We are pleased to announce that as a result of actions undertaken since January 2010 under the framework of the Nencki Institute Innovation Platform, two patent applications for inventions created by scientists at the Nencki Institute have been submitted.
The first invention was created by Andrzej Kubalski PhD and Piotr Koprowski PhD and is a novel tool for identification of potential antibacterial compounds.
The invention is based on a high throughput screening method for substances that can activate or inhibit bacterial membrane channels.Unlike in ordinary screening methods that detect inhibition of bacteria growth, in this method one is looking for compounds that enhance growth of special varieties of E.coli.
The second invention was created by prof. Elżbieta Szeląg and Aneta Szymaszek PhD. It is a special device and method to stimulate mind of an adult and a child.
The invention can be used for therapeutic reasons: such as aphasia after stroke, delayed development of speech,dyslexia, age-related dementia, as well as for other non-therapeutic reasons: help in learning of foreign languages, reading or writing, enhancing memory, concentration, awareness and multitaskingabilities.
Scientists interested in patenting their results are encouraged to visit the Nencki Institute Innovation Platform.
Companies and institutions interested in implementation of those inventions are asked to contact the Office of International Cooperation and Project Management.
Open summary of BioForum at the Nencki Institute
On the 1st July 2010 at the Nencki Institute an open summary of the BioForum (the biggest biotechnology and biobusiness fair in the CEE organised on 19-20th May 2010 in Łódź) took place.
The Nencki Institute was represented at the fair at the joint exhibit of the Biocentre Ochota Technology Transfer Centre and the Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology consortium, as well as by the representatives of the Nencki Institute's PhD students.
During the meeting Mr Andrzej Białkowski-Miler from the Office of International Cooperation and Project Management presented shortly his insights on the development of this fair sicne 2005 and the shape and dynamic of polish biotechnology that emerges from those observations.
Moreover, Ms Dorota Gierej (president of the PhD students self-government) presented her findings on the career possibilities for young scientists in Poland. Her presentation can be downloaded here.
Summary of a lecture of dr Haim V. Levy
On the 24th June 2010 two open lectures of dr Haim V. Levy took place. Their topices were "Commercialization of applied research" and "Establishing spin out/off companies by scientists".
Dr Levy is an exceptional authority in areas of technology transfer and development of innovative biomedical business. Moreover, he is a scientist and inventor himself, as well as an attorney.
Since 1986 to 1990 he was a vicedirector of the Weizmann's Institute Technology Transfer Centre, where he was involved in commercialization of a multiple sclerosis (SM) drug called nowadays Copaxone. Copaxone's sales in 2009 equaled 3,8 bln $.
Between 1990 and 2005 he was a CEO or on board of directors of 9 high-tech companies, including NESS Ltd. (now Bioness Inc.).
Since 2003 he is running a Tel-Aviv based chambers specialised in legal assistance for technology start-ups and licensing technology.
During lectures at the Nencki Institute dr Levy presented his experiences from the above mentioned areas concentrating especially at practical apsects of commercializing technologies developed at scientific institutions. He particularly provided a comprhensive comparison of licensig technolgies vs. establishin spin offs/outs.
The meeting was also a great opportunity to get to know personal experiences that influenced a career of dr Levy- from his scientific background through entrepreneur to attorney. Moreover, dr Levy was also eager to answers questions and doubts ou young scientiscts considering setting up their own businesses.
Summary of the lecture of prof. Helena Żakowska-Henzler about biotechnological inventions
On the 15th June 2010 a lecture of prof. Helena Żakowska-Henzler from the Institute of Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences took place.
Prof. Żakowska-Henzler presented a historic overview (from 19th century till now) of arguments and controversies around the topic of patenting elements of nature. She put special emphasis on the influence of the modern biochemistry on the patent law in the USA and in Europe. She portrayed a picture of a very dynamic discipline that has not been finally shaped yet.
Eg. it has already been established that genes can be patented. This tendency was started in the USA and to facilitate development of biotechnology in Europe, EU has approved a pecial directive on biotechnological inventions (98/44). Having all this considered, it is extremely interesting to hear about a decision of judge Robert W. Sweet from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On 29th March 2010, in the case of American Civil Liberties Union vs. Myriad Genetic, he judged that genes as such, including their isolated and purified forms, can not be patented. Should this ruling be accepted at the higher instances, it could result in a revoultion of a biotechnology patent law, which is developing in current direction since 1980'ies.
Moreover, many specialist seriously consider abandoning a patent law in health in favour of other systems (eg. based on special prizes for inventors).
Everybody who is interested in this field is encouradged to read a book "Wynalazkek biotechnologiczny. Przedmiot patentu" (Eng. "Biotechnologial Invention. Object of a patent") which is available in the libraty of the Nencki Institute. The book was also available to participants of the "Patent for a scientist" seminar.
Lecture of prof. Helena Żakowska-Henzler about biotechnological inventions
We are pleased to announce an open lecture of prof. Helena Żakowska-Henzler that will take place on the 15th June at the Nencki Institute (conference room on the IInd floor).
