From lab to enterprise

Michael Keene recently had an audience of about 100 people puzzled. The state's science adviser asked if the "Center for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology" meant anything to them. To most, it didn't.

But when he said "Myriad Genetics," heads began to nod.

To Keene and others, that Salt Lake-based genetic research company is one example of how the state's research universities have contributed jobs, technology and prestige to the state.

Technology transfer offices at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah State University have worked for several years to bring professors' and students' research activities into the private sector through licensing and spin-off companies.

Those research activities, Keene said, are "the engines of economies."

"We've got a lot of good talent up there doing research, but if not for an effective partnership between the researchers and the technology transfer offices and the state, much would be lost to Utah, because there are more, bigger, richer companies elsewhere that will come in and take things before the time is right and we would never see the fruits of their development here at home," Keene said.

Thus, the Myriad example. "Myriad Genetics," he said, "is what happened when the Center for Cancer Genetic Epidemiology grew up."

The ways universities nudge along technology takes many forms. Jayne Carney, director of the technology transfer office at the U., said the university is "more than willing" to accept equity in lieu of cash, provide marketing data, provide support or mentors for federal innovation research grants, link researchers with "angels" and venture capitalists and help provide laboratory space.

Among the results are Myriad Genetics, now a public company with more than 500 workers; Idaho Technologies, which was started by a professor and two entrepreneurs and now involved in high-speed DNA instruments; and Cephalon. The U. licensed cancer-pain-treatment technology to a start-up called Anesta, which later was acquired by Cephalon, which now has all its worldwide manufacturing in Salt Lake City.

"These are three different small companies that grew up and contribute locally. We are really interested in start-up companies," Carney said.

More than half of the U. research technology licensees are in-state, and the university has been involved in more than 70 start-up companies, most of them in Utah. Its technology transfer royalty income this year will top $10 million, and sales of equity will total about $200,000.

Most of the companies toil at Research Park, where 38 companies with 5,700 employees have tech-transfer ties.