U of A had record number of inventions in FY24

Tech Launch Arizona, the University of Arizona office that commercializes inventions stemming from university research and innovation, saw a record number of inventions during the 2024 fiscal year. 

Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, TLA received 307 new inventions, as compared to the 298 it received in FY2023 and 303 in FY2022. The office also launched nine startups, executed 75 licenses and options for Arizona inventions, filed 367 patents, and had 78 patents issued. 

"We're most excited about the number of invention disclosures we received this year," said Doug Hockstad, associate vice president of Tech Launch Arizona. "This represents a new record for the university, shows continued growth, and means that our pipeline is strong." 

One of the centerpieces of the TLA plan to increase commercialization activity is its Faculty Innovation Ambassador program. In eight U of A colleges that have an active research pipeline that regularly yields large numbers of inventions, TLA engaged a leading faculty member with experience in commercialization. These faculty members serve as sources of information about inventions, licensing, and startups for their colleagues and students. TLA has planned a series of events in the fall to introduce the innovations ambassadors to their college communities.

Fiscal year 2024 also saw continued success in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, or NSF I-Corps, program, which helps increase the impact of federally funded research by preparing academic inventors to move their innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Twenty-seven U of A teams went through the program, which is administered through the Desert and Pacific Region I-Corps Hub, and TLA leaders hope to surpass that number in 2025. 

"This year also saw our first-ever I-Corps cohort dedicated to social innovation," Hockstad said. "We had 10 teams from three institutions in two states participate, and it was verification that impactful innovation can come from even the most unexpected work; it's not just the traditional fields like physical and life sciences anymore."

The term “social innovation” refers to research and projects directed at solving significant social challenges like poverty, healthcare, education, and sustainability. Researchers who want to extend their work to empower communities or ensure that their impact continues beyond a project’s initial funding limitations are, according to Hockstad, excellent fits for the social innovation program. 

He encourages any U of A community member who is curious about how they might expand the impact of their work to inquire about participating in the I-Corps program at https://techlaunch.arizona.edu/resources/nsf-i-corps. 

To further increase opportunities for U of A startups, TLA also launched its Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund in fiscal year 2024. With $1.5 million already raised, and another $500,000 in matching funds available, the early-stage seed fund will help U of A startups to get through the so-called "valley of death," – the period of time in which startups face the greatest risk of failure due to lack of early-stage financial resources. Fundraising is ongoing, and while the ultimate goal is to grow the fund to $5 million, it will be able to begin making investments when it reaches $2 million. 

One of the key features of the fund will be to involve students in its operations, giving them the opportunity to engage with startups, and participate in due diligence and funding decisions. Student startups will also be eligible for funding. 

"The timing couldn't be better," said Hockstad. "As we expand our scope of services for students, the fund will be yet one more way we can provide students with first-hand experience of entrepreneurship and investment."

Startups launched

In fiscal year 2024, TLA helped launch nine startups to commercialize U of A inventions, up from seven the previous year. 

• Ancerix is commercializing medical devices for orthopedic surgical procedures, invented by Dr. Daniel Latt, associate professor in the College of Medicine – Tucson and the College of Engineering, and a multidisciplinary team of student inventors who are pursuing degrees or graduated from the U of A, including: Emilio Araiza, an aerospace and mechanical engineering major; biomedical engineering PhD student at Cornell University Carlos Urea-De La Puerta, BS, Biomedical Engineering, 2022; manufacturing associate at Moderna Erick De Leon, BS, Biomedical Engineering, 2022; Northrop Grumman systems engineer Carolina Gomez Llanos, BS, Systems Engineering, 2022; and W.L. Gore & Associates industrial engineer Eva Richter, BS, Systems Engineering, 2022.
• Rivixl is developing low-cost green hydrogen production technology, invented by professor Dennis Lichtenberger, professor emeritus Richard Glass, professor Jeffrey Pyun, and researcher Addison Coen, all with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; William Brezinski, U of A PhD in chemistry, 2017; Kayla Clary, U of A PhD in chemistry, 2021; Metin Karayilan, assistant professor of chemistry at Case Western Reserve University; Arthur Gibson, research assistant in the U of A chemistry department; and Mary Salyards, instructional laboratories manager in the U of A department of organic chemistry.
• iSeniCare is producing a frailty assessment tool for non-ambulatory patients, invented by faculty in the College of Medicine – Tucson and the College of Engineering, including professor of surgery Bijan Najafi, professor of medicine Marthat Jane Mohler, and Nima Toosizadeh, associate professor a Rutgers University, formerly an assistant professor of medicine, College of Medicine – Tucson. 
• Vanport Technologies, Inc. is commercializing a floodplain mapping technology to help communities predict and respond to flooding more effectively. The technology was invented by College of Engineering professor Jennifer Duan. 
• CulturaSTEM Learning is developing culturally responsive and relevant teaching tools for educators, created by College of Education assistant dean of research Sara Chavarria, deputy director of the Arizona Astrobiology Center Corey Knox, and Alba Proras Hoyos, project coordinator with the College of Education. 
• OD Infinite is developing mixed reality safety eyewear for high-powered laser environments, invented by postdoctoral scholar Hyeonwoo Lee, research assistant Mohamed Sennary, and postdoctoral scholar Jalil Shah, all with the Wyant College of Optical Sciences and the College of Science.
• AQVac is commercializing an orally-delivered viral vector platform to address finfish and crustacean diseases, invented by Arun Dhar, an associate professor in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, and Thomas Allnutt, chief science officer at biotechnology company NuLode.
• Hypknowledge is developing applications for sleep assessment and tracking, invented by assistant professor Michael Grandner of the College of Medicine – Tucson.
• Agenevo Pharma, Inc., is developing small molecules to inhibit the formation of proteins linked to various neurodegenerative diseases, a technology invented by Professor Xinlong Wang of the College of Pharmacy. 

Widening the scope of Commercialization, Entrepreneurship

In addition to continuing to serve university faculty, researchers, and staff, TLA is expanding its scope to include a Student Ventures group. This new team will focus on student entrepreneurship by integrating into TLA student-focused services, programs, and staff that were formerly part of Arizona FORGE, a university program designed to cultivate entrepreneurship among students.

"We are also rebooting our Commercialization Network and Venture Mentoring Services programs this fall," said Hockstad, "so it's going to be an exciting time for people to engage with our teams and explore the pathways that might be open to expanding the impact of their work, no matter what their innovations are or where they come from in the U of A academic pantheon."

More results from FY2024 and plans for FY2025 will be available in the TLA annual report, to be released in the fall.