back to overview
News in Brief
Helmholtz Zentrum München renews alliance with Ascenion
Ascenion and the Helmholtz Zentrum München have recently agreed to continue their long-term collaboration. Since the partners teamed up in 2001, Ascenion has mediated over 80 revenue-carrying agreements on behalf of the institution and helped 12 spinoffs to get started. Martin Reichel, Head of Legal & Technology Transfer at the institution, comments: ‘We have successfully consolidated our profile, and are now adjusting our IP portfolio accordingly. We are confident that in the next few years, together with Ascenion, we can translate a significant portion of our IP into products that contribute to human health. Ascenion’s sectorspecific approach is the right path to putting our research results into practice.’
HKI becomes member of the Life-Science Foundation
Following four years of collaboration with Ascenion, the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (HKI) joined Ascenion’s parent holding, the Life-Science Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research. As a member, it will be represented by its director in the foundation’s council. ‘Having worked with Ascenion for several years, we are convinced by the sector-specific approach to technology transfer. Our decision to join the Life-Science Foundation reflects this view and highlights our long-term commitment to technology transfer,’ Elke Jäcksch, Administrative Director of the HKI, comments.
DPZ extends license agreement for its antibody against prions
The DPZ anti-prion antibody has been licensed to the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique) for a further 10 years, to be used as part of an antibody cocktail that is exclusively sublicensed to Bio-Rad. Ten years ago, it was one of the very first antibodies targeting prions and the corresponding test compiled by Bio-Rad was the first effective tool for the rapid diagnosis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) on the market. ‘The extension of the license agreement is a great success for the DPZ,’ Tina Damm, Technology Manager at Ascenion comments. ‘Although a number of competing products have reached the market to date, the Bio-Rad BSE test is still a market leader in Europe, and we expect a substantial stream of revenues for the DPZ from this agreement over the coming years.’
NovaTec to commercialize new test for chikungunya fever
A team of researchers from the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNI), a member of the Leibniz Association, and the German Federal Armed Forces has developed a new ELISA for the diagnosis of chikungunya infections. Chikungunya fever is a viral, mosquito-born disease, which is most common in Africa, Southeast Asia and India. First outbreaks in Europe, however, were reported in 2007. ‘The clinical symptoms of Chikungunya virus infections are often misdiagnosed as arboviral diseases,’ Petra Emmerich, Researcher at the BNI explains. ‘Laboratory diagnosis is therefore crucial to determine the cause of the disease and potentially initiate an appropriate public health response.’ Mediated by Ascenion, the test was licensed to NovaTec Immundiagnostica GmbH, a specialist in the development and manufacturing of ELISA kits for the diagnosis of infectious diseases. The company has just launched its new chikungunya ELISA at this year’s Medica in Düsseldorf.
Ascenion acquires shares in BITZ
Ascenion now holds equity in BITZ (Braunschweiger Informatik- und Technologie-Zentrum) GmbH – a joint venture of the Technical University Braunschweig, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the software and consulting company Lineas. As an independent, nonprofit organization it offers dedicated IT services to support life-science research.
Ascenion team news
Marsha Schade joined the Munich team in September 2009 to support the Technology Transfer Competence Centre (KTT), the central service unit for technology transfer and communication within the Federal Program of Medical Genome Research. She assumed responsibility for public relations and project management. Amongst others, she took care of the KTT’s website, which is now also available in English, see www.genome-marketplace.com. Marsha holds a PhD in biology from Munich University and gained one year’s experience of science teaching before joining Ascenion.
Isabell Schwenkert joined the Hanover team in September 2009 as technology scout. Together with her colleague Ralf Cordes, she will work with scientists from the Hanover Medical School (MHH) to identify commercially attractive results of their work, secure appropriate patent protection and support the translation of their IP into application. Isabell received a PhD in neurobiology from Würzburg University, held a post doc position at the Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, US, and gained substantial expertise in clinical research and development from subsequent positions in the medical device manufacturing industry, amongst others as clinical research consultant with BrainLab and clinical project manager with CareFusion Research Services.
Latest Technology Offers
