University of New Hampshire Office for Research Partnerships and Commercialization (ORPC) recently celebrated the success of five faculty and staff members whose research resulted in 8 patents over the last two years and the recognition of plant geneticist J. Brent Loy, who received the university’s inaugural Innovator of the Year award.

Recognized for working with the office to get patents for their work were Yvon Durant (three patents related to his spinoff company Itaconix), Glen Miller (related to his research in nanotemplates and nanoelement assembly), Stacia Sower (creation of research tools), William Hersman (two patents related to his spinoff Xemed), and Brian King for his work with UNH’s Space Science Center.

J. Brent Loy was awarded the university’s inaugural Innovator of the Year Award for his research program and impact on UNH’s commercialization efforts. A plant breeder whose work has resulted in more than 50 new varieties of tomato, squash, pumpkins, gourds and melons sold in seed catalogs throughout the world, Loy is responsible for 50 percent of the university’s cumulative royalties -- $1.1 million since 1999. Sedam also announced the award would be named after Professor Loy in future years.

“We’re a $150 million research organization that’s ready to engage,” said ORPC Executive Director Marc Sedam. “We want the technology developed at UNH to get used to help keep jobs in the state. The work that is being done here is crucial to the future of the state’s economy.”

Full article