Prof. dr hab. Helena Żakowska-Henzler is employed in the Institute of Legal Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Her research interest cover the topics of intellectual property protection, including legal and ethical challenges related to patenting new technologies. Her publications include among others a book "Biotechnological invention- an object of a patent" (Polish "Wynalazek biotechnologiczny. Przedmiot patentu"), Scholar 2006. The book won prizes of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and of the Director of the Polish Patent Office.
BioForum 2010
On 19-20th May 2010 in Łódź the BioForum took place. It is the biggest central European fair of biotechnolog and biobussiness. BioForum is a cyclical event, that is already a part of polish biotechnology landscape. In the fair participated more than 100 exhibitors, including many international. A very important part of the event was a so called Biopartnering- prearranged scientific and business meetings. BioForum was even more attractive because of satellite events (eg. JobVector, BioInnovations). More about BioForum can be found here.
The Nencki Institute was represented at the joint exhibit of Biocentre Ochota Technology Transfer Unit and the project Centre of Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT) by employers of the Office of International Cooperation and Project Management, scientists having innovative projects and representatives of PhD students.
Call for proposals search engine
We are pleased to announce that a new functionality of the Nencki Institute Innovation Platform is now publicly available. Since the beginning of May it is possible to access a new page (Employees> Sources of external financing), which is dedicated to sources of external funding of science and scientists, especially from the broadly defined field of biotechnology.
There are two ways of studying funding possibilities. First, one can initially go through short descriptions of different funds. If in a given fund there is an open call for proposals, it is listed below the description. To simplify searching for, a special search engine was created. Moreover, calls which are close to the deadline are listed in an upper right window.
All hose tools were created to help scientists at the Nencki Institute find appropriate funding opportunities. However, everybody dealing with a broad area of biotechnology is encouraged to use them- including other scientific institutions, universities and innovative companies.
According to our best knowledge those tools are unique in the whole Poland (by means of knowledge gathered and its accessibility). Nevertheless, we are waiting for any questions and comments that could help us improve those tools.
Summary of a workshop meeting on patent databases
As planned, on the 14th May at the Nencki Institute a workshop about using publicly available patent databases was held. Mr Marek Truszczyński – an expert from the Polish Patent Office- explained this issue to the attendees of the meeting.
The meeting started with a brief introduction to what patens and patent applications are. In the next part main publicly available patent databases and their construction (with special emphasis on patent classification and numbers) were discussed. Abilities of a paid server of the European Patent Office (which can be accessed from the Polish Patent Office) were also thoroughly described. Finally, attendees were introduced to the Esp@cenet database and a database of the Polish Patent Office.
Mr Truszczyński’s presentation can be downloaded here (in Polish only):
Workshop on patent databases- 14.05.2010, Nencki Institute
We would like to kindly announce a workshop meeting with an expert form the Polish Patent Office- Mr Marek Truszczyński- which will take place on the 14th May (Friday) at 12.00 (till app. 15.00) at the Nencki Instiute in the conference room at the IInd floor.
The meeting will be dedicated to the possibility of using the patent information in scientific work, also in basic research. It will be shown how to look for and read publicly available patent applications to gain a full understanding of development of a given discipline.
Approximately 40% of world’s scientific/technological knowledge is available only in patent databases. Lack of ability to use this information adequately results in the fact, that about 25% of money for research and development is not spent optimally. Consequently, having the skill to use patent databases one can better plan his/her research and better spent R&D money.
After a short (about an hour) introduction, the practical part of the workshop will take place. It is than recommended to take computers (laptops, notebooks) with a wireless internet access. It is not a strict requirement, however. Entrance for the workshop is free
.
Summary of the “Patent for a scientist” seminar
On 13th January 2010 at the Nencki Institute a seminar entilted “Patent for a scientist” was held. During the seminar the importance of intellectual property protection in research was thoroughly discussed. This event was concurrently an inauguration of the Nencki Institute Innovation Platform. Every participant could study this issues in greater detail by means of additional materials that were available free of charge:
-“Biotechnologial invention. An object of a patent” (Polish “Wynalazek biotechnologiczny. Przedmiot patentu”). The book was purchased within the project.
-„An inventor self-help book” (Polish „Poradnik wynalazcy”), Andrzej Pyrża, „Inventions in small and medium sized enterprises” (Polish „Wynalazki w działalności małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw”), „Intellectual Property in the information society” (Polish „Własność intelektualna w społeczeństwie informacyjnym”). The book and leaflets were made available as a fovour of the Polish Patent Office.
-“Intellectual property protection- biological sciences” (Polish “Ochrona własności intelektualnej- nauki biologiczne”), Rafał Witek and „Intellectual property protection- general profile” (Polish "Ochrona własności intelektualnej- profil ogólny"), Marek Łazewski (monographies available as a fovour of the Warsaw University Technology Transfer Centre).
Those materials are also available at the Office of International Cooperation and Project Management at the Nencki Institute (room 17a) and/or at the institute’s library.
Presentations of lecturers can be downloaded here:
The seminar was organized as a project from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Programme “Patent Plus- support of patenting inventions” (Polish "Patent Plus- wsparcie patentowania wynalazków").
