University inventors were awarded 32 patents last year, setting a new record for the University of Virginia patent foundation.
Interim Executive Director Miette Michie said the foundation seeks to "commercialize inventions" that stem from research at the University. In 2009, the foundation secured 25 patents for University researchers.
"The entire University discloses inventions to us, and we market them to industries and try to get them licensed by companies who will then further develop the technologies," Michie said.
Michie also said the record number of patents reflects well on the innovation and originality of University researchers.
"What an issued patent tells you is that the technology has been reviewed very heavily and has been determined to be very novel and very useful," Michie said.
Among the inventions patented in 2010 are the technology for 3-D MRI imaging and a method for extracting lead content from water.
Although the high numbers are encouraging, Michie attributes the year's success to changes at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and an "aligning of the stars." She also noted that the foundation is working on nearly 200 pending patents.
In the research community, patents are pivotal in bridging the gap between academia and business, said Mark Crowell, executive director and associate vice president for innovation partnerships and commercialization at the office of the vice president for research.
"The patent is not necessarily an end goal, but it's a tool we can use to help bring in commercial partners," Crowell said. "The great science being done here will be made available to the public."
It remains to be seen whether the past year was merely an anomaly or an indication of progress, but University researchers are nevertheless optimistic.
"The innovation culture at U.Va is continuing to expand," Crowell said. "It's one of many measures that we not only have great science, but our science is also interested in working with other collaborators to make sure that science has a useful application in commerce or in society"
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