This has been an exciting year for celebrating and expanding support for innovation at Indiana University, and I have truly enjoyed working closely with so many of you to advance our shared mission of translating groundbreaking academic discoveries into real-world impacts. I am constantly impressed by the dedication of our researchers to finding innovative solutions to solve our state and world’s most critical challenges.

IU research faculty were awarded 157 patents this year, a nearly 50% increase from last year. Patents bring IU research one step closer to real-world applications that improves Hoosiers’ lives.

Our office supports Indiana University’s research leadership by protecting and amplifying researchers’ innovations. By facilitating partnerships and licensing opportunities with industry, we are creating pathways that translate research to market, strengthen our communities and fuel statewide economic growth.

Expanding faculty engagement activities

Our team has been focused on increasing faculty outreach and collaboration across the university. Guided by the ambitious goals of the IU 2030 strategic plan, we are finding the best ways to support IU innovators on their journey of technology commercialization.

One of the highlights was working with a group of researchers in our first Faculty Innovation Ambassadors program. Our office trained the ambassadors on intellectual property development, market evaluation and paths to technology commercialization so they can apply this knowledge to their own innovations. The cohort also learned from leaders at IU LAB, IU Innovates, Indiana Research Consortium, and the Office of Research Compliance, who spoke about topics such as industry partnering and startup ecosystem support. The next cohort of ambassadors will be announced next year, and I look forward to working with another great group of faculty innovators.

We expanded our monthly in-person and virtual office hours to create another touchpoint for faculty to inquire about commercialization. At networking events like Innovate & Connect, researchers can engage with others who have patents or are working through the commercialization process.

This year brought increased collaboration with campus partners. We built an agreements framework for partners in the IU Health Incubator at IU LAB and supported other IU Research divisions to execute IU’s first all-services industry partnership agreement. The Master Collaboration Agreement with Cook Medical brings together research expertise from IU’s nine campuses and one of the state’s largest employers. This streamlined all-services model is a dynamic partnership where ideas flow both ways between IU and Cook Medical, removing administrative barriers for researchers and schools to collaborate directly with Cook.

To better support our researchers, we added two team members who are focused on promoting faculty engagement across campuses. Nghia Chiem, director of engagement, agreements and licensing, oversees negotiations and agreement drafting to facilitate commercialization between researchers and industry partners. Jennifer Park, technology manager in software and computing, is leading computing and software initiatives that bridge cutting-edge research with market-ready solutions.

Facilitating funding and licensing support

Helping researchers bring IU innovations to the market is central to what we do in the Innovation and Commercialization Office. From offering funding opportunities to facilitating licensing agreements, we are constantly looking for new and enhanced ways to support promising work.

IU Distinguished Professor Richard DiMarchi, right, collaborates with colleagues on March 27, 2024. Photo by Chris Meyer, Indiana UniversityThis year, three faculty researchers were awarded $25,000 each from our Innovation and Commercialization Office Gap Fund to increase their project’s marketability. Our office executed 15 intellectual property licensing agreements, including a new agreement with BlueWater Biosciences, a preclinical stage biotechnology company founded by IU Distinguished Professor Richard DiMarchi.

BlueWater Biosciences aims to transform the treatment of obesity and associated comorbidities with a platform of single molecule multi-target medicines that restore health and extend life span for patients. DiMarchi’s startup, MBX Biosciences — which went public in 2024 — also achieved a significant milestone this year by dosing its first patient in a Phase I clinical trial.

Bringing IU innovations to market

One of the most fulfilling parts of my job is engaging with IU researchers from all campuses who are working on exciting innovations that will impact people in Indiana and beyond.

Here are some great examples:

• IU South Bend’s Shahir Rizk developed a field-deployable device to detect glyphosate in water and soil. Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world, and excessive exposure can lead to cancer. The low-cost device can detect glyphosate within 30 seconds.
• IU School of Medicine’s Shelley Johns and School of Public Health-Bloomington’s Evan Jordan developed the MOSAIC app that tailors mental health care to breast cancer survivors. The app identifies when intervention is needed, reducing the burden on the mental healthcare system.
• IU Indianapolis’ Christine Picard developed a high-resolution DNA database for genomic characterization and bioengineering of insects to accelerate the development of insect-derived bioproducts. This is the first DNA database for industrially relevant insects and provides researchers with the data needed to conduct experiments that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
• Douglas Ryner and Derek Nord with the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community developed ID8, an AI-powered virtual assistant that makes it easier to access and navigate disability resources. ID8 provides users with personalized experiences and allows organizations to tailor the tool to their specific needs.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me to learn how the Innovation and Commercialization Office can partner with you to commercialize your innovation or support you in any way.

Nick Hammond is the associate vice president for innovation and commercialization at Indiana University.