University of Kentucky OTC Celebrates Inventors at Inaugural Patent Palooza Event

LEXINGTON, Ky. — On April 11, 2017, the University of Kentucky Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) held its inaugural Patent Palooza, an event dedicated to celebrating the university’s inventors and the commercialization achievements of the previous fiscal year.

Ian McClure, director of the OTC, described the event as “the starkest symbol of the Office of Technology Commercialization’s excitement about the inventive researchers and commercialization potential that UK has to offer.” He emphasized that the OTC is actively working to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual property and commercialization in supporting renewable research opportunities.

During the event, 43 inventors were recognized for securing 30 patents issued in fiscal year 2016. Additionally, recipients of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants from the same period were acknowledged. Inventors associated with patents that had executed license agreements were also honored.

A special “Milestone Award” was presented to Chang-Guo Zhan, a professor in the UK College of Pharmacy, who achieved the notable milestone of receiving his 20th patent in 2016. As a token of recognition, each inventor named on an issued patent received a coffee mug featuring the front cover of their patent.

The event attracted approximately 100 attendees, including prominent university leaders such as UK Vice President for Research Lisa Cassis and UK President Eli Capilouto.

President Capilouto highlighted the diversity and strength of UK’s patent portfolio, noting its alignment with Kentucky’s vital industries such as drug development, energy, plant biotechnology, and equine health. He remarked, “The OTC is a critical element of our commercialization pipeline; raising awareness for the entrepreneurial work on our campus. Together, their work and the ingenuity of our faculty and staff inventors bring creative solutions to market for public benefit.”

The University of Kentucky currently holds over 650 worldwide patent assets, encompassing both issued patents and patent applications. The university maintains more than 100 active licenses, many of which have generated revenue to support further research, while others have facilitated start-ups in securing funding and creating jobs.

The OTC manages all intellectual property for the university and drives commercialization efforts through technology licensing and start-up ventures. For more information, the OTC can be contacted at 859-218-6509 or otcinfo@uky.edu.