For First Time, Startup ‘Brain Trust’ to Gather at Duquesne

The newest academic members of a startup brain trust will gather at Duquesne on Wednesday, April 1. For the first time, principal investigators from local colleges, funded through Innovation Works’ university technology commercialization program, will meet in the Power Center Ballroom from 12:30 to 5 p.m.

“This is the first time we’ve ever gathered all the principal investigators to collaboratively share their work,” said Terri Glueck, director of communications and community development for Innovation Works, a seed-stage company investor. “Our hope is that a number of these university technologies will spin out into new companies that contribute to the economic vitality of Pittsburgh.”

This event, called Discovered in PA, Developed in PA (D2PA), will operate with two simultaneous sessions in the Power Center as 21 researcher-entrepreneurs from Duquesne, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh share 12-minute presentations about their journeys to commercialization.

“Collaboration is increasingly viewed as fundamental to research—collaboration among scholars within and between disciplines, collaboration between institutions, and collaboration with companies and government agencies of all kinds,” said Dr. Timothy Austin, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “This event underlines rather dramatically the potential for exploiting linkages here in Pittsburgh.”

Austin will welcome the group to campus. Also offering remarks will be Rich Lunak, president and chief executive officer of Innovation Works; Bob Wooldridge, director of the Center for Technology Transfer at Carnegie Mellon; and Dr. Mark Redfern, vice provost for research at the University of Pittsburgh.

Duquesne presenters are:

• Dr. Patrick Juola, professor of computer science, discussing software that can be used to verify authorship, Direct Assessment of Authorial Likelihood Using Bayes’ Theorem and Monte Carlo Simulation, from 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.
• Dr. Partha Basu, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, presenting on a lead-detecting compound that glows when activated, Fluorescent Metal Sensors, from 3:45 to 4 p.m.

“This event represents a new level of Duquesne participation in the economic development of our region working with our colleagues at Pitt and CMU to help the translation of university technologies to potential new businesses,” observed Dr. Alan W. Seadler, associate academic vice president for research and technology. “This also furthers our relationship with Innovation Works, which is the premier organization in our region for fostering new business.”

Most technologies being presented do not have companies yet associated with them, and each has a $25,000 budget from Innovation Works through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Projects are expected to be finished before fall, when the academic entrepreneurs give their final reports.