McGill and the NRC to showcase promising new technologies
BioTransfer 2007 to bring cutting-edge biotech R&D to market
McGill University and the National Research Council are pleased to present a Quebec first: BioTransfer 2007. This unique event marks the first time in Quebec that the two public-sector institutions will leverage their collective strengths by showcasing a selection of promising new technologies and engaging private sector partnerships. “Both the NRC Biotechnology Research Institute (NRC-BRI) and McGill have their respective strengths, which are complementary in many ways,” said Michel Desrochers, Director General of NRC-BRI. “By partnering, we believe we can make a strong case to business leaders and be even more successful in bringing important research breakthroughs to the development stage and eventually to market.”
To be held on June 14 in Montreal, BioTransfer 2007 will run concurrently with the 12th annual “Crossroad of Biotechnology” symposium hosted by NRC-BRI. It represents an outstanding opportunity for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to assess key innovations emerging from two research-driven Montreal institutions. “McGill is one of Canada’s most research-intensive universities,” said Dr. Arthur T. Porter, Director General and CEO, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), who will deliver the opening remarks. “Because its investigators are engaged at the cutting edge of research, the University and its affiliated hospitals constitute an unparalleled pool of knowledge and intellectual property,” said Porter. “The challenge is to translate that knowledge into practical medical solutions for the benefit of patients and the community at large.”
McGill and NRC-BRI will unveil 24 promising new technologies in presentations aimed at health sciences R&D and business development managers interested in bringing cutting-edge biotech R&D to market. The event will also provide an opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings with inventors and technology transfer personnel to explore avenues of commercialization.
“By adopting a more strategic approach to patent decision-making and regularly reviewing its IP portfolio, NRC-BRI generates, identifies and develops more high-potential commercial value IP,” said Michel Desrochers, Director General of NRC-BRI. “We feel that the 12 selected NRC-BRI technologies to be presented at BioTransfer 2007 are thus very promising,” he added.
McGill University has the largest patent estate of any Canadian university, with more than 400 issued patents and over 500 patent applications pending. “Over the past 15 years, 50 spin-off companies have been created based on McGill technology,” said Dr. Michael Avedesian, Interim Director of McGill’s OTT. “Of these 50 start-ups, 37 are still surviving today. All of this activity contributes strongly to McGill’s societal mission of providing service and benefits to society in those ways for which we are best suited by virtue of our academic strengths and the commercialization of McGill’s technologies.”
BioTransfer 2007 will be held on Thursday, June 14, from 1–4 p.m. at the NRC Biotechnology Research Institute, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, Quebec. For more information on BioTransfer 2007, consult the website.
About McGill University research
Founded in 1821, McGill University is one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities both in terms of sponsored research income per full-time faculty member and in peer-reviewed publications per full-time faculty member. McGill is one of two Canadian members of the American Association of Universities.
About the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)
Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in developing an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology. The NRC Biotechnology Research Institute is one of the most important biotechnology R&D laboratories in Canada. More than 800 people – NRC employees, students, researchers and guest scientists – work in its three large research sectors: Health, Bioprocess and Environment, as well as in setting up the Institute’s many industrial partnerships. The Institute maintains ties with industry and universities for the benefit of Canadians.