Since 2013 and the creation of TLA, the university has been growing its impact by licensing inventions to companies. Most often, a company takes an exclusive license so the resulting product is uniquely theirs in the marketplace. But sometimes the best path for an invention is to license it over and over again to as many entities as possible, and the impact can be immense.

UArizona researchers in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the BIO Instutute have developed a harmless bacteria strain to battle bad breath in our furry friends. University startup uPetsia has licensed the invention to develop it and take it to the marketplace. 

Of the four companies who made it to the finals of IdeaFunding 2021, three are startups that were founded to commercialize University of Arizona inventions – a visible and measurable indication that the university entrepreneurial ecosystem is effectively connecting research, innovation and impact to launch the university’s most promising inventions.  

In honor of Women's History Month, TLA is excited to introduce you to three of our amazing women inventors, all accomplished researchers, mentors, teachers, and champions of innovation. Get to know them, find inspiration in their words and share their stories!

Invented in the College of Agriculture & LIfe Sciences and the BIO5 Institute, the Air Accordion Photobioreactor produces low-cost, large-scale and environmentally sustainable microalgae products used to create vaccines and health supplements like omega-3 fatty acids. Meet UArizona startup AlgeaCell.

On this episode of Tech Transfer IP, the host interviews Rakhi Gibbons, the Director of Licensing for Tech Launch Arizona at the University of Arizona. Hear about Rakhi and the history, vision and growing successes of TLA.

Botanisol Analytics and Scintillation Nanotechnologies – both founded to commercialize UArizona inventions – have been accepted into the 2021 Flinn Foundation Bioscience Entrepreneurship Program. Each will receive $30,000 in funding through a nonprofit partner, a customized learning plan, and connections with the state’s bioscience leaders in business, research, and policy.

The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has named inventors and professors May Khanna and Meredith Hay of the University of Arizona as Senior Members in recognition of their innovative work that has given rise to real impact on the welfare of society. 

Ike started working as an Entrepreneurial Fellow with TLA when he was an MD-PhD candidate at the UArizona  College of Medicine-Tucson. We had a wonderful conversation with him as part of our blog series honoring Black History Month.