Technologies has developed drug-screening programs based on
these discoveries.
Anne DeGroot, M.D.
EpiVax
Anne DeGroot, M.D., assistant professor, and several students have developed
technology important for the discovery of new vaccines. She founded EpiVax, a
Providence company.
Vince Mor
Long Term Care Quality (LTCQ Inc.)
Vince Mor, professor in the Gerontology Research group, has developed software
and databases for monitoring care in nursing homes. This software has been
licensed to LTCQ to support the services offered by the company to monitor
care.
Christina Alberini, Mark Bear, Leon Cooper (faculty in Brain Science), and
Kjesten Wiig, postdoctoral researcher
Nemogen
The inventors have developed various methods and compounds for the enhancement
of memory formation. Nemogen is a Providence startup that tests compounds
that can serve as drugs for treatment of memory disorders.
Elizabeth Bakewell
Prolarti Enterprises
Elizabeth Bakewell, assistant professor (research) of anthropology, developed a
set of learning tools related to Mesoamerican culture. Prolarti is a startup
in Portland, Maine.
Humphrey Maris, Jan Tauc
Rudolph Technologies
Humphrey Maris, physics professor, and Jan Tauc, professor emeritus of
engineering, developed methods for measuring the properties of thin films,
particularly materials deposited during the manufacture of semiconductor
devices. Rudolph Technologies has introduced an instrument to conduct the
measurements and it has become the standard measurement tool in the industry.
Nabil Lawandy
Spectra Science
Nabil Lawandy, research professor of engineering, discovered a new way to
generate laser-like light emissions. He is president of a Providence company,
Spectra Science, to develop products based on the discovery.
Edith Mathiowitz
Spherics
Edith Mathiowitz, professor of medical science and engineering in the
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology, and
graduate students and postdoctoral researchers developed a portfolio of
inventions related to the improved oral delivery of drugs. She is the founder
and chairwoman of Spherics, located in Warwick.
Susan Fisher
Teachers College Press
Susan Fisher, director of publications at The Annenberg Institute, developed
educational materials. They are being distributed by Teachers College Press
David Brautigan
Upstate Biotechnology
David Brautigan, now at University of Virginia, developed research reagents
that are now being sold by a biochemical supplier, Upstate Biotechnology
John Sedivy
Upstate Biotechnology
John Sedivy, professor of molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry,
developed a research reagent that is being sold by Upstate Biotechnology.
John Sedivy
Millennium Pharmaceuticals
John Sedivy also developed a cell line useful for drug discovery. This was
licensed to Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Ulf Grenander
Intellex
Ulf Grenander, professor emeritus, mathematics, was a co-inventor with others
at Washington University of software that improves medical imaging displays.
This joint invention was licensed to Intellex.
(Source: Brown University Research Foundation)