OTT held its second annual Celebration of Technology and Innovation on April 1st, 2008 at the Emory Conference Center. The master of ceremonies was OTT's own Todd Sherer and the program was comprised of a welcome by Emory's Michael Mandl, Exec. VP for Finance & Administration; a keynote address by Max Wallace, CEO, TheraLogics; State of Research at Emory by David Wynes, VP for Research Admininstration; capped off by the presentation of this year's awards.
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Todd Sherer, Master of Ceremonies and
Director of OTT |
Welcome Speaker Mike Mandl, Emory's Exec. VP of Finance
and Administration |
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| Keynote Speaker Max Wallce, CEO TheraLogics |
State of Research at Emory Speaker David Wynes, VP for Research Administration |
Start-up of the Year
GeoVax Labs Inc.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a viable public health threat in western countries and has reached endemic status in some regions of Africa, a problem compounded by the absence of a viable vaccine. Scientists have struggled unsuccessfully for years to develop a vaccine for the highly mutagenic HIV, a fact illustrated by the large percentage of promising attempts that are abandoned following Phase I clinical trials. However, thanks to the research of Emory scientist Harriet Robinson, HIV vaccine development may have turned a corner. In collaboration with investigators at the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robinson’s studies suggested that a DNA vaccine, followed by a MVA booster both encoding multiple HIV proteins could elicit a strong immune
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| David Wynes, VP Research Admin.; Don Hildabrand, CEO GeoVax Labs for Harriett Robinson, Mary Severson, Emory case manager |
response and provide protection against future infections. In 2002, these discoveries were used as the foundation of GeoVax Labs Inc., a new biotechnology company aimed at the development, testing, and commercialization of novel vaccines for infectious diseases including HIV. During a 3 and a 1/2 year pre-clinical trial featuring the company’s lead vaccine candidate, a staggering 21 of 23 monkeys were protected from SHIV (hybrid of simian and human HIV). Shortly there after, the GeoVax vaccine was found safe in two Phase I clinical trials and approved for use by the FDA. The vaccine is currently being tested in 3 additional Phase I trials, and in February of 2008, GeoVax announced their product was approved by the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) for Phase IIa trials. Significantly, the GeoVax vaccine becomes only the 5th HIV/AIDS vaccine to be selected by HVTN to move forward into Phase II. An excellent 2007 for GeoVax concluded with an award from Georgia Bio for the company’s receipt of a $15 million dollar Integrated Preclinical/Clinical AIDS Vaccine Development (IPCAVD) grant from the National Institutes of Health. With this infusion of funding to support their clinical trials program, GeoVax promises to continue their groundbreaking research for years to come.
Deal of the Year
Therapeutic Treatment for Chronic Infections
Almost 85% of Hepatitis C (HCV) infections result in a chronic disease state. Compounding this problem is the fact that current HCV therapeutic treatments consisting of pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination therapy are effective in only 50% of individuals having HCV infection. Help, however, is on the way. In 2007, Emory University executed a multi-institutional licensing agreement with a major biotechnology company for the development of therapeutics to treat chronic infection such as HCV and AIDS based on the research discoveries of Dr. Rafi Ahmed and colleagues at the Emory Vaccine Center.
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| David Wynes, VP Research Admin.; Alex Brown, Vaccine Center for Rafi Ahmed; Cory Acuff, Emory case manager |
Cytokine secreting T cells are the body’s natural defense against invading viruses. However, during chronic infection the anti-viral capability of these cells is compromised and they assume a quiescent state known as “T cell exhaustion.” Dr. Ahmed’s team has discovered that CD8 T cells of infected individuals express high levels of an inhibitory receptor known as PD-1, and importantly, virus-infected cells secrete the ligand for PD-1. These discoveries suggest a viral-mediated mechanism for inducing T cell exhaustion, and therefore a potential target for a beneficial intervention. Dr. Ahmed and colleagues have identified blocking antibodies to the PD-1 pathway and now, with a biotech partner, will develop therapies to alleviate T cell exhaustion, and help the body defeat chronic infections such as HCV. This exclusive agreement resulted in the largest up-front license payment to Emory over the last five years and an exceptional level of institutional research funding. Notably, the terms of license also include provisions for the Gates Challenge Grant and a global access plan which offer affordable health care opportunities to economically depressed and developing countries. With the basic-science know-how of Dr. Ahmed and the commercialization resources of a commercial partner, this deal typifies the reciprocal benefit of institutional-industry collaborations in biotechnology.
Innovation
G2 Carpool Technology
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 88 percent of workers drive to their jobs, with 77 percent driving alone. John Notarantonio a senior database warehouse developer for Emory University’s Technology Services, hopes to reduce that number with a novel “matchmaking” service that makes finding carpooling partners quick and convenient. Emory’s 12,000-some employees already have access to the service through Destination Emory, an initiative that encourages alternative commuting options.
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| David Wynes, VP Research Admin.; John Notarantonio, developer; Panya Taysavang, Emory case manager |
Employees interested in joining or establishing carpools can navigate to the Destination Emory website, log in, and view a map of their neighborhood with other prospective carpoolers who live and work near them clearly marked. While names aren’t supplied, a quick email can be sent through the service and the recipient can respond if they are interested. The model program became the basis for EcoRide™, the only enabling technology specifically designed to address critical environmental and economic issues by stimulating growth in carpooling. EcoRide™ can be used by government agencies, private employers, communities, or individuals as an easy-to-use, easy-to-implement, and cost-effective way to address traffic congestion, limited parking resources, increasing gasoline prices, air quality, and employee health and productivity. Using superior graphics, GIS mapping, and logical data, the system quickly, easily, and securely allows groups to assemble convenient and flexible carpools. Through Emory’s Office of Technology Transfer, Notarantonio was paired with Ron Tolliver, a corporate executive with more than 25 years of experience with Fortune 100 and early-stage technology companies, to form G2EcoSolutions and explore the commercial potential of EcoRide™.
Significant Event
Triptcor Pharmaceuticals
Seeking novel therapies for arthritis and other inflammatory diseases Emory scientist Dennis Liotta and colleagues turned to the Triptergium Wilfordii hook F (TWHF) root, a holistic medicine use by the ancient Chinese. TWHF root extracts contain an active ingredient, a small molecule known as tripolide, which research indicates can bind to and block the NF-kB transcription factor, an important mediator of the inflammatory response. Using this knowledge, Dr. Liotta and colleagues have developed a series of active triptolide analogs, and subsequently initiated the pre-incorporated start-up company, Triptcor Pharmaceuticals. Founded in 2007, Triptcor was the winner of the 1st annual BIO/plan competition
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| David Wynes, VP Research Admin.; Dennis Liotta, scientist; Jennifer Moore, Emory case manager |
hosted by the regional nonprofit organization Southeast BIO (SEBIO). From an initial applicant pool featuring over 50 innovative technologies from universities and research organizations across the southeast, Triptcor was first selected as one of 10 semi-finalists in June of 2007. Over the next four months a team of Emory representatives, entrepreneurs, and other professionals collaborated to develop a formal business plan. As one of 4 finalists, the Triptcor strategy was presented at the Ninth Annual SEBIO Investor Forum in Pinehurst, N.C., where it was selected by a panel of nine judges as the winner of the $100,000 grand prize. Exceptional research, a well developed business, and exposure generated by this prestigious award combine to generate unprecedented interested from the venture community 2007, and guarantee an exciting 2008 for this budding company.
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