Recognizing Significant Research Accomplishments

Dear Colleagues,  

 As the designated commercialization agent for research innovations at Clemson University, CURF creates a pathway for commercialization by producing and maintaining a scalable and sustainable model for research collaboration, technology maturation, and technology development opportunities to feed back into the broader Clemson University research enterprise. Over the past fiscal year, CURF has worked diligently to ensure faculty and graduate student success through improved researcher-industry engagement, increased sponsored research funding, intellectual property protection, technology commercialization, and entrepreneurial support.  

The milestones we achieved last year could not have been possible without all your hard work. So, thank you for all you do to move research forward at Clemson, and we welcome you back to campus! I am excited about another year of innovative research and look forward to working with you to develop your innovations! As you settle in, I want to remind you of the CURF resources available to assist you with your research endeavors at Clemson and provide a snapshot of the FY23 research intellectual property metrics collected from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023 (FY23). 

• Disclosing an invention starts a process that could lead to technology commercialization. During FY23, CURF received 61 invention disclosures, 26 more than we received in FY22! If you have developed a novel technology from your research, submit an invention disclosure to CURF to protect your invention. Please submit your innovation disclosure here. 
• Protecting your invention with a patent is immensely important to the success of your technology. In FY23, CURF filed 30 US patent applications for our inventors. 
• During FY23, we executed 16 technology licenses and options. To assist you with the commercialization of your technology, we follow a transparent innovation management process. Learn more about our Technology Transfer process here. 

 In addition to our research metrics, I want to share with you three major Innovation innovation and Commercialization commercialization Awards awards we secured in FY23 for the following inventors and startups: 

• Windsor Sherrill, Provost Distinguished Professor in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences, Associate Vice President for Health Research, and Chief Science Officer at Prisma Health: Received a $600,000 award from the American Diabetes Association to advance her research in health services. 
• Aravis BioTech, a Clemson University startup created from research conducted by Jeffery Anker, Wallace R. Roy Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and BioEngineering at Clemson University, and John. DesJardins, Robert B. and Susan B. Hambright Leadership Professor in Bioengineering at Clemson University,. rReceived a $300,000 SBIR Phase 1 award to improve treatment for musculoskeletal diseases.  

• Apex Orthopaedic Technologies, LLC, a Clemson University startup developed from research conducted by Hai Yao, Associate Vice President for Biomedical Innovation,  Professor and Ernest R. Norville Endowed Chair of bioengineering, and  Associate Chair for CU-MUSC Bioengineering Program, : Rreceived a $300,000 SBIR Phase 1 award to improve treatments for early-onset spinal deformity. 

 On behalf of the CURF team, we are excited to continue to serve and support the work you are doing to advance research at Clemson, and we look forward to all this year has in store! 

Best, 

Chris