Celebrate World Intellectual Property Day!

University of Arizona Wildcats are no strangers to the idea of “reaching for gold.” Over the years, our university has won nineteen championships: seven for men in baseball, basketball, golf and swimming; and twelve for women in golf, softball and swimming. On the Olympic front, since 1952 we’ve seen 122 Wildcat Olympians – 56 women and 66 men – who have made 187 appearances at the Games and earned a total of 74 medals.

But Wildcats go for gold in innovation and academics, as well, and on April 26, we celebrate the inventors, innovators and problem-solvers across our community during World Intellectual Property Day(link is external) (a.k.a., World IP Day). The theme this year is “Reach for Gold: IP and Sports.”

Faculty, researchers and students are collaborating across disciplines to solve the challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They are weaving together insights from physical sciences, discoveries in biology, chemistry and medicine, and innovations in computer science and engineering to understand and enhance human performance. From nutritionists to psychiatrists to physicians, experts across our community are collaborating to develop innovative technologies to help us understand our bodies and brains in new ways.

So, as we celebrate World IP Day, we look at a few of the big questions UA inventors are asking, and the inventions they have developed to answer them.

How can we make the best food selections to maximize our athletic performance?

Developed by Christine Carlson, assistant director and registered dietician at UA Food Services, the Eat Like a CHAMP program(link is external) assists athletes and other active students at the University of Arizona with selecting healthier food options that will improve their performance. The “CHAMP” (carbohydrate, hydration, anti-inflammatory, mental focus, and protein) acronym identifies the important elements of nutrition people should be aware of for maximum performance.

How can we optimize our sleep patterns and habits for optimum functioning?

Research has shown time and again that sleep plays a crucial role in healthy living. Quality sleep can improve mental and physical health. However, many individuals suffer from insufficient sleep, circadian rhythm disruptions or sleep disorders. Such disorders can be attributed to work, school or countless other stressors. Current sleep improvement programs are focused on both detection and treatment, or schedule change intervention. Based on the research findings of Director of Clinical and Sport Psychology Service Amy Athey and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Michael Grandner, Elite REST(link is external) provides an intervention program for improving sleep with a range of tools.

How can we use the chemistry of sweat to diagnose health problems and formulate life changes?

At the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, Director of Research Ester Sternberg and Research Assistant Professor Min Jia have identified that there are different isomers of cortisol found in human sweat. Their work has resulted in the development of a means by which cortisol isomer ratios in human sweat can be measured and used to evaluate the physiological or psychological state of the patient(link is external). Prolonged cortisol secretion and elevated or depressed levels of cortisol production have been associated with a variety of physiological and psychological conditions including elevated stress, depression, and psychosis. By measuring and flagging these abnormal cortisol levels, this invention provides an early warning system allowing for real-time diagnosis and monitoring of conditions such as high blood pressure, sleep disruption and more.

How can we leverage health data points to formulate daily coaching for maximum performance and productivity?

From physicians to athletes to corporate professionals, all high-performing professionals experience elevated stress that affects their work and home lives. To help such populations optimize their lives for maximum success, Professor of Emergency Medicine Samuel Keim has developed a web-based application that can track and analyze wellness data(link is external) from stress to fitness to mood states. Measurements gathered through the app produce automatic analytic feedback to assist in personal improvement and help users develop optimal daily routines. With industries putting a greater focus on trying to find effective predictive models to lower health care costs and maximize employee productivity and quality of life, this technology can solve such concerns, and improve upon employee physical and mental health.

Want to learn more about World IP Day and why it matters? Visit the World Intellectual Property Organization.(link is external)

And if you’re a UA faculty, researcher or student looking to make a difference with your research or invention, contact Tech Launch Arizona to start a conversation.

If you are interested in learning more about licensing opportunities for these or any other University of Arizona inventions, contact Paul Tumarkin at pault@tla.arizona.edu(link sends e-mail).