Meeting advances bioscience technology development
Nov. 19, 2003
KALAMAZOO--Researchers from Michigan Technological University and Oakland University will visit Western Michigan University Thursday, Nov. 20, to meet with their WMU counterparts and explore ways the three universities can foster the development and commercialization of bioscience technology.
Dr. Jack Luderer, WMU vice president for research, will act as host for the day-long event that is part of a larger two-year initiative dubbed MUSTR--the Multi-University Strategy for Technology Realization. The meeting will take place at the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center at WMU's Business Technology and Research Park, where sessions will focus on a number of research areas in which the two visiting universities have expressed a particular interest. They include biosensors, and ocular and therapeutic research.
More than a dozen life sciences researchers representing the three universities have been selected to attend. They will be joined by representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., which funded MUSTR. The initiative, which began in April 2003, is an economic development initiative being led by the top research officers of the three universities involved. The focus of the effort is on assessing technology developments that could lead to commercialization opportunities and defining and cultivating areas in which the three universities can collaborate, based on those assessments.
"MUSTR is evolving into something of a model for university collaboration to facilitate technology transfer," Luderer says. "We're avoiding the traditional turf wars and working together in ways that are both mutually beneficial and designed to increase research and development and technology transfer across the state of Michigan."
The Nov. 20 event will include an overview delivered by Luderer of WMU's new Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center as well as summaries of each university's research strengths and collaboration needs. Dr. Ranald Hansen, professor of psychology and special assistant to the president for SmartZone development, will represent Oakland University. Dr. David Reed, professor in the School of Forest Services and Environmental Science, will represent Michigan Tech.
Luderer says a good portion of the day will be spent with the university leaders talking together, reviewing research and touring lab facilities relevant to the areas being discussed.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 269 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu