Biotechnology An Industry Comes of Age (1986) / Chapter Skim
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University-Industry Relations
University-Industry Relations
Pages 98-106
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From page 98... ...
These companies view the universities as sources of new ideas and innovative techniques, as suppliers of trained employees and talented consultants, and even as customers for research equipment and other products. The extremely rapid pace of research in molecular biology puts a premium on staying at the forefront of the field.
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From page 99... ...
Exposure to problems and opportunities in industry creates new challenges for academic science and engineering, places undergraduate and graduate education in new perspectives, increases scientific communication and cooperation, and ties educational and research programs of universities more closely to national and regional needs. Also, in a time of stagnating or declining federal outlays for scientific research, universities look to alliances with industry as a way to diversify and supplement their sources of funding.
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From page 100... ...
Another potential problem involves the granting of patent rights. A 1980 law gave universities the right to retain patents arising from research sponsored by federal funds, and some universities have used this provision to generate revenue (for instance, Stanford University has earned several million dollars from its patent on the basic process used in making recombinant plasmids)
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From page 101... ...
As a result, according to David M Kipnis of the Washington University School of Medicine, the agreement can be seen as a sort of test of "whether a partnership between two very different institutions is possible, and whether the separate though overlapping interests of both can be furthered without compromising the principles and values of each." Both institutions brought definite goals to the negotiations.
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From page 102... ...
Washington University then submitted a proposal to Monsanto. "It was mutually decided that the program would focus on one defined area of biological science, broad enough in scope to take advantage of all of the perceived opportunities that many of us wished to pursue, focusing on a university strength and an area where we wished to broaden our own research, and perceived as an exciting area for industry,"
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From page 103... ...
It was decided during the negotiations to keep the funds from Monsanto at less than 10 percent of the medical school's research budget. The total budget of the Washington University School of Medicine is currently about $100 million per year, of which about $55 million comes from NIH, making the school one of the top three or four research centers in the country in terms of NIH funding.
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From page 104... ...
glycosylation mechanisms, the regulation of gene expression, the biology of receptors, et cetera." Specialty projects focus on "specific proteins and peptides that modulate cellular function and in which is seen the possibility of commercial utility in terms of technologies or products. Examples of research that are well known are atrial peptides, research on mediators of immune reactions, the structure function of proteins regulating coagulation or thrombolysis, or the protein products influencing oncogene function." In addition to the oversight of the advisory committee, the agreement calls for external peer review on a regular basis.
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From page 105... ...
"Availability of funds has allowed us a certain entrepreneurial spirit, not in terms of commercial gains, but in terms of scientific enthusiasm," remarks Kipnis. "That has been very helpful." The two institutions have even established a monthly seminar program, given at alternate locations, and an annual retreat on a subject of mutual scientific interest.
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From page 106... ...
Washington, D.C.: National Science Foundation. Robert D
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